You Should Be Dancing
Encyclopedia
"You Should Be Dancing" is a single by the Bee Gees
, from the album, Children of the World
, in 1976. The single hit number one for one week on the American Billboard Hot 100
, number one for seven weeks on the US Hot Dance Club Play
chart, and in July the same year, reached number five on the UK Singles Chart
. The song also peaked at number four on the Billboard R&B chart. It was this song that first launched the Bee Gees into disco stardom, although rock-oriented drums and guitars can be heard in the background. It was also the only track from the group to top the dance chart.
The song was their third Billboard Hot 100 number-one and their sixth number-one in Canada. It ended up the year as the #31 song of the year on the Hot 100. In the 70's some of the Bee Gees' songs were deemed too uptempo for AC/Easy Listening Radio which lead to "You Should Be Dancing" only reaching number 25 on that chart. It also hit number four in Ireland. In Australia, where the brothers spent a number of years in their youth, it managed only to nick the top 20.
"You Should Be Dancing" is known today as the first chart-topper in which Barry Gibb
uses his now-trademark falsetto
(he had previously used it on the top-10 "Nights on Broadway
" and on "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)"). Earlier songs, such as Jive Talkin'
, had Gibb use a melodic blue-eyed soul
vocal style.
The song was prominently featured in the movie Saturday Night Fever
and appears on its soundtrack album. Live performances of "You Should Be Dancing" during the 1979 Spirits Having Flown
tour featured the Bee Gees' younger sibling, Andy Gibb
, on backing vocals.
This song and the scene from the movie containing the song were seen and heard in the film Short Circuit
. Other movies where the song is heard are Donnie Brasco
and Despicable Me
.
The Boston Celtics
also play this song when they are about to win a basketball game accompanied by the ever popular "Dancing Gino" video from the television show American Bandstand
. Recently, the Tampa Bay Rays
have started playing the song at home games between innings.
Blake Lewis
, the runner-up on the sixth season
of American Idol
, performed the song on the show on 8 May 2007. His studio version was later released on the American Idol official website
and on American Idol Season 6: The Collector's Edition, a compilation
of studio versions of songs performed by Idol finalists.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
, from the album, Children of the World
Children of the World
Children of the World is the Bee Gees' fourteenth album, released in September 1976. The first single, "You Should Be Dancing", went to number one in the US and Canada, and was a top ten hit in numerous other territories. The album has sold over 2.5 million copies.Because their manager Robert...
, in 1976. The single hit number one for one week on the American 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...
, number one for seven weeks on the US Hot Dance Club Play
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...
chart, and in July the same year, reached number five on 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 ...
. The song also peaked at number four on the Billboard R&B chart. It was this song that first launched the Bee Gees into disco stardom, although rock-oriented drums and guitars can be heard in the background. It was also the only track from the group to top the dance chart.
The song was their third Billboard Hot 100 number-one and their sixth number-one in Canada. It ended up the year as the #31 song of the year on the Hot 100. In the 70's some of the Bee Gees' songs were deemed too uptempo for AC/Easy Listening Radio which lead to "You Should Be Dancing" only reaching number 25 on that chart. It also hit number four in Ireland. In Australia, where the brothers spent a number of years in their youth, it managed only to nick the top 20.
"You Should Be Dancing" is known today as the first chart-topper in which Barry Gibb
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
uses his now-trademark falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
(he had previously used it on the top-10 "Nights on Broadway
Nights on Broadway
"Nights on Broadway" is a song by the Bee Gees for the Main Course album in 1975. The second single release from the album, it immediately followed their number-one hit "Jive Talkin'"....
" and on "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)"). Earlier songs, such as Jive Talkin'
Jive Talkin'
"Jive Talkin" is a song by the Bee Gees, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top-five on the UK singles chart in the summer of 1975. Largely recognized as the group's "comeback" song, it was their first U.S. top ten hit since "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" in...
, had Gibb use a melodic blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
vocal style.
The song was prominently featured in the movie Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 drama film directed by John Badham and starring: John Travolta as Tony Manero, an immature young man whose weekends are spent visiting a local Brooklyn discothèque; Karen Lynn Gorney as his dance partner and eventual friend; and Donna Pescow as Tony's former dance...
and appears on its soundtrack album. Live performances of "You Should Be Dancing" during the 1979 Spirits Having Flown
Spirits Having Flown
Spirits Having Flown is the Bee Gees' fifteenth original album, released in 1979. It was the group's first album after their collaboration on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles which all went to no.1 in the US...
tour featured the Bee Gees' younger sibling, Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb was an English singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of the family whose other male siblings formed the Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.-The early years:...
, on backing vocals.
This song and the scene from the movie containing the song were seen and heard in the film Short Circuit
Short Circuit
Short Circuit is a 1986 comedy science fiction film starring Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg and directed by John Badham. Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, and G. W...
. Other movies where the song is heard are Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco (film)
Donnie Brasco is a 1997 crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Michael Madsen. It is loosely based on the real-life events of Joseph D. Pistone, an FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family, one of the Mafia's Five Families based in New York City...
and Despicable Me
Despicable Me
Despicable Me is a 2010 American computer-animated 3D comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment that was released on July 9, 2010 in the United States. The film features the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and...
.
The Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
also play this song when they are about to win a basketball game accompanied by the ever popular "Dancing Gino" video from the television show American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. Recently, the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
have started playing the song at home games between innings.
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United States | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Brazil | 2 |
| Ireland | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 5 |
| Italy | 7 |
| Sweden | 8 |
| New Zealand | 10 |
| Norway | 11 |
| Belgium | 12 |
| Spain | 15 |
| Germany | 16 |
| Netherlands | 17 |
| Australia | 20 |
| France | 24 |
| United States AC | 25 |
Blockster
Blockster released a cover "You Should Be...", which reached number three in the UK chart in January 1999.Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis
Blake Colin Lewis is an American singer-songwriter and beatboxer who was the runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol. His major label debut album A.D.D. was released on December 4, 2007 through 19 Recordings/Arista Records. On October 30, 2007, his first single "Break Anotha" was released....
, the runner-up on the sixth season
American Idol (Season 6)
The sixth season of American Idol premiered on the Fox Broadcasting Company as a two-night, four-hour premiere special on January 16 and January 17, and ran until May 23, 2007. Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returned to judge once again, and Ryan Seacrest returned as host...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, performed the song on the show on 8 May 2007. His studio version was later released on the American Idol official website
Fox Interactive Media
News Corporation's Digital Media Group , also known as News Corp. Digital Media and formerly Fox Interactive Media, oversees the Internet business operations of media giant News Corporation, and was formed to oversee News Corporation's new media acquisitions, including IGN Entertainment, MySpace...
and on American Idol Season 6: The Collector's Edition, a compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of studio versions of songs performed by Idol finalists.