Emma

Album: Every 1's a Winner: The Very Best of Hot Chocolate (1974)
Charted: 3 8
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Songfacts®:

  • This tear-jerker tells the story of an aspiring actress who commits suicide. Frontman Errol Brown explained to the Mail On Sunday January 25, 2009: "The story is tied to the death of my mother, aged 38. It was almost not released, as Mickie (Most, producer) thought it too slow and morbid. The girls in his offices at RAK Records changed his mind."
  • This was Hot Chocolate's first US hit. They had five Top 40 in America between 1975 and 1978, of which the #3 charting "You Sexy Thing" was the most successful.

Comments: 15

  • Susan from Sutton LondonHis mother was called Emmalene she commited suicide when he was 19
  • Emmalene_aubrey from Norfolk, NebraskaI was named after this song and Bread's song "Aubrey". I never got to hear Emma until the invention of YouTube and we happened to find the video. This may have been about 20 years ago. Ever since I've been giving my mom crap about naming me after a song about an actress who commits suicide (because I'm a thespian and artist and i struggle with mental illness). She doesn't think it's that funny, I find it hilarious. Anyway. I adore this song, and Aubrey. I keep them on my phone to listen to when i need a reminder of how much art and music has influenced my life, and how my mom was the original source of that. I even have Emma as her ringtone for when she calls.
  • Meg from AlabamaI just heard Emma for the very first time today. I can't explain but I Love it. It is sad, yes but seems filled with such Love. It is on my "Feels Good" playlist.
  • Cathy from Sacramento CaSings with so much emotion. Thought maybe he was singing about a lost love of his.
  • Alex from U.k.Errol Brown released a follow up solo single in 1992 entitled "Emmalene" in which he is still grieving the loss of his childhood sweetheart
  • Kf from UkAmazing song that would have been a terrible loss if it hadn't been released. Errol shows such passion when singing it....
  • Sherry from Westlake, LouisianaIt’s ironic, just heard a Very Sad Storie about a girl in the early 1900, she was made to go to work @13, pregnant at 14.
    Through no fault of her own. Gets much deeper...Her Name Was EMMALINE!
  • Charlie from Boston, Ma@Dan from Cheektowaga - Both Paperlace AND Bo Donaldson recorded that song.
  • Dan from Cheektowaga, NyBilly Don't Be a Hero is by Bo Donaldson and the Haywood's.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyErrol Brown, lead singer of Hot Chocolate, died of liver cancer on May 6th, 2015. He was 71.
  • Barry Marino from Chalmette, LaWhen I first heard this back in the seventies, I didn't understand depression. Emmaline would have committed suicide if her career had been successful. She could no longer live with the deafening sadness any longer. More than 350 people suffer from depression worldwide. 3.4% will commit suicide. Disasters such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina caused about half of the cases of clinical depression in the past decade. If you think that you may be suffering from this condition, get help immediately!
  • Rose from Gisborne, New ZealandIt refers to Emma & Emmaline, not Emily.
  • Jez from London, United KingdomWhen this song peaked at UK #3 on 6/4/74, it was kept from the top by two other famous 'death discs' - Paper Lace's 'Billy Don't Be a Hero' at #2 and Terry Jacks's 'Seasons in the Sun' at #1. Perhaps the only occasion this has happened in the UK charts?
  • Karen from Manchester, NhIt was "Emmaline", not "Emily".
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandIn the lyrics, the girl is referred to as both Emma and Emily.
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