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Patrick Hernandez
Born To Be Alive (12")
Columbia Records (US) / 1979 / 23-10987
12" Disco single 33 ⅓ rpm Vinyl record
Producer(s) :Jean Vanloo for A-Tom-Mik
Mixer/Remixer : Danae
Edit and extension by Ray "Pinky" Velazquez
Side A
Born To Be Alive (7:27)
Side B
Too Many People (2:29)
Okay, who isn't sick of Patrick Hernandez's "Born To Be Alive?" We certainly weren't born to be dead now. Were we? Seriously, it's a great song despite being overplayed now and a Disco staple.
Anyway, Patrick Hernandez hailed from France and he had a huge Disco smash with "Born To Be Alive" in 1979. Soon to be famous Madonna was doing backup on Patrick's track.
It was later remixed in 1987 by Remix Machine and had "in and Out" on the flip.
Several US record labels, including Vanguard Records, were bidding for the American rights to this song. Ray "Pinky" Velazquez tells more in an interview DiscoMusic.com did with him in 2002.
Also See...
Interview with Ray "Pinky" Velazquez
Submitted by DiscoMusic.com (3698)
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Sep 28, 2008 | 2:54 amIf I had to listen to just one disco song forever and never another one, this would surely be the one. To quote the great Denny Terio -- it's got a great beat and you can dance to it. :))) Never better than Patrick Hernandez' "Born to be Alive"!
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Apr 13, 2008 | 8:24 am
BERNIE, how could you!! This DISCO CLASSIC will always be a favorite. Oh, how I remixed the hell out of this record! Everytime I played it, I used ac second copy to go back and forth, when that guitar riff came, I would double it up. Very good reactions on my dance floors to this, gave BORN TO BE ALIVE an extended life. Did not know MADONNA sang in the background? You sure!! I sort of doubt it!! It was recorded in 1978, she was still in Michigan then?? He is French, recorded in France? MADONNA was still just a dj groupie, struggling to maintain a roof over her head. How could SHE, with little vocal talent then afford to be in FRANCE? Why would PATRICK HERNANDEZ allow a "no-body" to sing background? Maybe I'm being a New York Skeptic? Anyhow, on my scale from 1-10, of course it gets a 10!
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Jan 15, 2008 | 2:39 pm
Thank you very much, I managed to let a learning opportunity!
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Sep 04, 2007 | 10:00 am
Oh, one of my all time favs !! New Year's Eve, 1980, Odyssey in West Hollywood, my best gal pal and my sweet (straight) baby sister who decided to celebrate with ME that night...and at Midnight, Chuck E (who knew that was 'my' song) gave me a smile and a wink and BLARED THAT BABY THROUGH THE SOUND SYSTEM !! Thought I had died and was Dancing In Heaven.....
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Mar 03, 2007 | 12:16 pm
Yes, this record has been overplayed, and still is. But it is GENIUS. Whenever I strike conversations about music, and we discuss "perfect" tracks, Hernandez is my answer. From the melancholic tone of the track to the strings, going through the chorus and the voice colors used, everything is in the perfect place to induce that specific emotion, that feeling that hit you when you first heard it. I know I cried.
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Nov 17, 2003 | 10:58 pm
Bernie may be sick to death of this great song and dance hit, but 25 years after the fact, it remains one of the most compelling and danceable pop songs ever written. I consider this a "must have" in any dance record collection. I found myself humming this tune in the late 90s for some reason and tried to find a copy. I ended up with "Billboard Top Dance Hits 1979" after much searching.
--Mako Amok
I was in Rio in march of 2009 and had lunch at the Hard Rock. I see a sign for "classic disco" night, so I returned later that night. I walk in and they are playing "Greatest Dancer" which would freak me out if I heard in a US club. . . .let alone Brazil.
They played lots of cool stuff and then the band went on. . . .you know the fake afros etc. . . . they were really good though. . . .. and when they played "Born to Be Alive" I almost fell down! Surreal experience. Back in the roller skating days that was THE song for USA Roller Rink in Massapequa. . . .seeing it played live by a band in Brazil? I so wish I had some of my old friends numbers. . . .as I am sure they would apreciate a call at 2am to say I was listening to Born To Be Alive. . . in BRAZIL!