Wikipedia

Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)

"Dancing on the Ceiling" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. It was written by Richie, Mike Frenchik, and Carlos Rios for Richie's third studio album of the same name (1986), while production was helmed by Richie and James Anthony Carmichael.[1] Released as the album's leading single, it became a worldwide hit, reaching top five in Sweden and Belgium as well as peaking on the top spot on the national singles chart in Norway. It peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1986.

"Dancing on the Ceiling"
Single by Lionel Richie
from the album Dancing on the Ceiling
B-side"Love Will Find a Way"
ReleasedJuly 1986
GenrePop
Length4:21
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)Lionel Richie, Carlos Rios, Michael Frenchik
Producer(s)Lionel Richie, James Anthony Carmichael
Lionel Richie singles chronology
"Say You, Say Me"
(1985) 		"Dancing on the Ceiling"
(1986) 		"Love Will Conquer All"
(1986)

Reception

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"This [sense of swagger] isn't entirely a good thing, since it means he indulges in silliness [...]" – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic.[1] In the early 21st century, Blender magazine published a list of the "50 worst songs of all time", with "Dancing on the Ceiling" listed at No. 20.[2] Despite some negative views expressed since its release, the song remains a regular addition to '80s music nights at clubs and bars.[citation needed]

Personnel

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  • Lionel Richie – lead vocals, rhythm and vocal arrangements
  • John Barnes – acoustic piano
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
  • Carlos Rios – synthesizers, guitars, rhythm arrangements
  • Steve MacMillan – door creak effects
  • Ken Caillat – sound effects
  • Tom Jones – sound effects
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar
  • John Robinson – drums
  • James Anthony Carmichael – horn and rhythm arrangements
  • Maxi Anderson, Billie Barnum, Melinda Chatman, David Cochrane, Kevin Dorsey, Karen Jackson, Marlena Jeter, Fred Law, Janice Marie, Brenda Richie, Anita Sherman, Karen Siegel, Alfie Silas, Phyllis St. James, Stephanie Taylor, Deborah Thomas, Carmen Twillie, Julia Waters Tillman and Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals
  • James Anthony Carmichael, David Egerton, Wayne Hargrave, Linda Jenner, Steve MacMillan, Greg Phillinganes, Kathi Pogoda, Cheryl Pyle, Carlos Rios, Maximo Rios, Dave Rosen, Kelly Ryan and Wibert Terrell – hoopa hollers

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Dancing on the Ceiling" was directed by Stanley Donen who also co-produced it with Glenn Goodwin through Glenn Goodwin & Associates.[3] Michael Peters choreographed[4] and Daniel Pearl was the director of photography.[5] Shooting took place during three days at Laird Studios in Culver City and one day on location at the LeMondrian Hotel in West Hollywood.[3] The video reportedly cost somewhere between $350,000 and $500,000[4] (or around $400,000), making it the most expensive short form music video production at the time.[3]

In the video, which premiered on September 8, 1986,[6] Richie and friends attend a party and dance on the ceiling reminiscent of Fred Astaire's routine in Donen's 1951 film Royal Wedding.[3] Donen later said that Richie actually adapted easier and quicker to the rotating room used in the video than Astaire did while shooting Royal Wedding.[7] There is also a reference in the video to The Seven Year Itch when air blows a woman's skirt over her head. At the end Rodney Dangerfield and Cheech Marin make cameo appearances.[4] The video also features dancer Diane Alexander, who would later become Richie's second wife.[8][9]

In the fall of 1986 HBO aired a half-hour TV special, Lionel Richie: The Making of Dancing on the Ceiling, directed by Sandra Hay and Alan J. Kozlowski, which takes a look at behind the scenes of the music video shoot. This documentary was also released on VHS and LaserDisc by Lorimar Home Video, and later as a hidden extra on Richie's The Definitive Collection DVD.

Track listings

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  • 7" single
  1. "Dancing on the Ceiling" - 4:20
  2. "Love Will Find a Way" - 6:10
  • 12" single
  1. "Dancing on the Ceiling" - 7:10
  2. "Love Will Find a Way" - 6:14

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[33] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Platinum 600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dancing on the Ceiling". allmusic. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  2. ^ "Blender Magazine - 50 Worst Songs Ever (Music Database :: Dave Tompkins)". Cs.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  3. ^ a b c d Frank Lovece (October 18, 1986). "Stanley Donen Is Dancin' On Air After Directing Richie Clip". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 42. p. 78. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Linda Moleski (September 6, 1986). "Video Track". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 36. p. 59. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  5. ^ "Daniel Pearl's resumé". Daniel Pearl. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  6. ^ "Dancing on the ceiling [copyright notice]". faqs.org. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  7. ^ Andy Roberts (June 20, 2010). "Happy Birthday, Lionel Richie". TheVine. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  8. ^ Summertime, and the Loving Is Anything but Easy for Lionel, Melvin and Stephanie
  9. ^ The Joy and Pain of Celebrity Marriage
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 25. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 26 June 1988.
  11. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  12. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  13. ^ Peaked on RPM 100 Singles Chart on September 13, 1986
  14. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Lionel Richie". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 215. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  18. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  19. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". VG-lista. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  22. ^ "Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  24. ^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  25. ^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  27. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Imgur.
  28. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1986". Ultratop. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  29. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  31. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 27, 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21. {{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  33. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Music Canada. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
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