I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World) Donald Fagan

"I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)" Album: The Nightfly (1982)
by Donald Fagen

"I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)" is a song written and performed by American Donald Fagen. It was the first track on his platinum-certified debut solo album The Nightfly, and was released in September 1982 as its first single. It charted within the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Rock, R&B Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.

Fagen, along with musician Walter Becker, led the rock band Steely Dan during the 1970s. Between 1972 and 1981, Steely Dan had ten Top-40 singles, including the top-ten hits "Do It Again" (1972), "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (1974) and "Hey Nineteen" (1980). In 1981 Becker and Fagen parted ways. Fagen's first album as a solo artist, The Nightfly, was released the next year.

The "I.G.Y." of the title refers to the "International Geophysical Year", an event that ran from July 1957 to December 1958.: 217  The I.G.Y. was an international scientific project promoting collaboration among the world's scientists. Fagen's lyric discusses the widespread optimistic vision of the future at that time, including futuristic concepts such as solar-powered cities, a transatlantic tunnel, permanent space stations, and spandex jackets.

The song references the vision of postwar optimism in America and the Western world. The "76" referred to in the song is 1976, the U.S. Bicentennial year.

"I.G.Y." has been covered by British singer and musician Howard Jones, who included a version on his 1993 greatest hits album The Best of Howard Jones.

The gospel a cappella group Take 6 covered "I.G.Y." as the title track on their 2002 release Beautiful World. The lyric of Fagen's original song was modified to recast the song with a gospel message.

In 2004 Marcia Hines recorded a version for her album Hinesight.

The song was also used in a scene from the Simpsons sixteenth-season episode "Future Drama" when Homer and Bart are flying around in the 'imperfect Hovercar'.

French DJ Producer Alan Braxe sampled this song for the remix on Benjamin Diamond's "In Your Arms (We Gonna Make It)"

Donald Fagen – vocals, synthesizer, synth-harmonica
Greg Phillinganes – electric piano
Rob Mounsey – synthesizer, horn arrangement
Anthony Jackson – bass
Hugh McCracken – guitar
James Gadson – drums
Jeff Porcaro – additional drums
Roger Nichols – drum/percussion programming
Starz Vanderlocket – percussion
Randy Brecker – trumpet
Dave Tofani – alto saxophone
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
Dave Bargeron – trombone
Valerie Simpson, Zack Sanders, Frank Floyd, Gordon Grody – backing vocals

"I.G.Y."

Standing tough under stars and stripes, we can tell
This dream's in sight
You've got to admit it
At this point in time that it's clear
The future looks bright

On that train, all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well, by '76 we'll be A-OK

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

Get your ticket to that wheel in space while there's time
The fix is in
You'll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we've got to win

Here at home we'll play in the city
Powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There'll be spandex jackets, one for everyone

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

On that train, all graphite and glitter
Undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
(More leisure for artists everywhere)

A just machine to make big decisions
Programmed by fellas with compassion and vision
We'll be clean when their work is done
We'll be eternally free, yes, and eternally young

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free