Soca Dance

"Soca Dance"
Single by Charles D. Lewis
from the album Do You Feel It
B-side "My Life, Your Life"
Released July 1990
Format 7" single, 7" maxi, CD maxi
Recorded 1990
Genre Soca
Length 3:39
Label Metronome
Writer(s) Charles D. Lewis, Gary Gordon
Producer(s) Gary Gordon
Certification Gold France, 1990

"Soca Dance" is the name of a 1990 song written and recorded by the artist Charles D. Lewis. It was released as a single from his album Do You Feel It and became a summer hit, topping the charts in France and Belgium. The song also gave its name to the dance performed on it.

Background and writing

In France, in 1989, TF1 had sponsored the "Lambada", which was huge success presented by the TV channel as the summer hit. TF1 decided to repeat the experience seeking a new song combining exoticism and suggestive dance. Finally, "Soca Dance" was chosen.[1]

The song was written by the singer Charles D. Lewis himself (he also composed the music) and Gary Gordon-Smith who also produced it. It contains sexual content.

Chart performances

In France, the single went straight to #12 on July 14, 1990, climbed at #7, then was blocked at #2 by Zouk Machine's hit for two consecutive weeks. It then topped the chart for six weeks, but was dislodged by Zouk Machine who reached again #1. It almost didn't stop to drop, first slowly, then more quickly, remaining for 14 weeks in the top ten and 20 weeks on the chart (top 50).[2] It achieved Gold status[3] and is to date the 495th best-selling single of all time in this country.[4]
Charles D. Lewis was the first artist from Saint Vincent, Antilles, to reach the top ten, followed in 2004 by Kevin Lyttle with his hit "Turn Me On".

The song was also successfully in Belgium (Wallonia), topping the chart. It was a moderate hit in Germany, where it peaked at #10 in October 1990,[5] and in Austria, where it featured for a single week on the chart at #30 on November 11, 1990.[6]

Track listings

  1. "Soca Dance" (bajan edit) — 3:39
  2. "My Life, Your Life" (edit) — 4:23
  1. "Soca Dance" (bajan mix) — 6:36
  2. "Soca Dance" (bajan edit) — 3:41
  3. "My Life, Your Life" (edit) — 4:22
  1. "Soca Dance" (bajan mix) — 6:36
  2. "Soca Dance" (bajan edit) — 3:41
  3. "My Life, Your Life" (edit) — 4:22
  1. "Soca Dance" (bajan edit) — 3:39
  2. "My Life, Your Life" (edit) — 4:23

Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales
France[3] Gold 1990 500,000 528,000[7]

Charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart[6] 30
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart 1
Dutch Singles Chart[8] 28
French SNEP Singles Chart[2] 1
German Singles Chart[2] 10
Preceded by
"Maldòn (la musique dans la peau)" by Zouk Machine		 French SNEP number-one single
August 11, 1990 - September 15, 1990 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Maldòn (la musique dans la peau)" by Zouk Machine

References

  1. ↑ Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 189 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Soca Dance", France and German singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved June 19, 2008])
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Charles D.Lewis certifications in France Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved June 19, 2008)
  4. ↑ Best-selling singles of all time in France Infodisc.fr (Retrieved June 19, 2008)
  5. ↑ German Singles Chart Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de (Retrieved June 19, 2008)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Soca Dance", Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved June 19, 2008)
  7. ↑ Charles D.Lewis's certifications and sales in France See: "Les Ventes" => "Toutes les certifications depuis 1973" => "LEWIS Charles D." Infodisc.fr (Retrieved June 19, 2008)
  8. ↑ Dutch Singles Chart Radio538.nl (Retrieved September 20, 2008)

External links