Kung Fu Fighting

Album: Kung Fu Fighting And Other Great Love Songs (1974)
Charted: 1 1
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Songfacts®:

  • Kung Fu and disco come together on this song, merging two of the biggest trends of the '70s. Disco was just finding its groove when the song was released in 1974, but Kung Fu had been kicking for a while, with Bruce Lee movies like Fist Of Fury (1972) and Enter The Dragon (1973), and a popular TV series called Kung Fu starring David Carradine that ran from 1972-1975. The combination proved irresistible: "Kung Fu Fighting" was a global hit, going to #1 in most countries where it was released, including America, where it spent two weeks at the top in December 1974.
  • Carl Douglas was working as a session singer for Pye Records in London when he wrote this song. He got the idea one night in Soho when he walked by a pinball arcade and saw some kids using Kung Fu moves in a mock fight, moving in time to the music. He turned to his buddy and said, "Damn, looks like everybody's Kung Fu fighting."

    "At that moment, I heard it all in my head, melody line as well, so I had to rush home and write it down," he explained in the Billboard Book Of #1 Hits.
  • Douglas was born in Jamaica - you'll hear a bit of reggae in this song as a nod to his heritage. He was the first Jamaican-born singer to have a #1 hit in the US. He also became the first British-based singer to land a #1 hit on the R&B chart when "Kung Fu Fighting" topped that tally.
  • "Kung Fu Fighting" seems like a glaringly obvious hit, but it was banished to a B-side when Douglas recorded it with the Asian producer Biddu (last name: Appaiah) and sent it to Pye Records with a far more generic song called "I Want To Give You My Everything" as the A-side.

    "'Kung Fu Fighting' was not meant to be a hit," Biddu told the Metro newspaper August 6, 2004. "Carl Douglas recorded something for an A-side of a single and every session was three hours long. We spent two hours on the first song and then took a break and I said: 'Quick guys, we need to record the B-side in two takes.' Kung Fu Fighting was the B-side so I went over the top on the 'huhs' and the 'hahs' and the chopping sounds. It was a B-side: who was going to listen? I played the A-side to the guy at Pye Records, Robin Blanchflower, and he said: 'Can I listen to the rest of the reel?' When he heard it, he said: 'This should be the A-side.'"

    Biddu became the first Asian producer at the helm of a UK #1 hit.
  • The song was first released in the UK, where Douglas was based. After a slow start, it began selling and rose to #1 in September 1974. Pye then teamed with the US label 20th Century to release it in America, where it hit the top spot three months later.
  • Douglas donned a bandana and robe when he performed this song, doing the kicks and chops to demonstrate the dance that came to be known as the "Kung Fu." The dance was a little dangerous but very popular - anyone can do it.
  • The follow-up single was "Dance The Kung Fu," which didn't have nearly as much punch, topping out at #48 in America and #35 in the UK. Carl Douglas never again charted in America and had just one more entry in the UK: "Run Back" in 1977, which went to #25.
  • Of course this was used in the 2008 kids' movie Kung Fu Panda, performed by Cee-Lo Green and Jack Black. The original Carl Douglas version was used in the movies City of God (2002), Wayne's World 2 (1994), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), Daddy Day Care (2003), and Bowfinger (1999).
  • In 1998 "Kung Fu Fighting" returned to the UK chart, peaking at #8 in a rendition by the British dance act Bus Stop. Their version sampled Carl Douglas' original vocals. Bus Stop members included Mark Hall and Graham Turner, who later recorded as Flip & Fill. Daz Sampson, who later represented the UK in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, was also a member of the group.

Comments: 39

  • Ji8jikikiuytyhuj from AhbjnkjlmThis is what made Carl Douglas famous , and i can see why!
  • Yeet_nani from Weed_islandeverybody was smoking weed
    it was marawana
  • Randy from Houghton Lake, MiI think this is the most cringiest song ever. I hated the lyrics, tune everything. Goddamn it's stupid!
  • Call Me Just Bb8 from Nowhereeverybody was kung fu singing,
    those words were fast as lightning,
    in fact was a little bit funny,
    but the jury did it with expert clapping.
  • Siahara Shyne Carter∆ from United StatesThe Vamps Version!!!! is my favorite They have more funk than the original version Thief version make me wanna kick! Anyone lol hehehe

    Just incase If I'm gonna be a legend in martial arts like MMA I want this as My background song lol;-) Not being bias Also love the originals but The vamps Version is more hyper and powerful, Also the Orginal song is 'So Classic!' I don't want my online friends to laugh because of my song.

