Summertime (The Sundays song)

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"Summertime"
Single by the Sundays
from the album Static & Silence
B-side
  • "Nothing Sweet"
  • "Gone"
Released8 September 1997 (1997-09-08)
Studio
  • Home
  • RAK (London, England)
Length3:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • David Gavurin
  • Harriet Wheeler
The Sundays singles chronology
"Goodbye"
(1992) 		"Summertime"
(1997) 		"Cry"
(1997)
Music video
"Summertime" on YouTube

"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[edit]

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[edit]

"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[edit]

Credits and personnel[edit]

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

Studios

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 18 August 1997 Modern rock radio DGC [21]
26 August 1997 Contemporary hit radio [22]
United Kingdom 8 September 1997
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Parlophone [23][24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Bambarger, Bradley (27 September 1997). "The Modern Age" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 39. p. 101. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Key & BPM for Summertime by The Sundays". Tunebat. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b Static & Silence (UK CD album booklet). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. CDEST 2300.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Summertime (UK CD1 liner notes). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. CDRS 6475.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b Summertime (UK CD2 liner notes). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. CDR 6475, 7243 8 84579 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Summertime (UK limited 7-inch single sleeve). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. R6475, 7243 8 84578 7 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Summertime (European & Australian CD single liner notes). The Sundays. Parlophone. 1997. 7243 8 84629 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "The Sundays – Summertime". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3469." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3427." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 39. 27 September 2020. p. 13. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Radio Songs". Billboard. 1 November 1997. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. 3 January 1998. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 25 October 1997. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 8 November 1997. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Best of '97: Modern Rock Track". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. 28 December 1997. p. YE-30.
  19. ^ "Best of '97: Triple A Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. 26 December 1997. p. 28.
  20. ^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 55.
  21. ^ "Upcoming New Releases". Hits. Vol. 11, no. 556. 15 August 1997. p. 40.
  22. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1211. 22 August 1997. p. 35.
  23. ^ Lorenz, Christian (27 September 1997). "Album Spotlight" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 39. p. 16. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  24. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 September 1997. p. 53.
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