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Boogie Wonderland
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Boogie Wonderland
| cover = EarthWindAndFireWithTheEmotionBoogieWonderland7InchSingleCover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions
| album = I Am
| B-side = Boogie Wonderland (Instrumental) (Vinyl)
| released = May 6, 1979
| recorded = 1978
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 4:49 (LP/7") 9:21 (12")
| label =
| writer =
| producer =
| chronology = Earth, Wind & Fire
| prev_title = September
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = After the Love Has Gone
| next_year = 1979
| misc =
}}
"'Boogie Wonderland'" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions, released in April 1979 on Columbia Records as the first single from their ninth album, 'I Am' (1979). The song peaked at number 14 on the US 'Billboard' dance chart, number six on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, and number two on the 'Billboard' Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and Gold in the UK by the BPI. "Boogie Wonderland" was Grammy nominated in the categories of Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording.
Overview
The song was composed by Allee Willis with Jon LindWillis, Allee (25 November 2018). [https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/how-i-wrote-boogie-wonderland-by-allee-willis/43910 "How I wrote 'Boogie Wonderland'"] 'Songwritingmagazine.co.uk'. Retrieved 30 January 2020. and produced by EWF leader Maurice White and Al McKay.
Critical reception
Rose Riggins of Gannett wrote "Boogie Wonderland is the hit. But it is more than just an average pop song. The song is an exploration is of times spent at house parties and at discos, when you wanted to be disco queen or king and the spotlight just wouldn't focus on you. You wonder why and look into the mirror and it says, Uh, Uh, baby it don't work you dance to shake the hurt. Like so many of EWFs hits, Boogie Wonderland, is bolstered by the blazing horns that have become the groups trademark. Teamed up with the talented vocal group the Emotions, EWF has created a song that will join the ranks of such past hits as Mighty Mighty, Getaway, Fantasy and September." Dave Marsh of 'Rolling Stone' said Maurice White "takes simple dance formulas like 'Boogie Wonderland' and finds fresh possibilities within them."
Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic stated "one of the few records that paired two full-fledged groups successfully, the combination of EWF and the Emotions worked wonders here and it remains a classic of the period." Allen Weiner of 'Morning Call' wrote "Boogie Wonderland is the LP's most commercial tune, a tribute to both jazz/soul and disco fans that is pulsating and pleasing." Ace Adams of the 'New York Daily News' also found that "The Emotions' Boogie Wonderland gets Earth, Wind & Fire off to a flying start on this album". 'Cash Box' called it a "a standout pop dance track," saying that "sharp, slamming horn intro segues into bright backup singing by the Emotions, blending in perfectly with E, W & F leader Maurice White's vocal."
Covers
* "Boogie Wonderland" was the basis for the dance song "I'm Alive" by Stretch & Vern present "Maddog"; the song reached number six in the UK in September 1996.
Appearances in other media
* "Boogie Wonderland" has been featured in the American films 'Roller Boogie', ' Skatetown USA', 'Madagascar', 'Happy Feet', 'Don't Look Under the Bed', 'Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure', 'The Mirror Has Two Faces', 'Caddyshack' and 'The Nice Guys', as well as the French films 'The Intouchables' and 'Disco'.
* It was in the Season 9 episode A.A.R.M of U.S. TV series 'The Office'.
* A remix of the song was used in the arcade game 'Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX', and the original version appeared later in 'Hottest Party 3'.
* The song is used in the Australian play, 'Priscilla: the Musical'.
* The song appeared in the video games, 'Rabbids Go Home' and 'Just Dance 3'.
* The song is used as the theme for Pro Wrestling Noah wrestler Muhammad Yone.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Personnel
* Maurice White - lead and background vocals, drums, kalimba
* Philip Bailey - background vocals, congas, percussion
* Verdine White - bass
* Ralph Johnson - percussion
* Al McKay & Marlo Henderson - guitar
* Larry Dunn - Piano & Oberheim and Moog Synthesizers
* Fred White - drums
* Don Myrick - alto, tenor, and baritone Saxophones
* The Emotions - backing vocals
* Daniel Smith, Delores Bing, Jacqueline Lustgarten, Jan Kelley, John Walz, Kevan Torfeh, Larry Corbett, Miguel Martinez - cello
* Barbara Korn, Sidney Muldrow, Richard Perissi, Marilyn Robinson - french horn
* George Bohanon, Garnett Brown, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Louis Satterfield, Benjamin Powell, Maurice Spears - trombone
* Johnny Graham - guitar
* Fred Jackson, Jr., Herman Riley, Jerome Richardson - Additional Saxophones
* Richard Lepore - Timpani
* Oscar Brashear, Bobby Bryant, Michael Harris, Jerry Hey, Elmer Brown, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Steve Madaio - trumpets
* James Ross, Laurie Woods, Linda Lipsett, Marilyn Baker, Rollice Dale, Virginia Majewski - viola
* Anton Sen, Sherman Bryana, Carl LaMagna, Cynthia Kovaks, Gina Kronstadt, Haim Shtrum, Harris Goldman, Henry Ferber, Henry Roth, Ilkka Talvi, Jack Gootkin, Jerome Reisler, Jerome Webster, Joseph Goodman, Joseph Livoti, Judith Talvi, Leeana Sherman, Marcy Dicterow, Pamela Gates, Pavel Farkas, Ronald Clarck, Rosmen Torfeh, Sheldon Sanov, William Henderson - violin
* Steve Poskitt - step in drummer for Boogie Wonderland recording
Certifications
Accolades
The information regarding accolades attributed to "Boogie Wonderland" is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net.
(*) designates lists that are unordered.
References
Category:Earth, Wind & Fire songs
Category:The Emotions songs
Category:1979 songs
Category:1979 singles
Category:Songs written by Allee Willis
Category:Songs written by Jon Lind
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Songs about dancing
Category:Disco songs
Category:Vocal collaborations
Category:Song recordings produced by Maurice White
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