Ebony and Ivory
Encyclopedia
"Ebony and Ivory" is a 1982 number-one single
by Paul McCartney
and Stevie Wonder
. It was released on March 29 of that year. The song is featured on McCartney's album Tug of War. The song reached number one on both the UK and the U.S. charts. It reappears on McCartney's All the Best!
in 1987.
(black) and ivory
(white) keys on a piano
, but also deals with integration
and racial harmony on a deeper level. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan
say "black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony, folks!". The figure
is much older. It was popularised by James Aggrey
in the 1920s, inspiring the title of the pan-African journal The Keys
, but was in use from at least the 1840s.
Written by McCartney alone, the song was performed live in the studio by both McCartney and Wonder, though due to conflicting work schedules, both recorded their parts for the song's music video separately (as explained by McCartney in his commentary for The McCartney Years 3-DVD boxed set).
"Ebony and Ivory" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and was the fourth-biggest hit of 1982. For McCartney, the song's run atop the chart was the longest of any of his post-Beatles works, and second longest career-wise (behind "Hey Jude
" with The Beatles
); for Wonder, it was his longest-running chart-topper. It marked the first time that any single released by any member of the Beatles hit the Billboard R&B chart.
Following the song's huge chart success, it was derided as "saccharine" and was later named as the tenth worst song of all time by Blender magazine. On October 2007, it was named the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music
listeners. (In September 2010, Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio
ranked the song at #9 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, stating that the song was "[d]one much better by Joe Piscopo
and Eddie Murphy
[in Saturday Night Live
(see below)]. Everybody: 'You are blind as a bat and I have sight...'") However, the song's title was picked up by a journalist reporting on two stroke victims — one black, one white — who played a duo, one hand each
.
In 2008, the song was ranked at #59 on Billboards Greatest Songs of all time.
This song has been parodied in many U.S. television shows, such as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Father Ted
, Everybody Hates Chris
and Saturday Night Live, as well as movies such as Undercover Brother
and Guess Who
. The phrase, "Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We?
" was used for the title of the third album by Norwegian stoner rock band Thulsa Doom
. The song and video were parodied in a commercial for the 2008 season of the USA Network
show Psych
.
"Ebony and Ivory" was banned in South Africa until apartheid finally ended.
12" single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. It was released on March 29 of that year. The song is featured on McCartney's album Tug of War. The song reached number one on both the UK and the U.S. charts. It reappears on McCartney's All the Best!
All the Best!
All the Best! is the second official compilation album of Paul McCartney music, after 1978's Wings Greatest and was released in 1987. The album contains tracks from the beginning of his solo career in 1970 up to the newly recorded "Once Upon a Long Ago." The track inclusion and running order...
in 1987.
Background
At the simplest level, the song is about the ebonyEbony
Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but ebony may also refer to other heavy, black woods from unrelated species. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. Its fine texture, and very smooth finish when polished, make it valuable as an...
(black) and ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
(white) keys on a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, but also deals with integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
and racial harmony on a deeper level. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
say "black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony, folks!". The figure
Figure of speech
A figure of speech is the use of a word or words diverging from its usual meaning. It can also be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words in it, as in idiom, metaphor, simile,...
is much older. It was popularised by James Aggrey
James Aggrey
James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey was an intellectual, missionary, and teacher. He was a native of the Gold Coast who later emigrated to the United States, but returned to Africa for several years....
in the 1920s, inspiring the title of the pan-African journal The Keys
The Keys (Journal)
The Keys was the quarterly journal of the League of Coloured Peoples founded in 1933. It took its title from James Aggrey's parable which used the black and white keys of the piano as an image of racial harmony.-References:...
, but was in use from at least the 1840s.
Written by McCartney alone, the song was performed live in the studio by both McCartney and Wonder, though due to conflicting work schedules, both recorded their parts for the song's music video separately (as explained by McCartney in his commentary for The McCartney Years 3-DVD boxed set).
"Ebony and Ivory" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and was the fourth-biggest hit of 1982. For McCartney, the song's run atop the chart was the longest of any of his post-Beatles works, and second longest career-wise (behind "Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
" with The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
); for Wonder, it was his longest-running chart-topper. It marked the first time that any single released by any member of the Beatles hit the Billboard R&B chart.
Following the song's huge chart success, it was derided as "saccharine" and was later named as the tenth worst song of all time by Blender magazine. On October 2007, it was named the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
listeners. (In September 2010, Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio
AOL Radio
AOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
ranked the song at #9 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, stating that the song was "[d]one much better by Joe Piscopo
Joe Piscopo
Joseph Charles John "Joe" Piscopo is an American comedian and actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:...
and Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
[in Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
(see below)]. Everybody: 'You are blind as a bat and I have sight...'") However, the song's title was picked up by a journalist reporting on two stroke victims — one black, one white — who played a duo, one hand each
Ebony and Ivory (piano duo)
Ebony and Ivory was the name given to two elderly women in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Both had suffered a stroke in 1982 and become partially disabled. Ruth Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick were introduced to each other the following year and began...
.
In 2008, the song was ranked at #59 on Billboards Greatest Songs of all time.
This song has been parodied in many U.S. television shows, such as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
, Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years...
and Saturday Night Live, as well as movies such as Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother is a 2002 American comedy film starring Eddie Griffin and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The screenplay is by Michael McCullers and co-executive producer John Ridley, who created the original internet animation characters. It spoofs blaxploitation films of the 1970s as well as a...
and Guess Who
Guess Who (film)
Guess Who is a 2005 American comedy film about race relations directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. It is a loose remake of the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, in the form of a romantic comedy...
. The phrase, "Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We?
Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We?
Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We? is the third album by Norwegian stoner rock band Thulsa Doom. The title is a quote from the Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder hit single Ebony and Ivory...
" was used for the title of the third album by Norwegian stoner rock band Thulsa Doom
Thulsa Doom (band)
Thulsa Doom is a Norwegian stoner rock band. It takes its name from the Robert E. Howard character. The band was formed in 1999 by guitarist Ole Petter Andreassen , under the stage name El Doom...
. The song and video were parodied in a commercial for the 2008 season of the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
show Psych
Psych
Psych is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts...
.
"Ebony and Ivory" was banned in South Africa until apartheid finally ended.
Track listings
7" single- "Ebony and Ivory" (with Stevie Wonder)
- "Rainclouds"
12" single
- "Ebony and Ivory" (with Stevie Wonder)
- "Rainclouds"
- "Ebony and Ivory" (solo version)
- "Ebony and Shaft" (Funky version)
Personnel
- Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
: Bass, guitar, synthesisers, vocoder, percussion, piano and vocals - Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
: Electric piano, synthesisers, drums, percussion and vocals - Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
: Back up vocals
Chart positions
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Top Singles |
1 |
| German Media Control Singles Chart | 1 |
| Japanese Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... Singles Chart |
26 |
| Japanese Oricon International Chart | 1 |
| Norwegian VG-lista VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... Singles Chart |
1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 2 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
See also
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1982
- List of European number-one hits of 1982
- List of number-one hits of 1982 (Germany)
- List of number-one hits in Norway
- List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1982 (U.S.)