There can be little argument that Chic was disco's greatest band; and, working in a heavily producer-dominated field, they were most definitely a band. By the time Chic appeared in the late '70s, disco was already slipping into the excess that eventually caused its downfall. Chic bucked the trend by stripping disco's sound down to its basic elements; their funky, stylish grooves had an organic sense of interplay that was missing from many of their overproduced competitors. Chic's sound was anchored by the scratchy, James Brown-style rhythm guitar of Nile Rodgers and the indelible, widely imitated (sometimes outright stolen) bass lines of Bernard Edwards; as producers, they used keyboard and string embellishments economically, which kept the emphasis on rhythm. Chic's distinctive approach not only resulted in some of the finest dance singles of their time, but also helped create a template for urban funk, dance-pop, and even hip-hop in the post-disco era. Not coincidentally, Rodgers and Edwards wound up as two of the most successful producers of the '80s.
Rodgers and Edwards first met in 1970, when both were jazz-trained musicians fresh out of high school. Edwards had attended New York's High School for the Performing Arts and was working in a Bronx post office at the time, while Rodgers' early career also included stints in the folk group New World Rising and the Apollo Theater house orchestra. Around 1972, Rodgers and Edwards formed a jazz-rock fusion group called the Big Apple Band. This outfit moonlighted as a backup band, touring behind smooth soul vocal group New York City in the wake of their 1973 hit "I'm Doin' Fine Now." After New York City broke up, the Big Apple Band hit the road with Carol Douglas for a few months, and Rodgers and Edwards decided to make a go of it on their own toward the end of 1976. At first they switched their aspirations from fusion to new wave, briefly performing as Allah & the Knife Wielding Punks, but quickly settled into dance music. They enlisted onetime LaBelle drummer Tony Thompson and female vocalists Norma Jean Wright and Alfa Anderson, and changed their name to Chic in summer 1977 so as to avoid confusion with Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band (who'd just hit big with "A Fifth of Beethoven").
Augmented in the studio by keyboardists Raymond Jones and Rob Sabino, Chic recorded the demo single "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" and shopped it around to several major record companies, all of which declined it. The small Buddah label finally released it as a 12" in late 1977, and as its club popularity exploded, Atlantic stepped in, signed the group, and re-released the single on a wider basis. "Dance, Dance, Dance" hit the Top Ten, peaking at number six, and made Chic one of the hottest new groups in disco. Chic scrambled to put together their self-titled first album, which spawned a minor follow-up hit, "Everybody Dance," in early 1978. At this point, Wright left to try her hand at a solo career (with assistance from Rodgers and Edwards), and was replaced by Luci Martin. It was a good time to come onboard; "Le Freak," the first single from sophomore album C'est Chic, was an out-of-the-box smash, spending five weeks on top of the charts toward the end of 1978 and selling over four-million copies (which made it the biggest-selling single in Atlantic's history). Follow-up "I Want Your Love" reached number seven, cementing the group's new star status, and C'est Chic became one of the rare disco albums to go platinum.
1979's Risqué was another solidly constructed LP that also went platinum, partly on the strength of Chic's second number one pop hit, "Good Times." "Good Times" may not have equaled the blockbuster sales figures of "Le Freak," but it was the band's most imitated track: Queen's number one hit "Another One Bites the Dust" was a clear rewrite, and the Sugarhill Gang lifted the instrumental backing track wholesale for the first commercial rap single, "Rapper's Delight," marking the first of many times that Chic grooves would be recycled into hip-hop records. Also in 1979, Rodgers and Edwards took on their first major outside production assignment, producing and writing the Sister Sledge smashes "We Are Family" and the oft-sampled "He's the Greatest Dancer." This success, in turn, landed them the chance to work with pop / R&B superstar Diana Ross on 1980's blockbuster opus, diana , and they wrote and produced "Upside Down," her first number one hit in four years, as well as another top-ten smash, "I'm Coming Out."
If you listen closely to Chic's early productions, the strings play a prominent role, especially on the beautiful ballads from the recordings for the band and Sister Sledge. It is also very significant to note the strong background vocalists on those recordings -- many of New York's finest session singers -- among them, one who would soon become a superstar Grammy winner in his own right, Mr. Luther Vandross, who also was a featured vocalist with the studio disco group, Change.
The disco fad was fading rapidly by that point, however, and 1980's Real People failed to go gold despite another solid performance by the band. Changing tastes put an end to Chic's heyday, as Rodgers and Edwards' outside production work soon grew far more lucrative, even despite aborted projects with Aretha Franklin and Johnny Mathis. Several more Chic LPs followed in the early '80s, with diminishing creative and commercial returns, and Rodgers and Edwards disbanded the group after completing the lackluster Believer in 1983. Later that year, both recorded solo LPs that sank without a trace. Hungry for acceptance and respect in the rock mainstream (especially after accusations that they had ripped off Queen instead of the other way around), both Rodgers and Edwards sought out high-profile production and session work over the rest of the decade. Rodgers produced blockbuster albums like David Bowie's Let's Dance, Madonna's Like a Virgin, and Mick Jagger's She's the Boss. Edwards wasn't as prolific as a producer, but did join the one-off supergroup The Power Station along with Tony Thompson as well as Robert Palmer and members of avowed Chic fans Duran Duran; he later produced Palmer's commercial breakthrough, Riptide. Edwards also worked with Rod Stewart (Out of Order), Jody Watley, and Tina Turner, while Rodgers' other credits include the Thompson Twins, the Vaughan Brothers, INXS, and The B-52's' comeback Cosmic Thing.
