Saturday Night (Whigfield song)

"Saturday Night"

1994 European CD single
Single by Whigfield
from the album Whigfield
Released 29 November 1993
(See release history)
Format 12" vinyl, CD single, cassette single
Recorded Labelle Studio
Genre Eurodance
Length 3:40
Label Prodisc (Spain)
Systematic (UK)
ZYX Music (Germany)
Curb (U.S.)
Writer(s) Larry Pignagnoli, Davide Riva
Producer(s) Larry Pignagnoli
Whigfield singles chronology
"Saturday Night"
(1993)		 "Another Day"
(1994)
Alternate cover
1994 German CD single

"Saturday Night" is a song performed by Danish eurodance artist Whigfield. It was first released in November 1993 in Spain through Prodisc.[1] It was later re-released in 1994 in Europe and experienced worldwide success. The song was written by Italian producers Larry Pignagnoli and Davide Riva, and it was produced by Pignagnoli.

"Saturday Night" went straight to #1 in the UK Singles Chart - dethroning Wet Wet Wet's 15 week chart-topper "Love Is All Around", despite that single increasing its sales from 65,000 the previous week to 104,000. In the United Kingdom, it has sold a total of 1,140,000 copies, placing it at #74 in the United Kingdom all—time best-selling list published in November 2012.

Background

Italian producer Larry Pignagnoli had already had success with Spagna in the late 1980s and early 1990s before he produced "Saturday Night" with Danish former model Sannie Carlson aka Whigfield. The track was first released in Italy in January 1994[2] and then became a huge hit with United Kingdom holidaymakers on the Continent at the end of the year, leading to a huge demand for the track back in the United Kingdom. The single wasn't released in North America until February 1995.

The song has continued to be favourite among fans long after its chart run.

Dance moves

The song had its own dance routine:[3]

The end of the cycle is marked by a clap, and leaves the body facing 90 degrees from the beginning.

Often, the fourth step is missed out. This is because people realise that the song is in 4/4 time and therefore believe that the dance should only have four steps.

Chart performances

It was released in the United Kingdom on September 5, 1994, and went straight to number one - dethroning Wet Wet Wet's 15 week chart-topper "Love Is All Around", despite that single increasing its sales from 65,000 the previous week to 104,000, when Saturday Night entered at number 1 with sales of 150,000. Whigfield was the first act to début at number one in the United Kingdom charts with their début single.[4]

It stayed at number one for a total of four weeks selling 680,000 in the process, and has sold a total of 1,140,000 copies, placing it at number 74 in the United Kingdom all—time best-selling list published in November 2012.[5] "Saturday Night" is also the 15th biggest—selling single by a female artist in the United Kingdom.[6]

Controversy

Two claims of plagiarism were made. It was alleged that the track ripped off both "Rub A Dub Dub" by the Equals and "Fog on the Tyne" by Lindisfarne. Both claims were dismissed.[4]

Track listings

CD single - UK [SYSCD3]
  1. "Saturday Night" (radio mix)
  2. "Saturday Night" (extended nite mix)
  3. "Saturday Night" (nite mix)
  4. "Saturday Night" (beagle mix)
  5. "Saturday Night" (dida mix)
  6. "Saturday Night" (deep nite mix)
  7. "Saturday Night" (trance beat mix)
CD single - Australia (Released in 1997 in Australia)
  1. "Saturday Night" (radio mix)
  2. "Saturday Night" (euro beagle mix - radio edit)
  3. "Saturday Night" (euro beagle mix - extended)
  4. "Saturday Night" (classic vocal remix - U.S. remix)
  5. "Saturday Night" (nite mix)
  6. "Saturday Night" (radio edit)
  7. "Saturday Night" (beagle mix)
  8. "Saturday Night" (deep nite mix)
  9. "Saturday Night" (dida mix)
  10. "Saturday Night" (deep nite extra mix)
  11. "Saturday Night" (fishbone beat's trance beat mix)
  12. "Saturday Night" (fishbone beat's afternoon mix)
CD maxi - Remixes
  1. "Saturday Night" (trance beat remix) — 4:44
  2. "Saturday Night" (afternoon) — 4:40
  3. "Saturday Night" (deep night remix) — 5:45
  4. "Saturday Night" (extended nite remix) — 5:55
  5. "Saturday Night" (radio mix) — 4:07
CD US maxi-single
  1. "Saturday Night" (Remix) — 5:55
  2. "Saturday Night" (Deep Nite Mix) — 5:45
  3. "Saturday Night" (Beagle Mix) — 4:55
  4. "Saturday Night" (Classic Vocal Mix - remixed by Darrin Friedman & Hex Hector) — 9:15
  5. "Saturday Night" (Spike Vocal Mix - remixed by Darrin Friedman & Hex Hector) — 7:28
  6. "Saturday Night" (Dida Mix) — 4:36

