Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks for a single artist, or for popular songs from a given year or genre.
A medley is the most common form of overture for musical theater productions.
In Latin music, medleys are known as potpourrís or mosaicos; the latter were popularized by artists such as Roberto Faz and Billo Frómeta, and most commonly consist of boleros, guarachas, merengues or congas.
Examples of medleys
Medleys that have reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart include:- "Jenny Take a Ride " by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. No. 10
- "Devil with a Blue Dress On"/"Good Golly Miss Molly" by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. No. 4
- "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by The Lettermen. No. 7
- "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", a medley from the musical Hair by The Fifth Dimension. No. 1
- "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" by Paul and Linda McCartney. No. 1
- "Venus and Mars/Rock Show" by Paul McCartney and Wings. No. 12
- "The Best Disco in Town" by The Ritchie Family. No. 17
- "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" by Meco. No. 1
- "MacArthur Park Suite: MacArthur Park/One of a Kind/Heaven Knows" by Donna Summer. No. 1
- "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" by the Spinners. No. 2
- "Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time" by the Spinners. No. 4
- "Stars on 45 Medley" by Stars on 45.. No. 1
- "Hooked on Classics" by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. No. 10
- "The Beach Boys Medley" by The Beach Boys. No. 12
- "The Beatles Movie Medley" by The Beatles. No. 12
- "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" by David Lee Roth. No. 12
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do/My Girl" by Daryl Hall & John Oates. No. 20
- "Can'tcha Say /Still in Love" by Boston. No. 20
- "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley " by Will to Power. #1
- "Lost in the Fifties Tonight " by Ronnie Milsap. 1985 Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single of the year
- "Mercy Mercy Me /I Want You" by Robert Palmer. No. 16
- "Power of Love/Love Power" by Luther Vandross. No. 4
- "Tuesday Afternoon Time to Get Away" by The Moody Blues. Tuesday Afternoon charted No. 24 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Carry On/Questions" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
- "Traces/Memories" by The Lettermen.
- "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" by The Beatles.
- "Polythene Pam/She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" by The Beatles.
- "Heartbreaker/Living Loving Maid " by Led Zeppelin. "Living Loving Maid " charted No. 65 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Friends/Celebration Day" by Led Zeppelin. Some radio stations only played "Friends" without "Celebration Day".
- "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" by Santana. "Black Magic Woman" charted No. 4 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Your Move/All Good People" by Yes. No. 40
- "Nights in White Satin/Late Lament" by The Moody Blues. "Nights in White Satin" charted No. 2 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Runaway/Happy Together" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. No. 79
- "An American Trilogy" by Elvis Presley. No. 66
- "Speak to Me/Breathe /On the Run" by Pink Floyd.
- "Falling In & Out of Love/Amie" by Pure Prairie League. "Amie" charted No. 27 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Ogre Battle/The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke/Nevermore" by Queen.
- "Rangers at Midnight: Night Patrol/Let's Lift Our Hearts Up" by Crack the Sky.
- "Foreplay/Long Time" by Boston. Long Time charted No. 22 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Fly by Night/In the Mood" by Rush No. 88
- "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles. No. 71
- "Feeling That Way/Anytime" by Journey. "Anytime" charted No. 83 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "Empty Spaces/Young Lust" by Pink Floyd.
- "Instrumedley" by Dream Theater.
- "The Happiest Days of Our Lives/Another Brick in the Wall " by Pink Floyd. "Another Brick in the Wall " charted No. 1 *Album rock stations played the full version.
- "My Guy/My Girl" by Amii Stewart and Johnny Bristol. No. 63
- "A.D. 1928/Rockin' the Paradise" by Styx
- "Daylight Again/Find the Cost of Freedom" by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
- "Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley" by Queen.
- "Do It Again/Billie Jean" by Club House
- "I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm a Star" by Prince "I Would Die 4 U" charted No. 8 *Some radio stations played the full version.
- "Labyrinth/Underground", a medley from the film Labyrinth by David Bowie.
- "Suffer the Little Children/Hell Is for Children" by Pat Benatar.
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole was certified Platinum in the US
- "Puss N' Boots/These Boots " by Kon Kan. No. 58
- "Principles of Lust: Sadeness/Find Love/Sadeness " by Enigma MCMXC a.D.
- "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by George Michael. No. 69
- "Back to the Rivers of Belief: Way to Eternity/Hallelujah/The Rivers of Belief" by Enigma MCMXC a.D.
- "The Legend of Zelda Medley" by Koji Kondo.
- "Beach Boys Gold" by Adrian Baker. No. 11
- "Seasons of Gold" by Gidea Park. No. 28
- "Holliedaze" by The Hollies. No. 28
- "The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" by Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band. No. 1