Magnetic (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

Last updated
"Magnetic"
Earth, Wind & Fire-Magnetic.jpg
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album Electric Universe
B-side "The Speed of Love"
ReleasedNovember 1983
Recorded1983
Studio
Genre
Length3:45 (single version)
4:19 (album version)
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Martin Page
Producer(s) Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Spread Your Love"
(1983)		"Magnetic"
(1983)		"Touch"
(1983)
Music video
"Magnetic" on YouTube

"Magnetic" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1983 on Columbia Records as the first single from their thirteenth studio album, Electric Universe (1983). It reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 36 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart and No. 23 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles chart. "Magnetic" also reached No. 16 on the Belgian Pop Singles chart and No. 18 on the Dutch Pop Singles chart. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Overview

"Magnetic" was written by Martin Page and produced by Maurice White for Kalimba Productions. The song is four minutes and twenty one seconds long with an allegro tempo that's at 141 beats per minute. [1] [7]

"Magnetic" came upon EWF's 1983 studio album Electric Universe. The single's b-side is The Speed of Love, a track on EWF's 1983 studio album Powerlight. [1]

During December 1983 "Magnetic"'s accompanying music video was issued by Columbia. Charlie Jane Anders of io9 has proclaimed that "of all the neon-dystopia music videos that came out after Blade Runner, my favorite is probably 1983's "Magnetic" by Earth Wind & Fire". [8] [9]

Critical reception

Pam Lambert of The Wall Street Journal proclaimed "vocals, driven ahead by the force of the bass guitar, also carry the charged single Magnetic." [10] Prentis Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution acclaimed "the catchy hooks of magnetic". [11] Cash Box wrote "This elemental aggregation has been yo-yo-ing on the charts of late, and this preview track from the forthcoming 'Electric Universe' LP bursts with a fresh, energetic dance verve that ought to re-solidify their star stature. White is unshy about bringing a hot electric guitar into the mix, and its presence is reinforced by the repeated line, 'Don't break the circuit'. Human contact is the thrust here, as the band’s new approach provides a modern street and dance floor soundtrack." [12] Billboard declared that "a densely layered arrangement billows around hard edged group vocals and driving rhythm" on Magnetic." The magazine also stated "EWF continues to keep abreast of the newest sounds without compromising its musical identity". [13] Harry Sumrall of the San Jose Mercury-News noted on Magnetic a "clank, bump and shudder along with theme lines that are popish and dance funky". [14]

Paul Willistein of The Morning Call said "EW&F leaves behind the cosmic subject matter, the usual arrangements and harmonies and gets physic(s)al with its dance/funk hit Magnetic". Willistein added "with Magnetic, EW&F using a techno funk mix and lyrics that are, well downright earthy, has produced one of the most exciting cuts of its long career". [15] Paul Bursche of Number One called Magnetic "A fiery uptempo working". [16] Lennox Samuels of The Dallas Morning News found that "High Priest Maurice White effectively blends lyrics of love and concerns of the nuclear age on Spirit of a New World and Magnetic, using a musical strategy that includes sythesizer settings and handclaps". [17] Robert Palmer of The New York Times proclaimed that "the rich vocal harmonies and lapidary pop craftsmanship listeners have learned to expect from Earth, Wind & Fire are still in evidence, but the group's instrumental sound has been radically stripped down and rethought." [18]

Music critic Robert Christgau of The Village Voice also placed the song at number 20 on his dean's list of 1983. [19]

Credits

Accolades

YearCountryPublicationAccolade [19] Rank
1983US Village Voice Dean's List20

Charts

Chart (1983-1984)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Singles) [6] 16
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [21] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [22] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Single Top 100) [5] 18
UK Singles Chart 92
UK Top British Soul Singles ( Blues & Soul ) [4] 23
US Billboard Hot 100 [23] 57
US Hot R&B Singles ( Billboard ) [2] 10
US Hot Dance Club Play ( Billboard ) [3] 36
US Top R&B Singles ( Cash Box ) [24] 13

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire</span> American musical group

Earth, Wind & Fire are an American musical group. Their style and sound span various music genres such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice White</span> American musician (1941–2016), founder of Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White was an American singer, musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boogie Wonderland</span> 1979 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Boogie Wonderland" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions, released in April 1979 on Columbia Records as the first single from their ninth album, I Am (1979). The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard dance chart, number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and number two on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK. "Boogie Wonderland" was Grammy nominated in the categories of Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording. It won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.

<i>Spirit</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1976 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Spirit is the seventh studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 28, 1976, by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. Spirit has also been certified Double Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Faces</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1980 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Faces is the tenth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released on October 14, 1980, on ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached number 10 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, number 2 on the Billboard Top Soul albums chart and number 10 on the UK Albums Chart. Faces was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Illumination</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 2005 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Illumination is the nineteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in September 2005 on Sanctuary Records. The album rose to No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 32 on the Billboard 200 chart. Illumination was also Grammy nominated within the category of Best R&B Album. It is the last Earth, Wind & Fire album to feature their founder and co-lead vocalist Maurice White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Getaway (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1976 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Getaway" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1976 on Columbia Records. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Getaway" also peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Dance Singles charts. A remixed version also appears on the soundtrack for Gran Turismo 4.

