Introduction
**”Grease” – The Story Behind the Song Written by Barry Gibb**
*”Grease,”* the theme song from the iconic 1978 film *Grease*, was written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees but was performed by Frankie Valli. The song was commissioned by Robert Stigwood, the film’s producer, who insisted that Gibb compose it in his signature disco style, despite the movie’s 1950s rock ‘n’ roll setting.
At first, Gibb was unsure how to approach writing a song called *”Grease,”* but he eventually took inspiration from the cultural symbolism of the 1950s. He realized that *”grease”* represented the rebellious “Greasers” of that era and the slick, stylish aesthetic that defined the youth culture of the time.
Frankie Valli, the lead singer of The Four Seasons, was chosen to perform the song because his voice had a connection to the period the film portrayed. Interestingly, Valli had the choice to either sing the title track or appear in the film performing *”Beauty School Dropout,”* but he opted for the former. This proved to be a great decision, as *”Grease”* became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the *Billboard Hot 100*.
Though the Bee Gees never officially recorded their own version of *”Grease,”* Barry Gibb provided backing vocals, and Peter Frampton contributed guitar to the track. The Bee Gees later performed the song live in their 1997 *One Night Only* concert.
The success of *”Grease”* reinforced the Bee Gees’ dominance in the late 1970s music scene, even when their songs were performed by other artists. The film’s soundtrack, which included the song, went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling movie soundtracks of all time.