"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" is a song by American band

Chic Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick. Etymology '' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...

, released as their debut

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. It was a

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in the United States, reaching number six on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and

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charts. In addition, along with the tracks "You Can Get By" and " Everybody Dance", the single reached number one on the

Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...

chart.

Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his sweet and soulful vocals, Vandross has sold over 40 million records worldwide. He achieved eleven consecutive P ...

, who was working as a session vocalist at the time, provided

backup vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are used ...

on this recording. The "yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" part of the title, which appears as a spoken interjection in the middle of the song, originated with the American jazz violinist and radio personality

Ben Bernie Benjamin Anzelwitz, known professionally as Ben Bernie (May 30, 1891 – October 23, 1943),DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. ...

, who popularized it in the 1920s. The phrase was revived in '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'', a 1969 film about a Depression-era dance marathon.

Track listing and formats

;Buddah 7" BDA 583, 1977 / Atlantic 7" 3435, September 30, 1977 *A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (7" Edit) - 3:41 *B. "São Paulo" - 5:01 ;Buddah 12" DSC 121, 1977 / Atlantic 12" DK 4600, 1977 *A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21 *B. "São Paulo" - 5:01 ;Atlantic 12" promo DSKO 101, 1977 *A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21 *B. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (7" Edit) - 3:41 ;Atlantic 12" DK 4621, 1978 *A. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21 *B. "Everybody Dance" (12" Mix) - 8:25

Charts

Weekly charts

References

External links

Song Review A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetition ...

from

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1977 debut singles Chic (band) songs Disco songs Songs written by Bernard Edwards Songs written by Nile Rodgers Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards 1977 songs Atlantic Records singles {{1970s-single-stub