Dance with My Father (song)
Encyclopedia
"Dance with My Father" is the title track to singer-songwriter Luther Vandross
' thirteenth studio album
. With Richard Marx
, Vandross wrote the song based on his personal experience. Its poignant lyrics recall childhood memories with Vandross' father, who used to dance with his mother.
Despite the lack of promotion due in part to Vandross' hospitalization, "Dance with My Father" became one of the requested songs at the time. During the 2004 Grammy Awards, "Dance with My Father" earned Vandross the Song of the Year
and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
accolades.
when he was at the age of seven. According to Marx, writing the song was emotional for Vandross because it is "a subject matter [Vandross] hadn't written before".
On the backdrop of strings and interplay of piano and drums, Vandross recalls fond memories with his late father who used to dance with his mother. Mary Ida, her mother, says, "I was amazed at how well Luther remembered his father, how we used to dance and sing in the house. I was so surprised that at 7 1/2 years of age, he could remember what a happy household we had." Barry Walters of Rolling Stone
magazine qualifies the memories invoked in the lyrics as painful and private, adding that when Vadross asks God to return his father, it "turn a potentially maudlin song into a meditative, deeply personal prayer".
At the time of "Dance with my Father"'s release as a single
on May 30, 2011, Vandross had been hospitalized due to his suffering from stroke
. This timely release of the song gained attention from critics. On his review for the album, David Jeffries of Allmusic wrote that its release "makes the song's references to absent loved ones even more poignant". For Larry Flick of The Advocate
, it transformed the song into "a haunting composition rife with subtext".
, which was one of the first stations in the United States to play the track. Before his stroke, Vandross wrote to WLTW's program director, informing him of what he considered to be his "career song". The director asked permission from the label, but it was not until after the hospitalization that J Records
permitted the airplay, following the song being featured in Boston Public
on April 28, 2003. "Dance with My Father" became one of the most requested songs at the time, spawning "a number of weepy phone calls and requests".
In February 2004, "Dance with My Father" earned the Vandross and Marx a Grammy Award for Song of the Year
and Vandross a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
. Marx accepted the award in behalf of Vandross, who was unable to attend due to health concerns. At the same event, singer Celine Dion
performed a live rendition of the song in lieu of Vandross, and Marx accompanied her on the piano. After the performance, Vandross however accepted the awards on a videotaped speech.
"Dance With My Father" was the last top 40 hit for the late Luther Vandross in his homeland, United States, peaking at number 38. The song also peaked at 21 in the UK Singles Chart
. On August 29, 2009, the song re-entered the top 40 after a performance of the song on the British hit TV show X Factor
by Joe McElderry
. The song entered the UK Singles Chart on December 20, 2009 at number 48.
singer Kellie Coffey
recorded a cover version
of the song which peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts. It was included on her unreleased second studio album, A Little More Me. Lyn Paul
recorded the song for inclusion on her 2006 album Late Night.
The song has appeared on various tribute album
s to Vandross. For one, Dion, who also lost a father early in 2005, covered the song for the So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
album, which was compiled shortly after Vandross' death. Two years later, it was included on her greatest hits album My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection
.
In 2009, The X Factor
winner Joe McElderry
covered this song in his audition on the sixth series
of the show. In the final, he sung the song again and was crowned winner. He sang the song at various gigs and eventually recorded the song in 2011 for his second studio album, Classic
. This version premiered on Magic Radio
on August 7, 2011. A stripped live performance was used as the music video for McElderry's version. The video premiered on Entertainment Focus on September 13, 2011. Filipino R&B singer Jay R covered the song in 2010, and is featured as a bonus track for his fifth studio album, Jay R Sings OPM Love Classics.
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
' thirteenth studio album
Dance with My Father
-Production:*Executive Producer: Luther Vandross*Producers: Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley Jr., Shep Crawford, Marcus Miller*Re-mix Producers: Eddie F., Kay Gee, Darren Lighty*Engineers: Ray Bardani, Paul J...
. With Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
, Vandross wrote the song based on his personal experience. Its poignant lyrics recall childhood memories with Vandross' father, who used to dance with his mother.
Despite the lack of promotion due in part to Vandross' hospitalization, "Dance with My Father" became one of the requested songs at the time. During the 2004 Grammy Awards, "Dance with My Father" earned Vandross the Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male...
accolades.
Composition and release
Vandross wrote "Dance with my Father" with Marx, based on his personal experience. Considered by Vandross as his "career song", "Dance with my Father" is a tribute to his father, Luther Vandross, Sr., who died due to complications of diabetesDiabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
when he was at the age of seven. According to Marx, writing the song was emotional for Vandross because it is "a subject matter [Vandross] hadn't written before".
