Let's Hear It for the Boy

Last updated

"Let's Hear It for the Boy"
Deniece Williams the Boy.jpeg
Single by Deniece Williams
from the album Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture and Let's Hear It for the Boy
B-side "Let's Hear It for the Boy (Instrumental—Short Version)"
ReleasedFebruary 14, 1984
Recorded1983
Genre
Length4:20
  • 6:03 (extended version)
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) George Duke
Deniece Williams singles chronology
"Love Won't Let Me Wait"
(1984)
"Let's Hear It for the Boy"
(1984)
"Next Love"
(1984)

"Let's Hear It for the Boy" is a song by Deniece Williams that appeared on the soundtrack to the feature film Footloose . The song was released as a single from both the soundtrack and her album of the song's same name on February 14, 1984, by Columbia Records. It was written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford and produced by George Duke. The song became Williams' second number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 26, 1984, also topping the dance and R&B charts, [3] [4] and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was certified platinum in the US and gold in Canada and the UK by the Recording Industry Association of America, Music Canada and the British Phonographic Industry, respectively. The music video was released in mid-April 1984. [5] The song features background vocals from George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who would go on to form the duo Boy Meets Girl.

Contents

In 2011, country singer Jana Kramer covered the song for the remake of Footloose . In 2017 the song was covered by UK hi-NRG dance artist Allan Jay in aid of the Retired Greyhound Trust and their Let's Hear It for the Boy campaign.

Music video

The music video for the song features Williams along with several young men, one of them being the singer Aaron Lohr as the young boy who is the first person to appear in the video. [6]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Let's Hear It for the Boy"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [39] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [40] Gold400,000
United States (RIAA) [41] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deniece Williams</span> American R&B and soul singer (born 1950)

June Deniece Williams is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free", "Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". Williams has won four Grammys with twelve nominations altogether. She is also known for recording “Without Us”, the theme song of Family Ties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let the Music Play (Shannon song)</span> 1983 single by Shannon

"Let the Music Play" is a song recorded by American singer Shannon and released on September 19, 1983, as both her debut single and the lead single from her 1984 debut studio album of the same name. Written by Chris Barbosa and Ed Chisolm, and produced by Barbosa and Mark Liggett, "Let the Music Play" was the first of Shannon's four number ones on the US Dance Club Songs chart, reaching the top spot in October 1983. It also became a huge crossover hit in the US, peaking at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1984. It was Shannon's only Top 40 hit in the US. Some mark "Let the Music Play" as the beginning of the "dance-pop" era. "Let the Music Play" was ranked 43rd on the 2009 VH1 Special 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s, while Rolling Stone and Billboard featured it in their lists of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time" and "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" in 2022 and 2023. The song also appears in the video games Dance Central 3 and Scarface: The World Is Yours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're All I Need to Get By</span> 1968 single by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye

"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J. Blige.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing</span> 1968 single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album: You're All I Need, the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)</span> 1979 single by the Jacksons

"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" is a song recorded by the Jacksons for their 1978 album Destiny, and released as a single in early 1979. It peaked at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1979.

Boy Meets Girl is an American pop-music duo consisting of keyboardist and vocalist George Merrill and singer Shannon Rubicam. They are perhaps best known for their hit song "Waiting for a Star to Fall" from 1988 and for writing two of Whitney Houston's number one hits: "How Will I Know" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom (Wham! song)</span> 1984 single by Wham!

"Freedom" is a 1984 song by English pop duo Wham! from their album Make It Big, released on 1 October 1984. It became the group's second number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and reached number three in America. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Stuff (Donna Summer song)</span> 1979 song by Donna Summer

"Hot Stuff" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her seventh studio album Bad Girls (1979), produced by English producer Pete Bellotte and Italian producer Giorgio Moroder and released as the lead single from Bad Girls in 1979 through Casablanca Records. Up to that point, Summer had mainly been associated with disco songs but this song also showed a significant rock direction, including a guitar solo by ex-Doobie Brother and Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. It is the second of four songs by Summer to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Am I Supposed to Live Without You</span> 1982 song written by Doug James and Michael Bolton

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" is a song co-written in 1982 by Doug James and Michael Bolton. The track was originally recorded by Laura Branigan in 1983, charting at number one in both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts. Bolton later recorded his own version of the song that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a worldwide hit.

<i>Footloose</i> (1984 soundtrack) 1984 soundtrack album

Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture is the soundtrack album to the Paramount motion picture Footloose. The original nine-track album was released in 1984 and reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart on April 21, 1984, where it stayed until June 23, 1984. It contained six Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits, three of which reached the Top 10, including two number-one hits, "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins and "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams. "Almost Paradise", a duet by Ann Wilson and Mike Reno reached number seven, plus "Somebody's Eyes" by Karla Bonoff climbed to number 16 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free (Deniece Williams song)</span> 1976 single by Deniece Williams

"Free" is a song by American singer Deniece Williams that was included on her album This Is Niecy. The song was written by Williams, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts and Susaye Greene and produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Power (Snap! song)</span> 1990 song by Snap!

