Meanwhile, the song rose to number one in the UK Singles Chart, and most of Europe.

By the week ending July 1, 1967, it reached the number four spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, where it remained for four consecutive weeks. Released on May 13, 1967, the song was an instant hit. ĭifferent issues of the recording use slightly different titles, including: 'San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)' 'San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)' and 'San Francisco 'Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair''.

The song, which tells the listeners, 'If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair', is credited with bringing thousands of young people to San Francisco, California, during the late 1960s. It is one of the first major hits in popular music industry to use vi–IV–I–V chord progression, a variant of I–V–vi–IV progression, which has seen enormous popularity in recent years, in pop music, as well as in orchestral music. To smooth things over, Phillips wrote a song, 'San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair).' Phillips reported writing the song in about 20 minutes. McKenzie's version has been called 'the unofficial anthem of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, including the Hippie, Anti-Vietnam War and Flower power movements.' The song has also been widely regarded as a defining song of the Summer of Love along with the Beatles, ' All You Need Is Love'.Īccording to Paul Ingles of NPR, '.local authorities in Monterey were starting to get cold feet over the prospect of their town being overrun by hippies. In Ireland, it was number one for one week, in New Zealand the song spent five weeks at number one, and in Germany it was six weeks at number one. The song reached the fourth position on the US charts and the number one spot on the UK charts. Bass guitar was supplied by session musician Joe Osborn. Coleman played orchestra bells and chimes. John Phillips played guitar on the recording and session musician Gary L. It was produced and released in May 1967 by Phillips and Lou Adler, who used it to promote their Monterey International Pop Music Festival held in June of that year. ' San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)' is an American pop music song, written by John Phillips, and sung by Scott McKenzie.

' San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)' From the album The Voice of Scott McKenzie

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