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Fame (Irene Cara song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Fame'" is a pop song, written by Michael Gore (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics) and released in 1980, that achieved chart success as the theme song to the 'Fame' film and TV series. The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original film. It was also her debut single as a recording artist. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1980, and the Golden Globe Award the same year. In 2004, it finished at number 51 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.
History
Irene Cara played the role of Coco Hernandez in the movie 'Fame' and sang the vocals for the theme song. The music for the song was by Michael Gore and the lyrics were by Dean Pitchford. The song earned Cara a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The movie became an "overnight sensation". The song won an Oscar for best film theme song in 1981. In July 1982, it was re-released on the back of the successful TV series and topped the charts in several countries, including the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The movie was adapted into a TV series, which achieved notable ratings success in the latter country, and stage show which toured Europe.
'Fame' theme song
The song was later used as the theme song for the 'Fame' television series, which aired from 1982 to 1987. It was also used in other TV shows related to 'Fame'.
Personnel
*Irene Cara lead vocals, backing vocals
*Rob Mounsey keyboards, piano
* Leon Pendarvis keyboards, arrangements
*Kenneth Bichel synthesizer
*Neil Jason bass guitar
*Elliott Randall guitar solo
*David Spinozza, Jeff Mironov guitar
*Yogi Horton drums
*Jimmy Maelen, Crusher Bennet percussion
*Louise Bethune, Peggie Blue, Ivonne Lewis, Ullanda McCullough, Deborah McDuffie, Vicki Sue Robinson, Ann E. Sutton, Luther Vandross backing vocals
Charts
"Fame" rose to number four on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in September 1980. It also reached number one on the 'Billboard' dance chart for one week. The song was re-released in the United Kingdom in July 1982, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart for three weeks following the debut of the 'Fame' TV series on the British television network BBC One the previous month, becoming Britain's third best-selling song of 1982 behind "Eye of The Tiger" by Survivor and "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express, the latter of which dethroned "Fame" from the top of the UK Singles Chart. It has over sold 1.07 million copies in Britain. .
The song also reached number one in Flanders, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and number three in Australia and Sweden.
Weekly singles charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
See also
* Remember (Fame) - the Japanese-language cover by pop duo Pink Lady
* List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1983
* List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom
* List of number-one dance singles of 1980 (U.S.)
* List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s
* List of number-one singles in 1982 (New Zealand)
References
Category:1980s ballads
Category:1980 debut singles
Category:1980 songs
Category:Alvin and the Chipmunks songs
Category:Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songs
Category:Best Original Song Golden Globe winning songs
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Irene Cara songs
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Oricon International Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:RCA Records singles
Category:RSO Records singles
Category:Songs written for films
Category:Songs with music by Michael Gore
Category:Songs written by Dean Pitchford
Category:Television drama theme songs
Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
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