"Real People" is from

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 dictiona ...

's fourth album ''

Real People ''Real People'' is an American reality television series that originally aired on NBC from 1979 to 1984, Wednesdays from 8 pm to 9pm Eastern Time. Its initial episodes aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones. ''Real People'' featured "re ...

''. It was the second

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from this album and like its predecessor, featured a solo lead vocal by Luci Martin.

Background

Exploring new directions in the post-Disco era, Chic continued incorporating harder rock elements into their sound as evident by Nile Rodgers' blaring

guitar solo A guitar solo is a melodic passage, instrumental section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. In 20th and 21st century traditional music and popular m ...

s which kick-off and end the song. Audiences were caught off guard by the new Chic sound. Prompting some radio programmers to flip the single and play the more upbeat/dancable B-side "Chip Off The Old Block" instead of the A-side. This, combined with other factors, resulted in the single not making much impact on the charts.

Reception

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said it has "impeccable" taste, "stylish production," "topical lyrics," "a sweltering guitar solo" and "vocal perfection."

Chart performance

"Real People" only peaked at number 51 on Billboard's "Hot Soul/Black Singles" chart and number 79 on Billboard's "Hot 100" chart. It failed to chart in the UK, as the song "26" was released as a single, in lieu of "Real People".

Track listings

;Atlantic 3768, September 29, 1980 * A. "Real People" (7" Edit) - 3:45 * B. "Chip Off The Old Block" - 4:56 ;Atlantic promo 12" DMD 247, 1980 * A. "Real People" - 5:20 * B. "Real People" (7" Edit) - 3:45

References

1980 singles Chic (band) songs Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers Songs written by Nile Rodgers Songs written by Bernard Edwards Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards 1980 songs Atlantic Records singles {{1980s-single-stub