| Wang Chung | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Huang Chung |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genre(s) | Pop rock New Wave |
| Years active | 1979–1991 2005-present |
| Label(s) | Arista, Geffen |
| Website | http://www.wangchung.com/ |
| Members | |
| Jack Hues Nick Feldman |
|
| Former members | |
| Dave Burnand a.k.a. Hogg Robinson Darren Costin |
|
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" and their only UK hit, "Dance Hall Days".
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Name
The name Huang Chung literally translates from Chinese as "yellow bell", but refers to the standardized bass 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 Everybody Wang Chung Tonight: Wang Chung's Greatest Hits. 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 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 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, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, 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." However, nothing came about. In 2008, hints at a new album and tour were made. Even on former member Darren Costin's My Space page. Currently on Wang Chung'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
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"Dance Hall Days" excerpt Image:Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days excerpt.ogg An excerpt from "Dance Hall Days" single - Problems playing the files? See media help.
Albums
Studio
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
Huang Chung
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Points on the Curve
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To Live and Die in L.A.
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Mosaic
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| The Warmer Side of Cool |
Compilations
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
| Everybody Wang Chung Tonight: Wang Chung's Greatest Hits | |
| 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Wang Chung |
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" | - | #17 | - | #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
