On the Radio (Donna Summer song)
"On the Radio" | ||||
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One of Belgian single covers | ||||
Single by Donna Summer | ||||
from the album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II and Foxes (soundtrack) | ||||
B-side | "There Will Always Be a You" | |||
Released | November 23, 1979 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:05 | |||
Label | Casablanca | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Giorgio Moroder | |||
Donna Summer singles chronology | ||||
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"On the Radio" is a song by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer, produced by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, and released in late-1979 on the Casablanca record label. It was written for the soundtrack to the film Foxes and included on Summer's first international compilation album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II. It was released as a single and became, in February 1980, her tenth top-ten hit in the U.S. as well as her eighth and final consecutive top 5 single. "On the Radio" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the soul chart.[1] The song was also Summer's 14th entry on the Billboard Disco chart, where it peaked at number eight.[2] In Canada, it peaked at number two.[3]
History
The song was released in three formats: the radio 45rpm single; the 5+ minute version included on Summer's Greatest Hits double album package, and a DJ Promo 7+ minute version released on 12" single (and included on the Foxes film soundtrack album). This last version was later released on the Bad Girls CD digipack double CD release. The Foxes soundtrack also includes an instrumental version of the song in a ballad tempo and crediting Moroder as a solo artist. In the film, the ballad tempo is heard with Donna Summer's vocals. The disco version is never heard. Donna Summer performed "On the Radio" on many television shows such as American Bandstand. The instrumental parts of this song were occasionally heard on the US version of The Price Is Right in the early 1980s when they displayed jukeboxes and stereos as prizes. While the first two versions included all written lyrics, the DJ Promo omitted the final verse, opting instead to repeat the third. Only the first "short" version ended with the famous "on the radio – adio – adio" echo vocal effect. For the second consecutive year, Summer placed at least three singles in the Billboard Year-End charts in 1980.
Official versions
- "On the Radio" – (single version) – 4:00
- "On the Radio" – (On the Radio: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2: long version) – 5:50
- "On the Radio" – (Foxes soundtrack and 12" single version) – 7:34
- "On the Radio" – (piano instrumental version from Foxes soundtrack) – 4:27
Personnel
- All vocals and lyrics by Donna Summer
- Music written by Giorgio Moroder
- Produced by Giorgio Moroder
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Cover versions
- In 1983, a ballad version by country singer Emmylou Harris was included on her album White Shoes.
- The song was later covered by Selena.
- In 1999, Swedish singer-songwriter Bosson included a cover of the song on his album The Right Time.
- In 2003, Scottish singer-songwriter, radio DJ and television presenter Michelle McManus chose this song as part of Contestant's Choice, on the final of Pop Idol Series 2.
- In 2001, English actress-singer Martine McCutcheon released a cover version, reaching number seven on the UK Singles Chart.
- In 2006, the song was recorded by Filipino singer Regine Velasquez on her Covers Vol. 2 album.
- In 2006, German singer Michelle covered the song as "Tanja Tomas" on her album My Passion.
- In 2008, it was recorded by Filipino singer Jaya on her Cool Change album.
- In 2010, alternative rock band Hypnogaja released an acoustic version. The recording won the 2010 Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Male Vocal (by Hypnogaja's ShyBoy).
- In 2010, Jennifer Lopez recorded a version of the song with producer Boy George for her 2011 album Love?. This cover was eventually excluded from the album's final track list.[14] Lopez had previously performed the song in character as slain Tejano singer Selena in the 1997 Gregory Nava biopic of the same name.
- In 2012, eurodance/vocal trance act Novaspace released a remix package produced in Germany.
- In 2013, The Saturdays released a cover of the song as a B-side track to their single Disco Love for their 2013 album Living for the Weekend.
- In 2014, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes released a cover on the album Are We Not Men? We Are Diva!.
- In 2018, the song was included in the Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.
Live cover performances
- Alexandra Burke performed this song on the UK talent show The X Factor season five.
- Katelyn Tarver performed this song on the reality series, American Juniors.
- In 1995, Tejano musician Selena performed a Disco Medley featuring On The Radio in front of a sold out audience of over 60,000 people at the Houston Astrodome, breaking attendance records. It would later be released on the Selena film soundtrack and Live! The Last Concert album and DVD.
- In 2005, American Idol season 4 finalist Vonzell Solomon performed the song on the Final 3 producer's choice night. Despite the praise she received, she was eliminated the following night.
- In 2006, On The Radio was performed on Australian Idol season 4 by eventual runner-up Jessica Mauboy on the Final 8 Disco theme night. The performance was well received by the judges and audience and she was declared safe on the following verdict show.
References
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 556.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 249.
- ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- 1 2 Steffen Hung. "Forum – Oasis – part of the queue ()". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- ↑ "dutchcharts.nl – Discografie Donna Summer". © 2006–2011 Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – On the Radio". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 234.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-08. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1980/Top 100 Songs of 1980". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
- ↑ Seacrest, Ryan (2010-04-29). "Jennifer Lopez teams up with david guetta for a cover of donna summer's on the radio". Ryanseacrest.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-29.