Wang Chung (band)
Information about Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are a British New Wave musical group.
The group found their greatest success in the United States with five Top 40 hits including the 1986 #2 hit "Everybody Have Fun Tonight".
Soon afterwards, Hues and Feldman formed with Bud Merrick and the late Paul Hammond in late 1977/early 1978 as 'The Intellektuals'. In less than a year, the band split up, as Hues and Feldman joined up with future Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin, along with keyboards Simon Campbell, Leigh Gorman and Glenn Gregory, to form '57 Men'. This lineup lasted for less than a year as well.
Huang Chung's self-titled debut album was released by Arista Records in 1982 after several singles, including the minor post-punk hit "Isn't It About Time We Were on TV". In 1983, after being dropped by Arista and signed to Geffen Records, they changed their name to Wang Chung (at Geffen's suggestion, to make pronunciation easier for English-speakers—consistent with the claim by VH1's Pop Up Video that they changed it because people kept calling them "Hung Chung") — and subsequently they released Points on the Curve, which yielded two major hits, "Don't Let Go" (#38 US) and "Dance Hall Days" (#16 US).
They released their final album The Warmer Side of Cool in 1989, and disbanded in 1991.
The late 1990s saw the return of Hues and Feldman with a greatest hits collection entitled . Included on this CD was a new single, "Space Junk". Feldman and Hues also enjoyed a series of tour dates around America.
In 2002, the band's song "Dance Hall Days" was used in the video game on Flash FM as well as in the pre-mission cameo when Lance Vance is waiting for Tommy on a dock before raiding a crack house on Prawn Island. In 2006, their song "Don't Let Go" was used in Vice City's prequel, , again on Flash FM.
Shortly after, in postings at WangChung.com as well as the band's MySpace site, there was news of a new Wang Chung album being worked on by Hues and Feldman. In an e-mail response from Hues, he said, "We are shooting for a release around the March 2006 time frame and a tour in May. We are not sure who we are touring with yet, maybe Heaven 17 or Devo". Also on the band's MySpace, you can hear new clips such as "Hot In Herre" (The Nelly Cover) and a new song "I Was Abducted by the 80's".
The original video is a much sought-after collectors item for fans of Wang Chung.
The group found their greatest success in the United States with five Top 40 hits including the 1986 #2 hit "Everybody Have Fun Tonight".
Name
The name Huang Chung literally translates from Chinese as "yellow bell", but refers to the standardized base pitch of ancient China. Early on the band summarized the definition as "perfect pitch" and later, on American Bandstand, which they claimed was the sound a guitar made.Career
Beginnings
Originally called Huang Chung the band formed in 1979. The lineup consisted of vocalist/guitarist Jack Hues, bassist Nick Feldman, and drummer Darren Costin. Hues originally met Feldman after answering Feldman's ad for a musician in the classifieds section of the weekly British music magazine, Melody Maker, in 1977.Soon afterwards, Hues and Feldman formed with Bud Merrick and the late Paul Hammond in late 1977/early 1978 as 'The Intellektuals'. In less than a year, the band split up, as Hues and Feldman joined up with future Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin, along with keyboards Simon Campbell, Leigh Gorman and Glenn Gregory, to form '57 Men'. This lineup lasted for less than a year as well.
Huang Chung's self-titled debut album was released by Arista Records in 1982 after several singles, including the minor post-punk hit "Isn't It About Time We Were on TV". In 1983, after being dropped by Arista and signed to Geffen Records, they changed their name to Wang Chung (at Geffen's suggestion, to make pronunciation easier for English-speakers—consistent with the claim by VH1's Pop Up Video that they changed it because people kept calling them "Hung Chung") — and subsequently they released Points on the Curve, which yielded two major hits, "Don't Let Go" (#38 US) and "Dance Hall Days" (#16 US).
Soundtracks
Director William Friedkin specifically sought out Wang Chung to score his 1985 film To Live and Die in L.A.. The resulting soundtrack is recognizable as their work, but largely eschews conventional pop song formulae for a more atmospheric and textured approach. The band also had a song "Fire in the Twilight" written for the 1985 John Hughes film The Breakfast Club - it is heard in the scene where the kids are led by John Bender down the halls trying to escape from Mr. Vernon (the late Paul Gleason).Commercial peak (1986 - 1989)
In 1986, Costin left the band while Hues and Feldman continued to record. The same year, they had their biggest hits: "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" (#2 US, featuring the oft-quoted lyric "Everybody Wang Chung tonight" and rated the third worst song ever by Blender magazine) and "Let's Go" (#9 US), both from the album Mosaic. "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" also has a well-remembered music video (directed by Godley & Creme) where virtually every frame featured a jump cut.They released their final album The Warmer Side of Cool in 1989, and disbanded in 1991.
