This song hit #1 on US charts in 1976 and won the Starland Vocal Band a couple of Grammys. It's not hard to see why. It has that soft country rock sound that became popular in the early 70s. Two of the originators of the band, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, had written for John Denver, so they let their country rock roots shine through in "Afternoon Delight."
The 70s is often thought of as a "free love" decade and this song is about folks having blissful relations on one sunny afternoon. Told in a cheery, demure way, of course. Or, it can be interpreted as just enjoying an afternoon doing anything you enjoy. The afternoon is fleeting, like the seasons, so enjoy it while you can. This simple, joyous song relays this message effortlessly.
You can learn more about Starland Vocal Band here:
About the Curator - Sonya Alexander
After graduating from UCLA, Sonya trained to be a talent agent. After realizing she belonged on the creative end, she started freelance writing, covering film festivals for Los Angeles local papers. She's written about film, video games, global affairs, wildlife conservation and, most recently, music. She specializes in classic rock, classic soul, blues, classic country, classical and world music and is tri-coastal, residing in Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans.