The Tide Is High Explained

The Tide Is High
Cover:The Tide Is High - Paragons.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Paragons
Album:On the Beach
A-Side:Only a Smile
Released:1967
Genre:Rocksteady[1]
Length:2:43
Label:Treasure Isle

"The Tide Is High" is a 1967 rocksteady song written by John Holt, originally produced by Duke Reid and performed by the Jamaican group the Paragons, with Holt as lead singer. The song gained international attention in 1980, when a cover version by the American band Blondie became a US and UK number one hit.[2] The song topped the UK Singles Chart again in 2002 with a version by the British girl group Atomic Kitten, while Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall had a minor hit with his interpretation in 2008.

The Paragons version

"The Tide Is High" was written by John Holt and originally recorded by the Paragons (the rocksteady vocal trio of which he was a member), and accompanied by Tommy McCook and the Supersonic Band. It was produced by Duke Reid and released as a 7-inch single on Reid's Treasure Isle and Trojan labels and as the B-side of the single "Only a Smile".[3]

The song features the violin of "White Rum" Raymond,[4] and was popular in Jamaica as well as in the UK when a deejay version by U-Roy was released in 1971. Both tracks from the single were included on the 1970 collection On the Beach.

Track list

  1. "Only a Smile"
  2. "The Tide Is High" – 2:53

Blondie version

The Tide Is High
Cover:Blondie - The Tide Is High.png
Type:single
Artist:Blondie
Album:Autoamerican
B-Side:Susie and Jeffrey
Released:31 October 1980
Studio:United Western, Hollywood, California[5]
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:40 (album version)
  • 3:54 (single edit)
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Mike Chapman
Prev Title:Atomic
Prev Year:1980
Next Title:Rapture
Next Year:1981

"The Tide Is High" was covered by the American new wave band Blondie in 1980, in a reggae style that included horns and strings. It was released as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, Autoamerican (1980), giving Blondie their third number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and their fifth in the UK (where it became Blondie's last British number one for 18 years, until "Maria" in February 1999). The track also reached number one in Canada and New Zealand, and was a Top 5 hit on many European charts as well as in countries including Australia and South Africa. The B-side was "Susie and Jeffrey", which appeared as a bonus track on the original 1980 cassette edition of the Autoamerican album, and was also included on EMI-Capitol's re-issue of Autoamerican in 2001.[11]

Billboard said that "The instrumental break is catchy while the track sways to a lyrical beat."[12] Record World called it a "surprising and pleasing reggae track."[13]

Versions

Official remixes of the Blondie version have been issued twice; first by Coldcut in 1988 on the Blondie/Debbie Harry remix compilation Once More into the Bleach, and the second time in 1995 by Pete Arden and Vinny Vero on the album (UK edition: ).

Blondie re-recorded the song for the 2014 compilation album Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux. The compilation was part of a 2-disc set called Blondie 4(0) Ever, which included their tenth studio album Ghosts of Download, and marked the 40th anniversary of the band's formation.

Accolades

YearPublisherCountryAccoladeRank
1981Dave Marsh & James BernardUnited StatesSingles of the Year 1980[14] 21
2003Giannis PetridisGreece2004 of the Best Songs of the Century
2003NMEUnited Kingdom117 Songs to Soundtrack Your Summer[15]
2003Paul MorleyUnited KingdomGreatest Pop Single of All Time[16]
2005Bruce PollockUnited StatesThe 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944–2000
2005Toby CreswellAustralia1001 Songs

(*) indicates the list is unordered.

Track listings

7-inch

  1. "The Tide Is High" (7-inch edit) – 3:54
  2. "Suzy & Jeffrey" – 4:09

US 7-inch (Chrysalis Classics Re-Issue)

  1. "The Tide Is High" (7-inch edit) – 3:54
  2. "Rapture" – 4:59

US 7-inch (Collectables Record Corp. COL 6115)

  1. "The Tide Is High"
  2. "Heart of Glass"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980–1981)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 19
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[19] 5
US Billboard Adult Contemporary3
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1
US Cash Box[21] 1
US Record World[22] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)Rank
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 59
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 65
Chart (1981)Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[25] 48
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[26] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 17
US Cash Box[29] 20

Certifications

Papa Dee version

The Tide Is High
Cover:Tideishighpapadee.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Papa Dee
Album:The Journey
Released:1996
Length:3:55
Label:WEA
Prev Title:The Journey
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:Feeding You Lies
Next Year:1996

In 1996, Papa Dee covered the song on his album The Journey. It was released on both CD single and CD maxi formats.

Track listings

CD single

  1. "The Tide Is High (On The Beach – Original Version)" – 3:43
  2. "The Tide Is High (Radio Version 1996)" – 3:40

CD maxi

  1. "The Tide Is High (On The Beach – Original Version)" – 3:43
  2. "The Tide Is High (5 Gramme Remix)" – 5:17
  3. "The Tide Is High (Extended Version)" – 5:51
  4. "Great Money Spender"" – 4:08

Charts

Atomic Kitten version

The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)
Cover:Atomic_Kitten_The_Tide_Is_High_Cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Atomic Kitten
Album:Feels So Good
Genre:Pop[30]
Studio:Wise Buddah (London, England)
Length:3:26
Prev Title:It's OK!
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:Be with You
Next Title2:The Last Goodbye
Next Year:2002

British girl group Atomic Kitten covered "The Tide Is High" and released it as the second single from their second studio album, Feels So Good (2002), on 26 August 2002. Their version of the song also added a new bridge co-written by Howard Barrett, Tyrone Evans and the song's producers Bill Padley and Jem Godfrey, hence the subtitle "Get the Feeling". The song was regularly played on Radio Disney in the United States from 2002 to 2004 and again in 2021. It was used during the opening credits of The Lizzie McGuire Movie and was also used for a TV commercial featuring Japanese beer company Asahi Breweries. This was the group's third and final UK number one single. This version of "The Tide Is High" was selected by The Daily Telegraph writer David Cheal as one of his "Top five awful cover versions" in 2002, describing it as "a ghastly, sickly confection that has none of the wistfulness or soulfulness of either Blondie's version or the Paragons' original".[31]

The group performed the track for the first time ever with the original line-up for their 2012 reformation on The Big Reunion, with Kerry Katona performing Jenny Frost's vocals.

Chart performance

Atomic Kitten's version of the song proved successful on the charts, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It spent three weeks at number one in the United Kingdom (selling 145,000 copies in the first week; it was eventually certified Platinum and has sold over 600,000 copies), and is the group's third and final UK number one. The track also topped the charts in Ireland and New Zealand, and was a Top 5 hit in many other countries, including Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey amongst others.

Music video

The music video is Atomic Kitten's most famous due to band member Natasha Hamilton being noticeably pregnant at the time. The video begins with the group walking in front of a flashing rainbow. Whenever the chorus of the song is heard, a dance accompanies it. Hamilton, Liz McClarnon and Jenny Frost choreographed a simplistic dance that they would also perform during live shows. Four men are seen dancing alongside the women with slightly different moves.

A sign that reads "Atomic" can be seen flashing throughout the video (and on clips on the "behind the scenes" version showing one girl dancing and three girls dancing). Each group member has a different set for their solo. McClarnon is next to a silver tree, with a purple background and a repeating pattern of the same tree that she is dancing beside. Frost is next to a car while Hamilton is seen in a pink-coloured room with "number 1" signs. At the song's bridge, the three women are seen dancing near fluorescent purple lights.

Spanish version

Atomic Kitten also recorded a Spanish version of the single, titled "Ser tu pasión". It was released in Colombia, Mexico and Spain, but failed to chart. However, the song promoted Atomic Kitten's second studio album Feels So Good in Mexico, and as a result, the album peaked at number 69 on the charts there; it was also included on the Spanish version of Atomic Kitten's Greatest Hits album.

