Fame (Irene Cara song)
"Fame" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Irene Cara | ||||
from the album Fame soundtrack | ||||
B-side | "Never Alone" (performed by the Contemporary Gospel Chorus, The High School of Music and Art) | |||
Released | May 1980 | |||
Genre | Pop, post-disco | |||
Length | 3:48 (7") 5:14 (12") | |||
Label | RSO | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Michael Gore | |||
Irene Cara singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Fame - Irene Cara" on YouTube |
"Fame" is a song written by Michael Gore (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics)[1] and released in 1980, that achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series.[1] The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original film. It was also her debut single as a recording artist. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1980,[1] and the Golden Globe Award the same year. In 2004, it finished at number 51 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.
History
Irene Cara played the role of Coco Hernandez in the movie Fame and sang the vocals for the theme song. The music for the song was by Michael Gore and the lyrics were by Dean Pitchford. The song earned Cara a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[2] The movie became an "overnight sensation". The song won an Oscar for best film theme song in 1981. In July 1982, it was re-released on the back of the successful TV series and topped the charts in several countries, including the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.[3]
Fame theme song
The song was later used as the theme song for the Fame television series, which aired from 1982 to 1987. For seasons 1-4, the song was performed by Erica Gimpel who plays Cara's character, Coco on the show. For seasons 5-6, it was performed by Loretta Chandler. The song was also used in other TV shows related to Fame.
Personnel
- backing vocals
- Rob Mounsey – keyboards, piano
- arrangements
- Kenneth Bichel – synthesizer
- Neil Jason – bass guitar
- Elliott Randall – guitar solo
- David Spinozza, Jeff Mironov – guitar
- drums
- Jimmy Maelen, Crusher Bennet – percussion
- Louise Bethune, Peggie Blue, Ivonne Lewis, Ullanda McCullough, Deborah McDuffie, Vicki Sue Robinson, Ann E. Sutton, Luther Vandross – backing vocals
Music Video
The original promotional music video was the scene from the film. Cara had only a very short part in that scene.
To promote the re-release of the single Cara appeared in a new video shot in mid-June 1982 in New York City, mainly on and around Broadway and including Cara sitting on one of New York's Yellow Cabs and dancing at the entrance to the School Of Performing Arts.[4]
Charts
"Fame" rose to number four on the
Weekly singles charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[27] | Gold | 50,000^ |
France ( SNEP)[29]
|
— | 500,000[28] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[30] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Gold | 1,079,222[6] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- "Pink Lady
- List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1983
- List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom
- List of number-one dance singles of 1980 (U.S.)
- List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s
- List of number-one singles in 1982 (New Zealand)
References
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Irene Cara's Grammy Awards history". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-78057-411-0. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ Cara, Irene. "Fame (Official Music Video)". Youtube. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b Copsey, Rob (September 19, 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Irene Cara – Fame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. Vol. 34, no. 4. November 22, 1980. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- Les classement single.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Fame". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Irene Cara – Fame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Irene Cara – Fame". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "Irene Cara – Fame". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Irene Cara Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Irene Cara Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- Cash Box. September 13, 1980. Archived from the originalon September 15, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ "Pop Singles". Billboard ("Billboard Talent in Action: Year End Charts" supplement). December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10.
- ^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1980". Cash Box. December 27, 1980. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1982". Recorded Music NZ.
- ISBN 0-907080-73-1.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983". Dutch Charts (Hung Medien).
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame". Music Canada.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20170810031357/http://www.top-france.fr/html/45tours/45t1980.htm#
- Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Dutch single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved August 31, 2020. Enter Fame in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1983 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "British single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame". British Phonographic Industry.
External links
- "Songfacts: Fame by Irene Cara". Retrieved September 8, 2023.