| Satellite | |
| Cover: | The Hooters Satellite 1987 single cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Hooters |
| Album: | One Way Home |
| B-Side: | One Way Home |
| Released: | 1987 |
| Genre: | Pop rock |
| Length: | 3:50 (single version) 4:18 (album version) |
| Label: | Columbia (US) CBS |
| Producer: | Rick Chertoff |
| Prev Title: | Johnny B |
| Prev Year: | 1987 |
| Next Title: | Karla with a K |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
"Satellite" is a song by American rock band The Hooters, which was released in 1987 as the second single from their third studio album One Way Home. The song was written by Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian and Rick Chertoff, and produced by Chertoff. "Satellite" reached No. 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] their only song to chart there.
"Satellite" takes a satirical look at Televangelism. Hyman told Simon Mayo for the Reading Evening Post in 1987: "They're a strange combination of religious concepts and satellite technology both up there in the heavens. It's all very political because to get your programmes on the satellite you need influence, money and power. The programmes are supposed to be non profit making but recent exposés have uncovered loads of financial scandals. Our song is very timely!"[2]
The song's music video was directed by David Hogan and produced by Daniel Stewart for Limelight Productions.[3] It achieved active rotation on MTV.[4]
Upon its release, Billboard described "Satellite" as a "traditionally styled rock number".[5] Cash Box considered the song a "driving pop/rock" track that "should continue" the band's success in the Top 40 and on AOR radio.[6] Music & Media wrote, "Captivating and epic piece of rock with folk overtones through an accordion and a Big Country type of lick."[7] Chris Welch of Kerrang! described it as being in "Byrds-Dylan territory, updated, revitalised, very strong and melodic".[8] In a review of One Way Home, David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the song as a "powerful pop KO of TV pulpit pounders", with its "core riff" being "a metallic jig figure – sort of Boston meets John Barleycorn – fattened up with iron-fist guitar chords and Close Encounters synth effects".[9]
The Hooters
Production
| Chart (1987-88) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 Singles[10] | 20 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 61 |
| US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[12] | 13 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[13] | 67 |