Sunshine on Leith (song) explained

Sunshine on Leith
Type:	single
Artist:	the Proclaimers
Album:	Sunshine on Leith
Released:	1988
Recorded:	1988
Genre:	Rock
Length:	5:14^[1]
Label:	Chrysalis
Producer:	Pete Wingfield
Prev Title:	I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	I'm on My Way
Next Year:	1989

"Sunshine on Leith" is a ballad by Scottish folk rock duo the Proclaimers. Released in 1988, it is the title-track and second single from their album Sunshine on Leith.

In popular culture

"Sunshine on Leith" is played frequently at Easter Road Stadium by Edinburgh-based football team Hibernian F.C., of whom the band are supporters.^[2]

Reception

Critical reception

Bill Wyman of the Chicago Reader commented that the song, which he thought to be "a cross between a hymn and an Eagles tune", "genuinely reaches," describing the track as a "'I'm in love and happy to ever have been born' tearjerker".^[3]

Accolades

In June 2018, "Sunshine on Leith" was voted the UK's favourite football anthem as part of the "Football Anthems World Cup" by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6.^[4]

The song featured on the BBC Radio 4 series Soul Music on 15 December 2020.^[5]

Notable cover

"Sunshine on Leith" was recorded by David Tennant and the BBC Concert Orchestra for the charity album BBC Children in Need: Got It Covered, released in 2019.^[6]

Notes and References

Web site: Demalton . Tom . Sunshine On Leith - The Proclaimers . AllMusic . 26 December 2019.
News: Singing twins bring sunshine to Leith . The Best Of album, due for release in the UK on May 13, features 20 songs drawn from the duo’s 15-year career, including Sunshine On Leith, their famous anthem which is regularly played at Easter Road, home of their beloved Hibernian Football Club. . 4 May 2002 . 13 October 2013 . The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing.
News: Wyman . Bill . The Proclaimers--Sunshine on Leith - Music Review . 1 January 2020 . Chicago Reader . Chicago Reader . 27 April 1989.
Web site: Amy . Watson . Sunshine on Leith voted UK's favourite football anthem . The Scotsman . 13 January 2020.
Web site: Sunshine on Leith. Soul Music. BBC Radio 4. 15 December 2020.
Web site: Spierson . Pete . 2019-11-05 . Got It Covered heading for No.1 spot in the UK’s Official Album Chart for BBC Children in Need . 2024-02-16 . BBC Children in Need . en-US.