Celebration (Kool & the Gang song)

"Celebration" is a 1980 song by American band Kool & 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 the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Celebration"
One of side-A labels of 1980 US single
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Celebrate!
B-side"Morning Star"
Released1980
StudioHouse of Music, West Orange, New Jersey
Genre
Length3:42 (7-inch version)
4:17 (Official Version)
5:00 (12-inch version)
LabelDe-Lite
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Eumir Deodato
  • Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Hangin' Out"
(1980)		 "Celebration"
(1980)		 "Take It to the Top"
(1980)
Music video
"Celebration" on YouTube

In 2016, "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[3]

In 2021, the Library of Congress selected "Celebration" for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally historically or aesthetically significant".[4]

Origins

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

"The initial idea came from the Quran. I was reading the passage, where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises. That inspired me to write the basic chords, the line, 'Everyone around the world, come on, celebration".[5]

Composition

"Celebration" is in the key of A♭ in common time and was written as a collaboration by the whole band.[6] The song moves at a tempo of 123 beats per minute.[7] The group's vocals span from A♭3 to E♭5.[6]

Critical reception

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

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.[9] 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,[9] and is a popular anthem for sporting events, including serving as the theme song for the St. Louis Cardinals after winning the 1982 World Series. In 1981, it was commonly played by radio stations in honor of the release of US hostages from captivity in Iran.[10] 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 CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Platinum 150,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[40] Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[42] Platinum 2,000,000^

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

Dragon version
"Celebration"
Single by Dragon
from the album Bondi Road
B-side"Blue Blue Is the Radio"
ReleasedNovember 1987
Length3:56
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)David Hirschfelder
Dragon singles chronology
"Nothing to Lose"
(1987)		 "Celebration"
(1987)		 "River"
(1988)
Music video
"Celebration" on YouTube

"Celebration" was covered in 1987 and released as a single by 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)[43] 11

Kylie Minogue version
"Celebration"
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Greatest Hits
B-side
  • "Let's Get to It"
  • "Too Much of a Good Thing"
ReleasedNovember 16, 1992 (1992-11-16)[44]
StudioPWL (London)
Length4:06
LabelPWL
Songwriter(s)
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 by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie 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. It later appeared on her 1992 Greatest Hits album and was released as its second single on 16 November 1992. It peaked at no. 20 on the UK Singles Chart and 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 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.

Formats and track listings
  • 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
Chart (1992–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[45] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[46] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[47] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[48] 20
UK Dance (Music Week)[49] 25

See also

References
  1. "Kool & The Gang – Gangthology". Uncut. June 1, 2003. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  2. Smith, Troy L. (May 13, 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  3. "GRAMMY HALL OF FAME AWARD". www.grammy.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  4. "Complete National Recording Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  5. Aidi, Hisham (December 9, 2014). "Did Coltrane say 'Allah Supreme'?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. "Celebration". Sheet Music Direct. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  7. "Celebration – Kool & The Gang". Spot on Track. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  8. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 11, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  9. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 287. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  10. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 536. ISBN 978-0-82307-677-2.
  11. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 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. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  15. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Kool & the Gang" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved May 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. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  21. "Kool & The Gang – Celebration". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
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  24. "Kool the Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  25. "Celebrate! – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved June 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 from the original on September 18, 2012.
  28. "Record World Singles" (PDF). Record World. February 21, 1981. p. 27. See last week peak position. Retrieved September 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. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  33. "Top 100 Singles of 1981". RPM. Vol. 35, no. 22. December 26, 1981. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  34. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  35. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  36. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1981". Rock.co.za. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  37. "Top 100 Hits for 1981". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  38. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012.
  39. "Canadian single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". Music Canada.
  40. "Danish single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  41. "British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  42. "American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Celebration". Recording Industry Association of America.
  43. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  44. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 14, 1992. p. 25.
  45. "Kylie Minogue – Celebration". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  46. "Kylie Minogue – Celebration" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  47. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Celebration". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  48. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  49. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 28, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
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