Groove Is in the Heart

Infobox Single
Name = Groove Is In The Heart


Artist = Deee-Lite
from Album = World Clique
Released = August 1990
Format = 7" single
12" maxi
CD maxi
Cassette
Recorded = Spring 1990
Genre = Dance-pop/House
Length = 3:29
Label = Elektra Records
Writer = Dmitry Brill
Chung Dong Wha
Kierin Kirby
Producer = Deee-Lite
Reviews =
Last single =
This single = "Groove Is in the Heart"
(1990)
Next single = "Power of Love"
(1990)

"Groove Is in the Heart" is the most successful song by the dance music band Deee-Lite. It is included as the ninth track on their debut album, "World Clique". Released as a single in late 1990, it hit success in many countries, including Australia where it was a number-one hit.

Background

"Groove Is In the Heart" is a funky, cheerful love song that compares the new feelings of infatuation with hearing a good ("groovy") song. Essentially a house music track, it also features elements of disco, funk and hip-hop. The backing track was built around many samples, including Herbie Hancock's track "Bring Down the Birds" on the "Blowup" soundtrack, and Vernon Burch's "Get Up", which provided the drum track and also formed the basis for the infamous breakdown featuring a slide whistle. Parliament-Funkadelic legend Bootsy Collins played bass guitar and provided guest vocals, and the rap is provided by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.

Rosie Ribbons has recorded a cover of this song.

Chart performances

An immediate smash in nightclubs, the song crossed over to pop radio and after going to number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, it eventually hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It managed to peak at number-one for one week in Australia in November 1990.

In the UK, the record was equally popular and was released as a double A-side with "What Is Love", and eventually reached number two during the summer of 1990. Its placing second was due to a rule instituted in the UK Singles Chart in the 1980s, which settled any "ties" over chart positions due to equal sales: the single with sales that had increased most from the previous week would reside above the other. In September 1990, "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band and "Groove Is in the Heart" sold enough copies to be the joint number-one, but because of the ruling, Deee-Lite was relegated to the number two spot and "The Joker" topped the chart. Following the controversy and complaints from Deee-Lite's record company, WEA, the rule was scrapped and joint positions were once again allowed.

Music video

The song was accompanied by a psychedelic music video, with Deee-Lite, Super DJ Dmitri (Dmitri Brill), Towa Tei (Chung Dong Wha), Rapper Q-Tip, Maceo Parker, and Bootsy Collins superimposed over a cartoonish background of various shifting shapes and colors. The video opens and closes with quotes by the band: Lady Miss Kier has an opening dialog consisting of "faux-French" originally spoken in the song's A-side, "What Is Love?", [liner notes.] and the ending features Collins saying, "I just wanted you to know that groove "is" in the heart, and Deee-Lite have definitely been known to smoke... on stage, that is!" and Lady Miss Kier exclaiming "Deee-groovy!"

amples used

*"Get Up" performed by Vernon Burch (drums, crowd noise, slide whistle)
*"Bring Down the Birds" performed by Herbie Hancock (bassline)
*"Hateful Head Helen" performed by Sweet Pussy Pauline (second break, after "one, two, three")
*"Introduction" performed by "Bel-Sha-Zaar with Tommy Genapopoluis and the Grecian Knights" from the album "The Art of Belly Dancing", 1969 (intro "we're going to dance, and have some fun")

Cover versions

* 2008: DJ Ella for her album "Welcome To The Club"

Use in other media

; Films"Note that this list is incomplete."
*"Can't Hardly Wait" (1999)
*"Lost and Found" (1999)
*"Charlie's Angels" (2000)
*"I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" (2007); Video games
*"Singstar" - Playstation 2 (2005)
*"Boogie" - Wii (2008)

;Other
* [http://www.vimeo.com/928615 Digg Dubb] (2008)

Track listings

; CD maxi - Europe
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (meeting of the minds mix) — 5:14
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (peanut butter mix) — 3:31
# "What Is Love?" (holographic goatee mix) — 4:10
# "What Is Love?" (rainbow beard mix) — 4:04

; CD maxi - U.S.
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (LP version) — 3:55
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (peanut butter radio mix) — 3:32
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (meeting of the minds mix) — 5:14
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (Jelly Jam beats) — 2:12
# "What Is Love?" (holographic goatee mix) — 4:13
# "What Is Love?" (frenchapella) — 0:57
# "What Is Love?" (rainbow beard mix) — 4:03; 7" single
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (peanut butter mix) — 3:29
# "What Is Love?" (holographic goatee mix) — 4:10

; 12" maxi
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (meeting of the minds mix) — 5:10
# "Groove Is in the Heart" (peanut butter mix) — 3:29
# "What Is Love?" (holographic goatee mix) — 4:10
# "What Is Love?" (rainbow beard mix) — 4:02

; Cassette
# "Groove Is in the Heart"
# "What Is Love?" (holographic goatee mix)

Credits

* Produced and arranged by Dee-Lite for Sampla-Delic Productions
* Recording and mixing enginner : Mike 'Tweekin' Rogers at D.N.D.
* Additional enginner : Bob Power at Calliope
* Dubbed by Tom Steele and Rick Essig at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs, 1697 Broadway, NYC 10019
* Original version from the album "World Clique"
* Executive producer and hooker upper : Bill Coleman

Certifications

References