After playing The Byrds’ Eight Miles High yesterday, I was planning to treat myself to some Stevie Wonder tonight … ahhhh … the velvet voice of Stevie …  But then, when I posted yesterday afternoon’s good news that the jury had found in favour of E. Jean Carroll in her lawsuit against one Donald Trump, rawgod commented with this song, and … it couldn’t have been more perfect for the moment.  Not only that, but now I’ve had it stuck in my head all night long … (hmmmm … all night long … Lionel Richie … dancing on the ceiling???).

This song was released in 1980 by Kool and the Gang, and was their only #1 hit in the U.S.  “Kool” is Robert Bell, and “The (original) Gang” consisted of his brother Ronald, Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West.  Formed in 1964, the band has undergone numerous personnel changes over the years.  Robert Bell had given himself the nickname “Kool” as a way of adapting to the street gangs in his neighborhood after moving from Ohio to Jersey City, New Jersey, and took the name of someone named Cool, replacing his with a “K”.

The brothers, Robert and Ronald wrote this song.  Ronald, also the band’s sax player, explains the origins of the song …

“The initial idea came from reading the Q’uran.  I was reading the passage where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises. That inspired me to write the basic chords and the line, ‘Everyone around the world, come on, let’s celebrate’.”

No one close to the band was surprised by the song’s enduring popularity as a celebratory anthem. In fact, lead singer J.T. Taylor’s (J.T. joined the band only the year before, in 1979) mother predicted it.

“My mother told me when she heard it, ‘You’re gonna play this song for the rest of your life – so get ready’!”

The song hit #1 in both the U.S. and Canada, and #7 in the UK.

Turn the volume up, get your toes ready to tap, and …

Celebration
Kool and the Gang

Yahoo! This is your celebration
Yahoo! This is your celebration

Celebrate good times, come on (Let’s celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on (Let’s celebrate)

There’s a party goin’ on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you
Come on now

Celebration
Let’s all celebrate and have a good time
Celebration
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It’s time to come together
It’s up to you, what’s your pleasure?
Everyone around the world, come on

Yahoo!
It’s a celebration
Yahoo!
Celebrate good times, come on
It’s a celebration
Celebrate good times, come on
Let’s celebrate

There’s a party goin’ on right here
A dedication to last throughout the years
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate and party with you
Come on now

Celebration
Let’s all celebrate and have a good time, yeah yeah
Celebration
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It’s time to come together
It’s up to you, what’s your pleasure
Everyone around the world, come on

Yahoo! It’s a celebration
Yahoo! It’s a celebration

Celebrate good times, come on
Let’s celebrate, come on now
Celebrate good times, come on
Let’s celebrate

We’re gonna have a good time tonight
Let’s celebrate, it’s all right
We’re gonna have a good time tonight
Let’s celebrate, it’s all right, baby
We’re gonna have a good time tonight (Celebration)
Let’s celebrate, it’s all right
We’re gonna have a good time tonight (Celebration)
Let’s celebrate, it’s all right

Yahoo!
Yahoo!

Celebrate good times, come on (Let’s celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on (It’s a celebration)
Celebrate good times, come on (Let’s celebrate)
(Come on and celebrate tonight) Celebrate good times, come on
(Baby everything’s gonna be alright, let’s celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on
Celebrate good times, come on (Let’s have a great time, celebrate)

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Bell Robert Earl / Bell Ronald Nathan
Celebration lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp., Emi Full Keel Music, Old River Music, Delightful Music Ltd