About the song
The Sun Keeps Shining by the legendary Everly Brothers. Released in 1956, this song captures a specific moment in American music history – a bridge between the smooth crooning of the pre-rock era and the burgeoning energy of rock and roll.
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The Everly Brothers, with their impossibly close harmonies and infectious enthusiasm, were pioneers of rockabilly. The Sun Keeps Shining exemplifies this perfectly. The melody itself is deceptively simple, a folksy, mid-tempo number with a jaunty guitar riff.
Yet, beneath that surface lies a potent cocktail of influences. There’s a touch of country twang in the vocals, a hint of bluesy swagger in the rhythm section, and a generous helping of that youthful exuberance that would define rock and roll.
The lyrics are equally intriguing. On the face of it, they’re a simple expression of optimism. The narrator assures his love that “the sun keeps shining,” a metaphor for hope and perseverance even in the face of hardship. But listen a little closer, and a touch of melancholy creeps in.
The lovelorn narrator seems to be clinging to this optimism, a desperate reassurance in the face of an uncertain future. The constant repetition of the title – The Sun Keeps Shining – becomes almost a mantra, a way of warding off the encroaching darkness.
This tension between hope and despair is what elevates The Sun Keeps Shining beyond a mere pop song. It’s a testament to the Everly Brothers’ ability to weave complex emotions into seemingly simple melodies. Their signature harmonies further enhance the song. The brothers’ voices intertwine seamlessly, creating a unified sound that’s both powerful and vulnerable.
The Sun Keeps Shining became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard charts and solidifying the Everly Brothers’ place as rock and roll royalty. It’s a song that continues to resonate today, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there’s always a glimmer of hope, a reason to believe that the sun will indeed keep shining.