Track listings

UK CD1 (blue)[32]

  1. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (radio mix) – 3:26
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:10
  3. "Dancing in the Street" – 3:39
  4. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (video) – 3:26

UK CD2 (red)[33]

  1. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (radio mix) – 3:26
  2. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (Groove Brothers 12-inch remix) – 5:35
  3. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (Lasgo Remix) – 5:40

UK cassette single[34]

  1. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (radio mix) – 3:26
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:10
  3. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (Groove Brothers edit) – 3:20

European CD single[35]

  1. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (radio mix) – 3:26
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:10

Australian CD single[36]

  1. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (radio mix) – 3:26
  2. "It's OK!" (Almighty Mix) – 6:32
  3. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (Groove Brothers edit) – 3:20
  4. "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" (Groove Brothers 12-inch) – 5:34
  5. "Whole Again" (M*A*S*H Master Mix) – 7:15

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Feels So Good album booklet.[37]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–2003)Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[38] 1
Czech Republic (IFPI)[39] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[40] 3
Poland (Music & Media)[41] 9
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)[42] 5
Turkey (Türkiye Top 20)[43] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
Australia (ARIA)[44] 32
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[45] 43
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[46] 41
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[47] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[48] 54
Ireland (IRMA)[49] 15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[51] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[52] 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[53] 30
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[54] 61
UK Singles (OCC)[55] 13
UK Airplay (Music Week)[56] 58

Decade-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom26 August 2002[59]
New Zealand7 October 2002CD[60]
Australia14 October 2002[61]

Kardinal Offishall version

Numba 1 (Tide Is High)
Cover:Numba 1.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kardinal Offishall featuring Keri Hilson
Album:Not 4 Sale
B-Side:Nina
Released:September 2008
Length:3:42
Producer:Supa Dups
Chronology:Kardinal Offishall
Prev Title:Set It Off
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Beautiful
Next Year:2009

"Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" is a 2008 version of the song, performed by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall (featuring Keri Hilson). Produced by Supa Dups, the song – a percussive, dancehall-infused hip hop update – was released in September 2008 as the fourth single from Offishall's fourth album Not 4 Sale.[62] It was released on iTunes on 14 October 2008. In March 2010, the single was certified Gold by the CRIA.[63]

In Canada, a version featured Rihanna was released on 12 October 2008 and peaked at number 38. In Latin America a version featured Nicole Scherzinger was released in November.

Music video

The music video premiered on 24 October 2008 at Yahoo! Music.[64] It was directed by Gil Green, with Akon making a cameo appearance.[65] The song "Nina" is featured at the end of the video.

Track list

  1. "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (featuring Keri Hilson) – 3:40
  2. "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (featuring Keri Hilson) [Moto Blanco Club Mix] – 6:55
  1. "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (featuring Rihanna) – 3:44
  1. "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (featuring Nicole Scherzinger) – 3:39

Charts

Chart (2008–2009)Peak
position
Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Singles)1[68] 32
Germany (Deutsche Black Charts)[69] 1
Israel (Airplay Chart)[70] 7
Turkey (Türkiye Top 20)[71] 4

