Born to Be Alive (song)

Last updated

"Born to Be Alive"
Born to be alive Patrick Hernandez French 12-inch single.png
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)
ReleasedNovember 1978
Genre Disco [1]
Length3:05 (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

"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.

Contents

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [40] Platinum100,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [41] Gold200,000 [41]
Canada (Music Canada) [42] Platinum150,000^
France—1,400,000 [43]
Germany (BVMI) [44] Gold950,000 [45]
Italy—300,000 [46]
Italy (FIMI) [47]
sales since 2009 		Gold50,000‡
Netherlands—100,000 [48]
United Kingdom (BPI) [49] Silver250,000^
United States (RIAA) [50] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions and uses

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. [51] A music video set to the song using footage from Adolf Hitler's many rallies and speeches became a viral hit on the Internet. [52]

Elisapie featured an Inuktitut translation of the song, "Inuuniaravit," on her 2023 album Inuktitut . [53]

An up and coming jamband quartet named "Off World Vehicle" covered the song during a show in Atlanta Georgia at Aisle 5 on May 26th 2023. Their rendition lasted over 10 minutes and included all parts of the original extended single release of the track from 1979 OWVband . [54]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funkytown</span> 1980 single by Lipps Inc.

"Funkytown" is a song by American disco-funk group Lipps Inc., written and produced by Steven Greenberg and released by Casablanca Records in March 1980 as the second single from the group's 1979 debut studio album Mouth to Mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxanne (The Police song)</span> 1978 single by the Police

"Roxanne" is a song by British rock band the Police. The song was written by lead singer and bassist Sting and was released as a single on 7 April 1978, in advance of their debut album Outlandos d'Amour, released on 3 November. It was written from the point of view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute. When re-released on 12 April 1979, the song peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Shot the Sheriff</span> Bob Marley & The Wailers song

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band the Wailers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Limit (2 Unlimited song)</span> 1993 single by 2 Unlimited

"No Limit" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance group 2 Unlimited, released in January 1993 by Byte, ZYX and PWL. It was their fifth single in total and the first to be released from their second album, No Limits! (1993). Co-written by the group's Ray Slijngaard and Anita Dels, the song became one of their most commercially successful singles, especially in Europe, reaching the number-one spot in 35 countries and the top 10 in several others. Like previous releases, the UK version of the single removed all of the raps from Slijngaard, leaving just Dels' vocals. One word from the rap was kept, the word 'Techno' which was looped and repeated during the middle of the song, turning the line into "Techno! Techno! Techno! Techno!" and giving the song an extra vocal hook. Its accompanying music video was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones and received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reach Out I'll Be There</span> 1966 song by the Four Tops

"Reach Out I'll Be There" (also formatted as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)") is a song recorded by American vocal quartet Four Tops from their fourth studio album, Reach Out (1967). Written and produced by Motown's main production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most widely-known Motown hits of the 1960s and is today considered the Four Tops' signature song.

"Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee and first released by Gwen McCrae in March 1972. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venus (Shocking Blue song)</span> 1969 song by Shocking Blue

"Venus" is a song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, released as a single in the Netherlands in the summer of 1969. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen, the song topped the charts in nine countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stayin' Alive</span> 1977 single by the Bee Gees

"Stayin' Alive" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack. The song was released in December 1977 by RSO Records as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The band co-produced the song with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. It is one of the Bee Gees' signature songs. In 2004, "Stayin' Alive" was placed at No. 189 by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The 2021 updated Rolling Stone list of 500 Greatest Songs placed "Stayin' Alive" at No. 99. In 2004, it ranked No. 9 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In a UK television poll on ITV in December 2011 it was voted fifth in The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Summertime</span> 1970 single by Mungo Jerry

"In the Summertime" is the debut single by British rock band Mungo Jerry, released in 1970. It reached number one in charts around the world, including seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, two weeks on one of the Canadian charts, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US. It became one of the best-selling singles of all-time, eventually selling 30 million copies. Written and composed by the band's lead singer, Ray Dorset, while working in a lab for Timex, the lyrics of the song celebrate the carefree days of summer. The track was included on the second album by the band, Electronically Tested, issued in March 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (Madonna song)</span> 1985 single by Madonna

"Angel" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on April 10, 1985, by Sire Records as the album's third single. Written by Madonna and Steve Bray, it was one of the first songs developed for the project and, according to Madonna, was inspired by a girl who is saved by an angel, and she falls in love with him. "Angel" was released as a 12-inch single with "Into the Groove" in some countries and charted likewise. A music video was not filmed for "Angel", and instead, a promotional clip comprising segments of her previous videos was released in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of Glass (song)</span> 1979 song by Blondie

"Heart of Glass" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie, written by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. It was featured on the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines (1978), and was released as the album's third single in January 1979 and reached number one on the charts in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upside Down (Diana Ross song)</span> 1980 single by Diana Ross

"Upside Down" is a song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. It was recorded by American singer Diana Ross and issued on June 18, 1980 from Motown as the lead single from her eleventh studio album, Diana (1980). The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 6, 1980 and stayed there for four weeks. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The single was released a full four weeks after the album was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to You (Whitney Houston song)</span> 1993 single by Whitney Houston

"Run to You" is a song performed by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on June 21, 1993, by Arista Records as the fourth single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992). It was written by Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, and produced by David Foster. Originally intended to be a break-up song, it was approved by the production and stars. However, a month later, the director of The Bodyguard called, saying he liked the song so much, but he'd rather have it to be a love song so the entire song was rewritten, except for the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Those Were the Days (song)</span> Song about lost youth and romantic idealism

