The band's first taste of mainstream success came with the release of their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973), which contained the US top-ten singles "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Kool & the Gang subsequently entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor to the lineup. Their most successful albums of this period include Ladies' Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980), and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. Their hit singles during this period included "Ladies' Night", the US No. 1 "Celebration", "Get Down on It", "Joanna", "Misled", and "Cherish". The band continues to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014.
Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. As well the band has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been bestowed with a MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. During 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received their first-time nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the United States. Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool_&_the_Gang
Discography
Kool and the Gang (1969)
Music Is the Message (1972)
Good Times (1972)
Wild and Peaceful (1973)
Light of Worlds (1974)
Spirit of the Boogie (1975)
Love & Understanding (1976)
Open Sesame (1976)
The Force (1977)
Everybody's Dancin' (1978)
Ladies' Night (1979)
Celebrate! (1980)
Something Special (1981)
As One (1982)
In the Heart (1983)
Emergency (1984)
Forever (1986)
Sweat (1989)
Unite (1992)
State of Affairs (1996)
Gangland (2001)
The Hits: Reloaded (2004)
Still Kool (2007)
Kool for the Holidays (2013)
Perfect Union (2021)
People Just Wanna Have Fun (2023)
Victory
Kool & The Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you got
Players take your place it's only
One way to the top
You must feel the victory release that
Energy and ride like the wind
With fire in your eyes shake those
Butterflies and do the best you can
Victory, victory let's do it again
You are the best, you seem to stand
Out from the rest
Your intentions to be more than a honorable mention
You must feel that victory, release that
Energy and ride like the wind
Fire in your eyes shake those
Butterflies, go ahead and go
For the win now
Victory, victory let the party begin
Victory, victory everybody can win
'Cause it's the same way in life
Same way in life
Inside the tunnel see the light
See the light
The perfect balance you must find,
It's the same way in life
Victory, victory, victory
Victory, sweet, oh, victory, sweet
Victory, sweet, can you feel It?
Victory, sweet, so sweet, so sweet
There's only one way to the top if you really want it
You can never stop pushin' for the
Victory, go ahead
Players take your places-go ahead
Feel that victory release that energy
So sweet to the top-go ahead, go ahead
Players take your places to the top
Victory
The song "Victory" by Kool & The Gang is all about the struggle for success, whether in sports or in life. The lyrics encourage listeners to "release that energy and ride like the wind" towards victory, to "shake those butterflies" and strive to be the best they can be. The theme of victory is prevalent throughout the song, with the chorus urging everyone to celebrate and let the party begin.
The message of the song is not just about winning, but also about the journey towards success. The lyrics suggest that finding the perfect balance between pushing for victory and enjoying the process is essential. This is emphasized in the line "Inside the tunnel see the light" - a metaphor for the journey towards success.
Overall, "Victory" is an uplifting and motivating song that encourages listeners to push themselves towards their goals while enjoying the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
People get ready it's time to show
What you got
It's time to showcase your skills and prove your worth
Players take your place it's only
One way to the top
There is only one way to achieve success and you must be willing to take your place among the best
You must feel the victory release that
Energy and ride like the wind
To achieve victory, you must have the energy and drive to succeed and approach the task with confidence
With fire in your eyes shake those
Butterflies and do the best you can
Despite feeling nervous and uncertain, you must push past your fears and give your best effort
Victory, victory let the party begin
Achieving victory is cause for celebration and enjoyment
Victory, victory everybody can win
Success is attainable for anyone who is willing to work hard and persevere
'Cause it's the same way in life
Same way in life
The principles of victory and success apply to all areas of life
Inside the tunnel see the light
See the light
Even when faced with obstacles and challenges, it's important to keep sight of your goals and have hope for the future
The perfect balance you must find,
It's the same way in life
Finding the right balance between work and play, effort and rest is key to achieving success in any aspect of life
Victory, victory, victory
The ultimate goal is victory and success
Victory, sweet, oh, victory, sweet
Victory, sweet, can you feel It?
