The 1960s were perhaps the most turbulent decade in the history of America, if not the world. Social upheaval and counter-culture were the words of the day and the shock of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War echoed from the Far East to the Upper East Side. In 1967, the Summer of Love began in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, and quickly spread from sea to shining sea. The hippies promoted free love, gender equality, and communal living, as well as a healthy suspicion of the government, rejecting consumerism, and vehemently opposing the Vietnam War.

What the North Vietnamese called the Resistance War Against America, the conflict that stretched for 20 years (between 1955-1975) was perhaps one of the blackest and bleakest moments in American military history. It is also the only physical conflict the United States hasn't won since the founding fathers declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. The US government viewed involvement in the regional conflict as a means to prevent the spread of communism, which had already managed to take a strong foothold in China, the Soviet Union, and closer to home in Cuba. The war effort was part of a wider containment strategy (supposedly) with an aim to steamroll the domino effect of communist states across Asia and the world.

Traditional fishing boats on the beach in Da Nang, Vietnam
Photo: Phuongphoto, Dreamstime

While the soldiers fought overseas, back home musicians and common citizens took to the streets to protest what they believed was a no-win situation in what was formerly known as French Indochina. America was split down the middle and millions of people viewed the war as a wasted effort – pointless in fact, as there was no exit strategy, nor anything to be gained from US presence in Southeast Asia. 20/20 hindsight proves the hippies were correct. In addition to the psychedelic rockers and American folk artists, popular Motown style groups hopped on board, and it was during the height of the Summer of Love when the very successful songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland contributed one of their most famous songs.

Originally recorded and performed by Diana Ross and the Supremes, "Reflections" is a perfect example of psychedelic rock and the counter-culture movement's effect on the Motown sound in the latter half of the 1960s and shifting into the 1970s. This tune was the very first Motown record to incorporate the use of synthesizers in the arrangement, obviously influenced by Pet Sounds (the Beach Boys), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles), and similar acts of the time. The lyrics nostalgically refer to a simpler time before war and hatred ravaged the country. Camelot in the early '60s was destroyed with the assassination of President Kennedy, so it stands to reason H-D-H might've written the song about the previous five years hidden in a veiled allegory about the breakup of a romantic relationship.

"Through the hollow of my tears, I see a dream that's lost from the hurt that you have caused."

Are the Supremes singing about a relationship, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, or their own personal in-fighting? Perhaps all four mixed together. Shortly following the recording and release of "Reflections," one of the original members (and lead vocalist on "Reflections"), Florence Ballard, felt pushed to the side and thus resorted to erratic behavior, including depression, excessive alcohol use, absence from recording dates, weight gain, and a strained relationship with Diana Ross to the point that Motown legend Barry Gordy needed to replace her. Cindy Birdsong took Ballard's place, and the name of the group was altered slightly from The Supremes to Diana Ross & The Supremes. Prior to her departure, Ballard had sung on 16 Top 40 singles, including 10 #1 hits.

On a final note, the television show China Beach, which was set in an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam conflict in the port city of Da Nang in Vietnam and aired between 1988 and 1991, used "Reflections" as its theme song. Given all the choices for a song place, we felt this one fit best.

Everyone longs for a simpler way of life, and in the late 1960s the current of that desire penetrated throughout every nook and cranny of the music industry. "Reflections" takes a step back and examines what was happening politically, socially, and musically within the context of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and the Supremes themselves.

Justin Novelli
September 30, 2016 Reflections Songfacts
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Comments: 6

• David Campbell from Mesa, ArizonaWell done article. My inner copy editor compels me to suggest a spelling correction in the last sentence of the third to last paragraph. It should read: "Prior to her departure, Ballard had sung . . . " (Not had sang) And as previously noted, it was Diana Ross with the lead vocal on this tune, not Ballard. I'd recognize that voice anywhere! [Good call. Made that fix. -editor]
• Nathan Zane Jones from New JerseyMike from Vancouver:
  
  "Reflections" is sung by Diana, with both May and Florence in the background. There are no Andantes anywhere in the song.
  
  Wilson & Ballard sang on "In And Out Of Love" but Ballard was noticeably off-key, and so, Gordy had The Andantes sing over Wilson and Ballard's vocals.
  
  Also ,none of the released singles had anything to do with Vietnam or infighting among the group. H-D-H wrote their songs not The Supremes.
  
  Justin Novelli does not understand the Subject Matter or its Relevance. I am a brother of a Vietnam Casualty. I know more than Novelli.
• Mike from Vancouver Your story about Flo being lead on reflections is totally a lie and should be retracted True she was fired from the Supremes for not showing up for work like most of us if we never showed up for work we would be fired and for your information it was the Andandtes doing the background on the vast majority of those songs no Fo no Mary the new reports coming out state this as true it was mostly Diana Ross and the Andandtes in all respect I love the Flo but if I never should up to work I would be fired so here’s to Diana Rosss Background singers
• Nathan Zane Jones from New JerseyThe bit about "Reflections: by The Supreme is Liberal crap! Reflections is about lost love; it wasn't about Vietnam or Civil Rights. The unnecessary crap about Florence Ballard is incidental. The song was recorded along with You Can't Hurry Love; You Keep Me Hanging On; Love Is Here And Now Your're Gone and The Happening...all in 1966.
  
  Listening to The Supremes while in Vietnam was the Sound Of Young America! You could here America from the mouths of The Supremes. Some of the happiest moments were in Saigon and watching the guys dancing with the Viet girls to You Can't Hurry Love!
• John Kappen from Long Island, NyRemember it well. If it weren't for the sand bag bunkers and Huey's, you'd think you were on a vacation in paradise! Beautiful beach. Stopped to get ice on the way. Kids begging at ice house. Where have the years gone?
• Dennis from Calabash, Nc In speaking with friends who served in Nam, China Beach was a beautiful area along a very heavily fortified region that include Cam Rahn Bay. But while it was a nice respite from the horrors of war, my understanding is that it wasn't called "China Beach" until much later. Now the area is a beautiful resort area with upscale hotels. The turmoil in the 60s was also invigorating as young people were alive and involved more than at any other time in US history. There was a camaraderie that developed as a result of the tension created by a military draft that could call someone into service at any moment. That's contrasted by more current wars where there was no draft and the young people were more apathetic. What was great about the time was the music that resulted from this common bond and the tensions surrounding these common causes of war and equal rights. People cared. One continual debate about the music of the era is whether it reflected the times or impacted the times.

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