Word Up! (song)#Little Mix version

"Word Up!" was Cameo's first US Top 40 hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart{{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= 98}} and one week at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles chart. John Leland in Spin described it as 'an undiluted rocker'.{{Cite journal |last=Leland |first=John |date=December 1986 |title=Singles - review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FL-rqqrDxb8C&pg=PA46 |journal=SPIN |volume=2 |issue=9 |pages=46 |via=Google Books}}

In the United Kingdom, "Word Up!" spent ten weeks in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number three on September 21, 1986 – for the week ending date September 27, 1986.

Besides being a commercial success, the track also earned critical acclaim from several publications. "Word Up!" won Cameo the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single as well as the NME Award for Best Dance Record. Like the band's previous single "Single Life", "Word Up!" features a reference to the opening notes of Ennio Morricone's theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Cameo were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in the 29th Annual Grammy Awards.

"Word up" was a colloquialism, popular in New York City and other US urban areas, that acted as an affirmation of what was said—a kind of a more-hip "you bet".

Blackmon said of the song:

{{blockquote|It just sounded good, and it was before its time. You can play "Word Up" anyplace anywhere, and someone is going to be grooving and bobbing their head. Our sound was unique, as well. I haven't heard another one like it, and we probably won't hear another one like it in the future. It was that significant for us.{{cite news |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/robin-leach/cameo-frontman-larry-blackmon-word-was-music-its-time-paying-tribute-prince |title=Cameo frontman Larry Blackmon: 'Word Up' was music before its time |first=Robin |last=Leach |date=July 29, 2016 |newspaper=reviewjournal.com |access-date=October 16, 2016 |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019013037/http://www.reviewjournal.com/robin-leach/cameo-frontman-larry-blackmon-word-was-music-its-time-paying-tribute-prince |url-status=live }}}}

Time Out listed the song number 54 in their The 100 best party songs list in 2018.{{cite magazine|title=The 100 best party songs|magazine=Time Out|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/music/best-party-songs|access-date=October 4, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004185647/https://www.timeout.com/london/music/best-party-songs|url-status=live}}

"Word Up!" has been covered numerous times by other artists. It is an easy song to sing, being riff based and having a simple vocal melody.Green (2008). Music, Informal Learning and the School, p. 26

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Cameo|title=Word Up|award=Gold|relyear=1986|certyear=1986|access-date=August 2, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Cameo|title=Word Up|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=8338-234-1|access-date=May 19, 2023}}

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{{Infobox song

| name = Word Up!

| cover = GunWordUp.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Gun

| album = Swagger

| released = {{start date|1994|7|1}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hard rock

| length = 4:13

| label = A&M

| writer =

• Larry Blackmon
• Tomi Jenkins

| producer =

| prev_title = Welcome to the Real World

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Don't Say It's Over

| next_year = 1994

}}

In the 1990s, "Word Up!" was first covered by Scottish hard rock band Gun, whose version carried a harder, more rock-oriented sound, including a guitar solo.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} Taken from their third album, Swagger (1994), it was released on July 1, 1994 by A&M Records, and peaked number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Two versions of the CD single were released in the UK, each carrying different cover art and different tracks.{{cite web |title= Gun – Word Up CD 1 |publisher= Matt's CD Singles |url= http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Gun_112.html#a20594 |access-date= February 1, 2011 |archive-date= March 7, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120307052455/http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Gun_112.html#a20594 |url-status= live }}

Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave Gun's version of "Word Up" a full score of five out of five and named it Best New Single, writing, "Very much in the Stiltskin vain, Gun won't have a better chance of having a big hit. It's also one of those songs that should get the grandads moaning about the noise. Wahey!"{{cite magazine|first=Pete|last=Stanton|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/53976667347/in/album-72177720320155944/|title=New Singles|magazine=Smash Hits|date=July 6, 1994|page=45|access-date=October 7, 2024}}

