Wikipedia

Celebration (Kool & the Gang song)

"Celebration"is a 1980 song by American bandKool & the Gang.Released as the first single from their twelfth album,Celebrate!(1980), it was the band's first and only single to reach No. 1 on theUSBillboardHot 100.In 2016, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[3]

"Celebration"
Side-A label of 1980 US single
SinglebyKool & the Gang
from the albumCelebrate!
B-side"Morning Star"
ReleasedOctober 1980
RecordedJanuary–March 1980
StudioHouse of Music,West Orange, New Jersey
Genre
Length3:42(7-inch version)
4:17 (video version)
5:00 (12-inch / album version)
LabelDe-Lite
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Eumir Deodato
  • Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gangsingles chronology
"Hangin' Out"
(1980) 		"Celebration"
(1980) 		"Take It to the Top"
(1980)
Music video
"Celebration"onYouTube

In 2021, theLibrary of Congressselected "Celebration" for preservation in theNational Recording Registryfor being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".[4]

Origins

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Co-founderRonald Bell,the group's saxophonist and musical arranger, explained the origins of the song;

The initial idea came from theQuran.I was reading the passage, whereGodwas creatingAdam,and theangelswere celebrating and singing praises. That inspired me to write the basic chords, the line, 'Everyone around the world, come on, celebration.'[5]

Composition

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"Celebration" is in theA♭Mixolydian modeincommon timeand was written as a collaboration by the whole band.[6]The song moves at atempoof 123 beats per minute.[7]The group's vocals span from A♭3to E♭5.[6]

Critical reception

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Record Worldcalled the song: "One big party hook with cool chorus chants & a boss bass."[8]

Commercial performance

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"Celebration" reached No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100chart on February 7, 1981, and held that position for two weeks before Dolly Parton's "9 to 5"overtook it.[9]It remains the band's onlyBillboardNo. 1 hit.

By late 1980, the song had also reached No. 1 on both theBillboardDanceandR&Bcharts. The song was featured heavily on the radio throughout the year. It has since been frequently used in weddings and parties,[9]and is a popular anthem for sporting events, including serving as the theme song for theSt. Louis Cardinalsafter winning the1982 World Series.In 1981, it was commonly played by radio stations in honor of the release ofUS hostages from captivity in Iran.[10]It was also an international hit, reaching No. 7 in theUnited Kingdomon November 29, 1980, spending 13 weeks in the chart.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Platinum 150,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[40] Gold 45,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

^Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Dragon version

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"Celebration"
SinglebyDragon
from the albumBondi Road
B-side"Blue Blue Is the Radio"
ReleasedNovember 1987
Length3:56
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)David Hirschfelder
Dragonsingles chronology
"Nothing to Lose"
(1987) 		"Celebration"
(1987) 		"River"
(1988)
Music video
"Celebration"onYouTube

"Celebration" was covered in 1987 and released as a single by New Zealand-Australian bandDragon.It was released as the lead single from the band's ninth studio album,Bondi Road(1989). The song peaked at number 11 on the AustralianKent Music Report.

Charts

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Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[44] 11

Kylie Minogue version

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"Celebration"
SinglebyKylie Minogue
from the albumGreatest Hits
B-side
  • "Let's Get to It"
  • "Too Much of a Good Thing"
ReleasedNovember 16, 1992(1992-11-16)[45]
StudioPWL (London)
Length4:06
LabelPWL
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Phil Harding
  • Ian Curnow
Kylie Minoguesingles chronology
"What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)"
(1992) 		"Celebration"
(1992) 		"Confide in Me"
(1994)
Music video
"Celebration"onYouTube

"Celebration" was covered by Australian singer and songwriterKylie Minogue,who originally recorded it for her fourth studio album,Let's Get to It,but it was not included on the album's release.[46]It later appeared on her 1992Greatest Hitsalbum and was released as its second single on 16 November 1992. It peaked at No. 20 on theUK Singles Chartand at No. 21 in Australia. "Celebration" has been cited many times as one of Minogue's favorite songs, and it was included on her greatest hits albumsUltimate Kylie,The Best of Kylie Minogue,andStep Back in Time: The Definitive Collection.The techno-rave mix of the track is featured on theKylie's Non-Stop History 50+1album. It was also Minogue's last single withPWLandStock Aitken Waterman.[46]

Formats and track listings

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  • 7-inch single
  1. "Celebration"
  2. "Let's Get to It" – 3:50
  • 12-inch single
  1. "Celebration"(Have a Party Mix)
  2. "Let's Get to It"(12 "Mix)– 4:52
  • CD single
  1. "Celebration"
  2. "Celebration"(Have a Party Mix)
  3. "Let's Get to It"(12 "Mix)– 4:52
  • Australian CD single
  1. "Celebration"
  2. "Celebration"(Have a Party Mix)
  3. "Too Much of a Good Thing"
  • Japanese CD maxi single
  1. "Celebration"
  2. "Celebration"(Have A Party Mix)
  3. "Celebration"(Techno RAVE Remix)
  4. "Let's Get To It"(7 "Mix)
  5. "Let's Get To It"(12 "Mix)