"Those Were the Days" is a song composed by Boris Fomin (1900–1948) but credited to Gene Raskin, who put a new English lyric to Fomin's Russian romance song "Dorogoi dlinnoyu", with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevsky. It deals with reminiscence upon youth and romantic idealism. It also deals with tavern activities, which include drinking, singing and dancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring My Bell</span> 1979 single by Anita Ward

"Ring My Bell" is a 1979 disco song written by Frederick Knight. The song was originally written for eleven-year-old Stacy Lattisaw as a teenybopper song about children talking on the telephone. When Lattisaw signed with a different label, American singer and musician Anita Ward was asked to sing it instead, and it became her only major hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addicted to Love (song)</span> 1986 single by Robert Palmer

"Addicted to Love" is a song by English rock singer Robert Palmer released in 1986. It is the third song on Palmer's eighth studio album Riptide (1985) and was released as its second single. The single version is a shorter edit of the full-length album version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Again (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 2000 song by Lenny Kravitz

"Again" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, being the only new song from his first Greatest Hits album, released in 2000. Written, arranged and produced by himself, "Again" was initially set to be on his sixth studio album; however, Kravitz found that the song didn't fit the tone of the album, releasing it instead as the lead single from the compilation on September 22, 2000, through Virgin Records. The mid-tempo rock ballad finds Kravitz wondering if he will ever see his former lover again and if they will reunite once more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bailando (Paradisio song)</span> 1996 single by Paradisio

"Bailando" is a song by Belgian group Paradisio. It was released in 1996 as the lead single from their debut album, Paradisio. The song is produced by Patrick Samoy and Luc Rigaux and reached number-one in Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden. It peaked at number 2 in Belgium. In Sweden, it was the best selling single by being triple platinum. The song was a hit in most countries across Europe during the summer of 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Situation (song)</span> 1982 single by Yazoo

"Situation" is a 1982 single by British synth-pop band Yazoo. The song was released in the UK as the B-side to Yazoo's debut single "Only You", which went to number two on the UK Singles Chart. Released as a single in North America, the song peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, and hit the top 40 in Canadian charts, peaking at number 31. In late-summer 1982 it became Yazoo's first song to top the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, remaining at number one on this chart for four weeks. It also crossed over to the Black Singles chart, peaking at number 31.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And the Beat Goes On (The Whispers song)</span> 1979 single by the Whispers

"And the Beat Goes On" is a 1979 single by the American music group The Whispers. The song was their first of two number-one singles on the Soul chart, and their first Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19. "And the Beat Goes On" was the group's only number-one song on the dance chart. It was also their first and biggest hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also peaked at number 27 on the Canadian RPM chart.

References

  1. ↑ Adams, Bret. "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". AllMusic. All Media Network . Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 138. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  3. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4395." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 4403." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4410a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard . Vol. 91, no. 43. 27 October 1979. p. 80. ISSN   0006-2510.
  9. ↑ "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 38. 22 September 1979. p. 62. ISSN   0006-2510.
  10. ↑ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70's" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Born to Be Alive". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 8 October 2023.Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Born to Be Alive" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  13. ↑ "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 39. 29 September 1979. p. 63. ISSN   0006-2510.
  14. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Patrick Hernandez - Born to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 40. 6 October 1979. p. 68. ISSN   0006-2510.
  19. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (H)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  21. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  24. 1 2 "Born to Be Alive – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network . Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 6, 1979". Cash Box . Archived from the original on 5 February 2011.
  26. ↑ "Record World Singles" (PDF). Record World . 29 September 1979. p. 149. ISSN   0034-1622 . Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Patrick Hernandez - Born to Be Alive Re-Mix '88" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive (Re-Mix '88)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. 31 December 1979. Retrieved 9 December 2019– via Imgur.
  31. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1979" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM . Vol. 32, no. 13. 22 December 1979. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  34. ↑ "TOP – 1979" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1979" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1979". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Top Audience Response Singles/LPs". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 51. 22 December 1979. p. 42. ISSN   0006-2510.
  39. ↑ "Jahrescharts – 1979" (in German). Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "Hernandez Platinum for Australian Sales" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. XLI, no. 32. 22 December 1979. p. 26 – via World Radio History.
  41. 1 2 Waack, William (4 August 1979). "Agenda". Jornal do Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). p. 4 – via National Library of Brazil.
  42. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Music Canada . Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  43. ↑ Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). Fabrice Ferment (ed.). "TOP – 1979". 40 ans de tubes : 1960–2000 : les meilleures ventes de 45 tours & CD singles (in French). OCLC   469523661. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2023– via Top-France.fr.
  44. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Patrick Hernandez; 'Born to Be Alive')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  45. ↑ "West Germany - The Year in Review - Bellaphon". Billboard . 8 December 1979. p. G-16. Retrieved 11 March 2023– via Google Books.
  46. ↑ Barbiero, Ivano (13 July 1979). "Sette giorni in discoteca". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  47. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to be Alive" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  48. ↑ "MIDEM: Important Fair - Dutch" (PDF). Billboard. 24 January 1981. p. 91. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  49. ↑ "British single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  50. ↑ "American single certifications – Patrick Hernandez – Born to Be Alive". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  51. ↑ "Disco Kings – Born to Be Alive". Lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  52. ↑ Rosenfeld, Gavriel D (2005). Hi Hitler!: How the Nazi Past is Being Normalized in Contemporary Culture. Cambridge University Press. p. 314. ISBN   9781316195291.
  53. ↑ "Inuktitut, by Elisapie". Bandcamp. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  54. ↑ "OWVband, by Elisapie". owvband. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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.