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What Have They Done to My Song Ma
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Wikipedia article
"'What Have They Done to My Song Ma'" is a song by Melanie. It was released in 1970 as the B-side of her "Ruby Tuesday" single and included on the album 'Candles in the Rain'. The single reached the number 39 in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 20 in Norway and the Wallonia region of Belgium.
Other artists have recorded it as "'Look What They've Done to My Song Ma'",[http://www.45cat.com/45_search.php?sm=re&sq=look+what+they%27ve+done+to+my+song "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" discographical search results] at 45cat.com, retrieved February 8, 2019 after the song's first line, and this title is used on the music page at Melanie's website.[http://www.melaniesafka.com/music/ "Music" page] at Melanie's website, retrieved February 8, 2019
Cover versions
Daliah Lavi recorded a successful German version of the song in 1971 and Ray Charles released a cover (as "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma") in 1972. It has also been tackled by many other artists, including Nina Simone, the New Seekers, and Billie Jo Spears. The New Seekers' version topped the New Zealand Singles Chart and reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, and on the US 'Billboard' Easy Listening chart.
Dalida recorded the song in French and Italian[https://dalida.com/francais/item/ils-ont-change-ma-chanson.html ILS ONT CHANG MA CHANSON] and released both as singles. Czechoslovak singer Helena Vondrkov did a rendition in 1971 as "Kam zmizel ten star song" with Czech lyrics by Zdenk Borovec. Jeanette did an English/French version in 1973. Yugoslav rock band Bajaga i Instruktori released a cover of it with lyrics in Serbian, called "Vidi ta sam ti uradio od pesme, mama", in 1985.
It was used in the 1970s as a commercial for Lifebuoy soap ("Look what they've done to my Lifebuoy"), and in the 1980s as a commercial jingle for Ramada Inn (as "Look what they've done to Ramada") and for Oatmeal Crisp cereal (as "Look what they've done to my oatmeal"). In October 2012, Miley Cyrus released a video of her own acoustic version of the song as part of her Backyard Sessions series. In 2015, Melanie joined her to duet on the song in addition to "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)". Another take on the song was done by Jack Wild that appeared on his album 'Everything's Coming Up Roses', released in 1971.
Charts
Melanie version
Dalida version
New Seekers version
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
Category:1970 songs
Category:1970 singles
Category:Buddah Records singles
Category:Dalida songs
Category:Melanie (singer) songs
Category:The New Seekers songs
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
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