"Boogie Wonderland" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions, released in April 1979 on Columbia Records 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. 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; it won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.

Overview The song was composed by Allee Willis with Jon LindWillis, Allee (25 November 2018). "How I wrote 'Boogie Wonderland'" Songwritingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2020. and produced by EWF leader Maurice White and Al McKay.

Willis wrote the lyrics in response to seeing the 1977 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.

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." Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone said Maurice White "takes simple dance formulas like 'Boogie Wonderland' and finds fresh possibilities within them."

James Johnson of the Evening Standard called it a song "couched in a more down-to-earth, dance-floor dialogue." 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." 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." 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". 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."

Accolades Publication Country Accolade Year Rank Gary MulhollandUK This Is Uncool: The 500 Greatest Singles Since Punk and Disco 2002* Dave Marsh U.S. The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made 1989737 Bruce Pollock U.S. The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000 2005* The Guardian UK 1,000 Songs Everyone Must Hear 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 (Wanda Hutchinson, Jeanette Hutchinson, Sheila Hutchinson) – 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)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)5Canada11Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)10France (IFOP)2Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)4Netherlands (Single Top 100)4New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)7Norway (VG-lista)2South Africa (Springbok Radio)17Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)7UK Singles (OCC)4US Billboard Hot 1006US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)2US Disco Top 80 (Billboard)14US Cash Box Top 1005West Germany (Official German Charts)25 Chart (1993)Peak positionFinland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)4 Chart (2012)Peak positionFrance39

Year-end charts Chart (1979) RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)56Canada Top Singles114New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)30UK Singles (Music Week)22US Billboard Hot 10057US Cash Box Top 10033

Certifications

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.

References