Le Freak
{{short description|1978 song by Chic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Le Freak
| cover = Chicfreak.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption = One of the US editions
| type = single
| artist = Chic
| album = C'est Chic
| B-side = {{ubl|"You Can Get By"|"Savoir Faire"}}
| released = {{Start date|1978|09|21}}
| recorded = January 1978
| studio = Power Station, New York City
| venue =
| genre =
- Disco
- funk{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/disco-fever-vol-2-spg-mw0000098834 |title=Disco Fever, Vol. 2 [SPG] on Allmusic |first=Heather |last=Phares |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=6 July 2013 |quote=disco hits like Chic's "Le Freak,"}}
| length =
- {{Duration|m=5|s=23}} (LP version)
- 3:30 (7-inch/video edit)
| label = Atlantic (3519)
| writer =
| producer =
- Bernard Edwards
- Nile Rodgers
| prev_title = Everybody Dance
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = I Want Your Love
| next_year = 1979
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|aXgSHL7efKg|"Le Freak"}}}}
}}
"Le Freak" is a funk-disco song by American disco band Chic, released in September 1978 by Atlantic Records as the first single from their second album, C'est Chic (1978). It was written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, and became the band's third single and first US Billboard Hot 100 and R&B number-one hit song.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=116}}{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3884/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title= Chic > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=November 28, 2009}} Along with the tracks "I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number one on the disco charts for seven weeks.{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=56}} The single achieved sales of 7 million{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OYCAAAAMBAJ&q=that+sold+7+million+copies|title=New York Magazine: "Jewel of a Nile", p. 49|last=Haden-Guest|first=Anthony|publisher=New York Magazine|date=February 24, 1986|access-date=February 27, 2012}} and also peaked at number seven in the UK Singles Chart. Billboard magazine ranked it as the number three song for 1979Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1979 and number 21 on the magazine's top 100 songs of the first 55 years of the Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/2155531/the-hot-100-all-time-top-songs?list_page=2 |title= Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs |magazine= Billboard |date= 2 August 2013 |access-date= 9 August 2013 |first= Fred |last= Bronson}} In 2018, "Le Freak" was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-18-028/ | title=National Recording Registry Reaches 500 | work=Library of Congress | date=March 21, 2018 | access-date=March 21, 2018}}
Lyric
The lyric mentions "Stompin' at the Savoy", a 1933 song composed by Edgar Sampson. It also invites the listener to "Come on down to 54": that is, Studio 54, a popular nightclub in New York City at the time.
This song is written in the key of A minor.{{Cite web|last1=Bernard|first1=Edwards|last2=Nile|first2=Rodgers|last3=Chic|date=2019-05-27|title=Le Freak|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0194638|access-date=2021-06-08|website=Musicnotes.com}}
History
This song commemorates Studio 54 in New York City for its notoriously long customer waiting lines, exclusive clientele, and discourteous doormen. According to guitarist Nile Rodgers, the song was devised during New Year's Eve 1977, as a result of his and bassist Bernard Edwards' being refused entrance to Studio 54, where they had been invited by Grace Jones, due to her failure to notify the nightclub's staff. He said the lyrics of the refrain were originally "Fuck off!" rather than "Freak out!";{{cite web |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr05/articles/classictracks.htm |title=CLASSIC TRACKS: Chic – 'Le Freak' |year=2005 |work=Sound On Sound Magazine |access-date=July 7, 2010}} for the documentary How to Make It in the Music Business, he said that 'beano's socks' was what the doorman had said to him when he slammed the door on them; first it was changed to "freak off" after Rodgers mused that they wouldn't be able to say 'beano's socks' on the radio, but that sounded "terrible", so he changed it to 'freak out'.{{Cite web |title=BBC Four - Nile Rodgers: How to Make It in the Music Business, Series 1, Episode 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b097f4bp |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
"Le Freak" was the first song to score the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 three separate times. It spent a total of six non-consecutive weeks at the position.
In 1987, an acid house-styled re-mix was issued under the title "Jack Le Freak". It reached number 18 in the United Kingdom, becoming Chic's last top 40 hit to date in that country. This remix was done by British producer Phil Harding, who had access to the original DAT tapes for "Le Freak". Due to him producing a similar remix for Mel and Kim's "F.L.M." (known as the "Two Grooves Under One Nation" remix, which samples "Le Freak") that same year, he included acapella samples taken from their songs "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)", "Respectable" and "F.L.M." during the breakdown.https://www.melandkim.com/f-l-m-single
MC Lyte sampled the song "Woo Woo (Freak Out)" featuring Nicci Gilbert of the group Brownstone, which first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 movie Woo and was also included on her album Seven & Seven, titled "Woo Woo (Party Time)", which released three months later.
