Snowbird (song)
Encyclopedia
"Snowbird" is a song by the Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan
. Though it has been recorded by many performers (including Bing Crosby
and Elvis Presley
), it is best known through Anne Murray
's 1970 version, which launched her into a long career of international exposure. It was a #2 hit on Canada's pop chart and went to #1 on both the Canadian adult contemporary and country charts. The song reached #8 on the U.S. pop singles chart
, spent six weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart
, and became a surprise Top 10 U.S. country hit
as well. It was certified as a gold single by the RIAA
, the first American Gold record ever awarded to a Canadian solo female artist. The song peaked at #23 on the UK Singles Chart
. In 2003 it was an inaugural song inductee of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
The theme and approach broadly resemble that of the earlier hit "Yellow Bird" in contrasting the narrator's being stuck in the place of his/her heartache to the bird's ability to just up and fly away. "Snowbird" sold well over a million copies and was recently picked as 19th on the 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version
list, a partially populist approach to defining the most influential songs by Canadians.
Gene MacLellan
Gene MacLellan was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Prince Edward Island.Among his notable compositions were "Snowbird", made famous by Anne Murray, "Put Your Hand in the Hand, "The Call", "Pages of Time" and "Thorn in My Shoe"...
. Though it has been recorded by many performers (including Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
), it is best known through Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
's 1970 version, which launched her into a long career of international exposure. It was a #2 hit on Canada's pop chart and went to #1 on both the Canadian adult contemporary and country charts. The song reached #8 on the U.S. pop singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, spent six weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
, and became a surprise Top 10 U.S. country hit
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
as well. It was certified as a gold single by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, the first American Gold record ever awarded to a Canadian solo female artist. The song peaked at #23 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. In 2003 it was an inaugural song inductee of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is a Canadian non-profit organization, founded in 1998 by Frank Davies, that inducts Canadians into their Hall of Fame within three different categories: songwriters, songs, and those others who have made a significant contribution with respect to...
.
The theme and approach broadly resemble that of the earlier hit "Yellow Bird" in contrasting the narrator's being stuck in the place of his/her heartache to the bird's ability to just up and fly away. "Snowbird" sold well over a million copies and was recently picked as 19th on the 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version
50 Tracks: The Canadian Version
50 Tracks: The Canadian Version was a Canadian radio series, which aired across Canada on CBC Radio One in 2005. The show, hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, was a competition to determine the 50 most essential songs in English language Canadian pop music history...
list, a partially populist approach to defining the most influential songs by Canadians.
Chart performance
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 2 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
Notable recordings
- Anne MurrayAnne MurrayMorna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
(album This Way Is My WayThis Way Is My WayThis Way Is My Way is the second studio album by Anne Murray issued in 1969 on Capitol Records. Upon its initial release, the album was only issued in Canada . The album included recordings of songs by Eric Andersen, Gene MacLellan and Bob Dylan...
- 1969) - Lynn AndersonLynn AndersonLynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
(album Rose GardenRose Garden (Lynn Anderson album)Rose Garden was an album released in 1971 by country singer Lynn Anderson. The album was the same name as the single she released in late 1970. The song went on to top the country charts, where it stayed at the #1 position for five weeks, and reached #3 on the pop charts in 1971. Anderson received...
- 1970) - Perry ComoPerry ComoPierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
(album It's Impossible - 1970) - Loretta LynnLoretta LynnLoretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
(album Coal Miner's DaughterCoal Miner's Daughter (album)Coal Miner's Daughter is a 1970 album by American country music singer-songwriter, Loretta Lynn.The album's title track was the only single released and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Chart in late 1970. The song, about the upbringing of Lynn's life made the song her signature song and also...
- 1970) - Gene MacLellanGene MacLellanGene MacLellan was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Prince Edward Island.Among his notable compositions were "Snowbird", made famous by Anne Murray, "Put Your Hand in the Hand, "The Call", "Pages of Time" and "Thorn in My Shoe"...
(album Gene MacLellan - 1970) - Liv Maessen
#13 (1970) - Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
(album The Andy Williams Show - 1970) - Slim WhitmanSlim WhitmanOttis Dewey Whitman, Jr. , known professionally as Slim Whitman, is an American country music singer and songwriter, known for his yodelling abilities. He has sold in excess of 120 million albums in unit sales and has had numerous successful recordings...
(album Guess Who - 1970) - Daliah LaviDaliah LaviDaliah Lavi is an Israeli actress, singer and model.Born in Shavei Zion, British Mandate of Palestine, she studied ballet in Stockholm, Sweden, where she appeared in her first film Hemsöborna...
(as "Wie Die Schwalben": album Daliah Lavi - 1971) - Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
(album Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)Elvis Country is the thirty-seventh studio album by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) is the thirty-seventh studio album by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) is the thirty-seventh studio album by Elvis Presley,...
- 1971) - Hank SnowHank SnowClarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
(album Award Winners - 1971) - Dottie WestDottie WestDottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
(album Careless Hands - 1971) - Chris ConnorChris ConnorChris Connor was an American jazz singer.-Biography:She was born as Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, Missouri to Clyde and Mabel Loutsenhizer. She studied and became proficient on the clarinet, having studied for 8 years throughout junior high and high school...
(album Sketches - 1972) - Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
(album Bing N' Basie - 1972) - Billie Jo SpearsBillie Jo SpearsBillie Jo Spears is an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being "Blanket on the Ground", which, in 1975, became her only number one...
(album Just Singin - 1972) - Birthe Kjaer (as "Sangfugl": album Vi Maler Byen Rød - 1989)
- Rita MacNeilRita MacNeilRita MacNeil, CM, ONS is a Canadian country and folk singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray the following year, although she has had hits on the country...
(album Music of a Thousand Nights - 2001) - Dana WinnerDana WinnerDana Winner is the stage name of Chantal Vanlee . She is a Belgian singer who is famous especially in Flanders and the Netherlands.-Biography:...
(album Unforgettable - 2001) - Catherine MacLellanCatherine MacLellanCatherine MacLellan is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter, currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The daughter of Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan, she was born and raised in Summerside, Prince Edward Island....
(album "Silhouette" - 2011) - Burl IvesBurl IvesBurl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
- Ann Marie Kvien (as "Gjør Din Drøm Til Virkelighet")