Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)

"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" is a song by American R&B band Chic. It was the group's first single and hit in the United States, reaching number 6 on both the pop and R&B charts.[2] In addition, along with the tracks "You Can Get By" and "Everybody Dance", the single reached number one on the disco charts.[3] Luther Vandross provided backup vocals. He was working as a session vocalist at the time.[4]

"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)"
Side A of US 7-inch single (Atlantic)
Single by Chic
from the album Chic
B-side"São Paulo"
Released30 September 1977 (US) [1]
Recorded1977
GenreDisco
Length8:21 (LP version)
3:41 (7-inch single)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bernard Edwards
  • Nile Rodgers
Chic singles chronology
"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)"
(1977)		 "Everybody Dance"
(1978)

The "yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" part of the title, which appears as a spoken interjection in the middle of the song, originated with the American jazz violinist and radio personality Ben Bernie, who popularized it in the 1920s. The phrase was revived in 1969 by They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, a film about a Depression-era dance marathon.

According to co-writer Nile Rodgers,

Bernard came to my apartment one day and he had laid out the complete lyric, but we wanted to add a catch phrase, so we went through a few ideas like "23 skidoo" and "Oh, you kid" and all that stuff. We had in mind something like the old dance marathons, where the emcees made the people dance, and finally we thought of how Gig Young kept saying "Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?[5]

Reception

Record World called it "pure disco with something extra."[6] Oakland Tribune critic Larry Kelp called it "one of the worst records of the year."[7]

Track listing and formats
Buddah 7" BDA 583, 1977 / Atlantic 7" 3435, September 30, 1977
  • A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (7" Edit) - 3:41
  • B. "São Paulo" - 5:01
Buddah 12" DSC 121, 1977 / Atlantic 12" DK 4600, 1977
  • A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21
  • B. "São Paulo" - 5:01
Atlantic 12" promo DSKO 101, 1977
  • A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21
  • B. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (7" Edit) - 3:41
Atlantic 12" DK 4621, 1978
  • A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21
  • B. "Everybody Dance" (12" Mix) - 8:25

Charts
Chart (1977–78) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 28
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 6
West Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 37
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 6
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16] 1

References
  1. "Chic - Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)".
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 116.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 56.
  4. Seymour, Craig (July 2005). Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross - Craig Seymour - Google Books. ISBN 9780060779238. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  5. Leogrande, Ernest (December 9, 1977). "Now Hear This: Dance". Daily News. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-02-16 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 15, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. Kelp, Larry (December 25, 1977). "Aerosmith's 'Draw the Line' – The Year's Noisiest Record?". Oakland Tribune. p. 20-E. Retrieved 2023-02-16 – via newspapers.com.
  8. "Offiziellecharts.de – Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chic". Irish Singles Chart.
  10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Chic" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  11. "Chic – Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. "Chic – Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)". Top 40 Singles.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. "Chic Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. "Chic Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  16. "Chic Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.



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