Johnny, Johnny Come Home Explained

Johnny, Johnny Come Home
Cover:	Johnny_Johnny_come_home.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Avalanche
B-Side:	Dance mix
Released:	1989
Genre:	Synthpop, dance
Length:	4:18
Label:	Warner Music, Wea
Producer:	Vinton Hoover
Next Title:	I Will Wait
Next Year:	1989

"Johnny, Johnny Come Home" is a 1989 song recorded by Norwegian band Avalanche. It was their debut single and can be considered as its signature song. Released in March 1989 it helped launch the band's career achieving a smash success in France where it topped the chart and also in Norway was a top three hit, but its sales remained minimal in other countries.^[1]

Background and release

Written by Vinton Hoover and Avalanche's member Kjetil Rosnes, "Johnny Johnny Come Home" was published twice: first in late 1988, with a red cover single, then in March 1989 with a blue one containing a new remix. The refrain is composed of the title repeated eight times and many onomatopoeias ("Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na"). Two songs with almost the same title, "Johnny Come Home", by Fine Young Cannibals in 1985, then by The Men They Couldn't Hang in 1987, are not related to Avalanche's one.

Chart performance

In France, "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" debuted at number 43 on the chart edition of 1 April 1989, and climbed regularly until reaching the top ten in its sixth week. It topped the chart from it tenth week and remained there for eight consecutive weeks before being dislodged by Kaoma's massive summer hit "Lambada"; then it almost did not stop to drop and totaled 17 weeks in the top ten and 26 weeks in the top 50. In Norway, the song was ranked in the top ten for eleven weeks from the 27th week of 1989, including a peak at number three in its sixth week. The song was also released in Germany, but failed to reach the chart. On the European Hot 100 Singles, it debuted at number 98 on 28 April 1989, reached number two in its 15th week, being blocked from the number one slot by Sonia's "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You", and spent 23 weeks on the chart, eight of them in the top ten.

Track listings

• 7" single - France, Germany^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

1. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" — 4:14
2. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (dance mix) — 4:03

• CD single - Germany^[6]

1. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" — 8:38
2. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (single version) — 4:14
3. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (dance mix) — 4:03

• 12" maxi - Germany^[7]

1. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" — 8:38
2. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (dub, instrumental version) — 3:35
3. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (dance mix) — 4:03

• 12" maxi - New mix 1989 summer - France^[8]

1. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (special version) — 9:20
2. "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (special radio edit) — 4:14
3. "Return of Johnny" (instrumental) — 4:04

Versions

• Radio Edit
• Dance mix
• Dub instrumental version
• Special version
• Special radio edit
• New mix

Credits

• Arranged by Kjetil Rosnes
• Programmed and engineered by Joey Wild
• Mixed by Frankie Rynke
• Producerd by Vinton Hoover
• Cover : F.Gaillard

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Europe (European Hot 100)^[9]	2
France (Airplay Chart [AM Stations])^[10]	3
scope="row"
scope=row	Israel (IBA)^[11]	1
scope="row"

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[12]	28
France (SNEP)^[13]	3
scope=row	Israel (IBA)^[14]	8

Certifications

See also

• List of number-one hits of 1989 (France)

Notes and References

1. Book: Habib, Elia . 2002 . Muz hit.tubes . Alinéa Bis . fr . 160 . 2-9518832-0-X. .
2. , 7" single 1 France (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
3. , 7" single 2 France (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
4. , 7" single Germany (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
5. , 7" single Norway (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
6. , CD single Germany (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
7. , 12" maxi Germany (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
8. , 12" maxi remixes France (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 6. 31. 5 August 1989. IV-V. 29800226. World Radio History . 11 October 2021.
10. Playlist report – France. Music & Media. 6. 29. 22 July 1989. II. 29800226. World Radio History . 23 October 2021.
11. Web site: Israeli weekly chart (Reshet Gimel, IBA) . 5 March 2023 . pizmonet.
12. Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989. Music & Media. 6. 51. 23 December 1989. 6. 17 January 2020. World Radio History.
13. French Product Dominates Charts . Emmanuel . Legrand. Music & Media. 7. 5. 3 February 1990. 10. 29800226. World Radio History . 3 September 2021.
14. Web site: Israeli year-end chart (Reshet Gimel, IBA) . 5 March 2023 . pizmonet.