Born to Be Alive

French 12-inch vinyl single

"Born to Be Alive", written by Spanish-born French singer, Patrick Hernandez, was a worldwide smash hit, and reached number one on the US Disco chart.[1]

Written first as a hard rock song, "Born to Be Alive" has also had several cover versions, amongst them is one by the Spanish pop punk group Los Nikis, with lyrics consisting just of repetitions of "Me voy a Benidorm".

Born To Be Alive was also covered by Nekromantix, Roberto Blanco, Kelly Marie and Belen Thomas.

The first cover version, by Rick Summer, was released during the same year as Hernandez's hit, 1979.

Chart performance

"Born to Be Alive" first became a hit in France, and has become one of the biggest singles in that country.[2]

The song also gained gold status in the USA.

After this single hit record, Hernandez dropped out of the music business, making occasional TV appearances.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Original version

Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 2
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[6] 1
Canada (CHUM)[7] 12
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[8] 1
Canada (RPM Adult Oriented Playlist)[9] 10
Canada (RPM Disco Playlist)[10] 1
Denmark (IFPI)[11] 1
Finland[12] 5
France (IFOP)[13] 1
Germany (Media Control Charts)[14] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 21
Italy (FIMI)[16] 1
Mexico[17] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[21] 1
Portugal[22] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[23] 6
Spain (AFE)[24] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 5
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[1] 16
US Billboard National Disco Action[1] 1
US Cash Box[28] 17
US Record World[29] 19

Born to be alive (re-mix '88)

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 20

Year-end charts

Chart (1979) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[32] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 4
Canada (RPM Top 200 Singles)[35] 29
France (IFOP)[36] 1
Germany (Media Control Charts)[37] 2
Italy (FIMI)[38] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[39] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 33
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 70
US Top Audience Response Singles/LPs[42] 7

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[43] Platinum 150,000^
France 1,412,000[2]
Germany (BVMI)[44] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[46] Gold 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

In popular culture

"Born to Be Alive" was also covered in the Pump It Up series of rhythm dance video games. The song was also featured in the 1997 film Vegas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid. A cover of the song also featured on a 2011 advert for Diesel's "Fuel for Life" perfume range.

A music video set to the song using footage from Adolf Hitler's many rallies and speeches became a viral hit on the Internet.

An adaption of the song was made by Belgian performer Flip Kowlier as lead song for the movie Madonna's Pig.

Born to Be Alive

Born to Be Alive

French vinyl edition
Studio album by Patrick Hernandez
Released 1979
Genre Disco
Label Columbia
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [47]

Born to Be Alive, titled after the song, is a 1979 album by Patrick Hernandez.

A-side
  1. "Born to Be Alive"
  2. "You Turn Me On"
  3. "It Comes So Easy"
B-side
  1. "Disco Queen"
  2. "Show Me the Way You Kiss"
  3. "I Give You Rendezvous"

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Born to Be Alive – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1970's". World Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 14 april 1979" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  7. ↑ CHART NUMBER 1178 – Saturday, August 11 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived 12 February 2006). CHUM. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 31, No. 22, August 25, 1979". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Adult Contemporary – Volume 31, No. 23, September 01 1979". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Dance/Urban – Volume 31, No. 22, August 25, 1979". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 91 (43): 80. 27 October 1979. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. ↑ "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 91 (38): 62. 22 September 1979. ISSN 0006-2510.
  13. ↑ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Born to Be Alive". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 2: 1970-1980)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 91 (39): 63. 29 September 1979. ISSN 0006-2510.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Patrick Hernandez - Born to Be Alive search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  21. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 91 (40): 68. 6 October 1979. ISSN 0006-2510.
  23. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (H)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  24. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1979-08-11" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  28. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending OCTOBER 6, 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived 5 February 2011). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  29. ↑ RECORD WORLD 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 May 2005). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Patrick Hernandez - Born to Be Alive Re-Mix '88 search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Patrick Hernandez – Born To Be Alive – (Re-Mix '88)". Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1979" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 13, December 22, 1979". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "TOP – 1979" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Jahrescharts – 1979" (in German). Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "I singoli più venduti del 1979" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "Single Top 100 1979" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1979" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1979". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Top Audience Response Singles/LPs". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 91 (51): 42. 22 December 1979. ISSN 0006-2510.
  43. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Music Canada.
  44. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Patrick Hernandez; 'Born to Be Alive')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  45. ↑ "British single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Born to Be Alive in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  46. ↑ "American single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  47. ↑ Adams, Bret. "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 January 2014.