The Only Way Is Up
Encyclopedia
"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
.
(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
".
The Australian punk band The Drugs
covered the song as a hidden track on their 2001 EP The Only Way Is Up
.
A remix of the song was used in the 2008 Malta
parliament elections by the Malta Labour Party
(MLP) in their electoral campaign with a slight modification of the lyrics: 'The only way is up, Labour'. A Labour spokesperson said the song was chosen to reflect the positive attitude of Labour, and will blend in perfectly with message they are passing on. While there is no indication whether this remix was made with respect to copyright laws, the song was distributed freely on the internet through the party's website.
It was also used in the heyday of the multi-level marketing
company National Safety Associates
as an audience rouser and intro to recruitment meetings held in the UK and elsewhere in the 1990s.
A 2009 remix was released in the UK on 7 September 2009.
12" maxi
12" maxi
CD maxi
12" maxi - Remixes
Otis Clay
Otis Clay is an American R&B and soul singer, who started in gospel music.-Life and career:...
. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population
Yazz
Yazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population...
.
Yazz version
The Yazz version was produced by Jonathan Moore and Matt BlackMatt Black
Matt Black is a British DJ and one half of music duo Coldcut .As a college student, he was a member of a band called The Jazz Insects, whose first single was played by John Peel in his radio show...
(better known as dance duo Coldcut
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English dance music duo, comprising Matt Black and Jonathan More. Their signature style is electronic dance music, featuring cut up samples of hip hop, breaks, jazz, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia.-1980s:In 1986, computer programmer Matt...
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, however, it fared less well, peaking at #96 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...
, though it did reach #2 on the Billboard dance chart. The song's opening horn blast is a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from Sharon Redd
Sharon Redd
Sharon Redd was an American singer from New York. She was the half sister of R&B singer Pennye Ford.-Biography and career:...
'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
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
sang a line from the song as an introduction to "I Should Be So Lucky
I Should Be So Lucky
"I Should Be So Lucky" is a pop-dance song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue's debut album Kylie .The song was released as the album's second single in December 1987...
".
The Australian punk band The Drugs
The Drugs
The Drugs are an Australian alternative rock band from Sydney. Formed by Ian Baddley in 1992, they released their first single, "Pop Song", in 2000. Their debut album, Music's in Trouble, was released in 2002. Their second album, The Very Next Of, was released in 2004.They disbanded in 2004, but...
covered the song as a hidden track on their 2001 EP The Only Way Is Up
The Only Way Is Up (EP)
- Tracklist :# I Think I Know What I Don't Like About You# David is Talking, Harry is Listening# Pam and Sam# Robert Bonjourno# Burger King # Pop Song # The Only Way is Up # Phone Call # Data Track...
.
A remix of the song was used in the 2008 Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
parliament elections by the Malta Labour Party
Malta Labour Party
The Labour Party is, along with the Nationalist Party, one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
(MLP) in their electoral campaign with a slight modification of the lyrics: 'The only way is up, Labour'. A Labour spokesperson said the song was chosen to reflect the positive attitude of Labour, and will blend in perfectly with message they are passing on. While there is no indication whether this remix was made with respect to copyright laws, the song was distributed freely on the internet through the party's website.
It was also used in the heyday of the multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation...
company National Safety Associates
National Safety Associates
National Safety Associates is a privately-owned marketing company based in Collierville, Tennessee, best known for selling a line of water and air filters, and then the nutritional supplement Juice Plus, via multi-level marketing.-History:...
as an audience rouser and intro to recruitment meetings held in the UK and elsewhere in the 1990s.
A 2009 remix was released in the UK on 7 September 2009.
Track listings
7" single / CD single / Cassette- "The Only Way Is Up" — 4:02
- "Bad House Music" — 4:28
12" maxi
- "The Only Way Is Up" — 6:44
- "Bad House Music" — 7:07
12" maxi
- "The Only Way Is Up" (UK extended club mix) — 6:45
- "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) — 7:01
- "The Only Way Is Up" (acid dub) — 5:50
CD maxi
- "The Only Way Is Up" (7" edit) — 4:02
- "The Only Way Is Up" (12" version) — 6:48
- "The Only Way Is Up" (Speng) — 6:01
- "Bad House Music" — 3:00
12" maxi - Remixes
- "The Only Way Is Up" (the bam bam remix) — 7:24
- "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) — 7:24
- "Bad House Music" — 4:28
Peak positions
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 4 |
| German Singles Chart | 3 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Singles Chart | 5 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 96 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 2 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1988) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 | 13 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Silver | 1989 | 200,000 |
| UK | Gold | August 1, 1988 | 400,000 |