I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent
| "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 45 RPM single version | ||||
| Single by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers | ||||
| from the album The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon | ||||
| B-side | "Baby, Baby" | |||
| Released | November 1956 (US version) February 1957 (UK versions) | |||
| Recorded | August – October 1956 | |||
| Genre | Doo wop, rock and roll | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Gee | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" on YouTube | ||||
"I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" is a song written by George Goldner and performed by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. It reached No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1957.[1] In addition to reaching No. 12, it was recorded between August and October 1956. Then it was released on November 1956 in United States (US)[2], and February 1957 in United Kingdom (UK)[3]. This is the last song featured in a 1956 album The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon.[4]
Background[edit]
The song was originally written by Jimmy Merchant with the help of his older songwriter friend Robert Spencer (later finalized by Goldner). According to Merchant, it was notably the first protest song ever released by The Teenagers. Merchant described that the "words [of this song] object to being labeled as 'bad,' but eclipse with a strong, uplifting truth in its opening line." [5]
The Teenagers (including Herman Santiago, Joe Negroni, Merchant, and Sherman Garnes) recorded their harmony on August 4, 1956, without Frankie Lymon. Two months later, Lymon was brought into overdub as a lead singer.[6] In addition to The Teenagers' versions and Lymon's overdub, Merchant primarily constructed the harmony background.
Rock, Rock, Rock! music video[edit]
Filmed at Mikaro Studios in Bronx, New York[7], Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers were on "Rock, Rock, Rock!" film set performing on stage, dancing and apparently lip-syncing to the song in front of the audience.
Sypnosis[edit]
A black-and-white video begins with Garnes extending his thumb toward his chest, uttering "I'm not a juvenile delinquent." After his introduction, the video zooms out to show the rest of boys swinging their arms back and forth and lifting their knees to do a walking motion in place rhythmically (accompanied by Negroni, Merchant, and Santiago); then it also reveals Lymon who is gesturing, especially the prayer hands. They are performing their dance almost the entire duration until the song ends, which results in the video slowly zooming into Lymon who is making a prayer gesture. While the audience is applauding and cheering for them, the boys conclude their performance with a smile and a pose, which they are seen pressing both index fingers to their cheeks, bending their knees with one foot in front of other, and then making prayer hands.
Charts[edit]
|
Weekly charts
|
