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.
Lost in Music
Chic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No turning back. We're lost in music.
We're lost in music. Feel so alive.
I quit my nine-to-five. We're lost in music.
Have you ever seen some people lose everything?
First to go is their mind.
Responsibility to me is a tragedy.
I want to join a band and play in front of crazy fans.
Yes
I call that temptation.
Give me a melody. That's all that I ever need.
The music is my salvation.
We're lost in music; caught in a trap
In the spotlight
The band plays so very tight
Each and every night.
It's not vanity. To me
It's my sanity.
I could never survive.
Some people ask of me: What are you gonna be?
Why don't you go get a job? All that I can say:
I won't give up my music
Not me
Not now
No way
No how.
We're lost in music
Caught in a trap
Caught in our muslc.
No turning back. We're lost in music.
We're lost in music - don't take away our music
Feel so alive
Feel.
I quit I quit my nine-to-five. Yeah
We're lost in music.
We're lost in music melody is good to me.
Caught in a trap
I'm caught.
Oh baby
No turning back. No
No
No
We're lost in music.
We're lost in music.
The lyrics of Lost In Music by Chic feat. Nile Rodgers speak about the feeling of being completely consumed by music and the freedom that comes with it. The first stanza talks about how the music has taken hold of them, and they cannot escape it. Despite being trapped, they feel so alive that they have given up their 9 to 5 jobs. The second stanza talks about how some people have lost everything due to their love for music, but for the singer, it is their salvation. Being in a band and playing to crazy fans is a temptation, and the melody is all they need. The final stanza talks about how being in the spotlight and playing music is not vanity, but rather their sanity. They could never survive without it, even if some people think they should get a job. They won't give up their music, and the freedom it brings them.
Line by Line Meaning
We're lost in music; caught in a trap
Our love for music is all-consuming and almost like an addiction that we cannot escape from
No turning back. We're lost in music.
We have committed ourselves fully to living our lives centered around music, and there is no turning back from that decision
We're lost in music. Feel so alive.
Music brings us so much joy and excitement, and it makes us feel truly alive and energized
I quit my nine-to-five. We're lost in music.
We have given up traditional jobs and lifestyles in order to pursue our passion for music and live as musicians full-time
Have you ever seen some people lose everything?
Have you witnessed those who have lost or given up everything they have for their love of music?
First to go is their mind.
Often when people lose themselves in music, they become so consumed that they can even lose their sanity
Responsibility to me is a tragedy.
For us, prioritizing responsibility and practicality over music would be a disheartening tragedy
I'll get a job some other time.
We don't feel the need to pursue conventional careers right now, but we may consider it in the future if necessary
I want to join a band and play in front of crazy fans.
Our biggest dream is to perform as part of a band in front of passionate and enthusiastic fans
Yes, I call that temptation.
We see the allure and temptation of making music and performing as a way of life
Give me a melody. That's all that I ever need.
All we really need in life is music - to be inspired by it, to create it, and to live it
The music is my salvation.
We see music as our personal savior, something that brings us solace, hope, and a sense of purpose
In the spotlight
Being in the limelight of the music industry
The band plays so very tight
The band's musical performance is flawlessly coordinated and impressive
Each and every night.
Performing night after night is routine for us
It's not vanity. To me
We are not being vain, but rather pursuing music is necessary to our emotional and mental well-being
It's my sanity.
Music is what keeps us grounded, sane, and balanced in life
I could never survive.
We don't believe we could survive without music, as it is such an integral part of our identity and happiness
Some people ask of me: What are you gonna be?
Others inquire about our career aspirations and plans for the future
Why don't you go get a job? All that I can say:
Some people suggest that we should prioritize practical jobs and lifestyles over music, to which we respond that music is essential to our happiness
I won't give up my music
We are unwilling to sacrifice or abandon our passion for music
Not me, Not now, No way, No how.
We are resolute in our decision to live our lives centered around music and won't compromise on that choice
We're lost in music - don't take away our music
Our music is such an essential and cherished part of our lives, and we feel desperate to protect and keep it close to us always
Feel. I quit I quit my nine-to-five. Yeah
We feel invigorated and empowered by the choice to give up traditional jobs and devote our time and energy to music fully
We're lost in music. We're lost in music melody is good to me.
We find ourselves fully immersed in music and the melodies it creates and find great joy and satisfaction through this connection
Caught in a trap. I'm caught.
We have become trapped, but also entranced by the all-encompassing nature of music in our lives
Oh baby No turning back. No, No, No We're lost in music.
We feel so deeply connected to music that there is no possibility of turning back - it is a permanent and unshakable part of who we are
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Aura_Sphere
We're lost in music
Caught in a trap
No turnin' back
We're lost in music
We're lost in music
Feel so alive
I quit my nine to five
We're lost in music
Have you ever seen
Some people lose everything?
First to go is their mind
Responsibility
To me is a tragedy
I'll get a job some other time, uh-huh
I want to join a band
And play in front of crazy fans
Yes, I call that temptation
Give me the melody
That's all that I ever need
The music is my salvation
We're lost in music
Caught in a trap
No turnin' back
We're lost in music
We're lost in music
Feel so alive
I quit my nine to five
We're lost in music
Mmm, hmm, in the spotlight
The band plays so very tight
Each and every night, uh-huh
It's not vanity
To me, it's my sanity
I could never survive
Some people ask me
What are you gonna be?
Why don't you go get a job? uh-uh
All that I could say
I won't give up my music
Not me, not now, no way, no how, oh, oh
We're lost in music
Caught in a trap (Caught up in our music)
No turnin' back (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
We're lost in music
We're lost in music (Don't take our away our music)
Feel so alive (Feel)
I quit (I quit) my nine to five (Yeah)
We're lost in music
We're lost in music (Melody is good to me)
Caught in a trap (I'm caught up in it)
No turnin' back (No, no, no)
We're lost in music (Ooh doo doo doo doo doo doo)
We're lost in music (La da da da da da da da, mmm... hmm...)
Feel so alive
I quit (I quit) my nine to five
We're lost in music (Lost in music)
We're lost in music
Caught in a trap
No turnin' back
We're lost in music
We're lost in music
Feel so alive
I quit my nine to five
We're lost in music
We're lost in music
Caught in a trap
No turnin' back
We're lost in music
@dampergoldenrod4156
45 years later this is still one of the best sounds and best albums ever made.
@davidwilliamgay4821
Heard this on the car radio yesterday, and just had to watch again on YouTube. One can understand every word, which fortunately was normal back then. Lost count how many times we all danced to this, back in the 70s and 80s
@DavidMiller-jo5qb
I just love how Joni is singing the lead on this song..it's perfect.
Rest in Peace beautiful lady.
@MrMB040
I love it too!! I wish I could sing like her 🎵🎶🎤🎵🎶
@MarcioPrado-rj6ps
They were soooo coool!
@ericnielsen7767
She was really cute
@axilmar254
We lost this music...
@MontecristotoValjean
so true
@chrisparedes9567
Joni was so amazingly beautiful and did such a great job doing lead vocals here....had a major crush on her! R.I.P Joni!
@ronaldcardinali2809
Agree , i had a crash 4 her that time