Got To Be Real
Encyclopedia
"Got to Be Real" is a 1978 disco song by Cheryl Lynn
from her self-titled album
. The song, which was Lynn's debut single, was penned by David Paich
, David Foster
, and Lynn, and has since been called one of the defining moments in disco
. Along with the tracks, "Star Love" and "You Saved My Day", "Got to Be Real" peaked at number eleven on the disco chart. For the recording, David Paich
played keyboards, James Gadson played drums and Ray Parker Jr.
was the session guitarist. The song peaked at number twelve on the pop singles chart
and number one on the R&B chart
in early-1979. On September 19, 2005, "Got to Be Real" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame
.
The song is currently being used for the UK TV Advertising Campaign for 'Marks & Spencer' and it has already re-entered the UK Singles Chart at 78 for the week Ending 4 April, the next week peaking at #70.
Cheryl Lynn
Lynda Cheryl Smith , known better by her professional name Cheryl Lynn, is a female African-American disco, R&B and soul singer known best for her 1978 disco song, "Got to Be Real".-Early career:...
from her self-titled album
Cheryl Lynn (album)
Cheryl Lynn is singer Cheryl Lynn's self-titled 1978 debut album. It was released on the Columbia label and featured her debut hit "Got to Be Real"...
. The song, which was Lynn's debut single, was penned by David Paich
David Paich
David Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
, David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, and Lynn, and has since been called one of the defining moments in disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
. Along with the tracks, "Star Love" and "You Saved My Day", "Got to Be Real" peaked at number eleven on the disco chart. For the recording, David Paich
David Paich
David Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
played keyboards, James Gadson played drums and Ray Parker Jr.
Ray Parker Jr.
Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
was the session guitarist. The song peaked at number twelve on the pop singles chart
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 number one on the R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
in early-1979. On September 19, 2005, "Got to Be Real" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame
Dance Music Hall of Fame
The Dance Music Hall of Fame was created in 2003 when music industry veteran John Parker thought that something needed to be done to honor the creators and innovators of dance music...
.
The song is currently being used for the UK TV Advertising Campaign for 'Marks & Spencer' and it has already re-entered the UK Singles Chart at 78 for the week Ending 4 April, the next week peaking at #70.
Cover versions
- In 1993, Canadian singer Lisa LougheedLisa LougheedLisa Lougheed is a Canadian singer and voice actor. She is probably best known for her role as Lisa Raccoon in the animated television series The Raccoons, as well as for singing the series' various songs, including the theme song "Run With Us".-History:As a teenager, Lougheed attended Etobicoke...
covered the song on her album Peace & HarmonyPeace & HarmonyPeace & Harmony is the third album by Canadian singer, Lisa Lougheed.-Track listing:#"Won't Give up My Music" – 5:56#"What'cha Gonna Do?" – 4:21#"You Remain on My Mind" – 5:28#"Peace & Harmony" – 5:25#"Got to Be Real" – 4:21...
. - In 1996, American singer Jordan HillJordan HillJordan Hill , is an American singer/songwriter.Hill was originally signed by producer David Foster to his own label 143 Records, a division of Warner Music Group...
covered this song on her self-titled debut album. - In 1998, Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Patti LaBellePatti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
covered the song in a performance. - In 2000, Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band covered the song on their album My Favorite.
- In 2004, Mary J. BligeMary J. BligeMary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
and Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
covered the song for the soundtrack to the animated film Shark TaleShark TaleShark Tale is a 2004 American computer-animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation. In the story, a young fish named Oscar falsely claims to have killed the son of a shark mob boss to win favour with the mob boss' enemies and advance his own community standing...
. - In 2007, Young DivasYoung DivasYoung Divas was an Australian girl group that had consisted of previous Australian Idol contestants. The original line up consisted of season one finalist Paulini Curuenavuli, season two finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter, season three winner Kate DeAraugo and runner-up Emily Williams...
included a cover version on their second album New Attitude (album)New Attitude (album)New Attitude is the second album by the Young Divas and the first to feature Jessica Mauboy who replaced Ricki-Lee Coulter after she left to concentrate on her solo career....
