Let's Groove
| "Let's Groove" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||
| Single by Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||||||||
| from the album Raise! | ||||||||||
| B-side | "Let's Groove" (Instrumental) | |||||||||
| Released | 1981 | |||||||||
| Genre | ||||||||||
| Length |
5:35 (album version) 3:55 (7" version) | |||||||||
| Label | Columbia | |||||||||
| Writer(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Maurice White | |||||||||
| Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Let's Groove" is a song performed by American group Earth, Wind & Fire, taken from their studio album Raise! Written by Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn (with additional production by White), the song was chosen as the first single from the studio album. In the late '70s and early '80s, disco music was undergoing a severe backlash. In spite of this, the band decided to revive the disco sound that was later included on their previous works and records. Musically, "Let's Groove" is a post-disco, pop and funk song which includes instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards along with live electric guitars.
Originally, "Let's Groove" received mixed reviews from music critics, where many praised its catchiness, while some felt it was generic within its timeline of the disco era. However, many contemporary reviews have been well-received, many citing it as memorable and a great disco influenced song. The song was a commercial success, with it being their highest-charting single in various territories. The song peaked inside the top twenty in countries including the United States, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and other component charts in America.
Background and composition
Prior to the production of Raise! and the song, the group had started to revive contemporary disco and funk music, as it declined within the late 70s. While the band's albums I Am (1979) and Faces were critically and commercially acclaimed for reviving disco influenced composition, this was the same exact era where disco music was in fear of scrutiny and criticism. By the late 1970s, a strong anti-disco sentiment developed among rock fans and musicians, particularly in the United States.[2][3] The punk subculture in the United States and United Kingdom was often hostile towards disco.[2]
Reception
Ed Hogan from AllMusic said, "He brought in guitarist Roland Bautista and began co-writing, with Emotions member Wanda Vaughn and her husband Wayne Vaughn, a song that reflected the then-emerging electronic sound of the '80s. Not to be confused with the same-named hit by Archie Bell & the Drells, "Let's Groove" certainly was a change. Starting off with a robotic-sounding vocoder riff, it served up a more gritty-sounding EWF for the '80s, laced with Brecker Brothers-supplied horn blasts that rival those of EWF's 1976 gold single 'Getaway'."[4] However, reviewing the parent album, William Ruhlmann said the song was a recycled mid-tempo tune from the mid-'70s, and stated that everything else sounded desultory and uninspired. He, however, highlighted the song as an album standout.[5]
Maxine Nelson from Yahoo! Voices listed the song at number 10 on the Top 10 Earth, Wind & Fire Songs list, saying "This is a classic EWF funky dance song."[6] Soultrain.com gave it a positive review while celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011, stating ""Let’s Groove" has cinched such a nostalgic place in musical history that it is undeniably worthy of being honored [...]"[7] While reviewing Now, Then & Forever, Daniel Falconer said "Eager fans will want to indulge in the deluxe version of the compilation, which includes the timeless disco and soul anthem classics 'Boogie Wonderland', 'Let's Groove', 'September', 'After The Love Has Gone', 'Fantasy' and 'Shining Star'."[8]
"Let's Groove" was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[9]
Commercial response
The song peaked at number three in the US and in the UK[10] It also spent eight weeks at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in late 1981 and early 1982 and was the second R&B song of 1982 on the year-end charts.[11]
The single sold over a million copies in the US and has been certified gold by the RIAA as until the RIAA lowered the sales levels for certified singles in 1989, a Gold single equaled 1 million units sold. "Let's Groove" was also certified silver in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry.[12][13]
Music video
The music video of "Let's Groove" was the first video ever to be played on Video Soul on BET.[14][15] The video, rich with vintage electronic effects, was created by Ron Hays using the Scanimate analog computer system at Image West, Ltd.[16]
The whole style of the music video later went on to influence Bruno Mars' Treasure.[17]
Accolades
| Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | NME | UK[18] | Singles of the Year | 16 |
Charts and sales
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Year-end charts
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Sales and certifications
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| Preceded by "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" by Kool & the Gang |
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles number-one single November 28, 1981 – January 16, 1982 (8 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Turn Your Love Around" by George Benson |
CDB version
| "Let's Groove" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by CDB | ||||
| from the album Glide with Me | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Format | CD | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | Sony Music | |||
| Certification | Platinum (Australia)[47] | |||
| CDB singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song was covered in 1995 by the Australian R&B band CDB, where it went platinum reaching number two in the Australian Singles Chart and number one in New Zealand chart.
