Big Fun

Album: Gap Band 8 (1986)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Gap Band have some big fun under the sun on this track, the lead single from the 1986 album Gap Band 8. The song is very repetitive, with lead singer Charlie Wilson mostly repeating the lines, "I'm gonna need you" and "Wanna have big fun" throughout the 6:49 run time. Wilson says there's a meaning behind the groove. "In 'Big Fun' the message is that you can have a good time without taking drugs or pills or anything," he told Melody Maker.
  • The song was written by their producer Lonnie Simmons and engineer Rudy Taylor, who also did a lot of songwriting for the band. Simmons produced The Gap Band in their early '80s heyday when they had hits with songs like "Early In The Morning" and "Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)," but had taken some time away from the band before returning for Gap Band 8.
  • "Big Fun" didn't get much attention in America, where the band is from, but it's their highest charting song in the UK, where it went to #4.
  • The Gap Band have always made club-ready songs that play well on the dance floor. "Big Fun" is no exception, capturing the sound of 1986 with lots of keyboards, drum machines and samplers. It's a departure from the stone-cold fun of their earlier hits but stays true to form with heavy bass and live percussion.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.