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{{Infobox song

| name = Word Up

| cover = Wordupcover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Melanie G

| album = Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Music from the Motion Picture

| B-side = Sophisticated Lady

| released = {{start date|1999|6|28}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 28 June, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=June 26, 1999}}

| recorded = 1998

| studio =

| genre =

| length =

• 3:23 (radio edit)
• 5:23 (single version)

| label =

• Warner Bros.
• Virgin

| writer =

• Blackmon
• Jenkins

| producer = Timbaland

| prev_title = I Want You Back

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = Tell Me

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|AhUi_e36H4U|"Word Up"}}}}

}}

"Word Up" was covered by British singer Melanie "Mel B" Brown of the Spice Girls—known as Melanie G at that time (and her only single under that name), as she was married to one of the Spice Girls's "Spice Boy" dancers, Jimmy Gulzar—as part of the film soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Produced by Timbaland, the song was released in the UK and Europe on 28 June 1999, and peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was also included on the Japanese edition of Melanie’s album Hot. Static sings uncredited background vocals on the track.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/word-up-single/724858089|title=Word Up – EP by Melanie G|date=January 1999 |publisher=iTunes|access-date=January 18, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605144219/https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/word-up-single/id724858089|url-status=live}} Brown's bandmate Emma Bunton sings background vocals on the B-side "Sophisticated Lady", with an uncredited rap by Dexter.

Two music videos were created for the song: One live-action, which features Verne Troyer (the Mini-Me actor in the Austin Powers films) and was predominantly filmed with the use of green screen, and another that takes places in a black-and-white, highly animated and complex world, entirely digitally animated. In the former, Melanie's character is part evil queen, part dominatrix, her style drawing comparisons to Grace Jones. However, some of the imagery in the video was deemed to be too dark and sexually suggestive, as well as scary, for minors to be exposed to;{{by whom|date=January 2024}} one scene, for example, portrayed Melanie lying down nude, with a heart covering her private area. Another shows Verne Troyer "polishing" her buttocks like a window-cleaner. Near the end of the video, a child can be seen wearing a dress with the word "Phagocyte" on it. Overall, it was the heavy and potentially scary fantasy imagery that garnered a second version to be made, featuring Melanie in a blue-metallic setting wearing shining, gem-like outfits. The original video was then limited to being played only after-midnight on MTV Europe and MTV UK, among other networks.

• Digital download EP

1. "Word Up" (radio edit) – 3:23
2. "Sophisticated Lady" – 2:44{{cite web |url=https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Melanie-G-Word-Up/133172024916?hash=item1f01abd654:g:TekAAOSwusNbjW4s |title=Melanie G / Word Up - CD single |access-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626114124/https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Melanie-G-Word-Up/133172024916?hash=item1f01abd654:g:TekAAOSwusNbjW4s |url-status=live }}
3. "Word Up" (Tim's dance mix) – 5:32

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{{Infobox song

| name = Word Up!

| cover = Word_Up!.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Korn

| album = Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

| released = 2004

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Nu metal{{Cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/nu-metal-covers-popular-songs/ |title=20 Nu-Metal Covers of Popular Songs |website=Loudwire |date=April 20, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421071412/https://loudwire.com/nu-metal-covers-popular-songs/ |url-status=live }}

| length = 2:53

| label = Epic

| writer =

• Larry Blackmon
• Tomi Jenkins

| producer =

• Jonathan Davis
• Korn
• Toby Wright

| prev_title = Everything I've Known

| prev_year = 2003

| next_title = Another Brick in the Wall, Pts. 1–3

| next_year = 2004

}}

"Word Up!" was covered by American nu metal band Korn. Its musical arrangements are similar to that of the cover version by Gun, except it is played in a lower sounding 7 string guitar tuning instead of the standard E.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} "Word Up!" was the first track featured on Korn's 2004 retrospective album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1, and was one of two new tracks along with Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" that was exclusive to the album (the "Word Up!" CD single also featured a live performance of the latter).

It was released as the album's first single in July 2004, and received heavy airplay on alternative radio at its time of release, peaking in the top 20 of both Billboard charts, whilst making a respectable impression on the mainstream charts of other countries, including Australia (where it debuted at number 28), and Germany (number 46).{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-6339|title=Korn - Word Up|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|language=de|access-date=February 5, 2023}} It is the only Korn single to be sent out to Top 40 radio stations, notably receiving airplay on New York City's Z-100, the largest Top 40 station in the US. Lead singer Jonathan Davis has said of the band's decision to include the song on their greatest hits, "We've been doing 'Word Up!' for years as a sound-check song—not the full version, just messing around with the riff."[http://v4.korn-locker.com/modules.php?name=Lyrics&file=show&album=7&lyric=0701] {{dead link|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Türlich Türlich (Word Up)

| cover = Jan delay word up.jpg

| alt =

| border =

| type = single

| artist = Jan Delay

| album = Mercedes-Dance-Live

| released = {{start date|2007}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:06

| label =

• Im- und Export Hanburg-City
• Universal

| writer =

• Larry Blackmon
• Tomi Jenkins
• Das Bo
• Jan Eißfeldt
• Kaspar Wiens

| producer = Jan Delay

| prev_title = Im Arsch

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Alles bleibt anders

| next_year = 2008

}}

In 2007 German singer Jan Delay recorded a mashup of the music from "Word Up!" with the lyrics of Das Bo's "Türlich, Türlich (Sicher, Dicker)". The new song was titled "Türlich Türlich (Word Up)" and was a hit in German-speaking countries.