"The Power" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released as their debut single. It was released on 3 January 1990 by Ariola and Arista as the lead single from their debut studio album, World Power (1990). The song reached number one in Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and Zimbabwe, as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Rap charts. On the Billboard Hot 100, "The Power" managed to reach number two for one week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through</span> 1981 single by Jim Steinman

"Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" is a song written by American composer Jim Steinman. It was first featured on Steinman's 1981 solo album Bad for Good, with lead vocals by an uncredited Rory Dodd. It was later recorded by American singer Meat Loaf and released in 1994 as the third single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking</span> 1976 single by The Supremes

"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" is a disco-styled soul single composed by the Holland brothers Eddie and Brian, members of the former Holland–Dozier–Holland team and was released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes in 1976 on the Motown label. It was the first single since "Your Heart Belongs to Me" in 1962 to feature four Supremes. It is also notable for being the last top forty single the group would score before they disbanded in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Composer</span> 1969 single by Diana Ross & the Supremes

"The Composer" is a 1969 song released for Diana Ross & the Supremes by the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almost Paradise</span> 1984 single by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson

"Almost Paradise... Love Theme from Footloose" is the title of a duet sung by Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart. It is one of several major hits written by singer Eric Carmen with lyricist Dean Pitchford, another being "Make Me Lose Control".

"Running with the Night" is the second single released from American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie's multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning 1983 album, Can't Slow Down. Richie co-wrote the song with songwriter Cynthia Weil and co-produced it with James Anthony Carmichael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Gonna Take a Miracle</span> 1965 single by the Royalettes

"It's Gonna Take a Miracle" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, and Lou Stallman. It was first an R&B hit in 1965 for The Royalettes, which reached the Top 30 on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 on Cash Box.

<i>Lets Hear It for the Boy</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Deniece Williams

Let's Hear It for the Boy is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Deniece Williams, released on April 16, 1984, by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 26 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hop-Hop Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darling Be Home Soon</span> 1967 single by the Lovin Spoonful

"Darling Be Home Soon" is a song written by John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful for the soundtrack of the 1966 Francis Ford Coppola film You're a Big Boy Now. It appeared on the Lovin' Spoonful's 1967 soundtrack album You're a Big Boy Now. Sebastian performed his composition at Woodstock; it was the fourth song out of the five he performed at the 1969 music festival in White Lake, New York.

References

  1. Breihan, Tom (August 19, 2020). "The Number Ones: Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear It For The Boy". Stereogum . Retrieved July 29, 2023. Putting a gospel singer like Williams on a giddy dance-pop track like this is a smart decision.
  2. Abercrombie, Olivia; Mitchell, Matt (March 10, 2024). "The 50 Best Original Songs Written for Films". Paste . Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 625.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 280.
  5. "Rolling Stones plan to do video, concert in L.A. during Olympics". The Ledger. May 3, 1984. p. 2A. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  6. "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy". MTV. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  7. "Listas de éxitos". UPI. May 4, 1984. p. 42. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  10. Lwin, Nanda (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN   1-896594-13-1.
  11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6728." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  12. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6767." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  13. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 1, no. 13. June 25, 1984. p. 10. OCLC   29800226 via World Radio History.
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let's Hear It for the Boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Deniece Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  16. "Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  17. "Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  18. "Listas de éxitos". UPI. May 4, 1984. p. 42. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  19. "Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  20. "Deniece Williams: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  21. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  23. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  24. "Deniece Williams Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  25. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 2, 1984". Cash Box . Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  26. "The Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary – Week ending June 9, 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  28. "National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report . No. 548. December 31, 1984 via Imgur.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten 1984 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  30. "Top 100 Singles of 1984". RPM. Vol. 41, no. 17. January 5, 1985. p. 7. ISSN   0033-7064 via Library and Archives Canada.
  31. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  33. "Top Selling Singles of 1984". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  34. "Top 100 Singles (January 3–December 29, 1984)" (PDF). Music Week . January 26, 1985. p. 37. ISSN   0265-1548 via World Radio History.
  35. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1984". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  36. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1984". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  37. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1984 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 29, 1984. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  38. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1984 – Top 50 Black Contemporary Singles". Cash Box. December 29, 1984. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  39. "Canadian single certifications – Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy". Music Canada . Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  40. "British single certifications – Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  41. "American single certifications – Deniece Williams – Let's Hear It for the Boy". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 3, 2023.