Summertime (The Sundays song)

"Summertime" is a song by English alternative rock band The Sundays. Written and produced by guitarist David Gavurin and lead singer Harriet Wheeler, the song was recorded for the band's 1997 album, Static & Silence, and released on 8 September 1997 as the first single from the album.[1] Wheeler and Gavurin were inspired to write the song after several of their friends joined a dating service, and the lyrics reflect on how the pursuit of perfect romantic relationships can become taxing.

"Summertime"
Single by The Sundays
from the album Static & Silence
B-side
  • "Nothing Sweet"
  • "Gone"
Released8 September 1997 (1997-09-08)[1]
Recorded1997
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:35
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • David Gavurin
  • Harriet Wheeler
The Sundays singles chronology
"Goodbye"
(1992)		 "Summertime"
(1997)		 "Cry"
(1997)
Music video
"Summertime" on YouTube

"Summertime" became The Sundays' most successful single worldwide, peaking at number 15 in their native United Kingdom and becoming a top-fifty hit in Australia and Canada. In the United States, the song was not eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 because it was not released as a physical single. It instead reached number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, number seven on the Adult Alternative Songs chart, number 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 13 on the Adult Top 40 chart.

Background and meaning

According to band members Harriet Wheeler and David Gavurin, the couple wrote "Summertime" after a few of their friends signed up for a dating service. Gavurin elaborated that he was inspired to write the song because practices such as joining singles groups and advertising oneself for romance was becoming more "respectable", despite the fact that both he and Wheeler believed these practices were "tragic and funny" and took away the chance for people to meet face-to-face.[2] Gavurin went on to say, "And people can really oppress themselves with that mythic picture of romance, so we just wanted to address in a tongue-in-cheek way that the easily gained perfect partnership is indeed a myth."[2] The lyrics of the song reflect their beliefs. According to Billboard editor Bradley Bambarger, the song "examines the burdensome ideal of romantic bliss".[2]

Composition

"Summertime" is in the key of A major and has a tempo of 96 beats per minute,[3] featuring Harriet Wheeler on vocals, David Gavurin on guitar, Paul Brindley on bass guitar and Patrick Hannan on drums.[4]

Track listings

Personnel
  • Harriet Wheeler – vocals, engineering, mixing
  • David Gavurin – guitar, engineering, mixing
  • Paul Brindley – bass guitar
  • Patrick Hannan – drums
  • Dave Anderson – engineering, mixing

Source:[4]

Charts
Chart (1997–1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 41
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 48
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[11] 49
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 56
Scotland (OCC)[13] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 15
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[15] 50
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] 7
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[17] 13
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[18] 10

References
  1. Lorenz, Christian (27 September 1997). "Album Spotlight" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 39. p. 16. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  2. Bambarger, Bradley (27 September 1997). "The Modern Age" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109 no. 39. p. 101. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  3. "Key & BPM for Summertime by The Sundays". Tunebat. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. "Summertime". The Sundays Fan Bible. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  5. "Summertime" – UK CD 1 (CD sleeve). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. CDRS 6475.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Summertime" – UK CD 2 (CD sleeve). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. CDR 6475, 8845792, 7243 8 84579 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "Summertime" – European CD Single (CD sleeve). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. 7243 8 84629 2 1.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Summertime" – Australian CD Single (CD sleeve). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. 7243 8 84629 2 1, 8846292.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "Australian-charts.com – The Sundays – Summertime". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3469." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  11. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3427." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 39. 27 September 2020. p. 13. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  15. "The Sundays Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  16. "The Sundays Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  17. "The Sundays Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  18. "The Sundays Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
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