Reception and legacy
Upon the release, Cash Box described it as "a handclapping disco song bolstered by solid bass work and airy vocals."{{cite news|title=Cash Box Singles Reviews|date=October 7, 1978|page=24|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-10-07.pdf}} In 2000, VH1 ranked "Le Freak" No. 26 in their list of "100 Greatest Dance Songs".{{cite web|title=100 Greatest Dance Songs|url=http://vh-1.com/insidevh1/shows/100greatestlist/100dance.jhtml|publisher=VH1|date=October 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020324113157/http://vh-1.com/insidevh1/shows/100greatestlist/100dance.jhtml|archive-date=March 24, 2002|access-date=April 11, 2025}} In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 10 in their list of "The Best Disco Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|title=The Best Disco Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-best-disco-songs-of-all-time-17854/10-chic-le-freak-254320/|work=Rolling Stone|date=May 23, 2012|access-date=April 11, 2025}} In 2013, the song was ranked No. 21 on Billboard magazine's top 100 songs of the first 55 years of the Hot 100 chart. In 2015, the 1978 recording of the song by Chic on Atlantic Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#l {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} In 2018, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked "Le Freak" No. 81 in their "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time" list.{{cite magazine|first1=Jon|last1=Dolan|first2=Julyssa|last2=Lopez|first3=Michaelangelo|last3=Matos|first4=Claire|last4=Shaffer|title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 22, 2022|accessdate=April 6, 2025}} In 2024, Forbes ranked it No. 27 in their list of "The 30 Greatest Disco Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|first=Jacqueline|last=Schneider|title=The 30 Greatest Disco Songs Of All Time|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/best-disco-songs/|work=Forbes|date=April 27, 2024|accessdate=April 11, 2025}}
Track listing and formats
- Atlantic 7" 3519, September 21, 1978
:A. "Le Freak" (7" Edit) – 3:30
:B. "Savoir Faire" – 4:57
- Atlantic promo 12" DSKO 131, 1978 / Atlantic 12" DK 4700, 1978
:A. "Le Freak" – 5:23
:B. "Savoir Faire" – 4:57
- Atlantic 12" DK 4620, 1978 / Atlantic Oldies promo 12" DSKO 178, 1979
:A. "Le Freak" – 5:23
:B. "You Can Get By" – 5:36
Personnel
- Alfa Anderson – lead vocals
- Diva Gray – lead vocals
- David Lasley – vocals
- Luci Martin – vocals
- Luther Vandross – vocals
- Nile Rodgers – guitar, vocals
- Raymond Jones or Andy Schwartz – Fender Rhodes electric piano
- Robert Sabino – acoustic piano, clavinet, electric piano
- Bernard Edwards – bass guitar, vocals
- Tony Thompson – drums
- Sammy Figueroa – percussion
- The Chic Strings:
- Marianne Carroll – violin
- Cheryl Hong – violin
- Karen Milne – violin
- Gene Orloff – concert master
;Production staff
- Nile Rodgers - producer
- Bernard Edwards - producer
- Bob Clearmountain - engineer
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1987) (Jack Le Freak) !Peak |
| Ireland (IRMA)
|align="center"|13 |
| UK Singles (OCC)
|align="center"|19 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
|align="center"|15 |
| US Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)
|align="center"|21 |
| Chart (2013)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|France|192|artist=Chic|song=Le Freak}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1978)
! style="text-align:center;"|Ranking |
|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0070b&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.0070b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0070b|title=Image : RPM Weekly|first=Library and Archives|last=Canada|date=July 17, 2013|website=bac-lac.gc.ca|access-date=April 14, 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|132 |
=All-time charts=
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1958–2018) !Position |
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Hot 100 turns 60|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 6, 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|24 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|title=Le Freak|artist=Chic|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1979|salesamount=448,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT75|magazine=Billboard|title=Maple Briefs|page=66|issn=0006-2510|date=April 20, 1985|via=Google Books|accessdate=November 14, 2022}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|title=Le Freak|artist=Chic|award=Gold|certyear=1978|source=infodisc|access-date=29 March 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=Le Freak|artist=Chic|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2024|id=12178|access-date=18 March 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Le Freak|artist=Chic|award=Platinum|relyear=2006|certyear=2024|id=3762-1185-1|access-date=August 2, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Le Freak|artist=Chic|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2024|access-date=10 April 2024|salesamount=4,000,000|salesref={{cite news|title=Obituary: Bernard Edwards|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-bernard-edwards-1306966.html |last=Perrone|first=Pierre|work=The Independent|date=27 April 1996|access-date=22 April 2013}}}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=single|title=Le Freak|artist=Chic|nocert=true|salesamount=7,000,000|certyear=1979|salesref=}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
In popular culture
This song was used in a 2010 film Toy Story 3 scene in which Ken models his outfits for Barbie.{{cite web |title=The Number Ones: Chic's "Le Freak" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2069711/the-number-ones-chics-le-freak/columns/the-number-ones/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=18 April 2022 |language=en |date=15 January 2020}} It was also shown in the 2004 film Shrek 2, when the fairytale creatures were partying in Shrek Swamp. This song also appears in the 1995 film Heavyweights during one of Tony Perkis’ exercise regimens with the struggling campers. used in Walmart commercials. The song also appears in the video game Just Dance (2009).{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi3hPf-v28E |title=Just Dance - Le Freak by Chic Gameplay |publisher=justdancebr |date=August 11, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2025 |via=YouTube}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book
|title = The Billboard Book of Number One Hits
|url = https://archive.org/details/billboardbookofn00fred
|url-access = registration
|last = Bronson
|first = Fred
|year = 1997
|publisher = Billboard Books
|isbn = 9780823076413
|author-link = Fred Bronson}}
{{Chic}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freak}}
Category:Songs about nightclubs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Songs based on actual events
Category:Songs written by Bernard Edwards
Category:Songs written by Nile Rodgers
Category:Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers
Category:Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:United States National Recording Registry recordings