“The Beat Goes On” Updated Lyrics

A parody of a hit song by Sonny & Cher

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Most people know “Cher” as a woman with a powerful voice and striking appearance who gained fame with hit songs and movie roles. But did you realize Cher might not have made it without her first husband’s early guidance and partnership? As Cher told Billboard, “I knew what I wanted to do, but I never would’ve gotten there without Sonny.” ¹

Sonny & Cher were a popular American music and entertainment duo in the 1960s and 1970s. Their performances fused folk music lyrics with a rock ‘n roll beat and instrumentals.²

This story shares my update of the lyrics for one the duo’s most beloved songs. Before we get to that, I give some background about this famous couple and reveal why I revised the lyrics.

• Sonny, Cher, and Me

Salvatore “Sonny” Bono and Cherilyn Sarkisian (“Cher”) met at a coffee shop in 1963 and began a platonic friendship that evolved into a romantic relationship and business partnership.³ In 1965 the couple rocketed to stardom with “I Got You Babe,” which was #1 on the top 100 charts for 3 weeks.⁴ Sonny wrote songs, managed the business, and sometimes sang with Cher, who blossomed as a singer. Soon they were recording songs together and eventually starred in a TV show.⁵