Most of us enjoy the sunshine and can start to feel a little down when there is too much cloud around. When the clouds do break or there is a gap in the grey, we automatically feel better, inspired, happier and ready to face life. It seems that this is what happened to Jeff Lynne of the Electric light Orchestra (ELO) back in 1978.
Whilst in Switzerland, Jeff Lynne was apparently suffering from that dreaded curse of all artists, writer’s block. The weather was dull and grey outside when there came a break in the cloud and the sun came out. This lifting of the weather was the inspiration for 'Mr. Blue Sky', one of the Electric Light Orchestra's most successful songs. The song came from the aptly named album, 'Out Of The Blue'. The style of 'Mr. Blue Sky' is uplifting and points to optimism and the sense that everything will be OK. The overall feel and the style of writing of 'Mr. Blue Sky' as well as the great music has placed the song firmly in classic rock history.
'Mr. Blue Sky' did better in the UK than in the USA; in the UK 'Mr. Blue Sky' reached number 6, whilst in the USA 'Mr. Blue Sky' reached number 37. The song was also voted by BBC radio 2 listeners, which took it to number 18 in the 'sold on song' top 100.
Jeff Lynne is a Birmingham City football supporter and since they wear the colour blue, we can thus see further connections with the song 'Mr. Blue Sky'. In fact, the song is sung by Birmingham City football fans before their games. The word ‘blue’ does in fact feature in the ELO’s other song 'Midnight Blue' and as we stated earlier, 'Mr. Blue Sky' comes from the album 'Out Of The Blue'.
'Mr. Blue Sky' is one of those songs that is instantly recognizable and a song that can literally change your mood if you feel a little under the weather. Perhaps 'Mr. Blue Sky' should be required listening in some therapy sessions!
This writer still remembers and occasionally enjoys the feel of the vinyl album and 'Mr. Blue Sky' has a lovely reference at the end of the song to this memory. If you carefully listen, you will hear someone say in a synthesized voice, 'please turn me over'; nice memories, thanks 'Mr. Blue Sky'.
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