Words

Album: Best Of Bee Gees (1968)
Charted: 8 15
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Songfacts®:

  • The Bee Gees were three brothers - Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. They wrote this song after getting in a few arguments and realizing the power of words, how they can make you happy or sad.
  • This was written for a movie called The Mini-Affair. In England, the movie was titled The Mini Mob.
  • Barry was the only Gibb to sing on this. It was the first Bee Gees single where only one brother sang.
  • A cover version by Rita Coolidge hit #25 in the UK in 1978. In 1996 a cover version by Irish boy band Boyzone topped the UK chart. Maurice Gibb declared it the best ever cover of a Bee Gees song.
  • The Bee Gees became icons of the disco era, but before they started singing dance songs in high falsetto voices, most of their songs were mellow ballads with lush arrangements like "Words."
  • This song was originally written for Cliff Richard, but he never got around to recording it because he wasn't making an album at the time. Rather than wasting the song, The Bee Gees decided to record it themselves.
  • Elvis Presley performed the song live as part of his concerts in the late '60s and early '70s. His version can be found on the 1970 live album, Elvis in Person at the International Hotel.

Comments: 14

  • Mine from N MBee Gees GOAT of all music.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 27th 1968, the Bee Gees appeared in their first U.S. concert when they performed at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California...
    At the time the trio's "Words"* was at #64 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; four weeks later on February 24th it would peak at #15 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 11 weeks...
    It reached #8 on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    * They performed a twelve song set, with "Words being the final song, and after the concert they collected $50,000 for their performance, then they headed back to England...
    R.I.P. Maurice Gibb {1949 - 2003} and Robin Gibb {1949 - 2012}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 17th 1968, the Bee Gees appeared for the first time on American television and performed "Words" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    At the time "Words" was at #22 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; three weeks earlier it had peaked at #15 {See 2nd post below}...
    It reached #1 in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands...
    Their next release, "Jumbo", would enter the Top 100 two weeks later on March 31st; it stayed on the chart for 6 weeks, peaking at #57.
  • Mhega Rhexx from Mandaue Cebu PhilipinesIt was not the first song that only one brother sang... it was Holiday whom Robin the only one who sang it.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 14th 1968, "Words" by the Bee Gees entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 24th it peaked at #15 (for 1 week) and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #1 in Germany, China, Switzerland, and the Netherlands...
    On October 13th, 1996 the group Boyzone took their covered version to #1 (for 1 week) on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    R.I.P. Maurice Gibb (1949 - 2003) and Robin Gibb (1949 - 2012).
  • Christy from Santa Barbara, CaYes, Pomp... I saw a show recently with some rare footage of Elvis in a recording studio, and he kept going back to "Words". Apparently it was one of his very favorite songs!! Mine too... :)
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThree other completely different songs titled "Words" have made the Top 100; The Monkees peaked at #11 in 1967, Missing Persons reached #42 in 1982, and Pat Boone topped out at #94 in 1960!!!
  • George from Belleville, NjAnother great pop song by the Bee Gees.This is further proof that they are master songwriters.I personally like Elvis' version because there is no one who could sing like Elvis.
  • Kadir Köz from Istanbul, TurkeySuch a masterpiece by them
  • Sarah from Usa, IaTom Jones also did a version of this song, as did Roy Orbison.
  • James from Vidalia, GaI love the Elvis version of this as well. Great song!
  • Debbie from Keene, NhThis is Barry's special song for his wife, Linda (Gray) Gibb. They have been married 35 years and have five children.
  • David from Youngstown, OhI'm a huge Bee Gees fan and a huge Elvis fan - particularly during his prime of 1968 to 1974. While performing in concert, Elvis tired of playing the same songs over and over again so he would tell his band that he wanted to play contemporary pop songs in his special style. Elvis' version of this is great as is his versions of "Sweet Caroline," "Proud Mary," "Runaway," "Polk Salad Annie" and so many more.
  • Pompatus from Hell, TxThis song became one of Elvis's favorite live songs to do when he was performing in Vegas and such in the 70's. He does a kick a$$ version of it by the way. -AEIH

    www.pompatical.blogspot.com

    pompatus69@hotmail.com
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