Give It Up (KC and the Sunshine Band song)

"Give It Up" is a song by American disco and funk band KC and the Sunshine Band,^[4] although it was simply credited as KC in many markets, including the United States. Following the backlash against many disco artists on the charts at the beginning of the 1980s, "Give It Up" was a comeback hit for the band in the US. Epic Records refused to release it; however, the independent Meca Records label showed its support and "Give It Up" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1984. "Give It Up" had been an even bigger hit in the United Kingdom several months earlier, where it had hit number one on the UK singles chart for three weeks in August 1983.^[5] It went on to become the 18th best-selling single of the year in the UK. It was the last of the band's hit singles in the US and UK, and the most successful of its ten UK hits. "Give It Up" also peaked at number two in Belgium, number three in Australia, and reached the Top 10 in several other markets.

"Give It Up"
Single by KC and the Sunshine Band
from the album All in a Night's Work and KC Ten
Released	August 1982 (US) August 1983 (International)
Recorded	1981–1982
Genre	Dance-pop[1] post-disco[2][3]
Length	4:14 (album version) 4:05 (7" version) 5:16 (12" version)
Label	Epic Meca Records
Songwriter(s)	Harry Wayne Casey Deborah Carter
Producer(s)	H. W. Casey Richard Finch
KC and the Sunshine Band singles chronology
"Don't Run (Come Back to Me)" (1982) "Give It Up" (1982) "Are You Ready?" (1984)
Music video
"Give It Up" on YouTube

In 1993, Danish group Cut 'N' Move scored a big hit with their version of "Give It Up", which went to number one in Australia and their native Denmark.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1983–1984) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 3 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[7] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[8] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 4 South Africa (Springbok)[12] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[4] 1 Uruguay (UPI)[14] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 18 US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)[16] 24 US Cash Box Top 100[17] 17 West Germany (GfK)[18] 23

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Rank position Australia (Kent Music Report)[19][20] 17 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 19 Chart (1984) Rank position US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[22] 127 US Billboard Hot 100[23] 75

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cut 'N' Move version

"Give It Up"
Single by Cut 'N' Move
from the album Peace, Love & Harmony
Released	February 3, 1993
Recorded	1992
Genre	Eurodance
Length	4:22
Label	SoulPower Productions
Songwriter(s)	Casey & Finch
Producer(s)	Jørn K Per Holm
Cut 'N' Move singles chronology
"Spread Love" (1991) "Give It Up" (1993) "Peace, Love & Harmony" (1993)
Music video
"Give It Up" on YouTube

"Give It Up" was covered by Danish Eurodance group Cut 'N' Move and released in February 1993 as the first single from their second album, Peace, Love & Harmony (1993). Their version reached number one in Denmark for five weeks and in Australia for four weeks. The song also peaked at number two in Norway, number five in New Zealand, and number six in Austria, Germany, and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 31 in August 1993. In Australia, it was certified platinum. It is sung by singers Zindy Laursen and Thera Hoeymans. The rap part is performed by MC Zipp (a.k.a. Jens Kjær Larsen). A colorful music video was produced to promote the single. Cut 'N' Move covered the song again in 1997 for Dancemania Covers.

Track listing

Denmark, CD maxi (1993)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Give It Up" (album version)	4:22
2.	"Give It Up" (extended version)	5:54
3.	"Cut 'N' Move Theme Part II"	2:51
4.	"Give It Up" (instrumental version)	4:21

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993–1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[25] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] 43 Denmark (IFPI)[28] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[29] 31 Germany (GfK)[30] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 27 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 30 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[34] 2 Spain (AFYVE)[35] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 34 UK Singles (OCC)[38] 61 UK Dance (Music Week)[39] 23 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[40] 72

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[41] 58 Germany (Official German Charts)[42] 33 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[43] 174 Chart (1994) Position Australia (ARIA)[44] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 32

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44]	Platinum	70,000^
Germany (BVMI)[46]	Gold	250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	February 3, 1993	12-inch vinyl CD	SoulPower Productions	[47]
United Kingdom	September 20, 1993	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	EMI	[48]
Japan	June 29, 1994	Mini-CD		[49]

