<p id=”par-1_29″>Most great <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/music/”>music</a> inspires rumors and speculation. Some have claimed that <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/petula-clark-revealed-downtown-desperate-song.html/”>Petula Clark’s “Downtown”</a> was offered to a massive 1960s band. Here is what Clark’s songwriter had to say.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-petula-clark-s-downtown-was-allegedly-offered-to-a-band-that-didn-t-do-rock-songs”>Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ was allegedly offered to a band that didn’t do rock songs</h2>
<p id=”par-2_41″>When people think of 1960s bands, they tend to think of the rock groups <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/petula-clark-sang-john-lennons-give-peace-a-chance.html/”>of the British Invasion</a>. Or The Beach Boys. Or even The Monkees. But rock ‘n’ roll and pop rock were not the only sounds on the radio. </p>
<p id=”par-3_45″>A lot of traditional pop sounds refused to go away, even if they weren’t what the cool kids liked. What people forget is that much of the decade was defined by American vocal pop groups like The Four Seasons, the Four Tops, and The Drifters.</p>
<p id=”par-4_77″>The latter are known for hits like “This Magic Moment,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” and “Under the Boardwalk.” While rock ‘n’ roll defined the decade, The Drifters recorded songs that could have existed if rock never came into being. The band was <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/was-john-lennons-stand-by-me-more-successful-than-ben-e-kings.html/”>fronted by Ben E. King</a>, the singer of one of the most famous songs of all time: “Stand by Me.” According to rumor, The Drifters were connected to another famous 1960s song: “Downtown.”</p>
<p id=”par-5_53″>During a 2016 interview with <a href=”https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/oct/11/petula-clark-tony-hatch-how-we-made-downtown” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Guardian</a>, songwriter Tony Hatch dispelled a certain rumor. “There are stories that I offered ‘Downtown’ to The Drifters and whoever, but they’re all untrue,” he said. “Without Petula recognizing the strength of the melody, I might never have finished it. It’s my favorite of all my songs.”</p>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-petula-clark-said-that-the-song-is-about-feeling-a-bit-worthless”>Petula Clark said that the song is about ‘feeling a bit worthless’</h2>
<p id=”par-6_76″>Clark said her signature song has a dark side. “People generally think of it as a jolly song, but it isn’t,” <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/paul-mccartney-petula-clark-released-no-1-hits-named-my-love.html/”>the “My Love” star</a> said. “When I sing it, I picture this person who’s alone in their room, lonely, feeling a bit worthless, close to a depression — then getting up and going out on the street to be among other people who are perhaps feeling the same way. I have had those moments myself.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_51″>The tune resonated across the globe. “When I sang it on <em>The Ed Sullivan Show</em> in New York, everyone went berserk,” she said. “It’s a song that just won’t lie down. I’ve recorded it several times: the last time, we slowed it right down, and I sang it much more poignantly.”</p>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=’Petula Clark “Downtown” on The Ed Sullivan Show’ width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/9SsuPw0tqCE?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/dont-sleep-in-the-subway-baffled-petula-clark.html/”>
‘Don’t Sleep in the Subway’ Baffled Petula Clark </a>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-downtown-became-a-hit-in-2-different-decades”>‘Downtown’ became a hit in 2 different decades</h2>
<p id=”par-8_73″>“Downtown” became Clark’s first No. 1 single in the United States. It topped the <a href=”https://www.billboard.com/artist/petula-clark/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Billboard Hot 100</a> for two weeks, lasting on the chart for 15 weeks in total. The tune appeared on the record <em>Downtown</em>. That record reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 36 weeks. <em>Downtown </em>wasn’t a juggernaut like <em>Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band</em>, but it was Clark’s biggest hit in the U.S.</p>
<p id=”par-9_49″><a href=”https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/1161/petula-clark/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Official Charts Company</a> reports “Downtown” reached No. 2 in the United Kingdom and charted for 15 weeks. The record of the same name made no impact in the U.K. Later on, a dance remix of the song called “Downtown ’88” reached No. 10 and charted for 14 weeks.</p>
<p id=”par-10_14″>“Downtown” is a great pop tune, and it will always be Clark’s signature track. </p>