Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In

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“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”
Single by The Fifth Dimension from the album The Age of Aquarius
Released	May 1969
Genre	Pop music
Length	4:49
Label	Soul City Records
Producer	Bones Howe
The Fifth Dimension singles chronology
California Soul (1969) Wedding Bell Blues (1969)

"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", sometimes incorrectly known as "The Age of Aquarius" or "Let the Sunshine In", is a medley of two songs from the musical Hair ("Aquarius" and "The Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)") written by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot, and released as a single in 1969 by The Fifth Dimension. The single held the number one position on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and was certified Platinum.^[1]

[edit] History

The recording won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Group at the Grammy Awards of 1970, after it was released on the album The Age of Aquarius.

The song was based on the astrological belief that the world would be entering the Age of Aquarius, an age of love, light and humanity, unlike the then current Age of Pisces. This change was presumed to occur at the end of the 20th century.

"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" was ranked thirty-third on the 2004 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Chart positions

 Music samples:

"Aquarius"

A chorus from the Original Broadway Cast

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"The Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine In"

The last verse of "The Flesh Failures" and first chorus of "Let the Sunshine In" from the Original Broadway Cast

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[edit] Cover versions and samplings

“Aquarius”
Single by Party Animals from the album Good Vibrations
Released	27 July 1996
Genre	Happy Hardcore, Gabber

• Helena Paparizou , Greek female singer, covered "Aquarius/Let the sunshine in" at her performance at the Mad Video Music Awards 2007.
• "Pop-gabber Dutch band, the Party Animals covered "Aquarius" on their debut album Good Vibrations in 1996. The single was certified Platinum ^[4] and peaked at the number one position for three weeks.^[5].
• "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" is performed with dancing at the conclusion of the 2005 movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin after the lead character's first sexual encounter.
• British comedian Vic Reeves also sang it.
• "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" is also used in commercials for the Kia Rondo.
• The "Aquarius" song is used in commercials for the Aquarius sports drink.
• William Shatner sang a version of "Aquarius" in a commercial for Priceline.com.
• Société Bic (brand name, Bic) also used the song in the 2007 advertising campaign for the debut of their "Soleil Triple Blade Razors" in America.
• This song is sampled in the Mos Def song "Sunshine" on the album The New Danger.
• The "Let the Sunshine In" portion of the medley was covered by the band Army of Lovers on their 2000 album "Le Grand Docu-Soap."
• In the (2001) Disney Movie "Recess: School's Out", "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" plays during the end of the movie, moving into the credits with the chorus let the sunshine in.
• Bob Rivers recorded a parody entitled "I Think It's Time to Clean My Aquarium".
• Milk & Sugar, a German dance music production duo, have recorded a chart-topping remake of the "Let the Sunshine In" portion.
• Hans Zimmer created a version of the song for the opening sequence of Bird on a Wire (film).
• The U.K. electronic/ambient artist Boards of Canada samples portions of the movie soundtrack version for their own track of the same name as featured on their album "Music Has The Right To Children".
• In 2008, Mike Doughty used the "Let the Sunshine In" portion in the chorus of his song "Fort Hood" on the album Golden Delicious.
• The Dresden Dolls have been known to perform covers of The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In).
• Andy Williams has also sung the song, as highlighted in his 'Best of' album
• At the end of the movie The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, Steve Carell, soon joined by the rest of the cast, dances and sings along with the song as the credits start to roll

[edit] References

1. ^ AllMusic.com The Age of Aquarius page Accessed: November 26, 2006
2. ^ SwissCharts.com "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" page. Accessed: November 26, 2006
3. ^ Top4000.nl Chart week 23, 1969. Accessed: November 26, 2006
4. ^ NVPI.nl Certification page. Accessed: November 26, 2006
5. ^ Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, 500 Nr. 1 Hits uit de Top 40, page 330, ISBN 9023009444 (Book in Dutch)

[edit] See also

• Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1969 (USA)