"Born to Be Alive" | |
---|---|
![]() French 12-inch vinyl single | |
Single by Patrick Hernandez | |
from the album Born to Be Alive | |
B-side | "I Give You Rendez-Vous" (UK) "Born to Be Alive (Instrumental)" (various European countries) "It Comes So Easy" (Japan) "Too Many People" (elsewhere) |
Released | November 1978 |
Genre | Disco [1] |
Length | 3:05 (European Single Version) 3:23 (Single version) 5:55 (Album Version) 7:42 (Extended Version) |
Label | Aquarius (most European countries) Gem (UK) Philips (Japan) Columbia/CBS (elsewhere) |
Songwriter(s) | Patrick Hernandez |
Producer(s) | Jean Vanloo |
Music video | |
"Born to Be Alive" (single version) on YouTube | |
Audio | |
"Born to Be Alive" (album version) on YouTube |
"Born to Be Alive" is a song written by French singer Patrick Hernandez. It became a worldwide hit and reached number one on the US Billboard National Disco Action chart in early 1979. The song achieved gold status in the United States,Brazil,Germany and Italy,platinum in Australia and Canada,and silver in the United Kingdom.
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [2] | 1 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [3] | 1 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [4] | 2 |
Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [5] | 10 |
Canada Dance/Urban ( RPM ) [6] | 1 |
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [7] | 1 |
Denmark (IFPI) [8] | 1 |
Finland [9] | 5 |
France (IFOP) [10] | 1 |
Ireland (IRMA) [11] | 21 |
Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [12] | 2 |
Mexico [13] | 1 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [14] | 5 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [15] | 12 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [16] | 1 |
Norway (VG-lista) [17] | 1 |
Portugal [18] | 1 |
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [19] | 6 |
Spain (AFE) [20] | 1 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [21] | 1 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] | 5 |
UK Singles (OCC) [23] | 10 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [24] | 16 |
US Billboard National Disco Action [24] | 1 |
US Cash Box [25] | 17 |
US Record World [26] | 19 |
West Germany (GfK) [27] | 1 |
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [28] | 21 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [29] | 20 |
Chart (1979) | Rank |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [30] | 5 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [31] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [32] | 4 |
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [33] | 29 |
France (IFOP) [34] | 1 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [35] | 18 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [36] | 33 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [37] | 70 |
US Top Audience Response Singles/LPs [38] | 7 |
West Germany (Official German Charts) [39] | 2 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [40] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [41] | Gold | 200,000 [41] |
Canada (Music Canada) [42] | Platinum | 150,000^ |
France | — | 1,400,000 [43] |
Germany (BVMI) [44] | Gold | 950,000 [45] |
Italy | — | 300,000 [46] |
Italy (FIMI) [47] sales since 2009 | Gold | 50,000‡ |
Netherlands | — | 100,000 [48] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [49] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [50] | Silver | 250,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [51] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Kelly Marie released a Hi-NRG interpretation of the song in 1986 but it failed to chart. [52]
Disco Kings covered the song in 2005. Their version reached number seven in Finland, number 43 in France, number 66 in Austria and number 78 in Germany. [53] A music video set to the song using footage from Adolf Hitler's many rallies and speeches became a viral hit on the Internet. [54]
The song is featured on the intro of "Hockey Brings People Together" of the first season of the television series Shoresy during the warm-up brawl in the Bulldogs' tunnel.
Elisapie featured an Inuktitut language translation of the song, "Inuuniaravit," on her 2023 album Inuktitut .
The song is featured on an Amyl and The Sniffers 7" single from 2020.