Makin' It

Album: Tube Tunes (1979)
Charted: 44 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the theme song to the television sitcom Makin' It, which the song was written to promote. David Naughton, in addition to singing this song, also starred in the show, which was inspired by the movie Saturday Night Fever. The song was a huge hit, staying on the Billboard Top 40 for six weeks and peaking at #5. Many responded to the hopeful lyrics about a man from humble beginnings who is confident that his time has come. The television show, however, did not make it, lasting just 8 episodes before it was canceled - the song remained on the charts longer than the show was on the air. Besides this song, Naughton is best known for having starred in the motion picture An American Werewolf In London. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris wrote this, and Robert Stigwood produced it. This was a powerhouse team in the disco era, as Perren and Fekaris also wrote "I Will Survive" and "More Than A Woman," and Stigwood produced Saturday Night Fever.

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: www.legacy.com {07-18-2017}
    Harvey Atkin, the character actor who played camp director Morty Melnick in 'Meatballs', died Monday, July 17th, 2017, according to multiple news sources, he was 74...
    The Canadian actor had a recurring role as Sergeant Ronald Coleman on the television series 'Cagney & Lacey' and appeared on multiple episodes of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' as Judge Alan Ridenour...
    Atkin was born Dec. 18th, 1942, in Toronto, Ontario. He was a real estate agent before becoming an actor. He started his acting career doing TV commercials in Canada. Atkin was also a voice actor. He played Mario and Luigi’s archenemy, King Koopa, on the 'Super Mario Bros.' animated cartoon series...
    On June 29th, 1979 'Meatballs', starring Bill Murray, opened in theaters across the U.S.A; and at the time David Naughton's "Makin' It", which was featured in the movie, was in it's second of two weeks at #5 on Billboard's Hot Top 100, that would also be it's peak position on the chart, it spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {24 weeks}...
    May Mr. Atkin R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 21st 1979, David Naughton performed "Makin' It" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time of this appearance on 'Bandstand' the song was at its peak position, #5 (for 2 weeks), on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart and would spent almost a half-year on the chart (24 weeks)...
    It was featured in two movies; 'Meatballs' (1979) and 'Detroit Rock City' (1999)...
    The B-side of the 45-RPM record was an instrumental version of the song...
    Mr. Naughton will celebrate his 64th birthday this coming February 13th, 2015.
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiWhere can I get this song? I love it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.