Fame

"Fame" is a pop song written by Michael Gore (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics) that was released in 1980 and achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series. The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original movie. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for the same.

"Fame" rose to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1980. It also rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week, and also topped the ARC Weekly Top 40 chart. The song was not released in the United Kingdom until 1982, so it would coincide with the UK premiere of the Fame television series. It hit #1 for three weeks.

Cover versions

• The tune was also the theme song for the Fame television series, which aired from 1982 to 1987. It was performed by Erica Gimpel (who portrayed Coco Hernandez), and later by Loretta Chandler (who portrayed Dusty Tyler).
• In 2000, a eurodance cover was recorded by Swedish session singer Nana Hedin. An audio sample can be heard on her official website.^[1]
• A dance cover was released by a European girl group called Models.
• French progressive-metal band Adagio covered the song on their 2005 release titled Dominate.
• Japanese pop duo Pink Lady covered the song in Japanese, retitling it " Remember".
• Nerdcore/hip hop artist Shael Riley recorded a cover which is available for download on the Internet.
• Naturi Naughton covered the song for the 2009 film Fame, reaching #33 in the UK charts.

Live cover performances

• Kristen Bell, star of Veronica Mars, performed "Fame" at the 2005 Emmy Awards.
• Willa Ford, pop singer and reality star, performed "Fame" on the November 1, 2006 result show of the ABC show Dancing with the Stars.
• British girl group Girls Aloud performed this song as part of a melody during their Chemistry Tour

Appearances in other media

• The song was featured as the theme song to the 2003 NBC reality talent show Fame under a new vocal. The show also forms part of the Fame franchise.

• The song is also licensed to reality talent show format Star Academy, where it has been featured as a theme song in some of its franchises, including Fame Academy in the UK, Fame Story in Greece, and Star Academy in Bulgaria.

References

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