Rhythm Is a Dancer

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"Rhythm Is a Dancer"
Single by Snap!
from the album The Madman's Return
B-side Remix
Released April 20, 1992
Format CD single, CD maxi, 7" vinyl
Recorded 1991
Genre Eurodance
Length 5:31
Writer(s) Benito Benitez & John "Virgo" Garrett III
Producer Benito Benitez
John "Virgo" Garrett III
Certification Gold (US, France)
Platinum (UK)
Snap! singles chronology
"Colour of Love"
(1991)		 "Rhythm Is a Dancer"
(1992)		 "Exterminate"
(1993)
Alternative cover
2008 remixes

"Rhythm Is a Dancer" is a song recorded by the act Snap!, released as a single in the second quarter of 1992, from the album The Madman's Return. It was written by Benito Benitez, John "Virgo" Garrett III (aliases for German producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti), singer Thea Austin and rapper Durron Butler and produced by Snap! It achieved a huge success in many countries, becoming a top 5 hit in the U.S. and topping the charts in France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Contents

[edit] Lyrics and music

The track features lead vocals by Thea Austin and a rap by Turbo B.

According to Miz hit. tubes, a book which analyses the French pop charts, "this discotheque song alternates the female singing of the chorus with the fluid rap and set back from the verses. These are tinged with a resonant sonority, with astonishment melancholic relents for a hit dance. That gives to the whole a very particular colouring; almost nostalgia."[1]

It is also contains what is said to be the "worst lyric of all time", with its line "I'm as serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer".[2] That the original album version of the song did not contain the line, which is found on the more widely known 7" single of the song that was later added to the album.

[edit] Music video

The music video for "Rhythm Is a Dancer" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and shows singer Thea Austin and a backup band at a rocket park filled with smoke. Austin and her group perform the song on elevated platforms while a group of dancers dance on a closed ground platform below them. Interpersed throughout these scenes are animated shots of flickering astronomy/aviation maps and animated figures dancing.

[edit] Chart performances

"Rhythm Is a Dancer" was the second single by Snap! to reach No. 1 in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks at the top from August 1992. It is their biggest hit single to date, with 492,175 sales during the original British chart run. A massive hit across the world, it also topped the chart in Germany, and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S in early 1993. In France, "Rhythm Is a Dancer" debuted at No. 5 on August 8, 1992, before climbing to No. 1 four weeks later (where it stayed for six weeks). The track thus became the first dance single to hit the number one position on the French Singles Chart. The song is currently the 97th best-selling single of all time in Germany.[3]

Snap! themselves re-recorded their own song in 1996 and 2003, the latter with CJ Stone (as "Rhythm is a Dancer 2003"). It reached number 17 on the official UK Top 40 in May 2003.

On 25 May 2008, "Rhythm Is a Dancer" re-entered the official UK Top 40 at number 36, climbing as high as number 23 two weeks later. BBC Radio 1 DJs Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates theorized it was based on download performance, due to its inclusion in a television advertisement for Drench water.

On 4 April 2009, "Rhythm is a Dancer" was chosen on the Belgian Radio MNM as the Best Song of the Nineties in the Nineties Top 100.

[edit] Cover versions

"Rhythm Is a Dancer" has been covered by numerous artists including Italian radio host Leone di Lernia who recorded a parody of the song in Italian,[4] Max Deejay who recorded an instrumental cover in 1997, System Drivers in 2002, The Superb, a Brazilian rock & roll act produced by Chilean DJ Sokio)[5] in 2005, Israeli-Italian acoustic music artist Sagi Rei for his 2005 album Emotional Songs, Chic Flowerz feat. Muriel Folwer in 2006, Berk and the Virtual Band for the 2007 album Jazz Chill, Vol. 2, Hermes House Band on the 2009 album Rhythm of the Nineties, Rod Jones on A Sentimental Education released in 2010, and DJ/producer Kylian Mash under the name "Madinshina - Rhythm is a Dancer 2010". Furthermore, it has been used for the basis of the 2010-track "You and Me" by Danish group Electric Lady Lab. On November 28, 2010, Romanian dance singer Inna covered the song live.

