The Teenage Idols’ Bold Spiritual Leap
In the early 1970s, the name The Osmonds conjured images of dazzling smiles, matching outfits, and bubblegum-pop perfection. They were the epitome of squeaky-clean teen idols, with hits like “One Bad Apple” and “Down by the Lazy River” ruling the airwaves. Yet, beneath the wholesome image was a rock band straining to be taken seriously—to evolve beyond the manufactured sound and express something truly personal. This simmering ambition erupted in 1973 with the release of their fifth studio album, the incredibly ambitious concept album, The Plan. And nestled within that complex narrative was a track that showed the depth of their commitment and their faith: the powerful, pleading song, “Are You Up There.”
“Are You Up There” was not released as a standalone A-side single, which explains its absence from the main pop charts, but it was featured as the B-side to the album’s second single, “Goin’ Home” (sometimes listed as “Goin’ Home / Are You Up There?”), which achieved a respectable peak of Number 4 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1973. However, to judge the song by single sales alone is to miss the point entirely. This song was a cornerstone of The Plan album, a sprawling, deeply personal, and often surprisingly progressive rock effort that attempted to explain the fundamental tenets of their Latter-day Saint (Mormon) faith to a global audience. The album itself, released on MGM/Kolob Records, managed to reach Number 58 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart and a more impressive Number 6 on the UK Albums Chart.
The true story behind The Plan and songs like “Are You Up There” is a testament to the brothers’ audacity. Tired of being told what to record, the older brothers—Alan, Wayne, and Merrill—took complete creative control, writing and producing an entire rock opera themselves. The project was a massive gamble, a defiant pivot from teeny-bopper pop to serious, progressive rock tackling profound spiritual questions. “Are You Up There” is arguably the album’s most direct and emotional moment. Led by Merrill Osmond’s signature, passionate lead vocal, the song is a naked, desperate conversation with God. It expresses the confusion, self-doubt, and genuine struggle to maintain faith amidst the pressures and trials of life, fame, and the very concept of existence. It is a moment of profound spiritual vulnerability, asking why the world is the way it is and seeking reassurance from a higher power.
For those of us who followed their journey from the variety show stage to the hard-rocking concerts, “Are You Up There” was a revelatory piece of music. It offered a glimpse past the blinding spotlights and into the genuine, questioning hearts of young men carrying the immense weight of their family’s success and the scrutiny of their faith. The track’s heavy, almost orchestral arrangement, with its layered vocals and dramatic pace, demonstrated that The Osmonds could command a sonic landscape far removed from their earlier, lighter fare, aligning them more closely with acts like The Moody Blues or even their own Crazy Horses era experimentation. It stands as a surprisingly heavy, deeply reflective piece of music, proving that even the biggest teen idols of the 1970s were capable of wrestling with life’s most profound questions—and that they were willing to risk their entire career to share that struggle with us.
Oldies Songs