For other uses, see Fame (disambiguation) .
1980 single by Irene Cara
"Fame" Artwork for Dutch and Belgian releases
B-side "Never Alone" (performed by the Contemporary Gospel Chorus, The High School of Music and Art) Released May 1980 Recorded 1979 Length 3 :48 (7") 5:14 (12")Label RSO Songwriter(s) Michael Gore Dean Pitchford Producer(s) Michael Gore
"Fame " (1980)
"Out Here on My Own " (1980)
"Fame " is a pop song, written by Michael Gore (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics)[1] and released in 1980, that achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series .[1] The song was performed by Irene Cara , who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original film. It was also her debut single as a recording artist . The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1980,[1] and the Golden Globe Award the same year. In 2004, it finished at number 51 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.
History [ ]
Irene Cara played the role of Coco Hernandez in the movie Fame and sang the vocals for the theme song. The music for the song was by Michael Gore and the lyrics were by Dean Pitchford . The song earned Cara a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance .[2] The movie became an "overnight sensation". The song won an Oscar for best film theme song in 1981. In July 1982, it was re-released on the back of the successful TV series and topped the charts in several countries, including the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The movie was adapted into a TV series, which achieved notable ratings success in the latter country, and stage show which toured Europe.[3]
Fame theme song[ ]
The song was later used as the theme song for the Fame television series, which aired from 1982 to 1987. It was also used in other TV shows related to Fame .
Personnel [ ]
Irene Cara – lead vocals , backing vocals
Rob Mounsey – keyboards , piano
Leon Pendarvis – keyboards, arrangements
Kenneth Bichel – synthesizer
Neil Jason – bass guitar
Elliott Randall – guitar solo
David Spinozza , Jeff Mironov – guitar
Yogi Horton – drums
Jimmy Maelen , Crusher Bennet – percussion
Louise Bethune, Peggie Blue, Ivonne Lewis, Ullanda McCullough , Deborah McDuffie, Vicki Sue Robinson , Ann E. Sutton, Luther Vandross – backing vocals
Charts [ ]
"Fame" rose to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1980. It also reached number one on the Billboard dance chart for one week.[4] The song was re-released in the United Kingdom in July 1982, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart for three weeks following the debut of the Fame TV series on the British television network BBC One the previous month, becoming Britain's third best-selling song of 1982 behind "Eye of The Tiger " by Survivor and "Come On Eileen " by Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express , the latter of which dethroned "Fame" from the top of the UK Singles Chart.[1] It has over sold 1.07 million copies in Britain. as of September 2017 .[5]
The song also reached number one in Flanders , Ireland , the Netherlands and New Zealand , and number three in Australia and Sweden .
Weekly singles charts [ ]
Year-end charts [ ]
Certifications [ ]
See also [ ]
Film portal
Music portal
Television portal
References [ ]
^ Jump up to: a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5 .
^ "Irene Cara's GRAMMY Awards history" . Grammy.com; Recording Academy .
^ Davis, Sharon (January 6, 2012). 80s Chart-Toppers: Every Chart-Topper Tells a Story . Random House. ISBN 978-1-78057-411-0 . Retrieved April 28, 2016 .
^ 'Fame' means success for BBC record label . Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 13, 1982. pp. 8–. ISSN 0006-2510 .
^ Jump up to: a b Copsey, Rob (September 19, 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved September 25, 2018 .
^ Jump up to: a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, New South Wales : Australian Chart Book. p. 55. ISBN 0-646-11917-6 .
^ "Ultratop.be – Irene Cara – Fame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50 .
^ "RPM 100 Singles" . RPM . Vol. 34 no. 4. November 22, 1980. Retrieved April 24, 2016 .
^ "Lescharts.com – Irene Cara – Fame" (in French). Les classement single .
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Fame" . Irish Singles Chart .
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1983 " (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Irene Cara – Fame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100 .
^ "Charts.nz – Irene Cara – Fame" . Top 40 Singles .
^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989" . Retrieved September 1, 2018 .
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Irene Cara – Fame" . Singles Top 100 .
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company .
^ "Irene Cara Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard .
^ "Irene Cara Chart History (Dance Club Songs)" . Billboard .
^ "Cash Box Top 100" . Cash Box . September 13, 1980.
^ "Pop Singles". Billboard ("Billboard Talent in Action: Year End Charts" supplement). December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10.
