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You'd think that after highlighting more than 1300 "Great Songs of the '70s" over the past 3+ years, I might have already covered today's choice: "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees.
The reason I haven't until now is because of the sheer volume of information that comes with it. Since I'm writing a blog instead of a book, I needed to make time to condense and edit the material.
I've finally gotten around to it...so here are some cool facts about the song--in outline form:
*Film producer Robert Stigwood asked the Bee Gees to write 5 songs for "Saturday Night Fever." (As of today, we've highlighted all 5 of them.) After they'd written the song "Night Fever," Stigwood asked for a title song called "Saturday Night." The Bee Gees declined, due to the fact there was already a hit song called "Saturday Night" by the Bay City Rollers.
*Instead, the brothers wrote "Stayin' Alive," which they felt tapped into the theme of the film: trying to survive what could be a dead-end life for young adults in New York City during the '70s. (In this case, through dancing, although dance was barely mentioned in the song.) They told Stigwood to either "like it or they'd put it on one of their own albums" Needless to say, he liked it, and used it over the opening credits--as the theme song.
*The "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack became one of biggest selling albums or all time, with all 5 of the songs the Bee Gees wrote for the film becoming "Great Songs of the '70s." "Stayin' Alive" became a #1 hit in 10 countries, including the US and Canada, and peaked in the Top 5 in 12 more. (22 countries total!!)
*Over the years, "Stayin' Alive" has garnered an impressive list of accolades: Rolling Stone Magazine currently has it at #99 on their list of the Top 500 Songs of All Time.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has it at #94 on their list of the Top 365 Songs of the 20th Century.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added to their list of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll.
Time Magazine listed it on their "All TIME Top 100."
VH-1 has it on TWO lists: Top 100 Dance Songs (#10), and Top 100 Rock Songs (#54).
*Believe it or not, "Stayin' Alive" was used in a study to train medical professionals to provide the correct number of chest compressions per minute while performing CPR. The song has around 103 beats per minute, and 100–120 chest compressions per minute are recommended by the American Heart Association.
*Unfortunately for the Bee Gees, the song (and the Soundtrack) cemented their image as Disco artists--which annoyed the crap out of them. (Fact: the vast majority of their "Great Songs" were NOT Disco).
*Although Barry, Robin and Maurice acknowledged the popularity of "Stayin' Alive" and certainly appreciated the residual money they collected for it, they felt it wrecked their image as a pop/rock artists. In one interview, they collectively said, "We'd like to dress it up in a white suit and set it on fire."
Be that as it may, there's no doubt that "Staying Alive" is not only a "Great Song of 1978," butthe '70s as wholee...and of all time!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY
Tomorrow: Chakin' up a hit! Coming June 1: Great Songs of the '80s!
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