Saturday Night (Bay City Rollers song)
Encyclopedia
"Saturday Night" is the title of a song recorded by the Scottish
band Bay City Rollers
. It was written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter
. The tune is an upbeat pop-rock number with a memorable hook: the word "Saturday" spelled out in a rhythmic chant.
An early version of the song was recorded in the UK in 1973, but did not hit the charts. On the first version Gordon "Nobby" Clark was the lead singer of the band. The song was re-recorded for the Rollers' 1974 UK album Rollin', but never saw release as a single in their home country; by this time Clark had left the band for solo work and had been replaced by Les McKeown
. The re-recording was issued as a US and Canadian single in late 1975 and became a hit in early 1976, becoming the first Billboard #1
of the US Bicentennial year. The single also reached #1 in the RPM
Canadian singles chart listing on January 10, 1976. Despite a string of worldwide hit songs, and other US hits, "Saturday Night" was the group's only enduring American hit. In Canada, they were able to follow up their chart-topping success with "Money Honey", which hit the top of the RPM
listing on March 13 of the same year.
, featured in the Mike Myers movie So I Married an Axe Murderer
along with the Bay City Rollers' original. Japanese comedian Gorie
released a cover
of "Saturday Night" called "Pecori Night" which was the 48th best-selling single in Japan for 2005, according to Oricon
charts. Although the melody is the same, the lyrics are completely different from the original. Also, the Japanese producer Yoichiro Ito - Akakage released a groove disco cover.
Japanese boyband Arashi borrows the chorus replacing the lyrics Saturday Night with Carnival Night, in their song Carnival Night Pt. 2. Japanese band JAM Project
uses the Saturday Night chant rhythm in its song "March of Rescue Hero." Japanese band Tokio
uses elements from Saturday Night in their song "Kanpai!!" It is commonly used during Saturday night Ottawa Senators
games at Scotiabank Place
.
A SID
version of "Saturday Night" is the title music for the Commodore 64
game Peter Shilton's Handball Maradona.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
band Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
. It was written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
. The tune is an upbeat pop-rock number with a memorable hook: the word "Saturday" spelled out in a rhythmic chant.
An early version of the song was recorded in the UK in 1973, but did not hit the charts. On the first version Gordon "Nobby" Clark was the lead singer of the band. The song was re-recorded for the Rollers' 1974 UK album Rollin', but never saw release as a single in their home country; by this time Clark had left the band for solo work and had been replaced by Les McKeown
Les McKeown
Leslie Richard McKeown is a pop singer. He was the lead singer for the 1970s pop sensation the Bay City Rollers during their most successful period.-Biography:...
. The re-recording was issued as a US and Canadian single in late 1975 and became a hit in early 1976, becoming the first Billboard #1
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...
of the US Bicentennial year. The single also reached #1 in the 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,...
Canadian singles chart listing on January 10, 1976. Despite a string of worldwide hit songs, and other US hits, "Saturday Night" was the group's only enduring American hit. In Canada, they were able to follow up their chart-topping success with "Money Honey", which hit the top of the 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,...
listing on March 13 of the same year.
Chart performance
| Chart (1975-1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 45 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 2 |
| German Singles Chart | 10 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
Remakes
Among the remakes of "Saturday Night" is a 1993 hit version by Ned's Atomic DustbinNed's Atomic Dustbin
Ned's Atomic Dustbin are an English rock band formed in Stourbridge in West Midlands in November 1987. The band took their name from an episode of The Goon Show. The band were unusual for using two bass players in their lineup: Alex Griffin played melody lines high up on one bass, and Mat Cheslin...
, featured in the Mike Myers movie So I Married an Axe Murderer
So I Married an Axe Murderer
So I Married an Axe Murderer is a 1993 American comedy-horror film starring Mike Myers and Nancy Travis. Myers plays Charlie McKenzie, a man afraid of commitment until he meets Harriet , who works at a butcher shop and may be a serial killer...
along with the Bay City Rollers' original. Japanese comedian Gorie
Gorie
, better known as ' or ' or ', is a Ryukyuan comedian, variety show host, seiyū, film director, and musician. He often appears in drag as a schoolgirl character. He is member of the owarai group Garage Sale. He has collaborated with Jasmine Ann Allen and Joann Yamazaki and they released 3 singles...
released a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Saturday Night" called "Pecori Night" which was the 48th best-selling single in Japan for 2005, according to 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...
charts. Although the melody is the same, the lyrics are completely different from the original. Also, the Japanese producer Yoichiro Ito - Akakage released a groove disco cover.
Japanese boyband Arashi borrows the chorus replacing the lyrics Saturday Night with Carnival Night, in their song Carnival Night Pt. 2. Japanese band JAM Project
JAM Project
JAM Project is an anime music genre "supergroup" based in Japan, originally founded on July 19, 2000 by famous 1970s theme song artist Ichirou Mizuki...
uses the Saturday Night chant rhythm in its song "March of Rescue Hero." Japanese band Tokio
Tokio (band)
Tokio is a Japanese rock/pop band formed by Johnny & Associates that debuted in 1994. It is made up of five men who were signed with Sony Music Entertainment from 1994 to 2001, with Universal Music Japan from 2001 to 2008, and are now signed under J Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates...
uses elements from Saturday Night in their song "Kanpai!!" It is commonly used during Saturday night Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
games at Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place is a multi-purpose arena, located in Kanata, a suburban district of Ottawa, Ontario. It is home to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It has also hosted the Canadian University Men's Basketball Championship...
.
A SID
MOS Technology SID
The MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID is the built-in Programmable Sound Generator chip of Commodore's CBM-II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128 and Commodore MAX Machine home computers...
version of "Saturday Night" is the title music for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
game Peter Shilton's Handball Maradona.