Boogie Wonderland

"Boogie Wonderland"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions
from the album I Am
B-side	"Boogie Wonderland (Instrumental) (Vinyl)"
Released	May 6, 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	Disco funk
Length	4:49 (LP/7") 8:15 (12")
Label	ARC Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Allee Willis Jon Lind
Producer(s)	Maurice White Al McKay
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"September" (1978) "Boogie Wonderland" (1979) "After the Love Has Gone" (1979)
The Emotions singles chronology
"Walking the Line" (1979) "Boogie Wonderland" (1979) "What's the Name of Your Love?" (1979)
Music video
"Boogie Wonderland" on YouTube

"Boogie Wonderland" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions, released in April 1979 on Columbia Records[1] 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 Hot 100, and number two on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.[2][3] It was certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK. "Boogie Wonderland" was Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording;[4] it won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[5]

Overview

The song was composed by Allee Willis with Jon Lind[6] and produced by EWF leader Maurice White and Al McKay.[1]

WIllis wrote the lyrics in response to seeing the crime drama film Looking for Mr. Goodbar, where Rosanne Quinn, a murdered schoolteacher, tries to paper over her pain and feelings of insecurity with alcohol, drugs, and sex. “Boogie wonderland” described in the song is a magical place, but the lyrics also focus on the dreary reality from which discos provided an escape. The song creates a general vibe of escapism and begins with the unpleasant aftermath of a night out that made life better, but for only for a few hours.[7]

Critical reception

Rose Riggins of Gannett wrote "Boogie Wonderland is the hit. But it is more than just an average pop song. The song is an exploration of times spent at house parties and at discos, when you wanted to be disco queen or king and the spotlight just wouldn't focus on you. You wonder why and look into the mirror and it says, Uh, Uh, baby it don't work you dance to shake the hurt. Like so many of EWFs hits, Boogie Wonderland, is bolstered by the blazing horns that have become the groups trademark. Teamed up with the talented vocal group the Emotions, EWF has created a song that will join the ranks of such past hits as Mighty Mighty, Getaway, Fantasy and September."[8] Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone said Maurice White "takes simple dance formulas like 'Boogie Wonderland' and finds fresh possibilities within them."[9]

James Johnson of the Evening Standard called it a song "couched in a more down-to-earth, dance-floor dialogue."[10] Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic stated: "one of the few records that paired two full-fledged groups successfully, the combination of EWF and the Emotions worked wonders here and it remains a classic of the period."[11] Allen Weiner of Morning Call wrote: "Boogie Wonderland is the LP's most commercial tune, a tribute to both jazz/soul and disco fans that is pulsating and pleasing."[12] Ace Adams of the New York Daily News also found that "The Emotions' Boogie Wonderland gets Earth, Wind & Fire off to a flying start on this album".[13] Cash Box called it a "a standout pop dance track," saying that "sharp, slamming horn intro segues into bright backup singing by the Emotions, blending in perfectly with E, W & F leader Maurice White's vocal."[14]

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
Gary Mulholland	UK	This Is Uncool: The 500 Best Singles Since Punk Rock^[citation needed]	2002	*
Dave Marsh	U.S.	The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made^[citation needed]	1989	737
Bruce Pollock	U.S.	The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000^[citation needed]	2005	*
The Guardian	UK	1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear^[citation needed]	2009	*

(*) designates lists that are unordered.

