1967’s “Beautiful People” by the late singer/songwriter Kenny O’Dell is cute–lots of bouncy “I love you” and “la-la -la.”
Fast forward to 2019. “Beautiful People” by Ed Sheeran, the number one streamed artist in the world, who already has two songs on the Top 40 chart, is now teaming up with Khalid on a tune that’s not bouncy, although it is up-tempo and energetic, and that’s also a graceful commentary about a culture that fetishizes “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.”
That’s not who we are…
We are not beautiful
We don’t fit in well
‘Cause we are just ourselves
Inside the world of beautiful people
Champagne and rolled-up notes
Prenups and broken homes
Surrounded, but still alone
Let’s leave the party
“Beautiful People” is brand new, and it’s quickly picking up airplay on both Top 40 and Adult Top 40 radio formats.
Kenny O’Dell hit it big in1967 with “Next Plane to London,” recorded with his then group The Rose Garden; he also wrote the Grammy winning “Behind Closed Doors” for Charlie Rich.