[edit] Appearances in other media

As sign of popularity, the song was often used in films or series, including the soundtrack for 1992 Brazilian soap opera De Corpo e Alma, in an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 during its third season in 1993, in a scene of the 2010 comedy movie Cop Out. The song was also featured in TV adverts, including in the 1995 ad for the Ford Escort on German television, and in 2008, in a TV commercial in the UK for "Drench" spring water, which used an edited version of the original "Rhythm Is a Dancer", bringing the song back into the UK singles chart on 9 June 2008, at number 23. The song was used in 1995 on a UK AWP gaming machine Bullseye, by Project Coin, as a sample (on cash gamble), and was referenced in the song "The 80s" from Robbie Williams' Rudebox album, despite the Snap! song being released in the 1990s.

[edit] Track listings

  • 7" single
  1. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (7" edit) — 3:41
  2. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (purple hazed 7" mix) — 4:31
  • CD maxi
  1. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (7" edit) — 3:41
  2. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (12" mix) — 5:12
  3. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (purple hazed mix) — 6:49
  • CD maxi - Remixes
  1. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (rhyth kid version) — 5:38
  2. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (tee's choice mix) — 6:19
  3. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (instrumental rhythm) — 5:30
  • CD single - 2003 remixes
  1. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (radio edit)
  2. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (CJ stone remix)
  3. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" ('92)
  4. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (video)
  • CD maxi - 2003 remixes
  1. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (video version) — 3:20
  2. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (CJ stone radio mix) — 3:49
  3. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" ("check this out" remix) — 7:06
  4. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (CJ stone club mix) — 7:45
  5. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" ('92) — 3:42

[edit] Official Versions

  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (7" Edit) / (Rhythm Is a Dancer '92) - 3:41
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (12" Mix) - 5:12
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (Instrumental Rhythm) - 5:30
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (Purple Hazed 7" Edit) - 4:31
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (Purple Hazed Mix) - 6:49
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (Rhyth Kid Version) - 5:38
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (Tee's Choice Mix) - 6:19
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (Radio Edit)
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" ("Check This Out" Remix) - 7:06
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (CJ Stone Radio Mix) / (CJ Stone Remix) - 3:49
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (CJ Stone Club Mix) / (CJ Stone Remix) - 7:45
  • "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" (Video Version) - 3:20

[edit] Charts and sales

[edit] Peak positions

Chart (1992/93) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[6] 3
Austrian Singles Chart[6] 1
Canadian RPM Top Singles[7] 19
Canadian RPM Dance Chart[8] 1
Danish Singles Chart[6] 11
Dutch Top 40[9] 1
French SNEP Singles Chart[6] 1
German Singles Chart[10] 1
Irish Singles Chart[11] 1
Italian Singles Chart 1
New Zealand Singles Chart[6] 11
Norwegian Singles Chart[6] 4
Swedish Singles Chart[6] 2
Swiss Singles Chart[6] 1
UK Singles Chart[12] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 5
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] 1
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[13] 9
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream[13] 12
Chart (1996/97)1 Peak
position
Swedish Singles Chart[14] 58
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] 27
Chart (2003)2 Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[15] 32
Austrian Singles Chart[15] 10
Dutch Singles Chart[15] 46
Finnish Singles Chart[15] 13
German Singles Chart[10] 7
Swiss Singles Chart[15] 35
UK Singles Chart[16] 17
Chart (2008) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[17] 23
German Singles Chart 84

1 "Rhythm Is a Dancer '96"
2 "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003"

[edit] Year-end charts

Chart (1992) Position
Australian Singles Chart[18] 15
Austrian Singles Chart[19] 2
Dutch Top 40[9] 1
Swiss Singles Chart[20] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[21] 75
Chart (1993) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[22] 25

[edit] Certifications

Country Certification Date Certification-levels
Austria Gold[23] July 22, 1992 25,000[24]
France Gold[25] 1992 250,000[26]
Germany Platinum[27] 1992 500,000[28]
Netherlands Platinum[29] 1992 75,000[30]
Sweden Gold[31] August 7, 1992 25,000[32]
UK Gold[33] September 1, 1992 400,000[33]
U.S. Gold[34] November 9, 1992 500,000[35]

