You Showed Me
"You Showed Me" is a song written by Gene Clark and Jim McGuinn (later known as Roger) of the Byrds in 1964.[1] It was recorded by the Turtles and released as a single at the end of 1968, becoming the group's last big hit in the U.S.[2] The song has also been covered or partially incorporated into other songs by a number of other acts over the years, including the Lightning Seeds, Salt-N-Pepa, Lutricia McNeal and Madison Beer.[3]
"You Showed Me"
July 29, 1969
1964
World Pacific (Los Angeles)
2:05
Together
The Byrds version[edit]
The song was composed by Clark and McGuinn in early 1964 at a time when the pair were performing as a duo at The Troubadour and other folk clubs in and around Los Angeles.[1][4] Critic Matthew Greenwald has described "You Showed Me" as "a minor-key romantic ballad", while also commenting that "the song has a near-Beach Boys feel and ends up being an effervescent piece of moody pop."[5] Music historian Richie Unterberger has remarked that "You Showed Me", like many of the songs that Clark had a hand in writing during the 1960s, contains a mix of major and minor chords arranged in unexpected progressions.[2] He also stated that the song recounts the tale of a lover who is being tutored in the ways of love by a more experienced partner.[2]
Soon after writing "You Showed Me", Clark and McGuinn formed a trio with David Crosby and named themselves the Jet Set.[4] The trio began rehearsing at World Pacific Studios under the guidance of their manager Jim Dickson, with Michael Clarke and Chris Hillman joining the group soon afterward.[6] Dickson recorded many of the Jet Set's rehearsal sessions at World Pacific and it was during this time that demos of "You Showed Me" were recorded by the band.[1][7] The song was soon abandoned by the group, who had now changed their name to the Byrds, and was not included on their debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man.[8][9] However, recordings of "You Showed Me" by the Byrds, dating from 1964, were released on the archival albums Preflyte, In the Beginning, The Prefylte Sessions, and Preflyte Plus.[1][10]
"You Showed Me"
"Buzz Saw"
December 1968
3:16
"Let's Talk About Sex" (remix)
November 18, 1991[23]
3:23
Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
The Invincibles, Excalibar
October 14, 2022
3:16
- Epic
- Sing It Loud
- Beer
- Dussolliet
- Clampitt
- Sommers
- Harold Eugene Clark
- James Roger McGuinn
- Madison Beer
- Leroy Clampitt
- Tim Sommers
1996
4:09
Sampling and controversy[edit]
The Turtles version also features a gently rising and falling string section, which was sampled by U2 in 1997 for their song "The Playboy Mansion" on their album Pop.[15] Madison Beer's song "Showed Me (How I Fell in Love with You)" for her album Silence Between Songs also sampled the Turtles' recording.[60]
The American hip hop group De La Soul also sampled the Turtles' recording of "You Showed Me" for their song "Transmitting Live From Mars (Interlude)" on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, but did not ask permission or clear the sample. The Turtles took litigation against the group, suing them for $1.7 million. An out-of-court settlement was reached for an undisclosed sum. It is said to be the first time that a hip hop act was ever sued for unethical use of another artist's music.[2]
Other cover versions[edit]
The song was covered by Québécois singer Claude Steben in French under the title "Vous" in 1972. The song has also been covered by Lutricia McNeal on her 2002 album, Metroplex.[61] In addition, Kanye West based his song Gorgeous, from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, on elements derived from "You Showed Me".[62] In 2011, the alternative country duo the Watson Twins offered a free download of their cover of "You Showed Me" on their website.[63]