| Thunder | |
| Cover: | Thunder_(East_17).jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | East 17 |
| Album: | Up All Night |
| B-Side: | E-17 - Overture Medley |
| Length: | 4:16 |
| Label: | London |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | Hold My Body Tight |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Title: | Do U Still? |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
"Thunder" is a song recorded by English boy band East 17, released as the first single from their third album, Up All Night (1995), on 23 October 1995 by London Records. It was written by band member Tony Mortimer, who co-produced it with Ian Curnow, Phil Harding and Rob Kean. The song achieved success in many countries, including Belgium (Wallonia), Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, where it was a top-10 hit. Its music video was directed by Francis Ridley,[1] featuring the band performing at an indoor set, where it later begins to rain.
Victoria Segal from Melody Maker noted the "bizarre fantasia" of "Thunder".[2] A reviewer from Music Week gave the song three out of five, writing, "A bland, lyrically-lacking rehash of all the elements which has made East 17 so successful. But it's catchy enough to create a stir."[3] John Robinson from NME commented, "Continuing the preoccupation with meteorological phenomena that began with 'Let It Rain', this is East 17's gothic ballad. Featuring extensive use of those slightly annoying DUM-DUM-DUM-DIDDLY-CRASH drum fills from Phil Collins' first batch of My Wife Left Me records, 'Thunder' finds the lean 'Teen out among the elements being called by a distant rumble to an intriguing and no doubt even sexual liaison under purple skies where the wild horses roam."[4]
* Contains "Let It Rain", "Stay Another Day", "House of Love", "Gold", "It's Alright", "Be There"
| Chart (1995–1996) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[5] | 36 | |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75) | 19 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) | 13 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) | 8 | |
| Denmark (IFPI)[6] | 9 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] | 6 | |
| France (SNEP) | 13 | |
| Germany (Media Control) | 6 | |
| Hungary (Mahasz)[8] | 1 | |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] | 39 | |
| Indonesia (IFPI)[10] | 5 | |
| Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 3 | |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[12] | 21 | |
| Japan (Oricon)[13] | 12 | |
| Lithuania (M-1)[14] | 1 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 19 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 21 | |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 7 | |
| Scotland (OCC)[15] | 5 | |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 22 | |
| Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade) | 5 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 4 |
| Chart (1995) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] | 89 | |
| Norway (Christmas Period)[18] | 9 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[19] | 33 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 23 October 1995 | London | [21] | |
| Japan | 1 December 1995 | CD | [22] |