Personnel

• Maurice White – lead and background vocals, drums, kalimba
• Philip Bailey – background vocals, congas, percussion
• Verdine White – bass ( Yamaha BB2000)
• Ralph Johnson – percussion
• Al McKay & Marlo Henderson – guitar
• Larry Dunn – Piano & Oberheim and Moog Synthesizers
• Fred White – drums
• Don Myrick – alto, tenor, and baritone Saxophones
• The Emotions – backing vocals
• Daniel Smith, Delores Bing, Jacqueline Lustgarten, Jan Kelley, John Walz, Kevan Torfeh, Larry Corbett, Miguel Martinez – cello
• Barbara Korn, Sidney Muldrow, Richard Perissi, Marilyn Robinson – french horn
• George Bohanon, Garnett Brown, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Louis Satterfield, Benjamin Powell, Maurice Spears – trombone
• Johnny Graham – guitar
• Fred Jackson, Jr., Herman Riley, Jerome Richardson – Additional Saxophones
• Richard Lepore – Timpani
• Oscar Brashear, Bobby Bryant, Michael Harris, Jerry Hey, Elmer Brown, Rahmlee Michael Davis, Steve Madaio – trumpets
• James Ross, Laurie Woods, Linda Lipsett, Marilyn Baker, Rollice Dale, Virginia Majewski – viola
• Anton Sen, Sherman Bryana, Carl LaMagna, Cynthia Kovaks, Gina Kronstadt, Haim Shtrum, Harris Goldman, Henry Ferber, Henry Roth, Ilkka Talvi, Jack Gootkin, Jerome Reisler, Jerome Webster, Joseph Goodman, Joseph Livoti, Judith Talvi, Leeana Sherman, Marcy Dicterow, Pamela Gates, Pavel Farkas, Ronald Clarck, Rosmen Torfeh, Sheldon Sanov, William Henderson – violin
• Steve Poskitt – step in drummer for Boogie Wonderland recording

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1979) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 4 Canada 11 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 10 France (IFOP)[18] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[21] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[23] 17 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 7 UK Singles (OCC) 4 US Billboard Hot 100 6 US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) 2 US Disco Top 80 (Billboard) 14 US Cash Box Top 100[24] 5 West Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 25 Chart (1993) Peak position Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)[25] 4 Chart (2012) Peak position France[26] 39

Year-end charts Chart (1979) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 56 Canada Top Singles[27] 114 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 30 UK Singles (Music Week)[29] 22 US Billboard Hot 100[30] 57 US Cash Box Top 100[31] 33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32] digital	Gold	45,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)[33] sales since 2009	Gold	35,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] physical	Gold	500,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] sales since 2015	Platinum	600,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[36] physical	Gold	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Sampling

• "Boogie Wonderland" was the basis for the dance song "I'm Alive" by Stretch & Vern; the song reached number six in the UK in September 1996.[37]

References

1. Earth, Wind & Fire featuring The Emotions: Boogie Wonderland. Columbia Records. April 1979.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 86.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 179.
4. "Earth, Wind & Fire". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. June 28, 2023.
5. "Earth, Wind & Fire - Artist". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023.
6. Willis, Allee (25 November 2018). "How I wrote 'Boogie Wonderland'" Songwritingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
7. Melchior, Al (January 19, 2024). "The Meaning Behind "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
8. Riggins, Rose (August 25, 1979). "'Boogie Wonderland' more than just pop". The Californian. Gannett. p. 35 – via newspapers.com.
9. Marsh, Dave (August 29, 1979). "I Am". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
10. Johnson, James (June 14, 1979). "Pick An Album". Evening Standard. p. 27 – via newspapers.com.
11. Greenwald, Matthew. "Earth, Wind & Fire featuring The Emotions: Boogie Wonderland". allmusic.com. AllMusic.
12. Weiner, Allen (June 23, 1979). "Earth,Wind & Fire: I Am". The Morning Call. p. 52 – via newspapers.com.
13. Adams, Ace (June 22, 1979). "Mini Reviews". newspapers.com. New York Daily News. p. 321.
14. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 5, 1979. p. 17. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
15. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
16. "Earth Wind and Fire – Boogie Wonderland" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
17. 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.
18. "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. June 22, 1979. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Boogie Wonderland". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
20. "NL Top40 - Search Results Boogie Wonderland". Retrieved October 30, 2018.
21. "Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions - Boogie Wonderland". Single Top 100. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
22. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. July 22, 1979. Retrieved October 14, 2016.^[dead link‍]
23. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)".
24. "Top 100 1979-07-14". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
25. 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.
26. Steffen Hung. "Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions - Boogie Wonderland". Lescharts.com. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
27. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
28. "Top Selling Singles of 1979 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1979. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
29. "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. December 22, 1979. p. 27.
30. "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
31. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
32. "Danish single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire, The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
33. "Italian single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 4, 2020. Select "2020" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Boogie Wonderland" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
34. "British single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire & Emotions – Boogie Wonderland". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
35. "British single certifications – Earth Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
36. "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
37. "The Official Charts Company Stretch 'N' Vern Presents 'Maddog' - I'm Alive". OfficialCharts.com.