Everything Is Beautiful

"Everything Is Beautiful"
"Everything Is Beautiful"
Single by Ray Stevens
from the album Everything Is Beautiful
B-side	"A Brighter Day"
Released	March 1970
Genre	Pop, country
Length	3:29
Label	Barnaby
Songwriter(s)	Ray Stevens
Producer(s)	Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens singles chronology
Music video
	Listen to "Everything Is Beautiful" (Official Music Video) on YouTube

"Everything Is Beautiful" is a song written, composed, and performed by Ray Stevens. It has appeared on many of Stevens's albums, including one named after the song, and has become a pop standard and common in religious performances. The children heard singing the chorus of the song, using the hymn, "Jesus Loves the Little Children", are from the Oak Hill Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee. This group includes Stevens's two daughters. The song was responsible for two wins at the Grammy Awards of 1971: Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Ray Stevens and Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance for Jake Hess. Stevens's recording was the Number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in the summer of 1970. The song also spent three weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.^[1] Many country stations played the song, with it peaking at number 39 on Billboard's chart.^[2] Billboard ranked the record as the No. 12 song of 1970. The song includes anti-racist and pro-tolerance lyrics such as "We shouldn't care 'bout the length of his hair/Or the color of his skin."^[3]

This song was a major departure for Stevens, as "Everything Is Beautiful" is a more serious and spiritual tune, unlike some of his earlier ("Gitarzan" and "Ahab the Arab") and later ("The Streak") recordings, which were comedy/novelty songs. While Stevens would continue to perform novelty songs throughout his career, the success of "Everything Is Beautiful" would allow Stevens to record more serious material throughout the 1970s.^[4]

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	1
Belgian VRT Top 30	25
Canadian RPM Top Singles	1
Dutch Top 40	12
Euro Hit 50	16
Irish Singles Chart	3
New Zealand (Listener)^[5]	16
UK Singles Chart	6
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Billboard Easy Listening	1
US Billboard Hot Country Singles	39
US Cash Box Top 100^[6]	1

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1970)	Rank
Australia^[7]	21
Canada^[8]	34
US Billboard Hot 100^[9]	12
US Cash Box Top 100^[10]	25

Jody Wayne cover[]

South African singer Jody Wayne covered "Everything is Beautiful" in early 1972. His version reached number 20 in his home nation.^[11]

Other cover versions[]

Jim Nabors covered the song in 1970, for his vinyl album of the same name. Reaching #124 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.
Bing Crosby recorded the song for his 1972 album Bing 'n' Basie.
Neil Sedaka performed a version of this selection on his 1976 album Live in Australia.^[12]
Dana named her 1980 album after that song. It made #43 in the UK chart. In 1986 her single reached #42 in Ireland.
Foster & Allen recorded a version of the song for their album Songs We Love to Sing (1994)^{[citation needed]} which reached number 41 on the UK Albums Chart^[13] that year and number 66 on the Irish albums chart.
Cledus T. Judd also did a version for the album Boogity, Boogity – A Tribute to the Comedic Genius of Ray Stevens. It featured Michael English, Wynonna Judd, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Dobie Gray, Erika Jo, and SHeDAISY as accompanying vocalists.
In 2005 American idol season 4 top 10 Finalists cover this song during the top 10 results show and was featured in their album The Showstoppers.
Stevens re-recorded the song in 2020.[1] This "50th Anniversary" re-recording includes a spoken prologue and epilogue noting how much progress had been made since 1970, while calling out those who use diversity to divide society and beseeching Americans not to fall apart.^[14]

References[]

^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 231.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-09-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens (Lyrics and Chords)". Guntheranderson.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
^ "Everything Is Beautiful by Ray Stevens Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
^ Flavour of New Zealand, 3 August 1970
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 6, 1970". Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
^ "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
^ Musicoutfitters.com
^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1970". Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
^ "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
^ British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Ltd. 2005. p. 195. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akzW4xqAzB4

External links[]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Ray Stevens – Everything Is Beautiful on YouTube

This 1970s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 231.

[2] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-09-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[3] "Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens (Lyrics and Chords)". Guntheranderson.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.

[songfacts.com-4] "Everything Is Beautiful by Ray Stevens Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.

[5] Flavour of New Zealand, 3 August 1970

[6] "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 6, 1970". Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017.

[7] "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-03-03.

[8] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.

[9] Musicoutfitters.com

[10] "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1970". Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2017.

[11] "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.

[12] "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.

[13] British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Ltd. 2005. p. 195. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.

[14] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akzW4xqAzB4

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show v t Ray Stevens
1960s albums	1,837 Seconds of Humor This Is Ray Stevens Even Stevens Gitarzan Have a Little Talk with Myself
1970s albums	Everything Is Beautiful Unreal!!! Turn Your Radio On Losin' Streak Nashville Boogity Boogity Misty Just for the Record Feel the Music There Is Something on Your Mind Be Your Own Best Friend
1980s albums	Shriner's Convention One More Last Chance Don't Laugh Now Me He Thinks He's Ray Stevens I Have Returned Surely You Joust Crackin' Up! I Never Made a Record I Didn't Like Beside Myself Funny Man
1990s/2000s albums	#1 With a Bullet Osama—Yo' Mama: The Album
Compilations	The Best of Ray Stevens (1967) The Best of Ray Stevens (1968) Greatest Hits (1983 Ray Stevens album) Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (Ray Stevens album) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (Ray Stevens album) His All-Time Greatest Comic Hits The Very Best of Ray Stevens 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Ray Stevens
Notable singles	"Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving Fast-Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills" "Ahab the Arab" "Gitarzan" "Along Came Jones" "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" "Have a Little Talk with Myself" "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" "Everything Is Beautiful" "All My Trials" "The Streak" "Misty" "Indian Love Call" "Young Love" "You Are So Beautiful" "In the Mood" "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow" "Shriner's Convention" "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex"
Related	Ray Stevens discography