Charts

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Chart (1992–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[47] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50Flanders)[48] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[49] 11
UK Singles(OCC)[50] 20
UK Dance(Music Week)[51] 25
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[52] 53

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Kool & The Gang – Gangthology".Uncut.June 1, 2003.RetrievedDecember 17,2014.
  2. ^Smith, Troy L. (May 13, 2021)."Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best".Cleveland.com.RetrievedJanuary 30,2023.
  3. ^"Grammy Hall of Fame Award".www.grammy.com.RetrievedJuly 18,2023.
  4. ^"Complete National Recording Registry Listing".Library of Congress.RetrievedMarch 24,2021.
  5. ^Aidi, Hisham (December 9, 2014)."Did Coltrane say 'Allah Supreme'?".Al Jazeera.RetrievedFebruary 20,2019.
  6. ^ab"Celebration".Sheet Music Direct.RetrievedMay 23,2018.
  7. ^"Celebration – Kool & The Gang".Spot on Track.Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2017.RetrievedNovember 15,2017.
  8. ^"Hits of the Week"(PDF).Record World.October 11, 1980. p. 1.RetrievedFebruary 22,2023.
  9. ^abDean, Maury(2003).Rock N' Roll Gold Rush.Algora. p.287.ISBN0-87586-207-1.
  10. ^Bronson, Fred (2003).The Billboard Book of Number One Hits(5th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 536.ISBN978-0-82307-677-2.
  11. ^"Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989".Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien.RetrievedAugust 1,2013.
  12. ^"Kool & The Gang – Celebration "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  13. ^"Top RPM Singles: Issue 0319."RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  14. ^Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Kool & The Gang".Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF)(in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 135.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
  15. ^ab"Le Détail par Artiste".InfoDisc(in French). Select "Kool & the Gang" from the artist drop-down menu.RetrievedMay 13,2016.
  16. ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Celebration ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  17. ^"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1981"(in Dutch).Dutch Top 40.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  18. ^"Kool & The Gang – Celebration "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  19. ^"Kool & The Gang – Celebration ".Top 40 Singles.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  20. ^"South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (K)".Rock.co.za.RetrievedAugust 1,2013.
  21. ^"Kool & The Gang – Celebration ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  22. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  23. ^"Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.
  24. ^"Kool the Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)".Billboard.
  25. ^"Celebrate! – Awards".AllMusic.Archived fromthe originalon November 17, 2015.RetrievedJune 3,2013.
  26. ^"Kool the Gang Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.
  27. ^"CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending FEBRUARY 14, 1981".Cash Box.Archived fromthe originalon September 18, 2012.
  28. ^"Record World Singles"(PDF).Record World.February 21, 1981. p. 27. See last week peak position.RetrievedSeptember 9,2017.
  29. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Kool & The Gang – Celebration "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  30. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  31. ^"Kool & The Gang – Celebration "(in French).Les classement single.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  32. ^"Jaaroverzichten 1981"(in Dutch).Ultratop.Hung Medien.RetrievedJune 18,2014.
  33. ^"Top 100 Singles of 1981".RPM.Vol. 35, no. 22. December 26, 1981.RetrievedMay 13,2016.
  34. ^"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981"(in Dutch).Dutch Top 40.RetrievedMay 1,2016.
  35. ^"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981"(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Hung Medien.RetrievedJune 18,2014.
  36. ^"Top 20 Hit Singles of 1981".Rock.co.za.RetrievedJune 18,2014.
  37. ^"Top 100 Hits for 1981".The Longbored Surfer.RetrievedJune 18,2014.
  38. ^"The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981".Cash Box.Archived fromthe originalon September 18, 2012.
  39. ^"Canadian single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration".Music Canada.
  40. ^"Danish single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration".IFPI Danmark.RetrievedSeptember 25,2021.
  41. ^"Spanish single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration".El portal de Música.Productores de Música de España.RetrievedNovember 28,2024.
  42. ^"British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedJanuary 13,2023.
  43. ^"American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedDecember 9,2024.
  44. ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 94.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  45. ^"New Releases: Singles".Music Week.November 14, 1992. p. 25.
  46. ^ab"Ep 76: Did I Say Ti Amo, Last Thing On My Mind, Celebration and Slam Jam".Apple Podcasts.RetrievedSeptember 8,2024.
  47. ^"Kylie Minogue – Celebration ".ARIA Top 50 Singles.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  48. ^"Kylie Minogue – Celebration "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  49. ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Celebration ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  50. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  51. ^"Top 60 Dance Singles"(PDF).Music Week.November 28, 1992. p. 20.RetrievedOctober 6,2020.
  52. ^"European Hot 100"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 9, no. 50. December 12, 1992. p. 23.RetrievedJuly 24,2024.
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