Rodgers and Edwards re-formed Chic in 1992 with new vocalists Sylver Logan Sharp and Jenn Thomas, and an assortment of session drummers in Thompson's place; they toured and released a new album, Chic-ism. In 1996, the reconstituted Chic embarked on a tour of Japan; sadly, on April 18, Edwards passed away in his Tokyo hotel room due to a severe bout of pneumonia. Rodgers continued to tour occasionally with a version of Chic, and, in 1999, his Sumthing Else label issued a recording of Edwards' final performance with the band, Live at the Budokan.
CHIC has been nominated for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nine times: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014. Rodgers and Chic continue to perform to major audiences worldwide as CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers.
In October 2010, Rodgers began his fight with prostate cancer. In October 2011, he released his autobiography entitled Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny. On July 29, 2013, Rodgers posted on Twitter that he was cancer free.
In 2013, CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers headlined the West Holts Stage on Friday night at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, and played a variety of tracks both from Chic and from Nile Rodgers' extensive list of songs he had worked on for other artists. A compilation album, Up All Night, credited to The Chic Organization and featuring their productions for various artists between 1977 and 1982, was released the following Monday, 1 July, and entered the UK Compilation Albums Chart at number 2 a week later.
CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers played the iTunes Festival in London on September 14, 2013. CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers, opened The X Factor (UK TV series) live show on 2 November 2013 for Disco week. They performed a medley of hits including "Le Freak", "He's The Greatest Dancer" and "Good Times".
Rodgers announced in 2013 that he was working on a new Chic album, based on recently rediscovered tapes of unreleased material from the early 1980s. He also stated that Daft Punk is interested in working on at least one song of the unreleased material with him. Rodgers co-wrote and performed on three songs off Daft Punk's 2013 Grammy Award winning Album of the Year Random Access Memories including the Grammy Record of the Year Get Lucky with the duo and Pharrell Williams.
CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers headlined at the 2014 Essence Festival curated by Prince. Special guests performing with Chic during a segment of the show that highlighted Chic's songwriting and production work for other artists, were Kathy Sledge for Sister Sledge's "We Are Family", Janelle Monae for Sister Sledge's "He's The Greatest Dancer" and Prince for David Bowie's "Let's Dance". CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers headlined Bestival in the Isle of Wight, UK on September 7, 2014. Nile Rodgers played tribute to his guitar technician Terry Brauer at Bestival after learning of his death from cancer.
While chatting with Billboard's Kerri Mason, Rodgers announced a new Chic album and shared a never-before-heard new solo track. The upcoming album is set to feature collaborations from the David Guetta and Avicii. Rodgers described how a lick he played to test a freshly-repaired guitar caught the ear of DJ Nicky Romero, ending as an important part of a "huge song" on the upcoming album. Rodgers assumed "It sounds like a pop record".
A year later, it was announced that Nile Rodgers has signed a new record deal with Warner Bros. with a release of a new Chic album for the first time in in more than two decades this June. The album will be titled It's About Time. The lead single from the record, titled "I'll Be There", will come out March 20th. Beside this, Warner Bros. signed a deal with the label that Rodgers and music exec Michael Ostin formed, Land of the Good Groove. Rodgers decided to officially unveil the track “I’ll Be There” during the vernal equinox on March 20 to signify the rebirth of the Chic Organisation. The star received a box of lost Chic demos back in 2010, and “I’ll Be There” is one of those lost tapes finished for a new generation of Disco fans.
In other news, Rodgers gave an update on his new solo material with a new track called "Do What You Wanna Do" and announced that a Chic-inspired musical is in the early stages of production.
Le Freak
Chic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Freak out
Ah freak out
Freak out
Ah freak out
Have you heard about the new dance craze
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
They're doing it night and day
Allow us, we'll show you the way
Ah freak out
Everybody dance, do do do
Clap your hands, clap your hands
Good times, these are the good times
Leave your cares behind, these are the good times
Good times, these are the good times
Our new state of mind, these are the good times
Good times, these are the good times
Leave your cares behind, these are the good times
Good times, these are the good times
Our new state of mind, these are the good times
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Do you feel like you ever want
To try my love and see how well it fits
Baby can't you see, when you look at me
I can't kick this feelin' when it hits
All alone in my bed at night
I grab my pillow and squeeze it tight
I think of you and I dream of you all the time
What am I gonna do
I want your love, I want your love
I want your love, I want your love
I want your love, I want your love
I want your love, I want your love
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Freak out
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Freak out
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Freak out
Le Freak
I set it free
Le Freak
I set it free
Le Freak
All that pressure got you down
Has your head spinning all around
Feel the rhythm, check the ride
Come on along and have a real good time
Like the days of stomping at the Savoy
Now we freak, oh what a joy
Just come on down, two fifty four
Find a spot out on the floor
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Freak out
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Freak out
Ah freak out
I want your love, I want your love
Freak out
Ah freak out
Chic's hit song "Good Times" is a disco anthem that calls on its listeners to "freak out" and "have a real good time" while leaving their cares behind. The song was written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who were both members of Chic. Rodgers said that the inspiration for the song came after they were denied entry to Studio 54, a famous nightclub in New York City. The lyrics were intended to poke fun at the club's doorman and bouncers, who denied them entry.
