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May 11, 2018
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you romantic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Ron Isley of The Isley Brothers sings about the symbolism of bridal jewelry in the group’s release, “Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro).”
Written by Brazilian composers Ivan Lins and Gilson Peranzzetta, “Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro)” became a frequent request for wedding day playlists after a sweet rendition by The Isley Brothers appeared on their 1992 Tracks of Life album.
The song is essentially a groom’s wedding vow — using jewelry references to describe his solemn pledge of love and devotion.
Isley sings, “I pledge all my love to you always / Don’t you know this ring / This ring is a symbol of my love / Grant us blessings from above oh, oh / Who cherish all the magic of our days.”
In the next verse, gold chains symbolize the couple’s eternal bond… “Oh Lord, oh Lord, here I stand / Golden chains around our hearts / Vow to death we’ll never part.”
Often cited as the group that has enjoyed one of the “longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music,” The Isley Brothers became the first band to score a Top 50 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in six consecutive decades.
Originally from Cincinnati, the group was established in 1954 as a gospel trio consisting of brothers O’Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ron Isley. Soon they landed a spot on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour, where they won the competition and took home the grand prize — a watch. With their new-found fame, they began touring all over the eastern U.S., performing in a variety of churches.
The brothers moved to the New York City area in the late 1950s. In 1959, the brothers celebrated their first big hit, “Shout,” a song that would become a cultural phenomenon nearly two decades later when it was performed by Otis Day and the Knights in the 1978 fraternity house film National Lampoon’s Animal House.
The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and in 2010, Ron Isley received a “Legend Award” at the Soul Train Music Awards. The 76-year-old is still actively touring.
Trivia: A then-21-year-old Jimi Hendrix played on The Isley Brothers’ stage shows in 1964.
Please check out the audio track of The Isley Brothers performing “Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro).” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Brazilian Wedding Song (Setembro)” Written by Ivan Guimaraes Lins and Gilson Peranzzetta. Performed by The Isley Brothers.
Today is the day to say I do Yes, I promise to be true
I pledge all my love to you always Don’t you know this ring This ring is a symbol of my love Grant us blessings from above oh, oh Who cherish all the magic of our days
Oh Lord, oh Lord, here I stand Golden chains around our hearts Vow to death we’ll never part From this day as one we’ll start our lives
Oh Lord, here I stand With my heart out in my hand Rich or poor, I am your man I’m your lover and friend for life Ooh
So much love, so much love, girl So much love, girl, la, la, la, la Today, today, today is the day to say I do Yes, I promise to be true
And I can hear them when they play Our Brazilian wedding song
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.
