“Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk I’m a woman’s man….” Some days you just have to dance — today is one of those days.
The iconic movie Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta premiered on this day in 1977. (The official release was December 16, 1977.) The movie’s opening credits feature “Stayin’ Alive,” by the Bee Gees. The movie soundtrack broke chart records in the US and UK, was certified Platinum (15 times) and has been added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
The original lyrics and credits are below. Enjoy! Even if you think you don’t like disco, give it a minute or two.
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man: no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it’s all right, I’m okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York times’ effect on manWhether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Stayin’ aliveWell now, I get low and I get high
And if I can’t get either, I really try
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
I’m a dancin’ man and I just can’t lose
You know it’s all right, it’s okay
I’ll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York times’ effect on manWhether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Stayin’ aliveLife goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeahWell, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man: no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I’ve been kicked around since I was born
And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York times’ effect on manWhether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Stayin’ aliveLife goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
[“Stayin’ Alive,” by the Bee Gees. Written by: Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb. Original release: Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track, 1977.]
Video posted to youtube by user John Michaelson
Nice. What I like is your expression through your actions that people who like Bob Seger can also like The Bee Gees. More and more we need to embrace all facets of our personality. Otherwise we’re missing out on the parts of ourselves not being fed.
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Hi Andrew, I thought there was a good chance I’d be standing alone on this. Disco is so polarizing. Maybe that’s because the era was also defined by Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Peter Frampton, etc. The pulse of a culture is encapsulated in its popular music so it’s interesting to look at what was going on in society at the time. Maybe this post will bring back memories for some and be a new discovery for others. Or maybe it will be run over by tumbleweeds 🙂
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I actually enjoyed one of the later Bee Gees releases in the late nineties. I can’t remember the title, but it was during a comeback period of theirs…so, yeah, I liked it. :] I’ve always liked jazz a bit more, though. I think a lot of the music I currently listen to borrows quite a bit from jazz.
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Hi O’meed, I’m glad you like it! They released a few albums in the 90s including “One Night Only,” recorded at their reunion concert in Las Vegas, 1997. That might be the one you’re thinking of. I agree with you about jazz. Some of my favorites are a little on the bluesy side and I tend to like live performances.
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Yep. That’s it – “Alone (One Night Only).” Never understood how he hit those notes with his vocals.
Have you ever listened to John Scoffield? He’s a pretty good jazz artist. Pat Methany is also great, IMO
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Those vocals are incredible. Most of what I’ve heard from John Scofield is from jazz festival performances; I also like recordings of his Trio’s performances at the Blue Note, NYC. Pat Methany’s 42-string guitar is amazing.
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I lived (and survived) that era.
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Hi Frank! “Survived”…how intriguing…I won’t pry but if you’d like to expand on that it would be most welcome 🙂
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OH I love the disco! I was four and dancing in the aisles when my mother, my grandmother and my cousin all went to see Saturday Night Fever. Still love it. *does the hustle*
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Awesome! I would have loved to have seen that! I bet the rest of the audience loved you. There’s nothing like doin’ the hustle to liven up your day! I’m sure I’ve seen the movie but can’t remember the storyline for some strange reason…maybe the soundtrack was too good 🙂
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Disco is great, Motown is great, Clapton is great, Blondie is great, Loretta Lynn is great, Charlie Pride is great, Maria Callas is great, the Beatles are great, and Gershwin was and is great.
The fact that we can make beautiful sounds that give expression to our souls, that can cause other people to feel our joy and dance to it it wonderful…it’s a gift. All music is a gift.
I just have one question. How can a woman be more than a woman…
I have never understood that lyric.
It seems to imply that being a woman isn’t enough….
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Agreed! So eloquently stated, Rob.
I’m still pondering that one…. 🙂
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