    Find a background song that will fit your Age I'm 20 but still young ' JUST SAYING ' :-D
  • Marty Martinez from San Antonio TxEvery time I heard this song on the radio I would get into my Kung Fu stance and just chop and kick everywhere. I was maybe 8 or 9 at the time. I'm 56 now if I kick now I might dislocate something. Great song Happy Times.
  • Anthony from Crawley, United KingdomDid you know that the original drummer was John Richardson, who later became famous as one of "The Rubettes" the drummer in "Sugar Baby Love". I know because he is my cousin.
  • Andy from Costa Blanca, SpainMy mate, Nick Payn who I grew up with is the Flutist on the original recording... He's also currently a member of Bill Wyman's Rhythmn Kings, plays baritone sax, flute, harmonica etc.
  • Laura from El Paso, TxI was in the eighth grade when this song came out. We had to get into groups in Phys Ed class and come up with our own original modern dance. We picked this song and karate type dance moves! Ahhhhhhhhh those were the days
  • Edward from Henderson, NvIt was also used in 2001, at the end of "Shaolin Soccer."
  • Juan from El Paso, TxIf there ever was a song that brings back funny childhood memories, this is it. A drunken Bruce Willis sings this song in the movie Mortal Thoughts with Demi Moore and Glenn Headley. That scene is hilarious. "Everybody was king fu fighting....Ha!"
  • Camille from Toronto, OhThis song is fabulous. If you were around when the song was popular in the 70s, you break out in song any time someone mentions the title because everyone from then knows at least some of the words. "Whoa-ho-ho HO!" The words are matched perfectly to that memorable tune. It's just fun to listen to, funny that we all loved that song when it came out and funny to look back and think, well, this was a hit song then. A classic.
  • Bill from Pensacola, FlHere is an old school trick for you IF you have this on a 45 single=
    play it at 33.3 speed, its a whole new fun song.
    You'll love the background fight sounds! and it still works.

  • Adam from York, PaThis is one addictive song if you hear it on the radio good luck getting it out of your head its on my ipod for a reason. This and man in motion are good opposing songs for a workout playlist (others to include: Against The Wind, Running On Empty).
  • Paul from London, United Kingdomi think terry worked with biddu a lot
  • Paul from London, United KingdomThe base on that was played by Terry Revill, he was on a lot of the old hits in the late 60s and 70s. It was a great base line.
  • Nathan from Warsaw, NyLOL im getting better at singing this song O.o ô.ô
  • Nathan from Warsaw, NyThis song is sweet! I first heard it in Kung fu Panda in the theather. Then i was like OMG!!!! O.o So then i had to listen to this song again adn again and again XD I will never get sick of this song. I even sing it.(not good tho)
  • Kelsey from Rustburg, VaXD Omg the vid is with DBZ! Ha! I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH!! I'm obsessed with martial arts so I just love listening to this song before a fight! It gets me PUMPED!
  • John from Brisbane, United StatesThis is an uplifting spirited tune and all of it is good and is CLASSIC pop.How can anyone dislike this great song.He or she who dislikes this must be a fat and lazy person who cant even get off his bed.
  • Jay from Brooklyn, NyI despise this song. I usually post positive comments, but "Kung Fu Fighting" is so bad I have to express my disgust. If it were in my power, I would buy every copy of this song - every record, every tape, every copy of every movie that has used it on its soundtrack - and burn them in a great bonfire. I exaggerate, of course, but I truly cannot stand to hear this song and I change the radio station on the rare occassion they play it.
  • Lalah from Wasilla, AkThis is a fun song to be played at a wedding. All the geezers get up and dance like idiots.
  • Randy from Colerain Twp., OhBrett, I had seen an article in the newspaper where it had shown a 'Carl Douglas' as one of O.J.'s attorneys, and it did state that he WAS the same person who had recorded this song.
  • Jeff from Liverpool, Englandthe late great harry chapin was a fan of this song and commented on how pleased he was when 'cats in the cradle' had knocked kff off the us#1 spot he commented 2i always got a kick out of kung fu fighting,following it at #1 says a thing about variations in pop music".
  • N from Staten Island, NySo 70s bad, it's good!
  • Ruby from London, EnglandHello There, for many years I wait to hear new material from Carl Douglas, I hear now that it soon come out by SMV.DE anyway my comment is that Yes, It is a One Hit Wonder, but what a wonderful hit. Lets hear some more soon. All The Best And Good Luck. Ruby from London, England
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrTrue that Nathan, true that.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI like this song, It makes me laugh. I tried to do the "DO dodo do" part on recorder, but it didn't work to well. Funny song
  • Clarke from Pittsburgh, PaThis song was more or less a throwaway, as Carl Douglas has stated in interviews (listen to those backup singers making kung-fu noises!), but New York City nightclub DJ's picked up on it, and the rest is history. He also had a follow-up single called "Dance the Kung Fu," which didn't make the top 40.
  • Nathan from Defiance, OhIt is crap, but what fantastic crap it is.
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesDavid and Jake, the 1990s remake was by Bus Stop featuring Carl Douglas, and it made No.8 in the UK in 1998
  • Brett from Mendota, IlOne of O.J. Simpson's attorneys in his murder trial was Carl Douglas. This of course would not be the Carl Douglas who sang Kung Fu Fighting. ; )
  • Will from Aurora, Co@Seattle

    This song was also recorded during the days of the TV show "Kung Fu" and they used the term "Chinaman" a lot, which is most likely where the word from the song came from.
  • Marlow from Perth, Australiaits crap!
  • R from Seattle, WaMany radio stations on the West Coast pulled this song from their playlists after complaints from Chinese-Americans about the line "funky Chinamen from funky Chinatown". The term "Chinaman" is considered derogatory.
  • Jake from Sydney, Australiaare you sure it was re-made David? i remember it being re-released in the nineties
  • Michael from Frankfurt, Germany@ David Lindsay: covered by Mardi Grass BB in 2001 (Album called Zen Rodeo)
  • David Lindsay from Dunedin, New ZealandWho did a remake of this recently? (In the 90's some time)
  • Josef from Corpus Christi, TxHey I noticed he mentions a few popular asian names. Except he did'nt mention Bruce Lee or Sonny Chiba. Whats up with that yo? This song gets stuck in my head once I hear it. Yaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh Whaaaaa Chaaaaaa.
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