^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1980" . Cash Box . December 27, 1980.
^ "Top Selling Singles of 1982" . Recorded Music NZ.
^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Singles". Chart File Volume 2 . London, England: Virgin Books. pp. 80–81. ISBN 0-907080-73-1 .
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983" . Dutch Charts (Hung Medien).
^ "Canadian single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame" . Music Canada .
^ "Les Meilleures Ventes "Tout Temps" de 45 T. / Singles / Téléchargement" . InfoDisc .
^ "French single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique .
^ "Dutch single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved August 31, 2020 . Enter Fame in the "Artiest of titel" box.
^ "British single certifications – Irene Cara – Fame" . British Phonographic Industry .
show Fame
Films Television See also
show Irene Cara
Studio albums Singles
"Fame " (1980)
"Out Here on My Own " (1980)
"Flashdance... What a Feeling " (1983)
"Why Me? " (1983)
"The Dream (Hold On to Your Dream) " (1983)
"Breakdance " (1984)
"You Were Made for Me " (1984)
show Awards for "Fame"
show Academy Award for Best Original Song
1934–1940
"The Continental "
Music: Con Conrad
Lyrics: Herb Magidson (1934)
"Lullaby of Broadway "
Music: Harry Warren
Lyrics: Al Dubin (1935)
"The Way You Look Tonight "
Music: Jerome Kern
Lyrics: Dorothy Fields (1936)
"Sweet Leilani "
Music and lyrics: Harry Owens (1937)
"Thanks for the Memory "
Music: Ralph Rainger
Lyrics: Leo Robin (1938)
"Over the Rainbow "
Music: Harold Arlen
Lyrics: E. Y. Harburg (1939)
"When You Wish Upon a Star "
Music: Leigh Harline
Lyrics: Ned Washington (1940)
1941–1950
"The Last Time I Saw Paris "
Music: Jerome Kern
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II (1941)
"White Christmas "
Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin (1942)
"You'll Never Know "
Music: Harry Warren
Lyrics: Mack Gordon (1943)
"Swinging on a Star "
Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics: Johnny Burke (1944)
"It Might as Well Be Spring "
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II (1945)
"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe "
Music: Harry Warren
Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1946)
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah "
Music: Allie Wrubel
Lyrics: Ray Gilbert (1947)
"Buttons and Bows "
Music: Jay Livingston
Lyrics: Ray Evans (1948)
"Baby, It's Cold Outside "
Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser (1949)
"Mona Lisa "
Music and lyrics: Ray Evans and Jay Livingston (1950)
1951–1960
"In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening "
Music: Hoagy Carmichael
Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1951)
"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin') "
Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Lyrics: Ned Washington (1952)
"Secret Love "
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster (1953)
"Three Coins in the Fountain "
Music: Jule Styne
Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1954)
"Love Is a Many Splendored Thing "
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster (1955)
"Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) "
Music and lyrics: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans (1956)
"All the Way "
Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1957)
"Gigi "
Music: Frederick Loewe
Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner (1958)
"High Hopes "
Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1959)
"Never on Sunday "
Music and lyrics: Manos Hatzidakis (1960)
1961–1970
"Moon River "
Music: Henry Mancini
Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1961)
"Days of Wine and Roses "
Music: Henry Mancini
Lyrics: Johnny Mercer (1962)
"Call Me Irresponsible "
Music: Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics: Sammy Cahn (1963)
"Chim Chim Cher-ee "
Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (1964)
"The Shadow of Your Smile "
Music: Johnny Mandel
Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster (1965)
"Born Free "
Music: John Barry
Lyrics: Don Black (1966)
"Talk to the Animals "
Music and lyrics: Leslie Bricusse (1967)
"The Windmills of Your Mind "
Music: Michel Legrand