show v t Neil Sedaka
Studio albums	Rock with Sedaka Circulate Neil Sedaka Sings Little Devil and His Other Hits 3 Great Guys Workin' on a Groovy Thing/Sounds of Sedaka Emergence Solitaire The Tra-La Days Are Over Laughter in the Rain Overnight Success The Hungry Years Steppin' Out A Song All You Need Is the Music In the Pocket Now Come See About Me The Good Times
Compilation albums	Neil Sedaka Sings His Greatest Hits Italiano Italiano Vol. 2 Oh! Carol Sedaka's Back Oh Carol Let's Go Steady Again Neil Sedaka's Greatest Hits (1977) The '50s and '60s 14 Knockouts The Many Sides of Neil Sedaka Sunny Neil Sedaka's Greatest Hits (1980) My Friend Neil Sedaka: All Time Greatest Hits All Time Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Laughter in the Rain: The Best of Neil Sedaka, 1974-80 The Very Best of Neil Sedaka Oh Carol: The Complete Recordings, 1955–66 Stairway to Heaven: The Best of Neil Sedaka Love Songs
Live albums	Live at the Royal Festival Hall On Stage
Singles	"The Diary" "I Go Ape" "Crying My Heart Out for You" "Oh! Carol" "One-Way Ticket To The Blues" "Stairway to Heaven" "You Mean Everything to Me" "Run Samson Run" "Calendar Girl" "Little Devil" "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" "Next Door to an Angel" "La terza luna" "Lettera bruciata" "Our Last Song Together" "Laughter in the Rain" "The Immigrant" "That's When the Music Takes Me" "Bad Blood" "Love in the Shadows" "Amarillo" "Should've Never Let You Go" "Your Precious Love" "Rhythm of the Rain"
Other songs	"Stupid Cupid" "Fallin'" "Frankie" "Where the Boys Are" "Workin' On a Groovy Thing" "Rainy Jane" "Puppet Man" "Time Waits for No One" "One Day of Your Life" "Summer Symphony" "One More Mountain to Climb" "Ring Ring" "Solitaire" "Don't Hide Your Love" "The Other Side of Me" "The Way I Am" "Sad Eyes" "Love Will Keep Us Together" "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" "You Never Done It Like That"
Related articles	Discography Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam The Tokens Food Rocks

show v t Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
1950s	"Catch a Falling Star" – Perry Como (1959)
1960s	Come Dance with Me! – Frank Sinatra (1960) "Georgia on My Mind" – Ray Charles / The Genius of Ray Charles – Ray Charles (1961) "Lollipops and Roses" – Jack Jones (1962) "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" – Tony Bennett (1963) "Wives and Lovers" – Jack Jones (1964) "Hello, Dolly!" – Louis Armstrong (1965) "It Was a Very Good Year" – Frank Sinatra (1966) "Strangers in the Night" – Frank Sinatra (1967) "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" – Glen Campbell (1968) "Light My Fire" – José Feliciano (1969)
1970s	"Everybody's Talkin'" – Harry Nilsson (1970) "Everything Is Beautiful" – Ray Stevens (1971) "You've Got a Friend" – James Taylor (1972) "Without You" – Harry Nilsson (1973) "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" – Stevie Wonder (1974) Fulfillingness' First Finale – Stevie Wonder (1975) Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon (1976) Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder (1977) "Handy Man" – James Taylor (1978) "Copacabana (At the Copa)" – Barry Manilow (1979)
1980s	52nd Street – Billy Joel (1980) "This Is It" – Kenny Loggins (1981) Breakin' Away – Al Jarreau (1982) "Truly" – Lionel Richie (1983) Thriller – Michael Jackson (1984) "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" – Phil Collins (1985) No Jacket Required – Phil Collins (1986) "Higher Love" – Steve Winwood (1987) Bring On the Night – Sting (1988) "Don't Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (1989)
1990s	"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" – Michael Bolton (1990) "Oh, Pretty Woman (live 1987)" – Roy Orbison (1991) "When a Man Loves a Woman" – Michael Bolton (1992) "Tears in Heaven" – Eric Clapton (1993) "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" – Sting (1994) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John (1995) "Kiss from a Rose" – Seal (1996) "Change the World" – Eric Clapton (1997) "Candle in the Wind 1997" – Elton John (1998) "My Father's Eyes" – Eric Clapton (1999)
2000s	"Brand New Day" – Sting (2000) "She Walks This Earth" – Sting (2001) "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – James Taylor (2002) "Your Body Is a Wonderland" – John Mayer (2003) "Cry Me a River" – Justin Timberlake (2004) "Daughters" – John Mayer (2005) "From the Bottom of My Heart" – Stevie Wonder (2006) "Waiting on the World to Change" – John Mayer (2007) "What Goes Around... Comes Around" – Justin Timberlake (2008) "Say" – John Mayer (2009)
2010s	"Make It Mine" – Jason Mraz (2010) "Just the Way You Are" – Bruno Mars (2011)