Post-breakup (1990s)
During the 1990s, Feldman joined up with Jon Moss of Culture Club to form the band Promised Land. Hues has done various soundtracks for films including The Guardian. He had a solo album, The Anatomy Lesson in the making which didn't see any light until he teamed up with Tony Banks of Genesis to make the album Strictly Inc.The late 1990s saw the return of Hues and Feldman with a greatest hits collection entitled . Included on this CD was a new single, "Space Junk". Feldman and Hues also enjoyed a series of tour dates around America.
In 2002, the band's song "Dance Hall Days" was used in the video game on Flash FM as well as in the pre-mission cameo when Lance Vance is waiting for Tommy on a dock before raiding a crack house on Prawn Island. In 2006, their song "Don't Let Go" was used in Vice City's prequel, , again on Flash FM.
Reunion & recent news
In June 2005, Hues and Feldman reunited as Wang Chung on the reality TV series Hit Me Baby One More Time, performing "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and a cover of "Hot in Herre" by Nelly.Shortly after, in postings at WangChung.com as well as the band's MySpace site, there was news of a new Wang Chung album being worked on by Hues and Feldman. In an e-mail response from Hues, he said, "We are shooting for a release around the March 2006 time frame and a tour in May. We are not sure who we are touring with yet, maybe Heaven 17 or Devo". Also on the band's MySpace, you can hear new clips such as "Hot In Herre" (The Nelly Cover) and a new song "I Was Abducted by the 80's".
Discography
Audio samples:
- Problems playing the files? See .
| An excerpt from "Dance Hall Days" single | |
Albums
Studio
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
Huang Chung
| |
Points on the Curve
| |
To Live and Die in L.A.
| |
Mosaic
| |
The Warmer Side of Cool
|
Compilations
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 | US Hot Dance Club Play | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 1984 | "Dance Hall Days" | #16 | #1 | #8 | #21 | ''Points on the Curve |
| 1984 | "Don't Let Go" | #38 | - | #16 | #81 | Points on the Curve |
| 1984 | "Don't Be My Enemy" | #86 | #17 | #29 | #92 | Points on the Curve |
| 1984 | "Wait" | - | - | - | #87 | Points on the Curve |
| 1985 | "To Live and Die in L.A." | #41 | - | #21 | - | To Live and Die in L.A.Soundtrack |
| 1986 | "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" | #2 | #4 | #25 | #76 | Mosaic |
| 1987 | "Let's Go" | #9 | #41 | #18 | #81 | Mosaic |
| 1987 | "Hypnotize Me" | #36 | - | #13 | - | Mosaic (Also Featured on Innerspace Soundtrack.) |
| 1989 | "Praying to a New God" | #63 | - | #31 | - | The Warmer Side of Cool |
Video
There were two versions of the video "Everybody Have Fun Tonight". The first version contained series of hundreds of videos that flashed in very quick succession across the screen. This video was rumored to cause seizures for some viewers. A second version of the video was shot and debuted shortly after the first.The original video is a much sought-after collectors item for fans of Wang Chung.
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
References
External links
Motto
"Dieu et mon droit" [2] (French)
"God and my right"
Anthem
"God Save the Queen" [3]
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"Dieu et mon droit" [2] (French)
"God and my right"
Anthem
"God Save the Queen" [3]
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New Wave was a rock music and pop genre and movement that existed during the late 1970s and the early-to-mid 1980s. In those days, many music groups were inspired by punk rock and used elements of other genres, such as electronic music, reggae, and ska.
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A musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who perform instrumental or vocal music. In each musical style or genre, different norms have developed for the sizes and composition of different ensembles, and for the repertoire of songs or musical works that these ensembles
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Released 1986
Format CD, LP, cassette
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 4:47
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Nick Feldman, Jack Hues
Producer(s) Wang Chung
Peak chart positions
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Format CD, LP, cassette
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 4:47
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Nick Feldman, Jack Hues
Producer(s) Wang Chung
Peak chart positions
- #2 (US Billboard Hot 100)
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Chinese or the Sinitic language(s) (汉语/漢語, Pinyin: Hà nyǔ; 华语/華語, Huáyǔ; or 中文, Zhōngwén) can be considered a language or language family.
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American Bandstand is a television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989. It is known not only for the emerging performers that it promoted (from Jerry Lee Lewis to Run DMC) but the many dance styles it featured through the decades.
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A singer is a musician who uses their voice to produce music. Often the singer is accompanied by musicians and instruments. While many people sing for pleasure, vocal skill is usually a combination of innate talent and professional training.
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guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Professional guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres. The guitar is an incredibly versatile instrument, and like the piano, it can play chords, melodies, solos, or help to gel a
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Jack Hues (born Jeremy Allan Ryder on December 10, 1954) is an English musician, who is best known for forming the popular 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung. In addition to forming Wang Chung, Hues also was a member of the one-off band, Strictly Inc, which featured
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A bass player (bassist) is a musician who plays a double bass or electric bass (also referred to as bass guitar). Certain musical genres tend to be associated with each of these instruments.