. - In 2008, Korean pop artist SunMinSunMinSunMin is a singer who speaks and sings in Korean, Japanese and English. She debuted in 2006, with the single "Keep Holding You", a collaboration with the Japanese R&B singer Toshinobu Kubota. Her career is currently focused on Japanese market.-Biography:SunMin was born on August 4, 1987 in Daegu,...
covered the song for her mini album Cover Girl. - In 2010, Japanese pop artist Kumi KodaKumi Koda, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
covered the song for her single "Gossip CandyGossip Candy"Gossip Candy" is the forty-seventh single by J-Pop singer Kumi Koda, released on July 7, 2010. Like her previous singles "4 Hot Wave," "Freaky," and "Moon," this single includes four songs. One song has two versions on the single. This is the first single by Kumi Koda since her last studio album,...
".
Live cover performances
- Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Patti LaBellePatti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
performed the song for a TV special honouring LaBelle in 1998. - Korean girl groupGirl groupA girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
TSZX The Grace performed this song at their live show, Graceful Party. - Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
sampled the song for the disco-inspired "Spinning AroundSpinning Around"Spinning Around" is a song by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was written by Ira Shickman, Osborne Bingham, Kara DioGuardi, and Paula Abdul, and produced by Mike Spencer. It was originally intended for Paula Abdul's "comeback" album. However, as the album never came into fruition, it...
" performance in KylieX2008KylieX2008KylieX2008 was the tenth concert tour by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, in support of her tenth studio album, X . Originally announced as just a European tour, rumors of Minogue taking the tour to Australia, Asia, and America had surfaced in the international media...
world tour.
Sampling
- Father MCFather MCFather MC African American rapper Timothy Brown achieved success in the early 1990s on the Uptown Records label. Discovered and signed by then-Uptown executive Sean "Puffy" Combs, he is best known for introducing the public to Uptown's successful R&B act Jodeci in the track, "Treat Them Like They...
sampled the song for his song "I'll Do 4 UI'll Do 4 U"I'll Do 4 U" is a song by American hip hop artist Father MC and features R&B artist Mary J. Blige. The song was recorded for Father MC's debut album Father's Day and released as the second single for the album in October of 1990...
" on his 1990 album Father's DayFather's Day (album)-Album:-Singles:-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*arranging – Mark Morales, L.A. Reid*art direction – Carol Friedman*design – Patrick Roques*drum programming – Mark Morales...
, which features vocals by Mary J. BligeMary J. BligeMary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
. - C+C Music FactoryC+C Music FactoryC+C Music Factory is a dance-pop and hip hop group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés which stopped recording 1996, following Cole's death...
sampled this song in "Do You Wanna Get Funky" from the 1994 album Anything Goes!Anything Goes! (C+C Music Factory album)Anything Goes! is the second album by the U.S. dance group C+C Music Factory. It had one single, "Do You Wanna Get Funky", that reached #1 on the Dance/Club Play carts, #40 on the Hot 100, and #11 on the R&B Singles chart...
. - In 1996, JamiroquaiJamiroquaiJamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
sampled it for their song "Funktion", which was included as a hidden track on their third studio album Travelling Without MovingTravelling Without MovingTravelling Without Moving is the third studio album released by British Acid Jazz band Jamiroquai. Released in 1996, the album features the international hit single "Virtual Insanity"...
. - The song was heavily sampled for a remix of Beyonce's IrreplaceableIrreplaceable"Irreplaceable" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day . The song was written by Knowles, Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Espen Lind, Amund Bjørklund, and produced by Stargate and Knowles...
, released in 2006. - Brother D and the Collective Effort sampled as part of the old-school hip hop anthem "How We Gonna Make The Black Nation Rise?"
- Funky Four Plus OneFunky Four Plus OneFunky Four Plus One was the first Hip-Hop/Rap group from The Bronx, New York, United States to receive a recording deal. They were notable for having a female MC, and were the first rap group to perform live on a national television broadcast...
sampled it for their 1979 song "Rappin' And Rocking The House" - Proyecto UnoProyecto UnoProyecto Uno is a Dominican-American merenrap group which helped popularize a style of music which blends merengue with rap, techno, dancehall reggae and hip-hop music. The band was founded in New York City's East Side in 1989 by Nelson Zapata and managed by Porfirio "Popi" Piña...
