Refugee (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song) explained

Refugee
Cover:TP - Refugee.png
Type:single
Artist:Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Album:Damn the Torpedoes
B-Side:It's Rainin' Again
Recorded:1979
Genre:
Length:3:25
Label:Backstreet
Producer:
Prev Title:Don't Do Me Like That
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Here Comes My Girl
Next Year:1980

"Refugee" is a song recorded by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in January 1980 as the second single from their album Damn the Torpedoes, and peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[3] The song is in compound AABA form.[4]

Composition and recording

The song's co-writer Mike Campbell said "Refugee" was one of the first songs he wrote, and recounted, 'I just wrote the music and handed it to Tom [Petty] and he put the words over it, and when he did he found a way to make the chorus lift up without changing chords.'[5]

In a November 2003 interview with Songfacts, Campbell described the recording sessions for "Refugee":

Billboard described "Refugee" as being "Petty at his best," specifically praising the "gutsy rock vocal and searing guitar lines."[6] Cash Box said it has "growing interplay between guitar and organ, coupled with Petty’s forceful vocals."[7] Record World called it a "perfect union of power and passion."[8]

Reception

"Refugee" is widely regarded as one of Petty's best songs. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song number 10 on their list of the 20 greatest Tom Petty songs,[9] and in 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the song number two on their list of the 50 greatest Tom Petty songs.[10]

Personnel

Notable remakes

"Refugee" was covered by Melissa Etheridge in 2005 for her album , and reached No. 96 in the Billboard Pop 100 chart. Other versions have been recorded by Vains of Jenna, Alvin and the Chipmunks,[11] and The Gaslight Anthem.[12]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
Australia Kent Music Report24
Canada Top Singles (RPM)2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 15
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[14] 11

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)Rank
Canada[15] 18
New Zealand[16] 29
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[17] 100
U.S. Cash Box[18] 85

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Damn the Torpedoes - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty Songs, Reviews, Credits. Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. AllMusic. en-us. January 3, 2019.
  2. Web site: Tom Petty: Legacy of a Rock Legend. Svonavec, Samuel. October 4, 2017. March 26, 2024. "The band went on to pioneer the heartland rock sound with songs such as “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “Refugee,” and countless others.".
  3. [Joel Whitburn]
  4. Covach, John (2005), "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah, Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis, New York: Oxford University Press, p.74-75, .
  5. Web site: Newton. Steve. Meet Mike Campbell, the Underrated Guitar Genius Behind All Those Tom Petty Hits . The Georgia Straight. 11 May 2018. August 14, 2014.
  6. News: Top Singles Picks. Billboard Magazine. 97. January 19, 1980. 2020-07-07.
  7. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. January 19, 1980. 24. Cash Box. 2022-01-01.
  8. Record World. January 19, 1980. 1. 2023-02-07. Hits of the Week.
  9. The 20 Best Tom Petty Songs. Andrew. Unterberger. Billboard. October 3, 2017. May 3, 2022.
  10. Tom Petty: 50 Greatest Songs. Rolling Stone. November 28, 2020. May 3, 2022.
  11. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r80719 Chipmunk Punk
  12. Web site: A Look Back at the Knack's 'My Sharona' . Steve . Baltlin . . February 15, 2010.
  13. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990
  14. Web site: Top 100 1980-03-29 . . 2016-05-07 .
  15. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 2016-10-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425051319/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0272&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 . 2016-04-25 .
  16. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 1980 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart . Nztop40.co.nz . 1980-12-31 . 2016-10-16.
  17. "Pop Singles" Billboard December 20, 1980: TIA-10
  18. Web site: Top 100 Year End Charts: 1980 . . 2015-07-22 .