The song starts with the repeated phrase "ah freak out" and is followed by the introduction of the new dance craze, "Le Freak". The song is upbeat and infectious, urging the listener to dance along by clapping their hands. The chorus of the song, "Good times, these are the good times, Leave your cares behind, these are the good times," reinforces the message of the song that in spite of life's ups and downs, it is important to allow oneself to enjoy and savor the good times.
The second half of the song shifts in tone and introduces a second message. The lyrics, which call out for love, are more introspective and emotional, encouraging the listener to consider how they feel and what they desire. Despite this shift, the song remains catchy and danceable. Overall, "Good Times" is a song that celebrates love, joy, and living in the moment while remembering to care for oneself and one's relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah freak out
Expressing excitement and anticipation for what's about to come.
Freak out
An invitation to let loose and have a good time.
Have you heard about the new dance craze
Asking if the listener is familiar with the latest trend in dancing.
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
Encouraging the listener to pay attention and witness something impressive.
It's called Le Freak
Introducing the name of the new dance craze.
They're doing it night and day
Reinforcing the popularity of the dance.
Allow us, we'll show you the way
Offering to teach the listener the dance steps.
Everybody dance, do do do
Encouragement to join in the dancing and have fun.
Clap your hands, clap your hands
Instruction to add rhythm with hand clapping.
Good times, these are the good times
Celebrating the joy and fun of the moment.
Leave your cares behind, these are the good times
Invitation to forget worries and stress and fully enjoy the moment.
Our new state of mind, these are the good times
Perspective shift to embrace the positive experience created by the music and dancing.
Ah freak out
Repeating the earlier encouragement to let loose and enjoy oneself.
Le freak, c'est chic
Acknowledging the coolness and popularity of the new dance craze.
Freak out
Returning to the invitation to let loose and have fun.
Do you feel like you ever want
Asking if the listener would like to experience love.
To try my love and see how well it fits
Invitation to try the experience of love with the singer.
Baby can't you see, when you look at me
Suggesting that the singer's actions and words convey the desire to be in a relationship.
I can't kick this feelin' when it hits
Admitting that the singer is unable to control their emotions when it comes to love.
All alone in my bed at night
Expressing loneliness and longing for a partner.
I grab my pillow and squeeze it tight
Conveying physical and emotional preparation for intimacy, even if alone.
I think of you and I dream of you all the time
Revealing who the singer is thinking of and how often.
What am I gonna do
Expressing confusion and desperation for love.
I want your love, I want your love
Declaring the desire for a specific person's love.
Ah freak out
Connecting the desire for love to the overall theme of letting loose and enjoying oneself.
Le freak, c'est chic
Reinforcing the coolness and popularity of the new dance craze.
All that pressure got you down
Acknowledgment of daily stress and how it can impact one's mood.
Has your head spinning all around
Depicting the effect of this pressure on one's thoughts.
Feel the rhythm, check the ride
Invitation to actively engage in the music and dance to combat negative feelings.
Come on along and have a real good time
Encouragement to join in and fully embrace the moment.
Like the days of stomping at the Savoy
Referencing a historical era and place known for lively music and dancing.
Now we freak, oh what a joy
Expressing the sheer delight and celebration of the present moment.
Just come on down, two fifty four
Providing a location for people to join the fun.
Find a spot out on the floor
Instruction to fully engage and participate in the dancing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@santannavalter
Now THAT´S a bass line, ladies and gents.
@jusztinnemeti6380
Bernard Edwards was THE man. Learned a lot from figuring out his bass lines. R.I.P. Bernard.
@zangzang1268
Nard' was the man - thank you brother - RIP
@zekegarzaiii2012
I agree
@pixxz1
Its funny to see none are plugged in, ahhhh the old days.
@paulmeekcoms217
And the rest of it aint too shabby either!
@Mikeaj-un6mf
Perfect example of “when everybody does their part on the group project”
The bass, guitar, drums, violins, keyboard, singers, just the entire way this song was composed, it’s got 70s disco written all over it 👏🏾👌🏾👏🏾
@joelebruno
yeah it's because it's a 70's disco song, who would have thought?
@falsedelic
I hear the funk!
@garyrutledge3017
👍