"Got to Be Real" is a song by American singer Cheryl Lynn from her 1978 self-titled debut studio album. The song, which was Lynn's debut single, was written by Lynn, David Paich and David Foster, and is one of the most popular and well-known in disco music.
Recording
For the recording, David Shields played bass, David Paich played keyboards, James Gadson played drums and Ray Parker, Jr. was the session guitarist.
Chart performance
In the United States, "Got to Be Real" spent three weeks at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in early 1979. Along with the album tracks "Star Love" and "You Saved My Day", "Got to Be Real" peaked at number eleven on the National Disco Action Top 40 chart. The song was used for a 2010 UK TV advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer, a department store, and it re-entered the main charts at number 78 for the week ending April 4, the next week peaking at number 70.
Legacy
"Got to Be Real" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2005. RIAA Platinum Certification. In 2017, ShortList's Dave Fawbert listed the song as containing "one of the greatest key changes in music history".
Track listing and formats
US 7-inch vinyl single
"Got to Be Real" – 3:42
"Come in from the Rain" – 3:35
US 12-inch vinyl single
"Got to Be Real" – 5:10
"Come in from the Rain" – 3:35
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
Cover versions
In 2004, Mary J. Blige and Will Smith covered the song for the soundtrack to the animated film Shark Tale.
In 1995, the Merengue House group Proyecto Uno recorded a Spanish version under the name El Tiburon.
In 1994, Erik covered the single, resulting in a UK club smash hit, rising to number 42 in the UK singles chart.
In 2010, Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda recorded the cover of "Got to Be Real" for her extended play, Gossip Candy. The version served as the promotional song for Pepsi.
It appeared on the "lipsync for your life" segment in the second season of drag queen reality competition .
Whit Stillman's film The Last Days of Disco includes the song on its soundtrack.
In 1998, in the first-season episode "Head Case" of the sitcomWill and Grace, Will sings this song in the bathroom while he shaves, to which Grace responds "We're just like fifty men and a mirrored ball away from being a gay disco".
In 2001, the song appeared in the fourth season Sex and the City episode, "The Real Me", where Carrie Bradshaw becomes a model for a day.
The song also appeared in a Hanes Her Way commercial in 2002.
In 2002, the song was used in Undercover Brother when the titular character successfully parachuted off The Man's self-destructing base in the end of the film.
In 2006, the song featured in The Pink Panther, during some of the New York scenes.
In March 2010, UK department store Marks and Spencer used "Got To Be Real" in adverts for their new Spring Collection.
In November 2010, American Dad! Season 6 Episode 3Best Little Horror House in Langley Falls featured this song when Roger started a disco number as he helps Stan think how to compete his haunted house with Buckle's.
The song also is used as the theme song for italian cinema show Supercinema.
The song features in the final scene of the film Night At The Museum: Secrets of the Tomb.
