Marie Osmond – Paper Roses, is a popular song written and composed by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre. It first was a top five hit in 1960 for Anita Bryant. Marie Osmond recorded it in 1973 and took her version to number one on the US country chart.
In 1973, Marie Osmond’s brothers, The Osmonds, were already well-established as stars in the pop music world and as teen idols (especially Donny). The Osmonds’ management convinced Marie Osmond to try her hand at singing as well, and soon she was performing with her brothers on tour, but not officially as a member. When she began to record, she took a different tack from her brothers musically: she decided to try to make it big in country music. Osmond was soon signed to MGM Records in Los Angeles, California.
Mike Curb, who had overseen Donny Osmond’s solo hit covers of oldies like “Go Away Little Girl,” “Puppy Love,” “Sweet and Innocent,” and “Hey Girl,” used the same approach with Marie Osmond. According to Curb in the book Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits by Fred Bronson, when Curb was looking for country songs for her to record for her first album, Sonny James suggested that Osmond sing “Paper Roses.”
Marie Osmond – Paper Roses
From the album Paper Roses
B-side “Least of All You”
Released August 25, 1973
Recorded June 7, 1973
Genre Country pop
Length 2:38
Label MGM 2006 315
Songwriter(s) Fred Spielman, Janice Torre
Producer(s) Sonny James
COUNTRYPEDIA
Marie Osmond – Paper Roses Lyrics
I realize the way your eyes deceived me
With tender looks that I mistook for love
So take away the flowers that you gave me
And send the kind that you remind me of
Paper roses
Paper roses
Oh, how real
Those roses seem to be
But they’re only imitation
Like your imitation love for me
I thought that you would be a perfect lover
You seemed so full of sweetness at the start
But like a big red rose that’s made of paper
There isn’t any sweetness in your heart
Paper roses
Paper roses
Oh, how real
Those roses seem to be
But they’re only imitation
Like your imitation love for me
GENIUS
