Kung Fu Fighting

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This article is about the song. For the martial art, see Chinese martial arts.
"Kung Fu Fighting"
KungFuFightingCarlDouglas.jpg
Single by Carl Douglas
from the album Kung Fu Fighting and Other Great Love Songs
B-side "Gamblin' Man"
Released 1974
Genre Disco[1][2]
Length 3:15
Label
Songwriter(s) Carl Douglas
Producer(s) Biddu Appaiah
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"Kung Fu Fighting"
(1974)		 "Dance the Kung Fu"
(1975)

"Kung Fu Fighting" is a disco song by Jamaican vocalist Carl Douglas, written by Douglas and produced by British-Indian musician Biddu.[3] It was released as a single in 1974 on the cusp of a chopsocky film craze and rose to the top of the British, Australian, Canadian, and American charts, in addition to reaching the top of the Soul Singles chart.[4] It received a Gold certification from the RIAA in 1974[5] and popularized disco music.[6][dubious – discuss] It eventually went on to sell eleven million records worldwide,[2][6] making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song uses the quintessential Oriental riff, a short musical phrase that is used to signify Chinese culture.

"Kung Fu Fighting" was rated number 100 in VH1's 100 Greatest one-hit wonders, and number 1 in the UK Channel 4's Top 10 One Hit Wonders list in 2000, the same channel's 50 Greatest One Hit Wonders poll in 2006 and Bring Back ... the one-hit Wonders, for which Carl Douglas performed the song in a live concert. The song was covered by CeeLo Green with Jack Black[7] and The Vamps for the Kung Fu Panda franchise.[8]

Background and composition

The song was originally meant to be a B-side to "I Want to Give You My Everything" (written by Brooklyn songwriter Larry Weiss and sung by Carl Douglas).[9][10] The producer Biddu originally hired Douglas to sing "I Want to Give You My Everything" but needed something to record for the B-side, and asked Douglas if he had any lyrics they could use. Douglas showed several, out of which Biddu chose the one that would later be called "Kung Fu Fighting" and worked out a melody for it without taking it too seriously.[3]

After having spent over two hours recording the A-side and then taking a break, "Kung Fu Fighting" was recorded quickly in the last ten minutes of studio time,[3] in only two takes, due to a three-hour time constraint for the entire session.[6] According to Biddu, "Kung Fu Fighting was the B-side so I went over the top on the 'huhs' and the 'hahs' and the chopping sounds. It was a B-side: who was going to listen?" After hearing both songs, Robin Blanchflower of Pye Records insisted that "Kung Fu Fighting" be the A-side instead.[6]

Following its release, the song did not receive any radio airplay for the first five weeks and sold poorly, but the song began gaining popularity in dance clubs,[3] eventually entering the UK Singles Chart at number 42 on 17 August 1974 and reaching the top on 21 September, where it remained for three weeks.[11] It was then released in the United States, where it quickly topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] The single went on to sell eleven million records worldwide.[6] At the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) Jukebox Awards in 1975, the song was awarded "Jukebox Soul Record of the Year" for being the year's highest-earning soul music song played on jukebox machines in the United States.[12]

Chart performance

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
France 748,000[38]
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 500,000
United States (RIAA)[40] Gold 1,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Track listing

  1. "Kung Fu Fighting" – 3:15
  2. "Gamblin' Man" – 3:03

Bus Stop version

"Kung Fu Fighting"
Kung Fu Fighting by Bus Stop.jpg
Single by Bus Stop featuring Carl Douglas
from the album Ticket to Ride
Released 11 May 1998 (1998-05-11)[41]
Genre Eurodance[42]
Length 3:45
Label All Around the World (UK)
Songwriter(s) Carl Douglas
Producer(s)
  • Graham Turner
  • Mark Hall
Bus Stop singles chronology
"Kung Fu Fighting"
(1998)		 "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet"
(1998)

British dance act Bus Stop reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart[43] with their 1998 remix single of "Kung Fu Fighting", which sampled the original vocals by Carl Douglas and added rap verses. In Australia, the single received a gold certification from ARIA.[44]

Weekly charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[45] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[46] 39
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[47] 22
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[48] 11
Denmark (IFPI)[49] 10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[50] 50
France (SNEP)[51] 25
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[52] 1
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[53] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 20
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[43] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1998) Position
Australia (ARIA)[55] 40
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[56] 7

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[57] Gold 35,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[58] Platinum 15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Gold 400,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[unreliable source?]
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3908a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kung Fu Fighting". Irish Singles Chart.
  19. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1974" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  20. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting". VG-lista.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ "Archive Chart: 19740921" UK Singles Chart.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Kung Fu Fighting in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Archive Chart: 19980613" UK Singles Chart.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Bus Stop feat. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  46. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bus Stop feat. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  47. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bus Stop feat. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  48. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7065." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Bus Stop feat. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting" (in French). Les classement single.
  52. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Bus Stop feat. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting". Top 40 Singles.
  53. ↑ "Archive Chart: 19980607". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  54. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bus Stop feat. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting". Singles Top 100.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Kung Fu Fighting in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
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