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Celebration (Kool & the Gang song)

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"Celebration"
File:Celebration by kool and the gang US single, mark 19 (copy 1).png
One of side-A labels of 1980 US single
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Celebrate!
B-side"Morning Star"
Released1980
GenrePost-disco[1]
Length3:39 (Single Version)
4:17 (Video Version)
5:00 (Album Version)
LabelDe-Lite
Songwriter(s)
  • Ronald Nathan Bell
  • Claydes Charles Smith
  • George Melvin Brown
  • James "J.T." Taylor
  • Robert Spike Mickens
  • Earl Eugene Toon Jr.
  • Dennis Ronald Thomas
  • Robert Earl Bell
  • Eumir Deodato
Producer(s)
  • Eumir Deodato
  • Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Hangin' Out"
(1980) 		"Celebration"
(1980) 		"Jones vs. Jones"
(1981)
Music video
"Celebration" on YouTube

"Celebration" is a 1980 song by American band Kool & the Gang. Released as the first single from their twelfth album, Celebrate!, it was the band's first and only single to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

In 2021, the Library of Congress selected "Celebration" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally historically or aesthetically significant".[2]

Origins[]

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

"{{{1}}}"

Composition[]

"Celebration" is in the key of A♭ in common time and was written as a collaboration by the whole band.[3] The song moves at a tempo of 123 beats per minute.[4] The group's vocals span from ATemplate:Flat3 to ETemplate:Flat5.[3]

Commercial performance[]

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

By late 1980, the song had also reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Dance and R&B charts. The song was featured heavily on the radio throughout the year. It has since been frequently used in weddings and parties,[5] and is a popular anthem for sporting events. In 1981, it was commonly played by radio stations in honor of the release of US hostages from captivity in Iran.[6] It was also an international hit, reaching No. 7 in the United Kingdom on November 29, 1980, spending 13 weeks in the chart.

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Platinum 150,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[35] Gold Expression error: Missing operand for *.^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[37] Platinum 2,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Dragon version[]

"Celebration"
Single by Dragon
from the album Bondi Road
B-side"Blue Blue is the Radio"
Released1987
Length3:56
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Ronald Nathan Bell
  • Claydes Charles Smith
  • George Melvin Brown
  • James "J.T." Taylor
  • Robert Spike Mickens
  • Earl Eugene Toon Jr.
  • Dennis Ronald Thomas
  • Robert Earl Bell
  • Eumir Deodato
Producer(s)David Hirschfelder
Dragon singles chronology
"Nothing to Lose"
(1987) 		"Celebration"
(1987) 		"River"
(1988)

"Celebration" was covered in 1987 and released as a single by the New Zealand/Australian band Dragon. 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 Australian Kent Music Report.

Charts[]

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[38] 11

Kylie Minogue version[]

"Celebration"
File:Kylie Minogue - Celebration.png
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Greatest Hits
B-side
  • "Let's Get to It"
  • "Too Much of a Good Thing"
Released1992
Length3:57
LabelPWL
Songwriter(s)
  • Donna Johnson
  • Claydes Charles Smith
  • Earl Eugene Toon Jr.
  • James "J.T." Taylor
  • Ronald Nathan Bell
  • George Melvin Brown
  • Dennis Ronald Thomas
  • Eumir Deodato
  • Robert Spike Mickens
  • Robert Earl Bell
Producer(s)
  • Phil Harding
  • Ian Curnow
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)"
(1992) 		"Celebration"
(1992) 		"Confide in Me"
(1994)
Music video
"Celebration" on YouTube

"Celebration" was covered as a 1992 single by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue. It was recorded by Minogue in 1991 for her 4th studio album, Let's Get to It, but it was not included on the album's release. However, it later appeared on the 1992 Greatest Hits album and was released as the second single. It peaked at no. 20 in the UK Singles Chart and at no. 21 in Australia. One of Minogue's least commercially popular singles, it has been cited many times as one of her favorite songs, and unlike "Finer Feelings" and "What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)", "Celebration" was included on her greatest hits compilation albums Ultimate Kylie, The Best of Kylie Minogue and Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection. The techno-rave mix of the track is featured on the Kylie's Non-Stop History 50+1 album. It was also Minogue's last single with PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman. The music video was filmed in Rio de Janeiro.

Live performances[]

Minogue performed the song on the following concert tours:

  • On a Night Like This Tour
  • Kylie Summer 2015 Tour
  • A Kylie Christmas 2015

The song was also performed on:

Formats and track listings[]

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of Minogue's version of "Celebration".

  • 7" single
  1. "Celebration"
  2. "Let's Get to It" – 3:50
  • 12" 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[]

Chart (1992–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[39] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[42] 20
UK Dance (Music Week)[43] 25

See also[]

  • List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1981
  • List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1981
  • List of number-one dance singles of 1980 (U.S.)
  • List of number-one singles of 1981 (Canada)
  • List of number-one singles from the 1980s (New Zealand)
  • List of number-one R&B singles of 1980 (U.S.)
  • List of post-disco artists and songs

References[]

  1. ↑ "Kool & The Gang – Gangthology". Uncut. June 1, 2003. http://www.uncut.co.uk/kool-the-gang/kool-the-gang-gangthology-review. Retrieved December 17, 2014. 
  2. ↑ "Complete National Recording Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved March 24, 2021. {{cite web}}:
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Celebration". Sheet Music Direct. Retrieved May 23, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ "Celebration – Kool & The Gang". Spot on Track. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017. {{cite web}}:
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 287. ISBN 0-87586-207-1. https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean. 
  6. ↑ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 536. ISBN 978-0-82307-677-2. 
  7. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2013. {{cite web}}:
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kool & The Gang – Celebration" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0319." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc . Select "Kool & the Gang" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved May 13, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  11. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Celebration". Irish Singles Chart.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kool & The Gang – Celebration" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. ↑ "Charts.nz – Kool & The Gang – Celebration". Top 40 Singles.
  15. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (K)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved August 1, 2013. {{cite web}}:
  16. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kool & The Gang – Celebration". Swiss Singles Chart.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. ↑ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  19. ↑ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  20. ↑ "Celebrate! – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2013. {{cite web}}:
  21. ↑ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending FEBRUARY 14, 1981". Cash Box. http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19810214.html. 
  23. ↑ "Record World Singles". Record World: 27. February 21, 1981. See last week peak position. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/80s/81/RW-1981-02-21.pdf. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  24. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kool & The Gang – Celebration". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kool & The Gang – Celebration" (in French). Les classement single.
  27. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1981" . Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  28. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of 1981". RPM 35 (22). December 26, 1981. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4689&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4689.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4689. Retrieved May 13, 2016. 
  29. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981" . Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  30. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981" . Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  31. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1981". Rock.co.za. Retrieved June 18, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1981". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved June 18, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  33. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981". Cash Box. http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html. 
  34. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". Music Canada. {{cite web}}:
  35. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". IFPI Denmark. {{cite web}}:
  36. ↑ "British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". British Phonographic Industry. {{cite web}}: Enter Celebration in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Click Go
  37. ↑ "American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". Recording Industry Association of America. {{cite web}}: If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  38. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. 
  39. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Kylie Minogue – Celebration". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  40. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kylie Minogue – Celebration" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  41. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Celebration". Irish Singles Chart.
  42. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  43. ↑ "Top 60 Dance Singles". Music Week: 20. November 28, 1992. https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-11-28.pdf. Retrieved October 6, 2020. 

Template:Kool & the Gang Template:Dragon (band) Template:Kylie Minogue singles

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