Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)

## General information

"**Dancing on the Ceiling**" is a song by American recording artist Lionel Richie. It was written by Richie, Mike Frenchik, and Carlos Rios for his third studio album of the same name (1986), while production was helmed by Richie and James Anthony Carmichael. Released as the album's leading single, it became a worldwide hit, reaching the top five in Sweden and Belgium as well as peaking on the top spot on the national singles chart in Norway. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1986, behind "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin and "Stuck With You" by Huey Lewis and the News.

## Reception

"This [sense of swagger] isn't entirely a good thing, since it means he indulges in silliness [...]" – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic. In the early 21st century, *Blender* magazine published a list of the "50 worst songs of all time", with "Dancing on the Ceiling" listed at No. 20. Despite some negative views expressed since its release, the song remains a regular addition to '80s music nights at clubs and bars.**Script error: No such module "Unsubst".**

## Personnel

* Lionel Richie – lead vocals, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements
* John Barnes – acoustic piano
* Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
* Carlos Rios– guitar, synthesizer, rhythm arrangements, hoopa holler
* Steve MacMillan – door creek effects
* Ken Caillat – sound effects
* Tom Jones – sound effects
* Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar
* John Robinson – drums
* James Anthony Carmichael – horn arrangements, rhythm arrangements, hoopa holler
* Maxi Anderson, Billie Barnum, Melinda Chatman, David Cochrane, Kevin Dorsey, Karen Jackson, Marlena Jeter, Fred Law, Janice Marie, Brenda Richie, Anita Sherman, Karen Siegel, Alfie Silas, Phyllis St. James, Stephanie Taylor, Deborah Thomas, Carmen Twillie, Julia Waters Tillman, Maxine Waters Willard – background vocals
* David Egerton, Wayne Hargrave, Linda Jenner, Steve MacMillan, Greg Phillinganes, Kathi Pogoda, Cheryl Pyle, Maximo Rios, Dave Rosen, Kelly Ryan, Wibert Terrell - hoopa holler

## Music video

The music video was directed by Stanley Donen who also co-produced it with Glenn Goodwin through Glenn Goodwin & Associates. Michael Peters choreographed and Daniel Pearl was the director of photography. Shooting took place during three days at Laird Studios in Culver City and one day on location at the LeMondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. The video reportedly cost somewhere between $350,000 and $500,000 (or around $400,000), making it the most expensive short form music video production at the time.

In the video, which premiered on September 8, 1986, Richie and friends attend a party and dance on the ceiling reminiscent of Fred Astaire's routine in Donen's 1951 film *Royal Wedding*. Donen later said that Richie actually adapted easier and quicker to the rotating room used in the video than Astaire did while shooting *Royal Wedding*. There is also a reference in the video to *The Seven Year Itch* when air blows a woman's skirt over her head. At the end Rodney Dangerfield and Cheech Marin make cameo appearances. The video also features dancer Diane Alexander, who would later become Richie's second wife.

In the fall of 1986 HBO aired a half-hour TV special, *Lionel Richie: The Making of Dancing on the Ceiling*, directed by Sandra Hay and Alan J. Kozlowski, which takes a look at behind the scenes of the music video shoot. This documentary was also released on VHS and later as a hidden extra on Richie's *The Definitive Collection* DVD.

## Track listings

**7" Single**

1. "Dancing On The Ceiling" - 4:20
2. "Love Will Find A Way" - 6:10

**12" Single**

1. "Dancing On The Ceiling" - 7:10
2. "Love Will Find A Way" - 6:14

## Certifications

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## References

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8. ↑ Summertime, and the Loving Is Anything but Easy for Lionel, Melvin and Stephanie
9. ↑ The Joy and Pain of Celebrity Marriage
10. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".** N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 26 June 1988.
11. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
12. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
13. ↑ Peaked on RPM 100 Singles Chart on September 13, 1986
14. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
15. ↑  "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
16. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
17. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
18. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". VG-lista. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
19. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
20. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
21. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
22. ↑ **Script error: No such module "String".**/7501/ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
23. ↑ **Script error: No such module "WLink".**/chart-history/HSI "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot 100)". *Billboard*. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
24. ↑  **Script error: No such module "WLink".**/chart-history/ASI "Lionel Richie Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
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## External links

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