You Should Be Dancing

"You Should Be Dancing" is a song by the Bee Gees, from the album Children of the World, released in 1976. It hit No. 1 for one week on the American Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 for seven weeks on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and in September the same year, reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The song also peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Soul chart. It was this song that first launched the Bee Gees into disco. It was also the only track from the group to top the dance chart.

"You Should Be Dancing"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Children of the World
B-side"Subway"
ReleasedJune 1976 (1976-06)[1]
Recorded19 January–1, 8 February 1976
6 May 1976
Studio
GenreDisco[1][2]
Length4:16 (single)
4:47 (12" version)
LabelRSO
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson
Bee Gees singles chronology
"Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)"
(1976)		 "You Should Be Dancing"
(1976)		 "Love So Right"
(1976)
Music video
"You Should Be Dancing (Audio)" on YouTube

It is also one of six songs performed by the Bee Gees included in the Saturday Night Fever movie soundtrack which came out a year later.

Origin

"You Should Be Dancing" was recorded 19 January, 1 and 8 February, and 6 May 1976 with Barry Gibb providing lead vocals in falsetto.[1] Barry had developed his falsetto to a remarkable degree in the ten months since the release of "Baby As You Turn Away" from the Main Course album on which he sang a full song in falsetto for the first time (except for its chorus).[4] Keyboardist Blue Weaver recalls that Maurice Gibb wrote the bass line and sang the horn parts to the brass players, while Barry sang parts for Weaver to play, while guitarist Alan Kendall got in a short guitar solo for its instrumental break.[1]

Stephen Stills was also at Criteria Studios recording the album, Long May You Run, with his band and Neil Young. Stills added percussion on the song's February sessions. Members of Stills's backing band, George Perry (bass) and Joe Lala (percussion), also worked with the Bee Gees on some songs.[4]

Reception

Billboard described "You Should Be Dancing" as a "strong, uptempo disco cut" with the Bee Gees' "strongest singing since "Jive Talkin'."[5] Cash Box said that "the playing is more polished [than 'Jive Talking'], and the band does some things to the vocals, with trading off, which are highly ear-catching."[6] Record World called it an "across the board smash" saying "'Get off your back, you should be dancing' they sing and there's no resisting the stomping beat."[7]

Charts

The song was their third Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 and their sixth No. 1 in Canada. It ended as the No. 31 song of the year.[8] In the '70s some of the Bee Gees' songs were deemed too uptempo for AC/Easy Listening Radio which led to "You Should Be Dancing" only reaching No. 25 on that chart.[9] It also hit No. 4 in Ireland. In Australia, where the brothers spent a number of years in their youth, it managed only to nick the top 20.

"You Should Be Dancing" is known today as the first chart-topper in which Barry Gibb uses his now-trademark falsetto in a lead vocal (he had previously used it on the top 10 "Nights on Broadway" and on "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)"). Earlier songs, such as "Jive Talkin'", had Gibb use a melodic blue-eyed soul vocal style.

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[32] Gold 75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 1,000,000^

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

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track.[35]

E. Sensual version
"B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing"
Single by E. Sensual
B-side"Remix"
Released1995
Length3:30
LabelDance Pool
Songwriter(s)
E. Sensual singles chronology
"B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing"
(1995)		 "Check Me Out"
(1996)
Music video
"B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing" on YouTube

In 1995, E. Sensual released a cover, titled "B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing", which reached number three in Hungary and number four in Finland.

