In 1962, Brian Hyland gave an electrifying performance with his hit 'Sealed with a Kiss.' I was in awe of the audience's reaction as they clapped and swayed to the beautiful melody.
This was when a gallon of milk cost $0.49, eggs cost $0.32, and a gallon of gas cost $0.31. The president was John F. Kennedy, and America underwent a significant cultural shift. During this era, Hyland's signature hit was a chart-topping success, which is no wonder why.
Hyland was a born star, having landed his first hit song at age 16 with the novelty song 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.' In 1962, he released 'Ginny Come Lately,' which became a chart-topper. Hyland followed this success with 'Sealed with a Kiss,' his standard signature hit that peaked at #3 on the US Pop charts. His 1964 album, 'Country Meets Folk,' was another landmark moment in his career. It used electric guitars to back up folk standards such as 'If I Had A Hammer.' Two years before Bob Dylan shocked the folk world by "going electric" at the "1966 Newport Jazz Festival," Hyland was already exploring this fusion of genres.
Hyland continued to release successful hits, including 'The Joker Went Wild,' which peaked at #20 in 1966, and a remake of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions' 1961 hit, 'Gypsy Woman,' which peaked at #33 in 1970. In recent years, he has entered the field of TV production, having been credited as coordinating producer for the highly acclaimed HBO Documentaries, 'The Brooklyn Dodgers'- Ghosts Of Flatbush' (2007), 'The Curse of The Bambino' (2003), and 'Legendary (Boxing) Nights' (2003), among others, in all fields of sports.
The YouTube comments beneath the video demonstrate how timeless and appreciated Hyland's music is, with people worldwide commenting on how much they love the song. In one comment, a user named 'henrylarsson3150' states that Hyland is an 'underbar artist' and shows support for Ukraine with peace symbols and heart emojis. Another commenter, 'josetijerino5198,' notes that the song is 60 years old. Certainly, the love for 'Sealed with a Kiss' is still alive and well in 2023.
I implore anyone who has not yet watched Brian Hyland's performance of 'Sealed with a Kiss' to do so immediately. You will be transported to a different era and glimpse the magic that defined America's pop culture.
