Weekend Special
"Weekend Special" | |
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Single by Brenda and the Big Dudes | |
from the album Weekend Special | |
B-side | "Life Is Going On" |
Released | February 1983 |
Genre | |
Length |
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Label | |
Songwriter(s) | Melvyn Matthews |
Producer(s) |
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Music video | |
"Weekend Special" on YouTube |
"Weekend Special" is the debut single by the South African recording group Brenda and the Big Dudes taken from their debut studio album Weekend Special (1983). It was written by Melvyn Matthews, as was the B-side "Life Is Going On". "Weekend Special" features production by Blondie Makhene (one half of the 1970s duo Blondie & Pappa) and Matthews.[1]
The song was released by
"Weekend Special" had an extended life in cover versions and remixes, including one by New York producer Van Gibbs in 1986 that spent eight weeks on Billboard magazine's Hot Black Singles chart. The song's international success led to Fassie touring the United States, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. As a full album, Weekend Special continues to sell well as a collector's item.
Background
In 1980, Anneline Malebo, one of the singers from the group
Writing and production
"Weekend Special" was written and produced by a
Commercial performance
By the spring of 1983, "Weekend Special" had received enough promotion in townships to catch the attention of DJs, achieving multi-platinum status sales in excess of 200,000 copies as the fastest selling single of that year. It peaked at number 72 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and remained there for eight weeks. It also topped the charts in South America, Europe and Australia. In the United Kingdom, it was remixed by Ian Levine. The song was popular in both underground radios and clubs in the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa. As a full album, Weekend Special continues to sell well as a collector's item and enjoys enduring popularity among a new generation of music lovers.[1]
Remix
"Weekend Special" received a variety of cover versions and remixes notably by the American singer Van Gibbs of
Live performance
Following the song's release, Brenda Fassie and the Big Dudes promoted the song in township shebeens to catch the attention of the DJs.[3] Brenda and the Big Dudes performed the song in front of a hundred thousand people who paid R4 each to watch her play at Ellis Park Stadium at the second Concert in the Park in a "promotional tour with EMI" organized by EMI to promote the album. Margaret Singana and The Rockets were backstage with The Soul Brothers.[4]
Music video
A music video was released later after the song's success. On 26 November 2015, it received 257,860 views on YouTube. The video features Brenda and the Big Dudes performing the song in front of hundred thousand people in Ellis Park, Johannesburg in support of the Operation Hunger aid on 12 January 1985.[5] Another video was uploaded on YouTube published on 10 November 2006 featuring Brenda with the Big Dudes singing the song in a club; the video received 174,451 views.[6]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
|
72 |
References
- ^ a b "BRENDA & THE BIG DUDES - Weekend Special (1983)". afrosynth.blogspot.co.za.
- ^ sahoboss (17 February 2011). "Brenda Nokuzola Fassie". sahistory.org.za.
- ^ a b Mathe, Sam. "Special team behind the MaBrr magic". mg.co.za.
- ^ "Our magical, fragile Brenda - The Star". iol.co.za.
- ^ NextMusicMedia (26 November 2015). "Brenda and The Big Dudes - Weekend Special (Live at Ellis Park Stadium, 1985)" – via YouTube.
- ^ zimvibes (10 November 2006). "Brenda-weekend special 80's -www.zimvibes.com" – via YouTube.