On the backdrop of strings and interplay of piano and drums, Vandross recalls fond memories with his late father who used to dance with his mother. Mary Ida, her mother, says, "I was amazed at how well Luther remembered his father, how we used to dance and sing in the house. I was so surprised that at 7 1/2 years of age, he could remember what a happy household we had." Barry Walters of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine qualifies the memories invoked in the lyrics as painful and private, adding that when Vadross asks God to return his father, it "turn a potentially maudlin song into a meditative, deeply personal prayer".
At the time of "Dance with my Father"'s release as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on May 30, 2011, Vandross had been hospitalized due to his suffering from stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. This timely release of the song gained attention from critics. On his review for the album, David Jeffries of Allmusic wrote that its release "makes the song's references to absent loved ones even more poignant". For Larry Flick of The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, it transformed the song into "a haunting composition rife with subtext".
Reception
Although Vandross was unable to promote the latest project, "Dance with My Father" was able to reach number one on music stations. For one, it achieved top position in WLTWWLTW
WLTW is a radio station with an Adult Contemporary format in New York City.The station is often number one or close to it in Arbitron ratings for New York City. From 2002 to 2004, the station generated more revenue than any other radio station in the New York market...
, which was one of the first stations in the United States to play the track. Before his stroke, Vandross wrote to WLTW's program director, informing him of what he considered to be his "career song". The director asked permission from the label, but it was not until after the hospitalization that J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
permitted the airplay, following the song being featured in Boston Public
Boston Public
Boston Public is an American drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox. It centered on Winslow High School, a fictional public high school located in Boston, Massachusetts. The show was named for the real public school district in which it takes place...
on April 28, 2003. "Dance with My Father" became one of the most requested songs at the time, spawning "a number of weepy phone calls and requests".
In February 2004, "Dance with My Father" earned the Vandross and Marx a Grammy Award for Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
and Vandross a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male...
. Marx accepted the award in behalf of Vandross, who was unable to attend due to health concerns. At the same event, singer Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
performed a live rendition of the song in lieu of Vandross, and Marx accompanied her on the piano. After the performance, Vandross however accepted the awards on a videotaped speech.
"Dance With My Father" was the last top 40 hit for the late Luther Vandross in his homeland, United States, peaking at number 38. The song also peaked at 21 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. On August 29, 2009, the song re-entered the top 40 after a performance of the song on the British hit TV show X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
by Joe McElderry
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
. The song entered the UK Singles Chart on December 20, 2009 at number 48.
Versions and appearances
"Dance with My Father" has been released in various cover versions, and has appeared in many albums. Released in 2004, country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Kellie Coffey
Kellie Coffey
Kellie Coffey is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2002 with the release of her single "When You Lie Next to Me", a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song which peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts. It was included on her unreleased second studio album, A Little More Me. Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress. She came to fame as a member of the international chart-topping pop group The New Seekers in the early 1970s...
recorded the song for inclusion on her 2006 album Late Night.
The song has appeared on various tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
s to Vandross. For one, Dion, who also lost a father early in 2005, covered the song for the So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross is a tribute album to the late soul legend Luther Vandross, consisting of cover versions of past songs by Vandross and other artists, recorded by several R&B and/or soul singers, in addition to rapper Wyclef Jean and pop singers Elton John and...
album, which was compiled shortly after Vandross' death. Two years later, it was included on her greatest hits album My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection
My Love: Essential Collection
My Love: Essential Collection is a greatest hits album by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion. It was released by Columbia Records on October 24, 2008 as the follow up to her previous English-language compilation, All the Way... A Decade of Song . Before releasing My Love: Essential Collection,...
.
In 2009, The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
winner Joe McElderry
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
covered this song in his audition on the sixth series
The X Factor (UK series 6)
The sixth series of British television music competition The X Factor started on ITV on 22 August 2009 and was won by Joe McElderry on 13 December 2009. Cheryl Cole emerged as the winning mentor for the second consecutive year, the first time in the show's history that a mentor has won back-to-back...
of the show. In the final, he sung the song again and was crowned winner. He sang the song at various gigs and eventually recorded the song in 2011 for his second studio album, Classic
Classic (Joe McElderry album)
Classic is the second studio album by British singer Joe McElderry. It was released by Decca Records on 19 August 2011 in Ireland and on 22 August 2011 in the United Kingdom...
. This version premiered on Magic Radio
Magic Radio
Magic is a music radio and a TV brand in the United Kingdom, run by the German publishing company Bauer.-Magic Radio in United Kingdom:...
on August 7, 2011. A stripped live performance was used as the music video for McElderry's version. The video premiered on Entertainment Focus on September 13, 2011. Filipino R&B singer Jay R covered the song in 2010, and is featured as a bonus track for his fifth studio album, Jay R Sings OPM Love Classics.
Chart peak positions
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
38 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
28 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
21 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
38 |
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
| German Downloads Chart | 43 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 42 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 50 |