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Nick Feldman (born Nicholas Laurence Feldman) is an English musician, who is best known for forming the popular 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung. In addition to forming Wang Chung, Feldman also was a member of the one-off band, Promised Land, which featured Jon Moss
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drummer is a musician who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums or cow bell.
The term percussionist means a player on any percussion instrument, but usually refers to a person who plays classical or Latin percussion.
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The term percussionist means a player on any percussion instrument, but usually refers to a person who plays classical or Latin percussion.
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Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper.[1] It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival"[1]
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keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano, which is used in nearly all forms of western music. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organs as well as other mechanical,
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Leigh Gorman (Born 1961) is an English rock musician, record producer, and composer best known for his work as the bass player for Bow Wow Wow.
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Early life
Leigh grew up on the East End of London. He started out playing classical guitar at the age of 12...... Click the link for more information.
Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating in Sheffield in the early 1980s.
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Biography
Taking their name from a fictional pop group mentioned in Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange..... Click the link for more information.
Huang Chung
(1982) Points on the Curve
(1984)
Singles from Huang Chung
# "Hold Back the Tears"
Released: 1981# "China"
Released: 1982#
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(1982) Points on the Curve
(1984)
Singles from Huang Chung
# "Hold Back the Tears"
Released: 1981# "China"
Released: 1982#
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Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Label Group.
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History
Background
After being fired from CBS Records, Clive Davis was hired by Columbia Pictures to be a consultant for the..... Click the link for more information.
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Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.
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Company history
Beginnings
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Availability
Satellite
DirecTV Channel 335
Dish Network Channel 162
Cable
Verizon FiOS Channel 187
Comcast Channels Vary
Time Warner Cable Channels Vary
Charter Channels Vary
Cox Cable Channels Vary
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Satellite
DirecTV Channel 335
Dish Network Channel 162
Cable
Verizon FiOS Channel 187
Comcast Channels Vary
Time Warner Cable Channels Vary
Charter Channels Vary
Cox Cable Channels Vary
Cablevision Channels Vary
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Pop-Up Video is a popular VH1 television show that "popped up" bubbles ( ) — officially called "info nuggets" — containing trivia and spry witticisms throughout music videos. The show was created by Woody Thompson and Tad Low and premiered October 27, 1996.
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Points on the Curve
(1984) To Live and Die in L.A.
(1985)
Singles from Points on the Curve
# "Dance Hall Days"
Released: 1984# "Don't Let Go"
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(1984) To Live and Die in L.A.
(1985)
Singles from Points on the Curve
# "Dance Hall Days"
Released: 1984# "Don't Let Go"
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Released January 1984
Format CD, LP, cassette
Genre Pop Rock, New Wave
Length 3:58
Label Geffen Records
Writer(s) Nick Feldman, Jack Hues
Peak chart positions
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Format CD, LP, cassette
Genre Pop Rock, New Wave
Length 3:58
Label Geffen Records
Writer(s) Nick Feldman, Jack Hues
Peak chart positions
- #16 (US Billboard Hot 100)
- #8 (US Mainstream Rock)
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William Friedkin
Born July 29 1935
Chicago, Illinois
Other name(s) Hurricane Billy
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Born July 29 1935
Chicago, Illinois
Other name(s) Hurricane Billy
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Executive Producer:
Samuel Schulman
Producer:
Irving H. Levin
Bud S. Smith
Written by Story:
Gerald Petievich
Screenplay:
William Friedkin
Gerald Petievich
Starring William L.
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Samuel Schulman
Producer:
Irving H. Levin
Bud S. Smith
Written by Story:
Gerald Petievich
Screenplay:
William Friedkin
Gerald Petievich
Starring William L.
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soundtrack is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound. For the early history of the sound track, see the article sound film.
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Origin of the term
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John Hughes
Born January 18 1950
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Died
Awards
John Hughes, Jr.
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Born January 18 1950
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Died
Awards
John Hughes, Jr.
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All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 teen film widely considered as the definitive work in the genre. Written and directed by John Hughes, the storyline follows five teenagers (each representing a different clique in high
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IMDb profile
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 teen film widely considered as the definitive work in the genre. Written and directed by John Hughes, the storyline follows five teenagers (each representing a different clique in high
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Paul Gleason
The Breakfast Club (1985)
as Principal Richard Vernon
Birth name Paul Xavier Gleason
Born May 4 1939
Jersey City, New Jersey United States
Died
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The Breakfast Club (1985)
as Principal Richard Vernon
Birth name Paul Xavier Gleason
Born May 4 1939
Jersey City, New Jersey United States
Died
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