Yazz & The Plastic Population - The only way is up

"The Only Way Is Up" is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released 1980 as single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population.

The Yazz version was produced by Jonathan Moore and Matt Black (better known as dance duo Coldcut who had worked with Yazz on their hit single "Doctorin' the House"). Released as a single in July 1988, "The Only Way Is Up" became an instant smash, spending five weeks at #1 in the UK, and ultimately became the second biggest selling single of the year. In the United States, however, it fared less well, peaking at #96 on the Billboard Hot 100, though it did reach #2 on the Billboard dance chart. The song's opening horn blast is a sample from Sharon Redd's 1982 dance classic "Beat the Street". The opening lyrics of the song tell of the degradation at being at the bottom of the social class ladder. They are soon followed by a reference of the threat of eviction. Yet, despite the dire nature of the lyrics, the song is still in a major key and has quite an up-beat rhythm.

During her Showgirl Homecoming Tour Kylie Minogue sang a line from the song as an introduction to "I Should Be So Lucky".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Yazz
• Plastic
• Population
• music
• dance
• Dance Music
• Dancing