[edit] Chart successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"To Be With You" by Mr. Big
"Jump" by Kris Kross		 Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
May 16, 1992 (1 week)
June 20, 1992 - September 19 (14 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Guns 'n' Roses
It's My Life" by Dr. Alban
Preceded by
"To Be with You" by Mr. Big		 German number one single
May 22, 1992 - July 24, 1992 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"It's My Life" by Dr Alban
Preceded by
"To Be With You" by Mr. Big		 Austrian number-one single
May 31, 1992 - June 7, 1992 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"It's My Life" by Dr. Alban
Preceded by
"Please Don't Go" by Double You		 Dutch Top 40 number-one single
June 6, 1992 - June 27, 1992 (4 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Guns N' Roses
Preceded by
"Jump" by Kris Kross		 Swiss number-one single
June 28, 1992 - September 27, 1992 (14 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Sweat (A La La La La Long)" by Inner Circle
Preceded by
"Ain't No Doubt" by Jimmy Nail		 UK number one single
August 8, 1992 - September 12, 1992 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ebeneezer Goode" by The Shamen
Preceded by
"Ain't No Doubt" by Jimmy Nail		 Irish IRMA number-one single
August 13, 1992 - October 1, 1992 (8 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ebeneezer Goode" by The Shamen
Preceded by
"It's a Fine Day" by Opus III		 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
September 5, 1992 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)" by The Shamen
Preceded by
"Le Chat" by Pow woW		 French SNEP number-one single
September 5, 1992 - October 10, 1992 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Dur dur d'être bébé!" by Jordy

[edit] References

  1. ^ Habib, Elia (2002) (in French). Muz hit.tubes. Alinea Bis. p. 246. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X. 
  2. ^ Rupert Neate (09 Jul 2008). "Worst lyric of all time: I'm serious as cancer, when I say rhythm is a dancer". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2274009/Worst-lyric-of-all-time-Im-serious-as-cancer-when-I-say-rhythm-is-a-dancer.html. Retrieved 2010-09-19. 
  3. ^ "Best-selling singles of all time in Germany". Musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/charts_alltimefav. Retrieved May 17, 2009. 
  4. ^ "An audio sample". Video4viet.com. http://www.video4viet.com/music.html?act=play&id=c642685c2bd1c8e14f6dd06f0d7cee55. 
  5. ^ "The Superb". Last.fm. http://www.last.fm/music/The+Superb. Retrieved 22 September 2010. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rhythm Is a Dancer", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  7. ^ Canada Top Singles peak
  8. ^ RPM: issue date September 5, 1992
  9. ^ a b "Single top 100 over 1992" (in Dutch) (PDF). Top40. http://www.top40.nl/pdf/Top%20100/top%20100%20-%201992.pdf. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
  10. ^ a b German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  11. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  12. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  13. ^ a b c d e Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  14. ^ "Rhythm Is a Dancer 96", in Sweden Singles Chart Swedishcharts.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  15. ^ a b c d e "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  16. ^ UK Singles Chart (2003 release) Chartstats.com (Retrieved September 7, 2008)
  17. ^ UK Singles Chart (2008 release) Chartstats.com (Retrieved September 7, 2008)
  18. ^ 1992 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved September 7, 2008)
  19. ^ 1992 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved September 7, 2008)
  20. ^ 1992 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved September 7, 2008)
  21. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1992". http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  22. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1993". http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993. Retrieved 2010-08-27. 
  23. ^ "IFPI Austria - Gold & Platin" (in German). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry — Austria. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  24. ^ GSA:Austria. Billboard magazine. http://books.google.com/books?id=4AkEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA48&dq=GSA%20Region%20Platinum&pg=PA54#v=onepage&q=GSA%20Region%20Platinum&f=false. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  25. ^ "InfoDisc Les Certifications depuis 1973 (singles)". InfoDisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Single_Certif.php. 
  26. ^ "Les Certifications Officielles: Chronologie Singles". Info Disc. http://www.infodisc.fr/S_Certif_Detail.php. Retrieved 2010-08-03. 
  27. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snap; 'Rhythm Is a Dancer')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Rhythm+Is+a+Dancer&strInterpret=Snap&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  28. ^ "Richtlinien für die Verleihung von GOLD/PLATIN-Schallplatten und AWARDs [Guidelines for Gold and Platinum awards]" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin/. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  29. ^ "Snap - Rhythm is a dancer". NVPI. http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=61112&documentid=1236224&zoekform=60463&formposted=yes. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  30. ^ "Dutch Certification-award-levels" (in Dutch) (Words). NVPI. http://www.mediafire.com/?w83qdgpdui9wsy2. 
  31. ^ "Guld & Platina IFPI [Gold & Platinum IFPI]" (in Swedish). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry — Sweden. http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  32. ^ "Swedish Certification-award-levels" (PDF). IFPI Sweden. http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ojezjtzmezz. 
  33. ^ a b "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  34. ^ "Gold & Platinum Search Results: Snap (Rhythm Is a Dancer". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Rhythm%20is%20a%20Dancer&artist=Snap&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2011&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
  35. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Criteria". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=criteria. Retrieved 2011-03-19. 
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