Release history

Country Release date
Spain 29 November 1993
Germany 24 January 1994
Rest of Europe 21 May 1994
United Kingdom 5 September 1994
United States February 1995

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 14
Canada Dance (RPM)[9] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 31
Denmark (IFPI)[11] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 1
France (SNEP)[12] 2
Germany (Media Control Charts)[13] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 1
Italy (FIMI)[15] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 7
Norway (VG-lista)[17] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[18] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 1
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[21] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[22] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (1994) Position
Canada Dance (RPM)[23] 23
France (SNEP)[24] 30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40[25] 37
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 23
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[27] 2
Chart (1995) Position
Canada Dance (RPM)[28] 44
France (SNEP)[29] 52

Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales
France[30] Silver January 2, 1995 125,000
Germany[31] Platinum 1995 500,000
Norway[32] Gold 1994 5,000
UK[33] Platinum September 1, 1994 1,140,000[5]

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
September 17, 1994 - October 8, 1994 		Succeeded by
"Sure" by Take That
Preceded by
"Guaglione" by Perez Prado		 Irish (IRMA) number-one single
September 23, 1994 - October 14, 1994 		Succeeded by
"Love Me for a Reason" by Boyzone
Preceded by
"Eins, Zwei, Polizei" by Mo-Do		 German number-one single
October 21, 1994 - October 28, 1994 		Succeeded by
"Cotton-Eyed Joe" by Rednex
Preceded by
"Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet		 Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
October 22, 1994 - October 29, 1994 		Succeeded by
"Always" by Bon Jovi
Preceded by
"Let the Dream Come True" by DJ Bobo		 Swiss number-one single
November 6, 1994 		Succeeded by
"Always" by Bon Jovi
Preceded by
"Sweet Dreams" by La Bouche		 Canadian RPM Dance/Urban number-one single
November 14, 1994 - November 21, 1994 		Succeeded by
"18 Strings" by Tinman

References

  1. ↑ Balls, David (30 March 2009). "Whatever happened to... Whigfield?". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Whigfield Biography". OLDIES.com. 1970-04-11. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  3. ↑ Top of the Pops
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 1000 UK Number One Singles by Jon Kutner & Spencer Leigh, page 400
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ami Sedghi (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles Of All Time By Female Artists". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Whigfield – Saturday Night" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Whigfield – Saturday Night" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ↑ Canada Dance peak position
  10. ↑ Canada peak position
  11. ↑ Billboard October 29, 1994. Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  12. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Whigfield – Saturday Night" (in French). Les classement single.
  13. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Whigfield > Saturday Night – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  14. ↑ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  15. ↑ Italian Single Chart Hit parade Italia (Retrieved May 30, 2008)
  16. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whigfield search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  17. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Whigfield – Saturday Night". VG-lista.
  18. ↑ Billboard: Hits of the World, January 15, 1994
  19. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Whigfield – Saturday Night". Singles Top 60.
  20. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Whigfield – Saturday Night". Swiss Singles Chart.
  21. ↑ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  22. ↑ Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved September 10, 2008)
  23. ↑ Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994
  24. ↑ 1994 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 30, 2009)
  25. ↑ "Single top 100 over 1994" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  26. ↑ 1994 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved September 10, 2008)
  27. ↑ UK Top 40 Singles of 1994 Wikipedia.org (Retrieved July 12, 2010)
  28. ↑ Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1995
  29. ↑ 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 30, 2009)
  30. ↑ French certifications Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 17, 2009)
  31. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Whigfield; 'Saturday+Night')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
  32. ↑ Norwegian certifications Ifpi.no (Retrieved January 17, 2009)
  33. ↑ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved January 17, 2009)