Like the men, the girl groups in Doo Wop relied on harmonies, but they were also a step or two further into the recording studio. These groups came later in the Doo Wop Era, and were concentrated mainly in the period of the early 1960s. By the same token, the girls remained on the charts later, still having a strong presence for a year or two after the Beatles and all the other British groups began filling our air waves. Girl groups were a force on the charts by 1962, and were still hanging in there in 1965.
Just as the guys had sung about girls, the girls’ songs were mainly about guys. These young women mixed standard pop with rock n’ roll sass, while usually conveying a feeling of innocence. They had more instruments backing them up, but their harmonies were firmly based in the Doo Wop tradition. The lyrics in these songs were simple, but heartfelt. They dealt with teenaged problems of getting together, breaking apart, and a kid’s standing within the group. They were a girl’s version of high school set to music.
How could any girl (or guy) of the early ‘60s not know what was going on when the Angels sang “My Boyfriend’s Back”? When the Chiffons sang “Don’t Say Nothin’ Bad About My Baby” everyone in the audience knew exactly what was going on. These songs used the now-classic Doo Wop harmonies to communicate old feelings in a new way. They’ve been speaking to teenagers and former teenagers ever since, and it’s hard for anyone who’s ever grown up not to get the message.
Some other truly great oldies by the most popular girl groups at that time included: “Sweet Talkin' Guy” by the Chiffons, “I Met Him on a Sunday” by the Shirelles, “Easier Said Than Done” by the Essex, “I Love How You Love Me” by the Paris Sisters, and “He’s a Rebel” by the Crystals.
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