Lyrics: Alan and Marilyn Bergman (1968)
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head "
Music: Burt Bacharach
Lyrics: Hal David (1969)
"For All We Know "
Music: Fred Karlin
Lyrics: Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin (1970)
1971–1980
"Theme from Shaft "
Music and lyrics: Isaac Hayes (1971)
"The Morning After "
Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (1972)
"The Way We Were "
Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics: Alan and Marilyn Bergman (1973)
"We May Never Love Like This Again "
Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (1974)
"I'm Easy "
Music and lyrics: Keith Carradine (1975)
"Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) "
Music: Barbra Streisand
Lyrics: Paul Williams (1976)
"You Light Up My Life "
Music and lyrics: Joseph Brooks (1977)
"Last Dance "
Music and lyrics: Paul Jabara (1978)
"It Goes Like It Goes "
Music: David Shire
Lyrics: Norman Gimbel (1979)
"Fame "
Music: Michael Gore
Lyrics: Dean Pitchford (1980)
1981–1990
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) "
Music and lyrics: Burt Bacharach , Carole Bayer Sager , Christopher Cross and Peter Allen (1981)
"Up Where We Belong "
Music: Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie
Lyrics: Will Jennings (1982)
"Flashdance... What a Feeling "
Music: Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics: Keith Forsey and Irene Cara (1983)
"I Just Called to Say I Love You "
Music and lyrics: Stevie Wonder (1984)
"Say You, Say Me "
Music and lyrics: Lionel Richie (1985)
"Take My Breath Away "
Music: Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics: Tom Whitlock (1986)
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life "
Music: Franke Previte , John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz
Lyrics: Franke Previte (1987)
"Let the River Run "
Music and lyrics: Carly Simon (1988)
"Under the Sea "
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman (1989)
"Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man) "
Music and lyrics: Stephen Sondheim (1990)
1991–2000
"Beauty and the Beast "
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman (1991)
"A Whole New World "
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Tim Rice (1992)
"Streets of Philadelphia "
Music and lyrics: Bruce Springsteen (1993)
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight "
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Tim Rice (1994)
"Colors of the Wind "
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz (1995)
"You Must Love Me "
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice (1996)
"My Heart Will Go On "
Music: James Horner
Lyrics: Will Jennings (1997)
"When You Believe "
Music and lyrics: Stephen Schwartz (1998)
"You'll Be in My Heart "
Music and lyrics: Phil Collins (1999)
"Things Have Changed "
Music and lyrics: Bob Dylan (2000)
2001–2010
"If I Didn't Have You "
Music and lyrics: Randy Newman (2001)
"Lose Yourself "
Music: Eminem , Jeff Bass and Luis Resto
Lyrics: Eminem (2002)
"Into the West "
Music and lyrics: Fran Walsh , Howard Shore and Annie Lennox (2003)
"Al otro lado del río "
Music and lyrics: Jorge Drexler (2004)
"It's Hard out Here for a Pimp "
Music and lyrics: Juicy J , Frayser Boy and DJ Paul (2005)
"I Need to Wake Up "
Music and lyrics: Melissa Etheridge (2006)
"Falling Slowly "
"Jai Ho "
Music: A. R. Rahman
Lyrics: Gulzar (2008)
"The Weary Kind "
Music and lyrics: Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett (2009)
"We Belong Together "
Music and lyrics: Randy Newman (2010)
2011–2020
"Man or Muppet "
Music and lyrics: Bret McKenzie (2011)
"Skyfall "
Music and lyrics: Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth (2012)
"Let It Go "
Music and lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (2013)
"Glory "
Music and lyrics: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn (2014)
"Writing's on the Wall "
Music and lyrics: James Napier and Sam Smith (2015)
"City of Stars "
Music: Justin Hurwitz
Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (2016)
"Remember Me "
Music and lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (2017)
"Shallow "
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again "
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin (2019)
"Fight for You "
Music: D'Mile and H.E.R.