sampled most parts of the song on their famous hit "Tiburón" - Dynamic DuoDynamic DuoDynamic Duo is a Korean hip hop duo, made up of members Choiza and Gaeko. Unlike the rough and off beat sound of their past group, CB Mass, Dynamic Duo changed their style to a more audience-friendly sound with a brighter ambiance...
sampled the song. - Houston rapper Dat Boy Grace sampled the song for his song "Southside So Real" on his album "From Crumbs To Bricks"
- Filipino actor, rap artist, and model Carlos AgassiCarlos AgassiAmir Carlos Damaso Vahidi Agassi popularly known as Carlos Agassi and simply Amir, is a Filipino actor, TV host, rap artist, and model of Iranian descent...
sampled the song for his song "Magpakatotoo" featuring Vanessa Del Mundo. - Eric Ben%C3%A9t sampled the song on the track, "Feel Good" featuring Faith EvansFaith EvansFaith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
from 2010's Lost in Time.
Appearances in other media
- The song was prominently featured in the 1990 documentary Paris Is BurningParis is Burning (film)Paris Is Burning is a 1990 documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African American, Latino, gay and transgender communities involved in it...
, which chronicles the ball cultureBall cultureBall culture, the house system, the ballroom community and similar terms describe the underground LGBT subculture in the United States in which people "walk" for trophies and prizes at events known as balls. Those who walk often also dance and vogue while others compete in various genres of drag...
of New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the poor, African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and LatinoLatinoThe demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
gayGayGay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgendered community involved in it. - The song is heard in the 1993 crime film Carlito's WayCarlito's WayCarlito's Way is a 1993 crime film directed by Brian De Palma, based on the novels Carlito's Way and After Hours by Judge Edwin Torres. The film adaptation was scripted by David Koepp. It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and...
when Carlito Brigante (played by Al PacinoAl PacinoAlfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
) enters his girlfriend Gale's strip club. - In 1998, in the first season episode "Head Case" of the sitcom Will and Grace, WillWill TrumanWilliam Pierce "Will" Truman is a fictional character on the American sitcom Will & Grace, portrayed by Eric McCormack. He is a gay lawyer who lives in the Upper West Side of New York City with his best friend, Grace Adler.-Fictional character history:...
sings this song in the bathroom while he shaves, to which GraceGrace AdlerGrace Elizabeth Adler-Markus is a fictional character on the American sitcom Will & Grace, portrayed by Debra Messing. She is a Jewish interior designer , living in New York City with her gay best friend Will Truman...
responds "We're just like fifty men and a mirrored ball away from being a gay disco". - The song was also included as a playable song in the North American version of Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2 is an arcade game in the Dance Dance Revolution series of music video games. It was produced by Konami and released through Betson Enterprises. The game was released in Japan in August, 2007, while the North American version was released several months later. The...
, as a nod to its 2002 appearance in the sixth season King of the HillKing of the HillKing of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
episode "Returning Japanese", which featured the song in a DDR clone. - In 2001, the song appeared in the fourth season Sex and the CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
episode, "The Real Me", where Carrie BradshawCarrie BradshawCarrie Preston is the fictional narrator and lead character of the HBO sitcom/drama Sex and the City, portrayed by actress Sarah Jessica Parker. She is a semi-autobiographical character created by Candace Bushnell, who published the book Sex and the City, based on her own columns in the New York...
becomes a model for a day. - In 2006, the song featured in 'The Pink PantherThe Pink Panther (2006 film)The Pink Panther is a 2006 American comedy film and a reboot of The Pink Panther film series. In this film, Inspector Jacques Clouseau is assigned to solve the murder of a famous soccer coach and the theft of the famous Pink Panther diamond. The film also stars Kevin Kline, Jean Reno, Emily...
' movie starring Steve Martin. The song played during some of the New York scenes. - In March 2010 for their new Spring Collection, Marks and Spencer, the British department store, use "Got To Be Real" on their adverts.
- The song appeared in the 2000 film, Keeping the FaithKeeping the FaithKeeping the Faith is a 2000 American romantic comedy film, written by Stuart Blumberg and directed by Edward Norton. This film was released by Touchstone Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment, in association with Triple Threat Talent on April 14, 2000....
which starred Ben StillerBen StillerBenjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
and Edward NortonEdward NortonEdward Harrison Norton is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...