B-side "Melody" Format 7" single Genre Pop rock | Released July 23, 1973 Recorded 1973 Length 2:46 | |
"Half-Breed" is a 1973 song recorded by American singer-actress Cher with instrumental backing by L.A. sessions musicians from the Wrecking Crew. Recorded on May 21, 1973 at Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 89 on August 4, 1973, and on October 6, 1973, it became Cher's second US solo number 1 hit. The single was certified Gold in the US for the sales of over 1 million copies.
Contents
Song information and story
It was the first international release from Cher's album Half-Breed. It was meant to be sold to the American market. It tells the story of a young woman who is half white and half Cherokee and describes the troubles faced by the main character. The song offers a scenario in which whites often called her "Indian squaw" and Native Americans never accepted her as one of their own, telling her that she was "white by law".
In 1973, "Half-Breed" topped the United States Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, becoming Cher's second solo and third overall number 1 hit, and second Gold certified solo single for the sales of over 1,000,000 copies. It was a number 1 hit in Canada and New Zealand, and a Top 10 hit in Australia and Norway respectively.
Critical reception and composition
Peter Fawthrop wrote that this song has a jingling rhythm and that it is one of the more lighthearted songs on the album. Rolling Stone recommended it and described Cher's vocals as frantic and the production as supremely commercial.
Live performances
In 1999, after almost 25 years of not performing the song live, Cher performed the song in her Do You Believe? Tour. In 2002, she performed the song 326 times in her Living Proof: The Farewell Tour.
Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:
Music video
The video for "Half-Breed" is a recorded performance of the song on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour in 1973. Cher is on a horse while singing in front of a white screen. Props symbolizing Native America were used—wood carvings, fire, and costumes.
Remix version
In 2002, a special remix medley was created by Dan-O-Rama for a video montage that was used in Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. The medley contains the videos of "All I Really Want to Do", "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed", and "Dark Lady".