Fresh (Kool & the Gang song)

"Fresh"
Artwork for US 7-inch single
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Emergency
B-side"In the Heart"
ReleasedNovember 24, 1984
Recorded1984
Genre
Length4:27
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Misled"
(1984) 		"Fresh"
(1984) 		"Cherish"
(1985)
Music video
"Kool & the Gang – Fresh" on YouTube

"Fresh" is a song by American group Kool & the Gang, released in November 1984 as the second single from their sixteenth album, Emergency (1984). The song peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number one on both the Billboard R&B and Dance charts.[1][2]

Music video

The action in the accompanying music video references the fairy tale Cinderella with the band performing the song at the ball. The two overweight women, the Ugly Sisters, are seen eating sandwiches, and a girl, Cinderella, cleaning the floor. Then suddenly Marilyn Monroe-lookalike Fairy appears and saves the day.

Chart performance

The song was a hit, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of June 8, 1985, becoming the band's eighth top ten single on the chart. It topped the Hot Black Singles chart for the week of May 18, 1985, becoming their eighth number one single on the chart, staying there for a single week and was replaced at number one on the chart by fellow New Jersey musician Whitney Houston's "You Give Good Love".

Track listings

  • 12" maxi (De-Lite 881 564-1)
  1. "Fresh" - 4:22
  2. "Home Is Where the Heart Is" - 3:51
  3. "Take My Heart" - 4:01
  • 12" maxi (De-Lite 311122)
  1. "Fresh" - 4:20
  2. "Rollin'" - 3:11
  3. "You Can Do It" - 4:08
  • 7" single (De-Lite 881 564-7)
  1. "Fresh" - 3:20
  2. "Home Is Where the Heart Is" - 3:51

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Beat System version

"Fresh"
Single by Beat System
from the album Refreshinator
ReleasedApril 21, 1996
Recorded1995
Length3:42
LabelIntercord
Songwriters
ProducerBlack Nero
Beat System singles chronology
"Stay with Me"
(1995) 		"Fresh"
(1996) 		"Reggae Night"
(1996)

In 1996, German Eurodance project Beat System released their version of "Fresh", which samples the original with added vocals and rapping.

Track listings

  • Maxi-CD
  1. "Fresh" (radio mix) - 3:42
  2. "Fresh" (extended DJ mix) - 5:32
  3. "Fresh" (Crazy Z. version) - 3:33
  4. "Call My Name" - 6:08
  • Maxi-CD
  1. "Fresh" (summer mix) - 3:07
  2. "Fresh" (summer classic club version) - 5:05
  3. "Fresh" (original Schnitzelmorph cut) - 5:49

Charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 37
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[25] 18
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[26] 50
Europe (European Dance Radio)[27] 15
France (SNEP)[28] 15
Germany (GfK)[29] 32

2004 version

"Fresh"
Single by Kool & the Gang featuring Liberty X
from the album The Hits: Reloaded
Released2004
Genre
Length3:14
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Liberty X singles chronology
"Everybody Cries"
(2004) 		"Fresh"
(2004) 		"Song 4 Lovers"
(2005)
Audio
Fresh (feat. Liberty X) on YouTube

"Fresh" was re-recorded with the English-Irish pop group Liberty X in 2004, to feature on Kool & the Gang's re-recorded greatest hits compilation, The Hits: Reloaded. The new version of the song features Liberty X on vocals, and Kool & the Gang on instruments. It was released as a single in France where it peaked at number 35 in June 2004.[30]

Music video

The music video for the single was recorded in late 2003, and features Liberty X playing to an audience in a club, all supported by mics and surrounded by a crowd of the group's fans. Kool & the Gang appear as guests inside the club, charming a woman who has arrived in search of a man.

Track listings

  1. "Fresh" (album version) - 3:14
  2. "Fresh" (Motivo Pop mix) - 4:28

See also

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 333.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 148.
  3. ^ "Kool & The Gang – Fresh" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0557". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  5. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1985-06-22. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  6. ^ "Kool & The Gang – Fresh" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  7. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kool & The Gang". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  8. ^ "Kool & The Gang – Fresh" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kool The Gang" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 15/12/1984 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name.
  16. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2016-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1985/Top 100 Songs of 1985". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Year End (1985)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1985". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  20. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Fresh". Music Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Fresh". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 25, 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Fresh Kool & the Gang in the "Search:" field.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Fresh". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  23. ^ "Beat System – Fresh" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  24. ^ "Beat System – Fresh" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  25. ^ "Beat System – Fresh" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  26. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 33. August 17, 1996. p. 28. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  27. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 21. May 25, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  28. ^ "Beat System – Fresh" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  29. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name.
  30. ^ https://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=10754
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