Melanie's hit song from over 50 years ago, "Candle in the Rain (Lay Down)," with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, remains a powerful classic rock-pop song. Its lyrics about us catching the same disease and dreaming of peace is especially powerful now. I used to say in the mid to late 1980s how Madonna could re-record the song and have a hit. Today, I would say Katy Perry could re-record the song and have a hit. It is a timeless sound and a universal message.
If I had to name my favorite Melanie song, it is "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)." Here is the best version, a live one with an opening verse that is not in the single release version. This live version is from 1971 or 1972, I think. Melanie was an anthem writer.