Track listing

Europe: CD maxi (1995)

  1. B.G.Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Radio Edit) (3:30)
  2. B.G.Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Vocal Club Mix) (6:09)
  3. B.G.Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Original Mix) (8:08)

France: CD maxi (Remixes, 1995)

  1. B.G.Tips – You Should Be Dancing (DJ Albert Radio Edit) (3:49)
  2. B.G.Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Radio Edit) (3:26)
  3. B.G.Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Euro Mix) (6:06)
  4. B.G. Tips – You Should Be Dancing (DJ Albert Progressive House Mix) (7:19)
  5. B.G. Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Original Mix 1) (8:06)
  6. B.G. Tips – You Should Be Dancing (Original Mix 2) (7:12)

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[36] 38
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[37] 73
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[38] 4
France (SNEP)[39] 26
Hungary (Mahasz)[40] 3
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[41] 36
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 39

Blockster version
"You Should Be..."
Single by Blockster
Released4 January 1999 (1999-01-04)[43]
LabelMinistry of Sound
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Blockster
Blockster singles chronology
"You Should Be..."
(1999)		 "Grooveline"
(1999)

British DJ Blockster released a cover of the song, titled "You Should Be...", on 4 January 1999. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart the same month.[44]

Critical reception

Daily Record wrote, "This was one of the big club floor-fillers last year. Another hit proving that a few words, a catchy melody and big bass sound seems to equal a hit."[45]

Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[46] 7
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[47] 11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[48] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[49] 19
Scotland (OCC)[50] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[44] 3

Other cover versions

The Bee Gees remixed the song in 1993 for their album Size Isn't Everything, under the title "Decadance".[51]

Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz performing "You Should Be Dancing" in 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.

American rock band Foo Fighters, under the alter ego "Dee Gees", covered the song on BBC Radio 2's Sofa Session. The song can be found on their album Hail Satin.[52][53]

For its third season American TV series Glee covered this song as part of its tribute episode to Saturday Night Fever, titled "Saturday Night Glee-ver". Darren Criss, Heather Morris, and Harry Shum Jr. provided lead vocals as their characters Blaine Anderson, Brittany Pierce, and Mike Chang.[54]

See also

References
  1. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1976". Columbia University. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. Guarisco, Donald A. "You Should be Dancing – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1975". Columbia University. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  5. "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 26 June 1976. p. 76. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 6. 26 June 1976. p. 14. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 26 June 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  8. "Top 100 Hits for 1976". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  9. Trust, Gary (15 July 2015). "The Top 100 Adult Contemporary Songs Ever". Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  10. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  11. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  12. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4352." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4345a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  14. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 97. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  15. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Bee Gees" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  16. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Should Be Dancing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  18. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 27 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bee Gees".
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  20. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  21. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  22. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing". VG-lista. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  23. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  24. "Bee Gees – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  25. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 4, 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012.
  26. "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. 11 September 1976. p. 29. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  27. "50 Back Catalogue Singles – 02/06/2012". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  28. "Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  29. "Bee Gees Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  30. "Top 200 Singles of '76". RPM. Vol. 26, no. 14–15. 8 January 1977. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  31. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1976". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012.
  32. "Canadian single certifications – Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  33. "British single certifications – Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  34. "American single certifications – Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  35. Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track (liner notes). RSO. 1977. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  36. "E. Sensual – B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  37. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 10. 30 March 1996. p. 27. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  38. "E. Sensual: B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  39. "E. Sensual – B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing" (in French). Les classement single.
  40. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 13. 30 March 1996. p. 23. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  41. "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 171: vikuna 25.5. – 30.5 '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 25 May 1996. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  42. "E. Sensual – B.G. Tips - You Should Be Dancing". Singles Top 100.
  43. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 26 December 1998. p. 5. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  44. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  45. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 22 January 1999.
  46. "Blockster – You Should Be" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  47. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8393." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  48. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 4. 23 January 1999. p. 9. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  49. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blockster". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  50. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  51. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1993". Columbia University. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  52. Chan, Anna (18 February 2021). "Foo Fighters Fly High with Their Cover of Bee Gees' Hit 'You Should Be Dancing': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  53. "Foo Fighters to release disco album as the Dee Gees". BBC. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  54. Votta, Rae (18 April 2012). "'Glee' Recap: Disco Nightmare? Try Fun Diversion". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
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