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{{Infobox song

| name = Word Up!

| cover = Little_Mix_Word_Up.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Little Mix

| album =

| released = {{Start date|2014|03|14}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Dance-pop

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=29}}

| label =

• Syco
• Columbia

| writer =

• Larry Blackmon
• Tomi Jenkins

| producer =

• TMS
• Maegan Cottone

| prev_title = Little Me

| prev_year = 2013

| next_title = Salute

| next_year = 2014

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|1zk0ToEA8sY|"Word Up!"}}}}

}}

British girl group Little Mix released a cover version of the song for Sport Relief 2014, through Syco Music and Columbia Records. It was released digitally on March 16, 2014, followed by a physical release the following day, which was only available to purchase from Sainsbury's supermarkets.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a544605/little-mix-to-release-2014-sport-relief-single-word-up.html |title=Little Mix to release 2014 Sport Relief single 'Word Up' |work=Digital Spy |date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160354/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a544605/little-mix-to-release-2014-sport-relief-single-word-up.html |url-status=live }}

"Word Up!" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top twenty in Ireland. The song also charted in Australia, Austria, Denmark, France, Czech Republic, and Japan. It has been certified gold in Brazil. The single is also included on the expanded edition of the group's second studio album Salute (2013).

Little Mix first announced the single on January 16, 2014, through their official Twitter.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10578772/Little-Mix-to-cover-Word-Up-as-Sport-Relief-single.html|title=Little Mix to cover Word Up as Sport Relief single|work=The Daily Tuelegraph|access-date=January 17, 2014|first=Charlotte|last=Runcie|date=January 17, 2014 |archive-date=January 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120204332/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10578772/Little-Mix-to-cover-Word-Up-as-Sport-Relief-single.html|url-status=live}} The song was first played on BBC Radio 1 on January 20, 2014, during Nick Grimshaw's Breakfast show.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a545467/little-mix-premiere-sport-relief-single-word-up-listen.html|title=Little Mix premiere Sport Relief single 'Word Up' – listen|work=Digital Spy|access-date=January 21, 2014|author=Lewis Corner|date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=January 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122054111/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a545467/little-mix-premiere-sport-relief-single-word-up-listen.html|url-status=live}}

The cover art of the single was revealed on January 24, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a546330/little-mix-reveal-sport-relief-single-word-up-artwork.html|title=Little Mix reveal Sport Relief single 'Word Up' artwork|work=Digital Spy|access-date=January 24, 2014|first=Robert|last=Copsey|date=January 24, 2014 |archive-date=January 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125200414/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a546330/little-mix-reveal-sport-relief-single-word-up-artwork.html|url-status=live}}

The song received mostly positive reviews with Popjustice ranking it as third for the best version of the song and third for the best Sport Relief single and gave the song 7 out of 10 stars.{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/songs/little-mix-word-up/|title=Little Mix – 'Word Up!'|work=Popjustice|date=March 3, 2014 |access-date=March 16, 2014|archive-date=March 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328003005/http://www.popjustice.com/songs/little-mix-word-up/|url-status=live}} Kevin Kevinpod of DirectLyrics said that "[Little Mix's] harmonies are spot-on, and the whole record is pure fire." and that the song is a chance of the band getting a number one hit.{{cite web|url=http://www.directlyrics.com/new-music-little-mix-word-up-full-audio-review-news.html|title=New Music: Little Mix – "Word Up" [Full Audio + Review]|work=DirectLyrics|access-date=January 21, 2014|last=Kevinpod|first=Kevin|archive-date=January 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122053039/http://www.directlyrics.com/new-music-little-mix-word-up-full-audio-review-news.html|url-status=live}} Its production was also likened to Janet Jackson's single "Black Cat."{{cite web|url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/single-review-little-mix-word-up/|title=Renowned for Sound – Single Review: Little Mix – 'Word Up'|work=Lee, Andrew|publisher=Renowned for Sound|date=March 16, 2014|access-date=April 24, 2014|archive-date=April 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429045119/http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/single-review-little-mix-word-up/|url-status=live}}

