| "Let's Hear It for the Boy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Deniece Williams | ||||
| from the album Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture and Let's Hear It for the Boy | ||||
| B-side | "Let's Hear It for the Boy (Instrumental—Short Version)" | |||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1983 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:20 (Album/Single Version)
| |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | George Duke | |||
| Deniece Williams singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Let's Hear It for the Boy" is a song by Deniece Williams that appeared on the soundtrack to the feature film Footloose. The song was released as a single from both the soundtrack and her album of the song's same name Columbia Records. It was written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford and produced by George Duke. The song became Williams' second number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 26, 1984. It also topped Billboard's dance and R&B charts and on the Cash Box Top 100.[3][4] [5] It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was certified platinum in the US and gold in Canada and the UK by the Recording Industry Association of America, Music Canada and the British Phonographic Industry, respectively. The music video was released in mid-April 1984.[6] The song features background vocals from George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who would go on to form the duo Boy Meets Girl.
In 2011, country singer Jana Kramer covered the song for the remake of Footloose. In 2017 the song was covered by UK hi-NRG dance artist Allan Jay in aid of the Retired Greyhound Trust and their Let's Hear It for the Boy campaign.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (August 19, 2020). "The Number Ones: Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear It For The Boy". Stereogum. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
Putting a gospel singer like Williams on a giddy dance-pop track like this is a smart decision.
- ^ Abercrombie, Olivia; Mitchell, Matt (March 10, 2024). "The 50 Best Original Songs Written for Films". Paste. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 625.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 280.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research. p. 415.
- ^ "Rolling Stones plan to do video, concert in L.A. during Olympics". The Ledger. May 3, 1984. p. 2A. Retrieved October 23, 2014.