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"Solid"
Single by Ashford & Simpson
from the album Solid
B-side	"Solid (Dub version) (US) Cherish Forever More (South Africa)"
Released	September 1984
Recorded	1984
Genre	R&B soul boogie
Length	5:12 (album version) 3:46 (single version) 3:21 (radio edit)
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Nickolas Ashford Valerie Simpson
Producer(s)	Nickolas Ashford Valerie Simpson
Ashford & Simpson singles chronology
"I'm Not That Tough" (1984) "Solid" (1984) "Babies" (1985)
Official video
"Solid" on YouTube

"Solid" is a song recorded by American husband-and-wife songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson, released in September 1984 as the first single from their eleventh studio album, Solid (1984). It peaked at number one on the US Billboard soul chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Background

The song was written by the duo and follows a similar template of most of their hits for other artists, except with a slight 1980s inflection to the music. In the lyrics, the narrators of the song celebrate the fact that, through all the difficulties and problems their relationship has faced, they made their love stronger by learning how to forgive and trust each other, and their love for one another remains "solid as a rock".

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Solid" is set on a rainy afternoon in a park. Valerie Simpson exits a taxi in a park on a cloudy day, and escapes from a sudden downpour underneath a bridge. As she sings the opening of the song a cappella, Nick Ashford arrives and joins in. As the video progresses, they are joined by others, including a cyclist in yellow spandex, a gang who just want to sing, and several bongo players, also trying to escape the downpour. It was shot in New York City in Central Park at the Willowdell Arch (40°46′12″N 73°58′16.4″W / 40.77000°N 73.971222°W / 40.77000; -73.971222).

Personnel

• Nickolas Ashford – vocals, backing vocals
• Valerie Simpson – vocals, backing vocals, synthesizers
• Ed Walsh – synthesizer programming
• Sid McGinnis – guitars
• Francisco Centeno – bass
• Chris Parker – drums
• Jimmy Simpson – percussion
• Vinny Della Rocca – saxophone
• Joe Mosello – trumpet
• Ray Simpson – backing vocals
• Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals

Charts

In other media

• The song was featured during the closing credits of the 208th episode of Santa Barbara from 20 May 1985.
• The song features in the UK sitcom Peep Show episode "Wedding" first shown in the UK in 2004. One of the main characters, Jez, marries Nancy in order for her to remain in the country. During the episode Jez is forced to dance his first dance alone as Nancy is called away for a job interview, that first song being "Solid".
• The song also featured in an episode of the sitcom Arrested Development, where it is ironically played at the opening ceremony of a new house, which is almost instantaneously knocked down.
• In 2009, Ashford & Simpson remade the song in honor of President Barack Obama, calling it "Solid (As Barack)".
• Featured in the 2010 Nickelodeon film Fred: The Movie as one of Fred's daydreams, with vocals by Pixie Lott.

References

1. music video in Dailymotion.com
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. "Ashford & Simpson – Solid" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
4. "Ashford & Simpson – Solid" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9647." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
6. "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 9. March 4, 1985. p. 14.
7. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Ashford & Simpson". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 20. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Solid". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ashford & Simpson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
10. "Ashford & Simpson – Solid" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
11. "Ashford & Simpson – Solid". Top 40 Singles.
12. "Ashford & Simpson – Solid". Singles Top 100.
13. "Ashford & Simpson – Solid". Swiss Singles Chart.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
15. "Ashford & Simpson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
16. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 23.
17. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 24.
18. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 36.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ashford & Simpson – Solid" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
20. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985" (in German). Retrieved May 8, 2023.
21. "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
22. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
23. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
24. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
25. "End of Year Charts 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
26. "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. January 18, 1986. p. 10.
27. "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
28. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
29. "Episodes".
30. "Episodes calendar 1985".
31. "Wedding". IMDb. December 17, 2004.
32. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (January 16, 2009). "'Solid (As Barack)': Ashford & Simpson finally catch up on their DVR-ed 'SNL' episodes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 26, 2013.

• 1984 singles
• 1984 songs
• Ashford & Simpson songs
• Capitol Records singles
• Male–female vocal duets
• Number-one singles in New Zealand
• Songs written by Nickolas Ashford
• Songs written by Valerie Simpson