<i>Powerlight</i> 1983 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Powerlight is the twelfth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in February 1983 by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. Powerlight was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire discography</span>

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American musical group. Their style and sound span over various music genres such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<i>Touch the World</i> 1987 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Touch the World is the fourteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1987 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Touch the World was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Millennium</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1993 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Millennium is the sixteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in September 1993 on Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, No. 39 on the US Billboard 200, No. 18 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 29 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Millennium has also been certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall in Love with Me (song)</span> 1982 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Fall in Love with Me" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1982 upon Columbia Records as the first single from their twelfth album, Powerlight (1983). It rose to No. 4 on the US Billboard R&B Singles chart, No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 14 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. "Fall In Love With Me" was Grammy nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">System of Survival</span> Single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"System of Survival" is a song by the band Earth, Wind & Fire issued as a single in October 1987 on Columbia Records. The single reached number one on both the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. "System of Survival" also reached No. 9 on the New Zealand Pop Singles chart, No. 14 on the Dutch Pop Singles chart and No. 25 on the Belgian Pop Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thinking of You (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1988 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Thinking of You" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in January 1988 on Columbia Records as the third single from their fourteenth studio album, Touch the World (1987). It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and number three on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Talk</span> 1980 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Let Me Talk" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in August 1980 by ARC/Columbia Records as the first single from their tenth album, Faces (1980). It reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 29 on the UK Pop Singles chart.

<i>Electric Universe</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Electric Universe is the thirteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1983 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 8 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Electric Universe also reached No. 17 on the Swedish Pop Albums chart, No. 18 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart, No. 20 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 22 on both the Dutch Pop Albums and Swiss Pop Albums charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And Love Goes On</span> 1981 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

" And Love Goes On" is a single by the American R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire released in January 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records. The single got to No. 15 on both the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles and UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles charts. And Love Goes On also reached No. 25 on the Dutch Pop Singles chart and No. 26 on the Belgian Pop Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evil Roy</span> 1988 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Evil Roy" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire issued in 1988 by Columbia Records. The song rose to No. 22 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and No. 38 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heritage (song)</span> 1990 single by Earth, Wind & Fire featuring The Boys

"Heritage" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire featuring Suns of Light, released in February 1990 by Columbia Records as the first single from their fifteenth studio album. The single reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 5 on the Cash Box Top R&B Singles chart, No. 4 on the Japanese Pop Singles (Oricon) chart and No. 23 on the Finland Suomen virallinen singlelista.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1984 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Touch" is a song by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in January 1984 by Columbia Records. The song reached No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 36 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic. Columbia Records. November 1983.
  2. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic (Dance Club Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. 1 2 "Top British Soul Singles". Blues & Soul . No. 397. December 27, 1983.
  5. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic (Dutch Top 40)". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  6. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic". ultratop.be. Ultratop.
  7. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic". chords.tv.
  8. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Magnetic". imdb.com.
  9. ↑ Jane Anders, Charlie (July 12, 2008). "A Battle To The Death, In A Totalitarian New-Wave Nightmare". io9.gizmodo.com. IO9.
  10. ↑ Lambert, Pam (19 January 1984). "Prime Cuts: Noteworthy Rock Records". Wall Street Journal . ProQuest   397920155.
  11. ↑ Rogers, Prentis (December 31, 1983). Record Reviews. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 71.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  12. ↑ "Single Reviews". archive.org. Vol. 45, no. 21. Cash Box. November 5, 1983. p. 7.
  13. ↑ Single Reviews (PDF). Vol. 95. Billboard. November 5, 1983. p. 71.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ Sumrall, Harry (December 4, 1983). "Old Fire never dies - It just gest cooler". newsbank.com. San Jose Mercury News. p. 214.
  15. ↑ Willistein, Paul (December 17, 1983). Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe. Morning Call. p. 82.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ Bursche, Paul (November 19, 1983). "Singles". No. 29. Number One. p. 37.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  17. ↑ Samuels, Lennox (December 1, 1983). "Triumphant Rock from the Rolling Stones". newspapers.com. Dallas Morning News. p. 9.
  18. ↑ Palmer, Robert (December 7, 1983). "The Pop Life". The New York Times .
  19. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (February 28, 1984). "Pazz & Jop 1983: Dean's List". robertchristgau.com. The Village Voice.
  20. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire – Magnetic", Genius.com , retrieved 2023-08-11
  21. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Earth, Wind & Fire". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 69. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Earth Wind + Fire – Magnetic". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  23. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 265.
  24. ↑ "Cashbox Top R&B Singles". cashboxmagazine.com. Cash Box. December 24, 1983.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.