Boogie Wonderland

"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 Hot 100, and number two on ''Billboard'' Hot Soul Singles. It was certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK. "Boogie Wonderland" was Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording; it won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.

Overview

The song was composed by Allee Willis with Jon Lind and produced by EWF leader Maurice White and Al McKay.

Willis wrote the lyrics in response to seeing the crime drama film '' Looking for Mr. Goodbar'', where Rosanne Quinn, a murdered schoolteacher, tries to paper over her pain and feelings of insecurity with alcohol, drugs, and sex. “Boogie wonderland” described in the song is a magical place, but the lyrics also focus on the dreary reality from which discos provided an escape. The song creates a general vibe of escapism and begins with the unpleasant aftermath of a night out that made life better, but for only for a few hours.

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 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."

James Johnson of the ''Evening Standard'' called it a song "couched in a more down-to-earth, dance-floor dialogue." 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."

Accolades

(*) designates lists that are unordered.

Personnel

* Maurice White – lead and background vocals, drums, kalimba
* Philip Bailey – background vocals, congas, percussion
* Verdine White – bass ( Yamaha BB2000)
* 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

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Sampling

* "Boogie Wonderland" was the basis for the dance song " I'm Alive" by Stretch & Vern; the song reached number six in the UK in September 1996.

References

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1979 songs
1979 singles
Earth, Wind & Fire songs
The Emotions songs
Songs written by Allee Willis
Songs written by Jon Lind
American Record Corporation singles
Columbia Records singles
Songs about dancing
Vocal collaborations
Song recordings produced by Maurice White