The shooting for the music video started in early February 2014. The band posted an exclusive picture from the video on February 25, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/LittleMixOfficial/photos/a.131494490285598.18956.126963587405355/461866543915056/?type=1&theater|title=EXCLUSIVE pic from the video|access-date=February 25, 2014|publisher=Facebook|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120015045/https://www.facebook.com/LittleMixOfficial/photos/a.131494490285598.18956.126963587405355/461866543915056/?type=1&theater|url-status=live}} The video was first shown on Chart Show TV on February 28, 2014 and was posted on Vevo on March 3, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a554994/little-mix-unveil-star-studded-video-for-sport-relief-single-word-up.html|title=Little Mix unveil star-studded video for Sport Relief single 'Word Up'|work=Digital Spy|access-date=March 3, 2014|last=Copsey|first=Robert|date=March 3, 2014 |archive-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305093034/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a554994/little-mix-unveil-star-studded-video-for-sport-relief-single-word-up.html|url-status=live}} It features celebrity cameos from Nick Grimshaw, Louie Spence, Louis Smith, Arlene Phillips, Melanie C and Chris Barrie.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/u86spn/little-mix-joined-by-famous-faces-in-word-up-sport-relief-video|title=Little Mix Joined By Famous Faces In 'Word Up' Sport Relief Video|work=MTV|access-date=March 3, 2014|archive-date=March 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318095919/http://www.mtv.co.uk/little-mix/news/little-mix-joined-by-famous-faces-in-word-up-sport-relief-video|url-status=live}}

The video starts off with the band in a changing room of a gym. As they walk out of the changing room, Jade tries to pick up a barbell pretending that she cannot lift it but then she lifts it up and walks away carrying it. Perrie then walks along four women who are working out while Jade is on a stationary bicycle among three other women, following the instructions of a trainer. With the bicycle, Jade starts going forward with the rest following her at the back.

The scene then switches to a court with the band exercising and dancing the same time along with other people while singing the chorus of the song. Afterwards, Leigh-Anne is stood in front of some athletes with one using her as a barbell at the end of her part. Jesy continues with her part while dancing in front of two men working out on treadmills and fall off them after some time. During the chorus, the scene changes again to the court with the manager (Barrie, who had previously played leisure centre manager Gordon Brittas in BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire) of the gym seeing the girls and the rest dancing and runs upset out of his office. As he is going down to the court, he sees the athletes in the swimming pool shaping out the title of the song. When he reaches the court, he starts dancing with them.

;Digital download{{Cite web|url = https://music.apple.com/us/album/word-up-single/795609578|title = Word Up! – Single|date = March 14, 2014|website = iTunes|access-date = June 7, 2014|archive-date = September 21, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140921220249/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/word-up!-single/id795609578|url-status = live}}

1. "Word Up!" – 3:26

;Digital remixes{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Word-Up-Remixes-Little-Mix/dp/B00IK5AG7O/ref=sr_1_2?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1394923563&sr=1-2&keywords=little+mix+word+up |title=Word Up! (Remixes): Little Mix: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads |work=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420124946/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Word-Up-Remixes-Little-Mix/dp/B00IK5AG7O/ref=sr_1_2?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1394923563&sr=1-2&keywords=little+mix+word+up |url-status=live }}

1. "Word Up!" (The Alias radio edit) – 3:33
2. "Word Up!" (extended mix) – 4:59
3. "Word Up!" (instrumental) – 3:05

;CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Word-Up-Single-Little-Mix/dp/B00J1TK600/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1395070624&sr=8-5&keywords=Little+mix+word+up|title=Word Up! [CD single]: Amazon.co.uk: Music|work=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420124939/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Word-Up-Single-Little-Mix/dp/B00J1TK600/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1395070624&sr=8-5&keywords=Little+mix+word+up|url-status=live}}

1. "Word Up!" – 3:26
2. "Word Up!" (The Alias radio edit) – 3:33
3. "Word Up!" (extended mix) – 4:59
4. "Word Up!" (instrumental) – 3:05

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Little Mix|title=Word Up!|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2014|certyear=2021|access-date=May 14, 2021}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |title=Music, Informal Learning and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy |author=Lucy Green |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2008 |isbn=9780754662426 |ref=Green2008}}

{{Cameo}}

{{Gun (band)}}

{{Melanie B}}

{{Korn}}

{{Little Mix}}

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Category:1986 songs

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