Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)
| "Dancing on the Ceiling" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Love Will Find a Way" |
"Dancing on the Ceiling" is a song written by Mike Frenchik, Lionel Richie and Carlos Rios and performed by Richie on his 1986 album of the same name.[1]
The song reached the top spot on the Norwegian charts.[2]
21st century views
"This [sense of swagger] isn't entirely a good thing, since it means he indulges in silliness [...]" – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic.[1]
In the early 21st century, Blender magazine published a list of the "50 worst songs of all time", with "Dancing on the Ceiling" listed at No. 20. Within a few years of printing this litany of insults, Blender was out of business.[3]
Despite some negative views expressed since its release, the song remains a regular addition to 80's music nights at clubs and bars.
Music video
The music video was directed by Stanley Donen who also co-produced it with Glenn Goodwin through Glenn Goodwin & Associates.[4] Michael Peters choreographed[5] and Daniel Pearl was the director of photography.[6] Shooting took place during three days at Laird Studios in Culver City and one day on location at the LeMondrian Hotel in West Hollywood.[4] The video reportedly cost somewhere between $350,000 and $500,000[5] (or around $400,000), making it the most expensive short form music video production at the time.[4]
In the video, which premiered on September 8, 1986,[7] Richie and friends attend a party and dance on the ceiling reminiscent of Fred Astaire's routine in Donen's 1951 film Royal Wedding.[4] Donen later said that Richie actually adapted easier and quicker to the rotating room used in the video than Astaire did while shooting Royal Wedding.[8] There is also a reference in the video to The Seven Year Itch when air blows a woman's skirt over her head. At the end Rodney Dangerfield and Cheech Marin make cameo appearances.[5] The video also features dancer Diane Alexander, who would later become Richie's second wife.[9][10]
In the fall of 1986 HBO aired a half-hour TV special, Lionel Richie: The Making of Dancing on the Ceiling, directed by Sandra Hay and Alan J. Kozlowski, which takes a look at behind the scenes of the music video shoot. This documentary was also released on VHS and later as a hidden extra on Richie's The Definitive Collection DVD.
Charts
"Dancing on the Ceiling" reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, behind "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin and "Stuck With You" by Huey Lewis and the News.
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart | 7 |
| France (SNEP)[11] | 42 |
External links
References
- ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dancing on the Ceiling". allmusic. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling (Song)". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Blender Magazine - 50 Worst Songs Ever (Music Database :: Dave Tompkins)". Cs.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
- ^ a b c d Frank Lovece (October 18, 1986). "Stanley Donen Is Dancin' On Air After Directing Richie Clip". Billboard. 98 (42): 78. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c Linda Moleski (September 6, 1986). "Video Track". Billboard. 98 (36): 59. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Daniel Pearl's resumé". Daniel Pearl. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Dancing on the ceiling [copyright notice]". faqs.org. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ Andy Roberts (June 20, 2010). "Happy Birthday, Lionel Richie". TheVine. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ Summertime, and the Loving Is Anything but Easy for Lionel, Melvin and Stephanie
- ^ The Joy and Pain of Celebrity Marriage
- ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in French). Les classement single.