Written by: Bob Crewe & Bob Gaudio
Released: 1963
US Charts: #1 (3 weeks)
UK Charts: N/A
Other Charts: N/A
Just before the arrival of the British Invasion in the United States in early 1964, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons were one of the most popular groups in the country. So popular that “Walk Like A Man” became their 3rd straight song to hit number 1 on the Billboard charts. Even though the Four Seasons never quite regained the amazing success they achieved in the 60s, they remain highly respected and continue to inspire today’s musicians.
I first heard of this song back years ago while watching the 1993 movie Heart & Souls starring Robert Downey Jr. There’s a scene in the film where Downey dances on the streets with his ghost friends and this song plays in the background. That’s the lasting image I get when listening to “Walk Like A Man.”
As a result, it came as a surprise to me that the Four Seasons were actually a doo-wop group and that they didn’t sing it dancing around. The video above shows a scene from an early 60s film where the group give a rendition of this classic song.
“Walk Like A Man” has a very catchy chorus, making it extremely memorable and getting you to move around almost immediately. The song is about how a man should ‘walk like a man’ and don’t worry about the girl who has simply used and mistreated him. It could be described as a song about male pride, foreshadowing the women’s rights movement of the late 60s and 70s.
Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that “Walk Like A Man” is a classic song that deserves all the accolades it receives. Doo-wop doesn’t exist anymore so listening to a tune like this is like a breath of fresh for me. I hope it’s the same for you. Enjoy!
Lyrics can be accessed here.
Chords can be accessed here.
Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.
