Get to know the story behind CHIC's 'Good Times'
It's an anthem!
Last updated 17th Sep 2021
Masterminded by legendary songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers, CHIC’s ‘Good Times’ has stood the test of time and remains one of our most-loved disco songs. Released in 1979, the track has become one of the most sampled songs in history!
Who wrote ‘Good Times’ by CHIC?
Nile Rodgers wrote CHIC with long-time associate Bernard Edwards who was a songwriter, producer and bassist.
What was the inspiration for ‘Good Times’?
In an interview, Nile has stated that the song was partially inspired by Kool & The Gang’s 1974 hit ‘Hollywood Swinging’.
Some of the lyrics are taken from other songs, Milton Ager’s ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ being one of them. Nile has previously shared that the lyrics were a way of commenting on the US’ economic conditions in the 1970s.
Who has sampled CHIC’s ‘Good Times’?
Nile Rodgers has said that ‘Good Times’ helped to kick start the modern-day Hip Hop movement. Although this may not be wholly true, the Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rapper’s Delight’ came out in 1979 and sampled ‘Good Times’, which paved the way for many more artists.
Shakira, Beastie Boys, De La Soul, Beverley Knight and Will Smith have also all sampled the track.
Have CHIC won any awards for ‘Good Times’?
‘Good Times’ never won awards itself, but Nile Rodgers has racked up an impressive amount of awards himself. He has received three Grammy Awards, Record of the Year for ‘Get Lucky’, Album of the Year for ‘Random Access Memories’ and Best Pop Duo Performance for ‘Get Lucky’ with Daft Punk.
Take a look at these five songs you may not have known Nile Rodgers worked on:
Sister Sledge - 'We Are Family'
Nile Rodgers teamed up with the four siblings who made up Sister Sledge at the end of the 1970s.
Alongside CHIC collaborator Bernard Edwards, the pair worked on the band's breakthrough album 'We Are Family', with the track of the same name becoming the group's signature song.
It was the first track Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote for anyone other than their own band CHIC. They also worked on Sister Sledge tracks 'He's The Greatest Dancer' and 'Lost In Music', featured on the same album.
Daft Punk - 'Get Lucky'
Released in 2013, 'Get Lucky' was co-written by Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams and electronic music duo Daft Punk.
Nile also plays guitar on the track, which became one of the best-selling songs of all time, topping charts all over the world and picking up two Grammy Awards.
Diana Ross - 'I'm Coming Out'
The incredibly talented Diana Ross enlisted CHIC's Nile and Bernard to write, produce and play on her 1980 album 'Diana' after she went to see the band in concert with her daughter.
'I'm Coming Out' became one of the biggest-selling records of Diana Ross' entire career.
Madonna - 'Like A Virgin'
The Queen of Pop chose Nile Rodgers as producer for her second studio album 'Like A Virgin', after her record label wouldn't allow her to have full artistic control.
The album produced two of Madonna's most iconic songs, 'Like A Virgin' and 'Material Girl'.
David Bowie - 'Lets Dance'
Truly a meeting of two music geniuses, David Bowie teamed up with Nile Rodgers for his 1983 album 'Let's Dance'.
The title track was released as the lead single from the album and became one of Bowie's best-selling songs.
Duran Duran - 'Notorious'
You may not be aware that Nile Rodgers had a huge part to play in the career of pop favourites Duran Duran. He produced their 1986 album 'Notorious' and it's title track.
During a 1986 performance, the band's frontman Simon Le Bon introduced Nile Rodgers on stage, saying: "This band went through a difficult time and it might not have made it if it weren't for this gentleman."
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