Those Were the Days: Mary Hopkin

I first heard this song on an LP (TOP of the Old) in 1981, and was immediately mesmerized by the deep focus, poignant wording and tranquil ambiance which was shrouded in its rhythm and soothing lyrics. Since then, I have heard, Beatles Album, Boney M, Abba, Beegees, Madonna, Thriller (Micheal Jackson); but the special place that this song found could not be supplanted by any other song (Pop or anything else).

I never knew until, yesterday, when I watched Mary Hopkins on YouTube singing this epic song, that she was only 18 years of age at the time. It is remarkable and how innate for the teenage Hopkins, who was able to consummately perform on the rhythm/content of the music and its extremely evocative wording. It seems that no other female/male singer of any age could ever come close to the hypnotic beauty with which this young girl had performed. The pristine innocence and pure grace of this young girl in 1968, overrides the artificial and synthetic gestures of the elder music icons of that era. Her visage is without any speck of vanity........This gem of a song happens to be the crowning glory of the now obscure Mary Hopkins.

TrinityLancer - A user of Youtube has very effectively narrated the originality and inherent essence of Mary Hopkins - "She sings this song like a seasoned lady of middle age, as if the song pertains to her and yet she was only 18 back then. Her young age and the content of the song is what makes it so great. She sings it with all the gusto and heart of someone who has experienced years and years of life. As if she is the one entering the "tavern"! "