Let The Music Play
Encyclopedia
"Let the Music Play" is a song recorded by Shannon
in 1983.
The original version of the record was produced by Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa
. By the early 1980s, the backlash against disco
had driven dance music off mainstream radio stations in the US. The rhythmic ingenuity of "Let the Music Play" included a drum-machine pattern produced by a filtered Roland TR-808
. The song hit #8 on the US Singles Chart
and #1 on the US Dance chart
in November 1983. Some mark this as the beginning of the dance-pop era.
"Let the Music Play" was Shannon's only US Top 40 hit. It was ranked 43rd on the 2009 VH1 Special 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s.
covered "Let the Music Play" as her third solo single. The song was remixed in a variety of styles, notably by Paul Oakenfold of Perfecto
and Steve Rodway
of Motiv8
. A video of the song was also released.
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
in 1983.
The original version of the record was produced by Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa
Chris Barbosa
Chris Barbosa is a producer from New York who redefined electro funk as Latin freestyle in the early 1980s with Shannon's "Let the Music Play".- Early career :...
. By the early 1980s, the backlash against disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
had driven dance music off mainstream radio stations in the US. The rhythmic ingenuity of "Let the Music Play" included a drum-machine pattern produced by a filtered Roland TR-808
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
. The song hit #8 on the US Singles Chart
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...
and #1 on the US Dance chart
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
in November 1983. Some mark this as the beginning of the dance-pop era.
"Let the Music Play" was Shannon's only US Top 40 hit. It was ranked 43rd on the 2009 VH1 Special 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s.
Chart peaks
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 14 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs | 1 |
Cover versions
- In 1991, Latin freestyle artist Tiana did a cover of this song.
- In 1996, Scottish singer Mary KianiMary KianiMary Kiani, usually spelled Märy Kiani on her records, is a Scottish singer , who first had hit songs as vocalist for dance music act The Time Frequency in the early 1990s and later a solo career...
covered the song and hit the #19 spot on the UK singles chart. - There is a cover by Music InstructorMusic InstructorMusic Instructor is a German electro-dance music project. The producers and songwriters of Music Instructor are Mike Michaels, Mark "MM" Dollar, and Mark Tabak, also known as Triple-M Crew. Triple-M has also produced other artists and bands such as Highland, The Boyz, Overground, Before Four, US5...
on its album Electric City of Music InstructorElectric City of Music InstructorElectric City of Music Instructor is German group Music Instructor's second album, released in 1998. The album's style is electro/hip hop, unlike their first album The World of Music Instructor, which was mostly techno/happy hardcore. Four tracks from this album have been released as singles -...
released in 1998. - Exile, a Japanese boyband did a cover of this song in their album titled Asia released in 2006.
- In 2006, Mexican pop band RBDRBDRBD was a two-time Latin-Grammy nominated Mexican pop group that gained popularity from Televisa's teen drama series Rebelde. RBD sold over 17 million digital downloads and over 20 million albums worldwide in four years since their formation, according to EMI...
covered "Let the Music Play," which is featured on its first English-languageEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
album, RebelsRebels (album)The Japanese Edition of the album comes with 2 bonus tracks, and is named: We Are RBD.*15. "Let the Music Play" — 4:57*16...
, but only as an iTunesITunes StoreThe iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
digital-download exclusive. The track was not included on the album itself. - "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)"S.O.S. " is a song performed by American R&B and pop recording artist Jordin Sparks. It is the second single from her second studio album titled Battlefield. The song was released first in Australia on September 4, 2009 and was sent to US radio on September 29, 2009. It was released in the UK on...
," the second single from the 2009 album BattlefieldBattlefield (album)Battlefield is the second studio album by American R&B and pop singer Jordin Sparks. It was first released on July 17, 2009 in Australia and Ireland, July 20 in the UK and from July 21 worldwide, on Jive Records...
by Jordin SparksJordin SparksJordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
, samples the song. - In 2003 the Danish production team AEROSOLAerosolTechnically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. In general conversation, aerosol usually refers to an aerosol spray can or the output of such a can...
(Tommy Scott & Remo Münch) covered the song, which featured Anne Murillo on vocals.
Mary Kiani version
In 1996, Mary KianiMary Kiani
Mary Kiani, usually spelled Märy Kiani on her records, is a Scottish singer , who first had hit songs as vocalist for dance music act The Time Frequency in the early 1990s and later a solo career...
covered "Let the Music Play" as her third solo single. The song was remixed in a variety of styles, notably by Paul Oakenfold of Perfecto
Perfecto Records
Perfecto Records is a United Kingdom based Trance record label founded by Paul Oakenfold in 1989.-History:Perfecto was founded by electronic music record producer and DJ Paul Oakenfold in 1989...
and Steve Rodway
Steve Rodway
Steve Rodway , also known under the alias Motiv 8 or Motiv8, is an Electronic dance music record producer, songwriter, remixer and sound engineer....
of Motiv8
Motiv8
Motiv8, a pun on the word "motivate", may refer to:* Motiv 8, alias of Steve Rodway, a Eurodance producer and remixer* Motiv8 , a warez group* "Motiv8", a song by breakbeat hardcore duo Altern-8...
. A video of the song was also released.
Track listings and formats
These are the main formats and track listings of the single release of Mary Kiani's "Let the Music Play".| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| UK CD single MERCD456 | ||
| 1. | "Let the Music Play" [Radio Mix] | 3:50 |
| 2. | "Let the Music Play" [Perfecto Radio Mix] | 5:40 |
| 3. | "Let the Music Play" [Motiv8 Club Mix] | 6:32 |
| 4. | "Let the Music Play" [Mr. Spring Contrary Mary Mix] | 5:34 |
| 5. | "Let the Music Play" [Perfecto Vocal Mix] | 8:00 |
| 6. | "Let the Music Play" [Argonauts Kiani Do This Mix] | 5:42 |
| 7. | "Let the Music Play" [Mr. Spring Club Edit] | 4:29 |
| UK 12" MERX456 | ||
| A1. | "Let the Music Play" [Motiv8 Club Mix] | 6:33 |
| A2. | "Let the Music Play" [Union Jack Mix] | 6:27 |
| B1. | "Let the Music Play" [Perfecto Vocal Mix] | 8:01 |
| B2. | "Let the Music Play" [Perfecto Dub Mix] | 5:00 |
| UK 12" MERX457 / Fubar12 | ||
| A1. | "Let the Music Play" [Casio Brothers Mix] | |
| A2. | "Let the Music Play" [George Bowie Mix] | |
| B1. | "Let the Music Play" [Steve Kerr Mix] | |
| B2. | "Let the Music Play" [Tom Wilson & David Livingston Mix] | |