I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)
Encyclopedia
"I.G.Y." is a song written and performed by American songwriter, singer and musician Donald Fagen
. It was the first track of his 1982 debut solo album The Nightfly
, and was released as a single, charting on the Billboard
Hot 100
, Mainstream Rock and Adult Contemporary charts.
, led the rock band Steely Dan
during the 1970s. Between 1972 and 1981, Steely Dan had ten Top-40 singles, including the top-ten hits "Do It Again
" (1972), "Rikki Don't Lose That Number
" (1974) and "Hey Nineteen
" (1980).
In 1981, Becker and Fagen parted ways. Fagen's first album as a solo artist, The Nightfly, was released the next year.
", an event that ran from July 1957 to December 1958. The I.G.Y. was an international scientific project promoting collaboration among the world's scientists. Fagen's lyrics reference futuristic concepts such as solar-powered cities, a transatlantic tunnel
, permanent space stations,
and spandex jackets
.
in 1983,
losing to "Always on My Mind
".
"I.G.Y" has been covered by artists such as British singer and musician Howard Jones
, who included a version on his 1993 greatest hits album The Best of Howard Jones
.
The gospel a cappella
group Take 6
covered "I.G.Y." as the title track on their 2002 release Beautiful World
. The lyrics of Fagen's original song were modified to recast the song with a gospel message.
The song was also used in a scene from the Simpsons episode Future Drama where Homer and Bart are flying around in the 'imperfect Hovercar.'
Donald Fagen
Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan ....
. It was the first track of his 1982 debut solo album The Nightfly
The Nightfly
The Nightfly is the first solo album by Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen, released in 1982. It was one of the first fully digital recordings of popular music...
, and was released as a single, charting on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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...
, Mainstream Rock and Adult Contemporary charts.
Background
Fagen, along with musician Walter BeckerWalter Becker
Walter Carl Becker is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writer of Steely Dan.-Career:...
, led the rock band Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
during the 1970s. Between 1972 and 1981, Steely Dan had ten Top-40 singles, including the top-ten hits "Do It Again
Do It Again (Steely Dan song)
"Do It Again" is a song by American jazz-rock group Steely Dan, which was released as a single from their debut 1972 album Can't Buy a Thrill...
" (1972), "Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
"Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is a single released in 1974 by rock/pop/jazz group Steely Dan and the opening track of their third album Pretzel Logic. The record became the group's highest charted album, peaking at #4 on "Billboard" in the summer of 1974....
" (1974) and "Hey Nineteen
Hey Nineteen
"Hey Nineteen" is a song by American jazz rock band Steely Dan, written by members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, and released on their 1980 album Gaucho.-Story:...
" (1980).
In 1981, Becker and Fagen parted ways. Fagen's first album as a solo artist, The Nightfly, was released the next year.
Title and lyrics
The "I.G.Y." of the title refers to the "International Geophysical YearInternational Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
", an event that ran from July 1957 to December 1958. The I.G.Y. was an international scientific project promoting collaboration among the world's scientists. Fagen's lyrics reference futuristic concepts such as solar-powered cities, a transatlantic tunnel
Transatlantic tunnel
A transatlantic tunnel is a theoretical tunnel which would span the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe and would carry mass transit of some type—trains are envisioned in most proposals.Using advanced technologies, speeds of are envisaged....
, permanent space stations,
and spandex jackets
Spandex
Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strong, but less durable than natural Latex, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was co-invented in 1959 by chemists C. L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont's...
.
Chart performance and cover versions
"I.G.Y." debuted on the Billboard Top 40 on October 30, 1982, eventually peaking at number 26. It also reached number 8 on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 17 on Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and number 54 on Billboard R&B Singles chart. It was Fagen's only Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the YearGrammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
in 1983,
losing to "Always on My Mind
Always on My Mind
"Always on My Mind" is an American country music song by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson, originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972.Allmusic lists over 300 recorded releases of the song in versions by dozens of performers...
".
"I.G.Y" has been covered by artists such as British singer and musician Howard Jones
Howard Jones (musician)
Howard Jones is a musician, singer and songwriter. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, "Jones is an accomplished singer-songwriter who was a regular chart visitor in the mid 1980s with his brand of synthpop. Jones, who was equally popular in the U.S., appeared at Live...
, who included a version on his 1993 greatest hits album The Best of Howard Jones
The Best of Howard Jones
The Best of Howard Jones is a compilation album by the British pop musician Howard Jones. It compiles key hits and album tracks from 1983-1992 during Jones's tenure on the Warner music label, plus one new track, a cover of Donald Fagen's "I.G.Y...
.
The gospel a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group Take 6
Take 6
Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two...
covered "I.G.Y." as the title track on their 2002 release Beautiful World
Beautiful World (Take 6 album)
Beautiful World, released in 2002 on Warner Bros. Records, is a Gospel music album by American contemporary Gospel music group Take 6.This album contains cover versions of songs by various artists.-Track listing:...
. The lyrics of Fagen's original song were modified to recast the song with a gospel message.
The song was also used in a scene from the Simpsons episode Future Drama where Homer and Bart are flying around in the 'imperfect Hovercar.'