Fly, Robin, Fly
Encyclopedia
"Fly, Robin, Fly" is a 1975 record by the German
group Silver Convention
. The song was released as a single from their 1975 album Save Me
. In the United States
, it rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
in November 1975, staying there for three weeks. The single also was #1 on the soul singles chart for one week. "Fly, Robin, Fly" also spent three weeks at #1 on the disco/dance charts. It was the first song by a German pop group to reach number one on the American music charts.
In Canada
, the song also reached the pole position in the charts, hitting number one in the RPM
Top Singles Chart on January 17, 1976, knocking the Bay City Rollers
' "Saturday Night
" from the top slot, managing to keep it for a single week only before being replaced by C.W. McCall's "Convoy
" a week later.
"Fly, Robin, Fly" carries the distinction of being a Billboard chart-topper with one of the fewest numbers of unique words: six. The chorus simply repeats "Fly, robin, fly" three times, with an ending of "Up, up to the sky!"
During a segment on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs, it was revealed that the working title was "Run, Rabbit, Run".
"Fly, Robin, Fly" won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance
in 1976.
The song was featured in the film Boogie Nights
(1997).
in 1975.
Method Man
& Redman's video version of their 1995 song "How High
" contains an interpolaton of "Fly, Robin, Fly"
American jazz
flautist Herbie Mann
recorded a version of "Fly, Robin, Fly" for his 1976 album, Bird in a Silver Cage, which was co-produced and arranged by Sylvester Levay.
Australian/British string quartet Bond
also recorded a version of "Fly, Robin, Fly" for their 2004 album, Classified.
In 2003, German lifestyle company Apartment20 produced a version of "Fly, Robin, Fly," which featured former Silver Convention singer Ramona Wulf on lead vocals and in the video for the song.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
group Silver Convention
Silver Convention
Silver Convention was a German euro disco recording act of the 1970s. The group was originally named Silver Bird Convention, or Silver Bird.-Career:...
. The song was released as a single from their 1975 album Save Me
Save Me (Silver Convention album)
Save Me is the debut album of Silver Convention a disco group consisting of three female vocalists and two producers/songwriters .-Reception:...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in November 1975, staying there for three weeks. The single also was #1 on the soul singles chart for one week. "Fly, Robin, Fly" also spent three weeks at #1 on the disco/dance charts. It was the first song by a German pop group to reach number one on the American music charts.
In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the song also reached the pole position in the charts, hitting number one in the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Top Singles Chart on January 17, 1976, knocking the Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
' "Saturday Night
Saturday Night (Bay City Rollers song)
"Saturday Night" is the title of a song recorded by the Scottish band Bay City Rollers. It was written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. The tune is an upbeat pop-rock number with a memorable hook: the word "Saturday" spelled out in a rhythmic chant.An early version of the song was...
" from the top slot, managing to keep it for a single week only before being replaced by C.W. McCall's "Convoy
Convoy (song)
"Convoy" is a 1975 novelty song performed by C. W. McCall that became a number-one song on both the country and pop charts in the US. Written by McCall and Chip Davis, the song spent six weeks at number one on the country charts and one week at number one on the pop charts...
" a week later.
"Fly, Robin, Fly" carries the distinction of being a Billboard chart-topper with one of the fewest numbers of unique words: six. The chorus simply repeats "Fly, robin, fly" three times, with an ending of "Up, up to the sky!"
During a segment on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs, it was revealed that the working title was "Run, Rabbit, Run".
"Fly, Robin, Fly" won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance was awarded from 1970 to 1990 and in 1993. The award had several minor name changes:*From 1970 to 1985 the award was known as Best R&B Instrumental Performance...
in 1976.
The song was featured in the film Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, the script focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films, and chronicles his rise and fall from the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s...
(1997).
Cover versions
Spanish artist Alex Silvanni recorded cover version of "Fly, Robin, Fly" on USSR label MelodiyaMelodiya
Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
in 1975.
Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
& Redman's video version of their 1995 song "How High
How High
How High is a 2001 stoner comedy starring Method Man and Redman, written by Dustin Lee Abraham, and director Jesse Dylan's debut feature film. Entertainment Weekly rated it third in their "Best Stoner Movie" top ten list...
" contains an interpolaton of "Fly, Robin, Fly"
American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
flautist Herbie Mann
Herbie Mann
Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
recorded a version of "Fly, Robin, Fly" for his 1976 album, Bird in a Silver Cage, which was co-produced and arranged by Sylvester Levay.
Australian/British string quartet Bond
Bond (band)
Bond is an Australian/British string quartet that specialises in classical crossover music...
also recorded a version of "Fly, Robin, Fly" for their 2004 album, Classified.
In 2003, German lifestyle company Apartment20 produced a version of "Fly, Robin, Fly," which featured former Silver Convention singer Ramona Wulf on lead vocals and in the video for the song.
External links
- Fly, Robin, Fly at SuperSeventies
- "Fly, Robin, Fly" by Apartment20, featuring Ramona Wulf, at YouTube.com