Da Doo Ron Ron Ron

It is just a blurry kinescope from a 60's TV show- Shindig? Hullabaloo?

Written by a Brill building song-writing team,

A pop hit- intended to top the charts for a week and be forgotten the next.

But it was so much more than that.

It was a statement of empowerment for young black women everywhere:

"Here we are! Look at us!

We are full of life,

Our lives are beautiful,

Our love is beautiful,

AND WE ARE BEAUTIFUL."

And in millions of living rooms, millions of young people

Saw that the old ways, the ways of prejudice and hatred,

Were lies.

Thank you for giving us a taste of truth,

This bit of joy, a ray of hope.


And thank you, Ellie, for this and so many other inspirations to my youthful musical adventures.

Ellie Greenwich, October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009