Talking about an impressive performance, fourteen-year-old LeAnn Rimes once took the stage to perform the timeless song “Unchained Melody.” This song has been covered over a thousand times by more than 670 artists in numerous different languages, making it one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.
And LeAnn Rimes, who started singing at age two and won her first competition when she was five, was able to perform a rendition that outshined so many others. The young singer’s performance was nothing but stunning, to say the least. It’s basically the definition of talent.
This Timeless Hit is One of The Most Covered Songs
“Unchained Melody” was released in 1955. The music was by Alex North and lyrics were thanks to Hy Zaret. North was contracted to compose the score for the film Unchained, which centered on a man who was contemplating either to escape from prison to live a life on the run or complete his sentence and return to his wife and family.
North then enlisted Zaret to write the lyrics. Interestingly, Zaret refused the producer’s request to include the word “unchained” in his lyrics; still, the song became known as the “Unchained Melody.” Zaret instead chose to focus on someone who pines for a lover he has not seen in a “long, lonely time.”
“Oh, my love, my darling. I’ve hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time. Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much. Are you still mine? I need your love. I need your love. God speed your love to me,” the song goes.
For You
With opera singer and actor Todd Duncan singing the vocals for the film soundtrack, “Unchained Melody” was nominated for the 1955’s Oscars for Best Song award. The song was then covered more than we could imagine, making it one of the highest-grossing songs for its copyright holders.
Some of the most notable renditions of the song are by Les Baxter, Barry Manilow, Jimmy Young, Roy Hamilton, Cyndi Lauper, Al Hibbler, The Righteous Brothers – whose version was used in the hit film Ghost – and Elvis Presley, among others.
LeAnn Rimes’ cover was originally released in November 1996 on a promotional single “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart” that was only available at Target stores upon the purchase of her first album Blue. It was also released as a single to radio and was included in the compilation album Unchained Melody: The Early Years.
Rime’s “Unchained Melody” peaked at No. 3 on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in the United States and No. 3 in the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. So don’t miss out fourteen-year-old LeAnn Rimes’ performance in the video below; we guarantee you will all get chills from her fantastic vocals.
