Musical Monday - Celebration by Kool and the Gang

#1 on the Billboard Hot 100: February 7, 1981 through February 14, 1981.

#1 on the Cash Box Top 100: The week of February 14, 1981.

#1 on the U.K. Chart: Never.

For some songs, there is no subtext. There is no underlying story. No interesting background details. The song simply is what it is. Celebration is one of those songs. At first glance, Celebration is a feel-good party song designed to get people on the dance floor, and upon closer examination, that's pretty much all that it is. There is no underlying meaning, no hidden message, or deeper significance.

That doesn't mean Celebration is a bad song. It does exactly what it sets out to do. This song was Kool and the Gang's biggest hit - it was their only song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 - and went on to become a staple at parties and other gatherings. I think that this song was played at every party I went to from middle-school through college, and then at every wedding, anniversary, and birthday party thereafter. It has become an almost ubiquitous feature of celebrations.

The really weird thing about this phenomenon is that as far as party songs go, Celebration is so very middle-of-the-road, presenting the listener with about the tamest celebratory anthem possible. Paradoxically, this very blandness may be the key to the song's success: It is smooth and easy and entirely nonthreatening. This is a safe party song that people in middle America could dance to while patting themselves on the back for being open-minded and listening to black artists. It is a song that you can play at your child's first dance party without worrying about things getting too wild or the lyrics getting too suggestive.

Celebration is a good song, but it is a safe song.

Previous Musical Monday: Woman by John Lennon

Subsequent Musical Monday: I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbitt

Previous #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: The Tide Is High by Blondie

Subsequent #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

Previous #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: The Tide Is High by Blondie

Subsequent #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbitt

List of #1 Singles from the Billboard Hot 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles from the Cash Box Top 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles on the U.K. Chart for 1980-1989

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