Certifications

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kevin O'Brien . Chang . Wayne . Chen . 1998 . Reggae Routes: The Story of Jamaican Music . . 41 . 1-56639-629-8 . registration.
  2. Peter . Jones . 'Tide' In Again . Billboard . 22 November 1980 . 97 . 47 . 62 . 0006-2510 .
  3. Book: Turner, Michael . 2002 . Roots Knotty Roots . Nighthawk Records.
  4. News: Michael . Hann . Old music: The Paragons – The Tide Is High . . 18 October 2011 . 10 January 2014 .
  5. Web site: Schultz. Barbara. Classic Tracks: Blondie's "The Tide Is High". MIX. Future plc. 1 March 1999. 24 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Robert . Christgau . Robert Christgau . Consumer Guide Album – Blondie: Autoamerican . 10 January 2014 .
  7. Book: Matos, Michaelangelo. Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year. Island Records, London: May 8, 1984. 8 December 2020. Hachette Books. 978-0-306-90337-3. 112.
  8. Book: Glickman, Simon . Gary . Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . Blondie/Deborah Harry/Jimmy Destri . . Detroit . 122 . ...and the calypso cover "The Tide is High"....
  9. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. State of Independence: Jamaica. https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 320.
  10. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Blondie's "The Tide Is High". . April 17, 2020 . ...Blondie understand “The Tide Is High” as a straight-up pop song, and they play it like one.. July 15, 2023.
  11. Web site: Curtis-Horsfall . Thomas . 23 June 2023 . The Story of... 'The Tide Is High' by Blondie . 2023-09-30 . . en.
  12. Top Single Picks. 2023-01-21. November 15, 1980. Billboard. 93.
  13. Record World. November 15, 1980. 1. 2023-02-07. Hits of the Week.
  14. Web site: Book of Rock Lists – Singles of the Year.. 1980 . Rocklist.net . 26 March 2014 .
  15. Web site: 117 Songs to Soundtrack Your Summer . . Rocklist.net . 26 March 2014 .
  16. Web site: Paul Morley . Rocklist.net . 26 March 2014 .
  17. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . 10 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020025459/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= . 20 October 2013.
  18. Book: Pennanen, Timo . 2006 . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . 1st . Tammi . Helsinki . 978-951-1-21053-5 . fi.
  19. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B) . Rock.co.za . 28 June 2013 .
  20. Web site: Autoamerican – Awards . . 28 June 2013 .
  21. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 31, 1981 . . 17 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120917020834/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19810131.html.
  22. Record World Singles . . 27 . 31 January 1981 . 9 September 2017 .
  23. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980 . . 10 January 2014 . nl.
  24. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 10 January 2014 . nl.
  25. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . 29 September 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134948/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 . 6 October 2014.
  26. Web site: Top 100 Singles of 1981 . 35 . 22 . 26 December 1981 . . . 26 June 2018 .
  27. Web site: End of Year Charts 1981 . . 29 September 2016 .
  28. Web site: Top 100 Hits for 1981 . The Longbored Surfer . 26 June 2018 .
  29. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981 . . dead . 18 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120918145923/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html.
  30. News: Harrison . Brocklehurst . Every UK number one single from 2002, ranked from worst to best. . 23 August 2022. 17 February 2023.
  31. News: David . Cheal . Top five awful cover versions . . 2 November 2002 . 10 January 2014 .
  32. The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling) . . 2002 . UK CD1 liner notes . . SINCD38.
  33. The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling) . Atomic Kitten . 2002 . UK CD2 liner notes . Innocent Records, Virgin Records . SINDX38.
  34. The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling) . Atomic Kitten . 2002 . UK cassette single sleeve . Innocent Records, Virgin Records . SINC38.
  35. The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling) . Atomic Kitten . 2002 . European CD single liner notes . Innocent Records, Virgin Records . SINCDE38.
  36. The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling) . Atomic Kitten . 2002 . Australian CD single liner notes . Innocent Records, Virgin Records . 7243 5 51356 2 9.
  37. Feels So Good . Feels So Good (Atomic Kitten album) . Atomic Kitten . 2002 . UK CD album booklet . Innocent Records, Virgin Records . CDSIN 10, 724354228025.
  38. Web site: Izvodjac/kompozicija . . 7 March 2021 . dead . 5 October 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021005074233/http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/maineng.html.