- Tracklist[48]
- "Let's Groove"
- "You Will Be Mine"
- "Let's Groove" (Summer Groove)
- "Let's Groove" (Instrumental)
| Year | Single details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [49] |
NZL [50] | ||
| 1995 | Let's Groove
|
2 | 1 |
| Preceded by "How Bizarre" by OMC |
New Zealand number-one single February 18, 1996 – March 3, 1996 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Wonderwall" by Oasis |
Other covers and samples
The song has been sampled by Italian electro house music DJ and producer Benny Benassi on the track "Put Your Hands Up" which was featured on his album Hypnotica.[51] Another cover was made by Marcia Hines in 2006.[52] The band B5 also made a remix of the song. In 2014, Olly Murs covered the song for the album Sounds of the 80s. In 2015, the Asia's Got Talent judges—David Foster, Anggun, Melanie C and Vanness Wu—recorded a cover version of the song as a charity single for Nepal earthquake.[53]
Appearances in other media
- The song has been featured in many films, including The Waterboy and Drumline.[54]
- This song is also featured in the Japanese PlayStation party game Iwatobi Penguin: Rocky × Hopper.
- In the second episode of the TV series That's My Bush!, "A Poorly Executed Plan", the song is featured in a running gag, where old frat buddies of George W. Bush sing this song together.[55]
- It also makes an appearance in Scarface: The World Is Yours, under '80s music.
- The song is also available as downloadable content on the popular Xbox 360 game Lips.[56]
- The song is in the movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian starring Ben Stiller.[57]
- Earth, Wind and Fire performed the song on the 2009 TV Land Awards Show.
- It was used in the trailer for the Disney movie The Emperor's New Groove.
- B5 covered the song for Kronk's New Groove (the original version is used during the movie, while the cover can be heard during the credits).
- The song was featured in the comedy movie Super Bowlin'.
- It was also featured in the movie Ninjago: Rebooted. The Nindroids performed the song.
- The song is featured on the new video game series Just Dance 2016 as a cover.
- The song was featured in a video on YouTube entitled Tokyo Dance Trooper, released on 30 June 2007, which features a Stormtrooper dancing in random places in Tokyo.
References
- 1 2 3 Smith, Ben (August 20, 2014). "Meghan Trainor Helps Count Down 10 Songs That Are All About That Bass". VH1 Music. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This post-disco pop funk epic is centered on a relentless, repeating bassline that really does make you want to, uh, groove.
- 1 2 "R&B » Contemporary R&B » Disco". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Gregg, Robert; McDonogh, Gary W.; Wong, Cindy H., eds. (2001). Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Culture. Routledge. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-415-16161-9.
In fact, by 1977, before punk spread, there was a 'disco sucks' movement sponsored by radio stations that attracted some suburban white youth, who thought that disco was escapist, synthetic, and overproduced.
- ↑ Hogan, Ed. "Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Earth, Wind & Fire – Raise!". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Nelson, Maxine (December 29, 2009). "Top 10 Earth, Wind & Fire Songs". Yahoo! Voices. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Ali-Coleman, Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman (August 22, 2012). "Turning 30: Earth, Wind and Fire’s "Let’s Groove"". Soul Train. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Falconer, Daniel (October 15, 2013). "Earth, Wind & Fire - 'Now, Then & Forever' - Album Review". Female First. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Bio - Awards at the Wayback Machine (archived March 7, 2009). Billboard. Earthwindandfire.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 289. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
- 1 2 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 1982 at the Wayback Machine (archived October 11, 2007). Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "RIAA – Gold and Platinum – Let's Groove". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ Bailey, Philip; Zimmerman, Keith; Zimmerman, Kent (2014). Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind & Fire. Penguin Group. ISBN 978-1-1016-0793-0.
- ↑ Prato, Greg (2011). MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video. p. 184. ISBN 0578071975.
- ↑ Ron Hays Music – Image 1982 demo reel. YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
- ↑ Ron. Bruno Mars Represents Earth, Wind & Fire In “Treasure” Video at the Wayback Machine (archived October 19, 2013). iAmBoiGenius. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 19 december 1981" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0460." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Earth, Wind & Fire" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let's Groove". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "I singoli più venduti del 1982" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 1981-11-28" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Raise! – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 12, 1981 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 17, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ RECORD WORLD 1981 at the Wayback Machine (archived May 9, 2006). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- 1 2 "Lescharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "TOP – 1981" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 18, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 37, No. 19, December 25, 1982". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "I singoli più venduti del 1982" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1982". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Top Disco/Dance Singles/Albums". Billboard 94 (51): 36. December 25, 1982. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Let's Groove 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
- ↑ "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Let_s Groove". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "Australian Fun Countdowns – Accreditation Awards". Australian Fun Countdowns. April 7, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Let's Groove by CDB". Rate Your Music. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – CDB – Let's Groove". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – CDB – Let's Groove". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Benny Benassi's Put Your Hands Up sample of Earth, Wind & Fire's Let's Groove". WhoSampled. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ Song: Let's Groove at the Wayback Machine (archived August 25, 2012). SecondHandSongs. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ↑ Ho, Jovi (15 May 2015). "Asia's Got Talent Judges Release Charity Single for Nepal". Yahoo! News Singapore. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- ↑ "Earth Wind & Fire – IMDb". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ Westwood, Wild Willie. "The Secrets of "That's My Bush"". Spscriptorium.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Let's Groove". Marketplace.xbox.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Night at the Museum (2009) – Soundtracks". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