Cover versions

The song was covered by Annie Lennox and Chrissie Hynde during a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on February 9, 1986.^[50]

"Love You Long Time" by The Black Eyed Peas, from their 2010 album, The Beginning, contains a sample of "Give It Up".^[51]

In popular culture

• The song has been turned into a sporting chant in the United Kingdom, especially at football games in England and Scotland.
  • For example, after Liverpool defeated Manchester United on October 25, 2021, Liverpool's travelling fans mocked under pressure Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær by singing "Ole's at the Wheel" to the tune of "Give It Up".^[52][53]
  • At an UEFA Europa Conference League match on September 8, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a crowd of Shamrock Rovers supporters at Tallaght Stadium were heard singing the chant as "Lizzie's in a Box" to mock the death (owing to historic anti-British sentiment in Ireland).^[54]
  • The song is commonly used in support of UFC mixed martial artist Tom Aspinall during his fights.
• The song is heard in Richmond Valentine's lair when Valentine activates the V-Day program in Kingsman: The Secret Service.^[55]
• The song is played at the beginning of concerts by Scottish singer Gerry Cinnamon.^[56]

References

1. Breihan, Tom (February 26, 2020). "The Number Ones: M's "Pop Muzik"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 14, 2023. ...Casey had an international hit with a dinky dance-pop track called "Give It Up"...
2. Graff, Gary (1996). Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-7876-1037-1. the scope of KC's work into the 80s with post-disco singles such "Give It Up."
3. Hoffmann, Frank (2006). American Popular Music: Rhythm & Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop. Infobase Publishing. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-8160-6980-4.
4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 426. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "Give It Up – KC & The Sunshine Band". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2013. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 1
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – KC and the Sunshine Band". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – KC & The Sunshine Band" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
10. "KC & The Sunshine Band – Give It Upaccess-date=November 19, 2021" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
11. "KC & The Sunshine Band – Give It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
12. "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
13. "KC & The Sunshine Band – Give It Up". Singles Top 100.
14. "Las canciones más populares en América Latina". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). January 20, 1984. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
15. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955–2012. Record Research. p. 453.
16. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 143.
17. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 24, 1984". Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – KC & The Sunshine Band – Give It Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
19. "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
20. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
21. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1984). "Top 100 singles: 1983". BPI Year Book 1984. British Phonographic Industry. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-906154-04-9.
22. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
23. "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
24. "British single certifications – KC & the Sunshine Band – Give It Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
25. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
26. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
27. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
28. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. March 6, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
29. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. August 21, 1993. p. 23. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
30. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
32. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
33. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
34. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up". VG-lista. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
35. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. September 11, 1993. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
36. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
37. "Cut 'N' Move – Give It Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
39. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 2, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
40. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). July 24, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
41. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1993. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
42. "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
43. "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
44. "1994 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
45. "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
46. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Cut'n'Move; 'Give It Up')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
47. Cartigny, Wally (May 22, 1993). "'North' Give In for Cut 'N' Move". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 21. p. 20.
48. "Single Releases". Music Week. September 18, 1993. p. 25. Misprinted as September 13.
49. "ギブ・イット・アップ | カット'N'ムーブ" [Give It Up | Cut 'N' Move] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
50. Chrissie Hynde – Feb 9, 1986, retrieved August 24, 2021
51. "Black Eyed Peas's Love You Long Time sample of KC & the Sunshine Band's Give It Up". WhoSampled. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
52. "Ole's at the Wheel! Lyrics & story behind famous Man Utd chant". Goal. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
53. "Liverpool Fans Singing Ole's At The Wheel Live At Old Trafford!!". YouTube. Mark Goldbridge Best Clips MGBC. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
54. Murphy, Nick; Grennan, Dan (September 9, 2022). "Shamrock Rovers fans sing 'Lizzie's in a box' song after Queen dies". DublinLive. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
55. Review: Kingsman, The Secret Service
56. A superstar? An enigma? Gerry Cinnamon is our next folk hero ready to leap, Big Issue, February 20, 2019