Let's Get Serious (song)
| "Let's Get Serious" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Jermaine Jackson | ||||
| from the album Let's Get Serious | ||||
| B-side | "Je Vous Aime Beaucoup (I Love You)" | |||
| Released | March 7, 1980[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 8:05 (album version) 3:33 (single version) | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Jermaine Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Let's Get Serious" is a song written by Lee Garrett and Stevie Wonder and the title track to Jermaine Jackson's 1980 Motown album of the same name. Released as a single, it became Jackson's first number-one R&B hit and second top-ten pop hit.[4] It also reached the top ten in the UK. The recording was produced by Stevie Wonder, who also provided vocals for the track.
It was ranked number one on the Billboard soul chart for the year in 1980, edging out brother Michael's Platinum-certified mega-hit "Rock with You", which ranked at number two.
The Spanish version is titled "Seamos Serios" with the translation of the lyrics by Jose Silva and is the only song Jackson recorded in Spanish.
Background and production
Following the Jackson 5's departure from Motown Records for Epic Records in the mid-1970s, Jermaine Jackson chose to remain with Motown due to his marriage to Hazel Gordy, daughter of company founder Berry Gordy.[5] However, his initial solo albums struggled to achieve major commercial success. In an effort to revitalize Jermaine's career, Berry Gordy personally intervened and asked family friend Stevie Wonder to write and produce a hit song for him.[6]
Wonder co-wrote "Let's Get Serious" with Lee Garrett and took full charge of the production and arrangement. Beyond his role as a producer, Wonder played multiple instruments on the track, including drums, acoustic piano, electric guitar, and synthesizers. He also provided prominent background vocals throughout the song, heavily embedding his signature musical style into the track.
Composition
Musically, "Let's Get Serious" is a high-energy track that blends elements of late-era disco, funk, and traditional R&B. The song is driven by a prominent, rhythmic bassline and sharp brass arrangements. The track was released in multiple formats. The original album version features an extended, dance-floor-friendly arrangement running 8:05, while the commercial single version was edited down to 3:33 for radio airplay. Additionally, Jackson recorded a unique Spanish-language version of the song titled "Seamos Serios," featuring lyrics translated by Jose Silva. It remains the only track Jackson ever recorded in Spanish.
Reception
"Let's Get Serious" was named the number-one Billboard Year-End R&B single of 1980, famously beating out his brother Michael's mega-hit "Rock with You" for the top spot. The song's critical and commercial success also earned Jermaine Jackson a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1981, marking the sole solo Grammy nomination of his career.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1980–1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 24 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 9 |
| US Billboard Hot Black Singles[9] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[10] | 2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1980) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[11] | 30 |
References
- ↑ "Jermaine Jackson singles".
- 1 2 Breihan, Tom (January 4, 2019). "The Number Ones: The Jackson 5's "The Love You Save"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
He had two songs that peaked at #9...the nasty 1980 disco-funk workout "Let's Get Serious,"
- ↑ Matos, Michaelangelo (8 December 2020). "Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: July 6, 1984". Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year. Hachette Books. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-306-90337-3.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 283.
- ↑ "Jackson 5 | Members, Songs, Motown, & the Jacksons | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2026-07-06. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
- ↑ Songfacts. "Let's Get Serious by Jermaine Jackson - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
- ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 151. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ↑ "Jermaine Jackson Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ↑ "Jermaine Jackson Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ↑ "Jermaine Jackson Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ↑ "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
