Changes by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne

Album: Changes (2003)

Charted: 1

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Songfacts®:

This duet between Ozzy Osbourne and his daughter Kelly is a cover of a 1972 song by Ozzy's group Black Sabbath. The original version is a straight-up heartbreaker inspired by the divorce drummer Bill Ward was going through. The Ozzy and Kelly duet has some of the lyrics changed to make it a song about a father and daughter drifting apart as she grows into adulthood.
"Changes" got a lot of attention thanks to the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which went on the air in 2002 and proved captivating. We learned that Ozzy Osbourne deals with the same quotidian challenges many of us face, including dealing with his teenage daughter, Kelly, who was 19 when the song was released. The song, in a way, was an extension of the series, a very real expression of the Ozzy-Kelly dynamic as she expressed her independence and Ozzy pushed back out of concern. The Osbournes made it clear that Ozzy was a very loving (if highly dysfunctional) dad.

Thanks in large part to the show, "Changes" was a #1 hit in the UK. In America, it was released only as a promotional single so it didn't chart.
The same day "Changes" was released as a single - December 8, 2003 - Ozzy crashed his ATV. He was badly hurt, but made a full recovery.
Kelly Osbourne released her debut single, a cover of Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach," a year earlier in 2002. Heavily promoted on The Osbournes, it did well, especially in the UK where it went to #3. That year, the song was included on her debut album, Shut Up, which in 2003 was reissued as Changes with the song "Changes" tacked on.

Kelly released another album in 2005 but then became more of an all-purpose celebrity, appearing on various reality and competition shows as a host, judge or contestant.
The original Black Sabbath version of "Changes" used a keyboard instrument called a Mellotron to create the string instrument sounds via tape loops. This new version used a traditional string section, arranged by Jim Cox, who also played the piano on the track.
Mark Hudson produced this song. He was a TV and singing sensation in the '70s as part of The Hudson Brothers, and in the '90s he co-wrote the Aerosmith song "Livin' On The Edge."
This was not the first father/daughter collaboration to top the UK chart. Frank and Nancy Sinatra reached #1 with "Somethin' Stupid" in 1967.
For the original 1972 version, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi stayed up all night snorting cocaine and learning piano while the band was in LA recording Vol. 4. Ozzy came in and heard the piano part that Iommi had written, and liked it. Ozzy started singing and, on the final recorded version, Geezer played the Mellotron.
The song was covered by American soul singer Charles Bradley in 2013 as a Record Store Day single and later became the title track and cornerstone of his third album. Bradley's version is used as the theme for the adult animated Netflix series Big Mouth.

Comments: 22

Ben C from AlbuquerqueMy wife unexpectedly passed away from a brain aneurysm recently. She was my best friend and life partner, I love her so. This song really hits me in a deep and true place. I think singing along to "I'm going through changes" helps me process what's going on in my life. Had it on repeat for some bits of a road trip recently. Thank you Ozzy and Black Sabbath for this music
Ricky Johnson from Ohsweken, Ontario CanadaNo apologies but I adamantly prefer the Black Sabbath version MUCH more thank you very much!
T...from Texas from Austin Area Of TexasLoved Ozzy and Kelly's version couldn't stop crying as it hit the heart on so many levels for me.When they heard it together by the Choir together on Ozzy & Jack's Detours w/ Kelly,Kelly & Ozzy were immediately effective by it and what it represented for them warmed my heart.
Brenda from NyAbsolutely love Ozzy and Kelly singing this!
AnonymousMy favorite song you 2 are amazing together
Amanda from Tennessee 15 days from now my BabyGirl is getting married. Instead of a father/daughter dance she wants a mother/daughter dance. She’s picked this song for us. It’s a sad song but it fits. A little over a year ago I found her lifeless. She tried ending her life not her first time doing so over a 5 year span. Every time I found her only 3 of them I fought to bring her back.
This song fits for us. Every time I told her I wasn’t going to lose my best friend. So much has changed she’s not just my old best friend I once knew. She’s grown into a strong young woman and I couldn’t be more happy for her.
Ricky from Ohsweken, Ontario CanadaAgreed Crizzle. 'Tis a crime indeed.
Sara from Rutherfordton, NcMy dad died 4 years ago in December, I was only 13 years old and had lost my best friend from M.S. He was one of the biggest Ozzy Osbourne fan that I knew/k now and when I first heard this song I could not believe it. Thank you Kelly and Ozzy for singing this song together. It's amazing.
Crizzle from Rincon, GaI can't beleive the Sabbath version of Changes isn't on this site.
Rick from Dallas, TxI think both versions of "CHANGES" are very good to say the least. I was not much of an Ozzy or Black Sabbath fan and much less a fan of Osbourne T.V. show. I heard these 2 versions less than a year a go and it totally hit home base with me. My daughter is growing up to be a young lady and I know that soon she will be moving on and my DAD just passed a few months before I heard this song. It has brought much much relief to my my sadness from my DAD's passing but I must let go, because we all go through "CHANGES"!
Todd from Toronto, CanadaI figured this song would be about ozzy's first wife whom he divorced in the late seventies and wasnt this one of the last black sabbaths last songs, well according to a book i have it is(the book is by ozzy)
Jay from Whittier, CaI'm a huge Black Sabbath fan and this is one of my favorite songs. Both lyrics and music were written by Tony Iommi. Geezer Butler wrote "Junior's Eyes" about Ozzys father. Ozzy wrote "Who Are You" and "Am I Going Insane (Radio)". Personally I think the Kelly/Ozzy duet is a poor version of the song due to the fact that Kelly had to drop an octave and couldn't hit the notes on the chorus, and also that song is driven by string quartet instead of piano. Also this song came out in 72, Ozzy's father passed away in 78, so there is no way the song is about his dad.
Spencer from Mcbride, Canadaexactly mike....just because your on tv, doesnt mean people like you
Garrett from Clermont, FlOzzy may not have written this song but his vocals on the original version were awesome. Ozzy Osbourne rocks forever
Mike from Warwick, RiI can't beleive Kelly actually put out an album..Hey Osbourne family, this is life calling, we love Ozzy but your 15 minutes is over.
Mark from Los Angeles, CaOzzy, from my sources, did not write this song.
Most people believe Ozzy was Black Sabbath's lyricist, but he was not. Geezer Butler wrote all Sabbath's lyrics. Ozzy did write "Junior's Eyes" about his father, and "I'm Going Insane", but, again did not write "Changes".
Nathan from Defiance, OhOzzie has been in a major downslide the last twenty years. First he had no hits, then Kelly was born.
Robert from Chicago, Ilthis was a crappy song with black sabbath back in the 70s and kelly has just further &%$#ed it up. Kelly Osbourne sung a song where she said Papa Dont Preach, she shoulda sang a song called Daughter Dont Sing.
Lyzette from Moorpark, Cathis is an amazing song. just remove kelly's voice and i'd buy it!!
Catherine from London, Englandit was orginally written by ozzy about/for his father
Billy Ross from Hagerstown, Mdwhat a sad song
Jennifer from Timmins, CanadaI really love this song. It fits for my dad and I, and I am sure for alot of other fathers and daughters out there.
thanks Ozzy and Kelly

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