  39. Web site: Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 4/2003 . IFPI ČR . 16 January 2020 . dead . 1 February 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030201133447/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm . cs.
  40. Hits of the World . . 28 September 2002 . 114 . 39 . 55 . 0006-2510 .
  41. Major Market Airplay – Week 43/2002. Music & Media. 20. 43. 21. 19 October 2002. 17 February 2023.
  42. Web site: Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 42/2002 . PiF PaF Production . 22 August 2019 . 30 July 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030730200930/http://www.pifpaf.com.pl/airplay/lista_42_2002.html . dead.
  43. Web site: Yabancı . Pop . TTNet Müzik Yabancı Pop Top 20… 7 Mayıs 2013 . Muziklisteleri.net . 10 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212105438/http://www.muziklisteleri.net/ttnet-muzik-2/ttnet-muzik-yabanci-pop-top-20-7-mayis-2013.html . 12 December 2013 . tr.
  44. Web site: ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2002 . . 10 January 2014 .
  45. Web site: Jahreshitparade 2002 . Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien . 10 January 2014 . de.
  46. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2002 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 10 January 2014 . nl.
  47. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002 . . 21 . 2–3 . 14 . 11 January 2003 . 11 May 2020 .
  48. Web site: Jahrescharts – 2002 . Offiziellecharts.de . GfK Entertainment Charts . 9 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509005459/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2002 . de.
  49. Web site: Best of 2002 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20141113111012/http://irma.ie/best2002.htm . 13 November 2014.
  50. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2002 . . 10 January 2014 . nl.
  51. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 10 January 2014 . nl.
  52. Web site: End of Year Charts 2002 . Recorded Music NZ . 11 May 2020 .
  53. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2002 . . dead . 10 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151210214905/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20020001 . 28 March 2020 . sv.
  54. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002 . Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien . 10 January 2014 . de.
  55. Web site: ChartsPlusYE2002 . UKchartsplus.co.uk . 10 January 2014 .
  56. Most Broadcast of 2002 — Airplay Top 50 . . 31 . January 18, 2003 . August 4, 2023 .
  57. Web site: ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2003 . ARIA Charts. ARIA . 10 January 2014 .
  58. Web site: Decennium Charts – Singles 2000–2009 . . 3 May 2022 . nl.
  59. New Releases – For Week Starting 26 August 2002: Singles . . 24 August 2002 . 27.
  60. Web site: New Releases . netcd.co.nz . 7 October 2002 . 8 November 2023 . 10 October 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021010050441/http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html.
  61. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 14th October 2002 . ARIA . 26 . 14 October 2002 . 28 August 2021 . dead . 6 November 2002 . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20021106130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20021107-0000/Issue659.pdf.
  62. Pete . Lewis . Kardinal Offishall: A Blessing in Disguise . . February 2009 . 1064 . 5 October 2009 . 11 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211061440/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/381/a_blessing_in_disguise/ . dead .
  63. Web site: Gold & Platinum Certification – Audio & Video Certifications . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140924124129/http://www.cria.ca/gold/0310_g.php . 24 September 2014.
  64. Web site: Kardinal Offishall Numba 1 (Tide Is High) . . 24 October 2008 .
  65. Web site: Making of "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" featuring Keri Hilson . . 21 October 2008 . dead . https://archive.today/20120715225141/http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44780799 . 15 July 2012.
  66. Web site: Numba 1 (Tide Is High) – Single . . 12 February 2020 .
  67. Web site: Kardinal Offishall – The Boy Hollywood . Champ Magazine . 15 January 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090115184552/http://www.champmagazineonline.com/feature/kardinaloffishall.html.
  68. Web site: Not 4 Sale – Awards . . 10 January 2014 .
  69. Web site: Deutsche Black Charts . . 5 October 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100226205115/http://www.mtv.de/charts/black . 26 February 2010.
  70. Web site: Media Forest: International – Songs – Radio . . 10 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140110145929/http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/HistoryWeeklyCharts.aspx?year=2009&week=05 . 10 January 2014.
  71. Billboard Türkiye Top 20 – Bu Hafta #1 . Billboard . dead . 5 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090305044916/http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/.