The Osmonds – Crazy Horses
While often remembered for their squeaky-clean image and bubblegum pop hits like “Puppy Love,” The Osmonds took a surprising and decidedly darker turn with “Crazy Horses” in 1972. This wasn’t the typical Osmonds fare of catchy melodies about young romance. Instead, “Crazy Horses” grappled with a much more complex and serious theme: environmental destruction and the relentless advance of technology. The song employs a powerful metaphor: “crazy horses” representing powerful, uncontrolled machines – to symbolize the dangers of unchecked industrialization and its devastating impact on the natural world.
This unexpected shift in subject matter genuinely surprised many fans and critics at the time, demonstrating a newfound maturity and social consciousness within the band, a significant departure from their established teenybopper image. The lyrics, while presented through the lens of a metaphor, are quite pointed, warning about the dire consequences of neglecting our planet. This message, though packaged within a hard-rocking framework, resonated with a growing awareness of environmental issues prevalent in the early 1970s. It tapped into the anxieties of a generation becoming increasingly concerned about pollution, resource depletion, and the future of the planet.
Musically, the song’s hard-rocking sound further accentuates its serious message. The driving guitars, powerful drumbeat, and almost frantic vocals create a sense of urgency and alarm, reflecting the song’s thematic concerns. This marked a significant departure from their usual pop sound and proved that The Osmonds were capable of much more than just catchy tunes for their young fanbase; they could also deliver powerful and thought-provoking messages through their music. “Crazy Horses” remains a powerful and surprisingly relevant commentary on the complex relationship between humanity and the environment, revealing a lesser-known, more profound side of The Osmonds that is often overlooked in popular memory. It’s a testament to their musical range and their willingness to tackle challenging and timely themes.