Lyrics: H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas (2020)
show 1960s
"Town Without Pity " Lyrics by Ned Washington , Music by Dimitri Tiomkin (1961)
"Circus World" Lyrics by Ned Washington , Music by Dimitri Tiomkin (1964)
"Forget Domani " Lyrics by Norman Newell , Music by Riz Ortolani (1965)
"Strangers in the Night " Lyrics by Charles Singleton & Eddie Snyder , Music by Bert Kaempfert (1966)
"If Ever I Would Leave You " Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner , Music by Frederick Loewe (1967)
"The Windmills of Your Mind " Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman , Music by Michel Legrand (1968)
"Jean " Music & Lyrics by Rod McKuen (1969)
1970s
"Whistling Away the Dark" Lyrics by Johnny Mercer , Music by Henry Mancini (1970)
"Life Is What You Make It " Lyrics by Johnny Mercer , Music by Marvin Hamlisch (1971)
"Ben " Lyrics by Don Black , Music by Walter Scharf (1972)
"The Way We Were " Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman , Music by Marvin Hamlisch (1973)
"I Feel Love" Lyrics by Betty Box, Music by Euel Box (1974)
"I'm Easy " Music & Lyrics by Keith Carradine (1975)
"Evergreen " Lyrics by Paul Williams , Music by Barbra Streisand (1976)
"You Light Up My Life " Music & Lyrics by Joseph Brooks (1977)
"Last Dance " Music & Lyrics by Paul Jabara (1978)
"The Rose " Music & Lyrics by Amanda McBroom (1979)
1980s
"Fame " Lyrics by Dean Pitchford , Music by Michael Gore (1980)
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) " Music & Lyrics by Peter Allen , Burt Bacharach , Christopher Cross , & Carole Bayer Sager (1981)
"Up Where We Belong " Lyrics by Wilbur Jennings , Music by Jack Nitzsche & Buffy Sainte-Marie (1982)
"Flashdance... What a Feeling " Lyrics by Irene Cara & Keith Forsey , Music by Giorgio Moroder (1983)
"I Just Called to Say I Love You " Music & Lyrics by Stevie Wonder (1984)
"Say You, Say Me " Music & Lyrics by Lionel Richie (1985)
"Take My Breath Away " Lyrics by Tom Whitlock , Music by Giorgio Moroder (1986)
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life " Lyrics by Franke Previte , Music by John DeNicola & Donald Markowitz (1987)
"Let the River Run " Music & Lyrics by Carly Simon / "Two Hearts " Lyrics by Phil Collins , Music by Lamont Dozier (1988)
"Under the Sea " Lyrics by Howard Ashman , Music by Alan Menken (1989)
1990s
"Blaze of Glory " Music & Lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi (1990)
"Beauty and the Beast " Lyrics by Howard Ashman , Music by Alan Menken (1991)
"A Whole New World " Lyrics by Tim Rice , Music by Alan Menken (1992)
"Streets of Philadelphia " Music & Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen (1993)
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight " Lyrics by Tim Rice , Music by Elton John (1994)
"Colors of the Wind " Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz , Music by Alan Menken (1995)
"You Must Love Me " Lyrics by Tim Rice , Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber (1996)
"My Heart Will Go On " Lyrics by Wilbur Jennings , Music by James Horner (1997)
"The Prayer " Music & Lyrics by David Foster , Tony Renis , Carole Bayer Sager & Alberto Testa (1998)
"You'll Be in My Heart " Music & Lyrics by Phil Collins (1999)
2000s
"Things Have Changed " Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan (2000)
"Until... " Music & Lyrics by Sting (2001)
"The Hands That Built America " Music & Lyrics by Bono , Adam Clayton , The Edge & Larry Mullen Jr. (2002)
"Into the West " Music & Lyrics by Annie Lennox , Howard Shore & Frances Walsh (2003)
"Old Habits Die Hard " Music & Lyrics by Mick Jagger & David A. Stewart (2004)
"A Love That Will Never Grow Old " Lyrics by Bernie Taupin , Music by Gustavo Santaolalla (2005)
"The Song of the Heart " Music & Lyrics by Prince Rogers Nelson (2006)
"Guaranteed " Music & Lyrics by Eddie Vedder (2007)
"The Wrestler " Music & Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen (2008)
"The Weary Kind " Music & Lyrics by Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett (2009)
2010s
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me " Music & Lyrics by Diane Warren (2010)
"Masterpiece " Music & Lyrics by Madonna , Julie Frost & Jimmy Harry (2011)
"Skyfall " Music & Lyrics by Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth (2012)
"Ordinary Love " Music & Lyrics by Bono , Adam Clayton , The Edge , Larry Mullen Jr. & Danger Mouse (2013)
"Glory " Music & Lyrics by Common & John Legend (2014)
"Writing's on the Wall " Music & Lyrics by Sam Smith & Jimmy Napes (2015)
"City of Stars " Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul , Music by Justin Hurwitz (2016)
"This Is Me " Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (2017)
"Shallow " Music & Lyrics by Lady Gaga , Mark Ronson , Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt (2018)
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again " Lyrics by Bernie Taupin , Music by Elton John (2019)
2020s
"Io sì (Seen) " Lyrics by Diane Warren , Laura Pausini and Niccolò Agliardi, Music by Diane Warren (2020)
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