Victory, sweet, so sweet, so sweet
Achieving victory is a sweet and satisfying experience
There's only one way to the top if you really want it
You can never stop pushin' for the
Victory, go ahead
To achieve ultimate success, you must be committed and willing to work hard and push yourself
Players take your places-go ahead
Feel that victory release that energy
So sweet to the top-go ahead, go ahead
Take your place among the best, release your energy, and enjoy the sweet taste of victory
Victory
The ultimate prize and goal
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Taylor, Ronald Nathan Bell, Claydes Smith, Robert Bell, Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, George Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Terwa T
People get ready
It's time to show what you got
Players take your places
There's only one way to the top
You must feel the victory
Release that energy
And ride like the wind
With fire in your eyes
Shake those butterflies
And do the best you can
Victory (sweet) victory
Let the party begin
Victory (sweet) victory
Let's do it again
You are the best
You seem to stand out from the rest
Ooh, your intentions
To be more than a honorable mention
You must feel the victory
Release that energy
And ride like the wind
With fire in your eyes
Shake those butterflies
Go ahead
And go for the win now
Victory, victory
Let the party begin
Victory, victory
Everybody can win
'Cause it's the same way in life
(Same way in life)
Inside the tunnel see the light
(See the light)
The perfect balance and you must
Find it's the same way in life
Victory, victory, victory
Victory (sweet, ooh)
Victory (sweet)
Victory (sweet, ooh)
Can you feel it?
Victory (sweet)
So sweet, so sweet
There's only one way to the top
If you really want it
You can never stop pushin'
For the victory go ahead
Players take your places
Go ahead
Feel that victory
Release that energy
So sweet to the top
Go ahead, go ahead
Players take your places to the top
Alex Balaton magyar
Karaoke lets go
People get ready
It's time to show what you got
Players take your places
There's only one way to the top
You must feel the victory
Release that energy
And ride like the wind
With fire in your eyes
Shake those butterflies
And do the best you can
Victory (sweet) victory
Let the party begin
Victory (sweet) victory
Let's do it again
You are the best
You seem to stand out from the rest
Ooh, your intentions
To be more than a honorable mention
You must feel the victory
Release that energy
And ride like the wind
With fire in your eyes
Shake those butterflies
Go ahead
And go for the win now
Victory, victory
Let the party begin
Victory, victory
Everybody can win
'Cause it's the same way in life
(Same way in life)
Inside the tunnel see the light
(See the light)
The perfect balance and you must
Find it's the same way in life
Victory, victory, victory
Victory (sweet, ooh)
Victory (sweet)
Victory (sweet, ooh)
Can you feel it?
Victory (sweet)
So sweet, so sweet
There's only one way to the top
If you really want it
You can never stop pushin'
For the victory go ahead
Players take your places
Go ahead
Feel that victory
Release that energy
So sweet to the top
Marion Friedl
Every time I hear this song I feel a bit like a teenager again, I´m 52 now and still love these guys.
RaidersACDC 489
They produced this video at my HS
Lionel Kennedy
Kool & The Gang made great music that you could dance to, and everyone could listen to it. The messages in their songs were always positive and classy.
Féremar
Yeah man thanks to my father i grew up on funk and Kool and the gang and I will definetly pass that to my children. Im 24 now, will support the 70s and 80s!! =)
RaidersACDC 489
This video was made at my HS..1986 it 1987..Maurice Ganda is the player in this video
Lionel Kennedy
@Féremar Yeah, man! Same here 💯
Lionel Kennedy
@RaidersACDC 489 Kool!!
Linganathan Naidu
I63p95
LayLay Russell
This is why I LOVE this era of music...the entire band performed, they sang, danced, and put on a SHOW. No lip-synching crap like these people now. Kool and the Gang will always be played at ANY party I throw!
heather holyland
party !!!!! :)