About The Song
“Dancing in the Street” is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha and the Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks, behind “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” by Manfred Mann and it also peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It is one of Motown’s signature songs and is the group’s premier signature song.
A 1966 cover by the Mamas & the Papas was a minor hit on the Hot 100, reaching No. 73. In 1982, the rock group Van Halen took their cover of “Dancing in the Street” to No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart and No. 15 in Canada on the RPM chart. A 1985 duet cover by David Bowie and Mick Jagger charted at No. 1 in the UK and reached No. 7 in the US. The song has been covered by many other artists, including The Kinks, Tages, Grateful Dead, and Myra.
Reeves recounted that she initially regarded the song as too repetitive. Gaye and Stevenson agreed and including new Motown songwriter Ivy Jo Hunter added in musical composition. Martha Reeves remembered Marvin Gaye recorded the song first and sang it as though singing to a lover. Reeves, envisioning block parties and Mardi Gras, asked the producers to sing it her way. The song was recorded in two takes. The song’s writers made sure to include Detroit as one of the cities mentioned with the lyric: “Can’t forget the Motor City”.
“Dancing in the Street” peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart when it was originally released as the group’s third album Dance Party’s first single in 1964 (see 1964 in music), with “There He Is (At My Door)” included as a B-side. “Dancing in the Street” also reached the Top 5 on the UK Singles Chart peaking at No. 4 in a 1969 release after initially peaking at No. 28 on the chart and helped to revive the Vandellas’ success in the UK. Cash Box described it as “an infectious romp that drops names of various locales as it declares that dancing is sweeping the country,” stating that it is “one of those sure-fire sock-rock productions.”
Video
Lyrics
Okay
Tokyo, South America, Australia, France, Germany, UK, Africa
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer’s here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They’re dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music ( sweet sweet music)
There’ll be music everywhere (everywhere)
They’ll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street, oh
It doesn’t matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere, around the world
They’ll be dancing, dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
It’s an invitation across the nation, a chance for folks to meet
They’ll be laughing and singing and music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and DC now (dancing in the street)
Don’t forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)
On the streets of Brazil (dancing in the street)
Back in the USSR (dancing in the street)
Don’t matter where you are (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music (sweet sweet music)
There’ll be music everywhere (everywhere)
They’ll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street, oh
It doesn’t matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere, around the world
They’ll be dancing, dancing in the street
(Dancing in the street)
Way down in L.A., everyday
Dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Crossin’ China, too, me and you
Dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Don’t you know they’ll be dancing
Dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Don’t you know they’ll be d-d-d-d-dancing
Dancing in the street (dancing in the street)