Summertime (The Sundays song) explained

Summertime
Cover:TheSundaysSummertimeCover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Sundays
Album:Static & Silence
B-Side:
  • "Nothing Sweet"
  • "Gone"
Studio:
  • Home
  • RAK (London, England)
Length:3:35
Label:
Producer:
  • David Gavurin
  • Harriet Wheeler
Prev Title:Goodbye
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Cry
Next Year:1997

"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 third and final studio album, Static & Silence (1997), and released on 8 September 1997 as the first single from the album. 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" became the Sundays' most successful single worldwide, peaking at number 15 in their native United Kingdom and entering the top 50 in Australia and Canada. In the United States, the song was not eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time 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 Triple-A chart, number 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number 13 on the Adult Top 40.

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.[1] 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."[1] The lyrics of the song reflect their beliefs. According to Billboard editor Bradley Bambarger, the song "examines the burdensome ideal of romantic bliss".[1]

Composition

"Summertime" is in the key of A major and has a tempo of 96 beats per minute,[2] featuring Wheeler on vocals, Gavurin on guitar, Paul Brindley on bass guitar, and Patrick Hannan on drums.[3]

Track listings

UK CD1[4]

  1. "Summertime" – 3:35
  2. "Nothing Sweet" – 3:03
  3. "Gone" – 3:52

UK CD2[5]

  1. "Summertime" – 3:34
  2. "Skin & Bones" (live) – 4:12
  3. "Here's Where the Story Ends" (live) – 4:01

UK limited-edition 7-inch single[6]

A. "Summertime"

B. "Nothing Sweet"

European and Australian CD single[7]

  1. "Summertime" – 3:34
  2. "Here's Where the Story Ends" (live) – 4:03
  3. "Nothing Sweet" – 3:03
  4. "Gone" – 3:51

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Static & Silence booklet and the UK CD2 liner notes.[3] [5]

Studios

The Sundays

Other personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997–1998)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 56
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[9] 50
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[10] 13
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[11] 10
US Triple-A (Billboard)[12] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[13] 63
US Triple-A (Billboard)[14] 40

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States18 August 1997Modern rock radioDGC[16]
26 August 1997Contemporary hit radio[17]
United Kingdom8 September 1997Parlophone[18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. The Modern Age. Bambarger. Bradley. Billboard. 109. 39. 101. 27 September 1997. 9 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Key & BPM for Summertime by The Sundays. Tunebat. 2 June 2019.
  3. Static & Silence. Static & Silence. The Sundays. 1997. UK CD album booklet. Parlophone. CDEST 2300.
  4. Summertime. The Sundays. 1997. UK CD1 liner notes. Parlophone. CDRS 6475.
  5. Summertime. The Sundays. 1997. UK CD2 liner notes. Parlophone. CDR 6475, 7243 8 84579 2.
  6. Summertime. The Sundays. 1997. UK limited 7-inch single sleeve. Parlophone. R6475, 7243 8 84578 7 3.
  7. Summertime. The Sundays. 1997. European & Australian CD single liner notes. Parlophone. 7243 8 84629 2 1.
  8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 39. 13. 27 September 2020. 22 January 2020.
  9. Radio Songs. Billboard. 1 November 1997. subscription. 1 August 2023.
  10. Adult Pop Airplay. Billboard. 3 January 1998. subscription. 1 August 2023.
  11. Alternative Airplay. Billboard. 25 October 1997. subscription. 1 August 2023.
  12. Adult Alternative Airplay. Billboard. 8 November 1997. subscription. 1 August 2023.
  13. Best of '97: Modern Rock Track. Airplay Monitor. 5. 52. YE-30. 28 December 1997.
  14. Best of '97: Triple A Tracks. Airplay Monitor. 5. 52. 28. 26 December 1997.
  15. Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998. Airplay Monitor. 6. 52. 55. 25 December 1998.
  16. Upcoming New Releases. Hits. 11. 556. 40. 15 August 1997.
  17. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1211. 35. 22 August 1997.
  18. Album Spotlight. Lorenz. Christian. Music & Media. 14. 39. 16. 27 September 1997. 22 January 2020.
  19. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 53. 6 September 1997.

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