Someone Somewhere in Summertime

"Someone Somewhere In Summertime"
Single by Simple Minds
Single by Simple Minds
from the album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)
B-side "King Is White And In The Crowd"
Released November 1982 (1982-11)
Format
Genre New wave
Length 4:35
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Simple Minds
Producer(s) Peter Walsh
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Glittering Prize"
(1982)		 "Someone Somewhere in Summertime"
(1982)		 "I Travel (2nd reissue)"
(1982)

"Someone Somewhere In Summertime" is a song by Simple Minds released as the third single from the album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) in November 1982. Its performance in the UK Singles Chart was significantly poorer than the band's two previous hits, peaking at no. 36 and charting for 5 weeks.[1] Nonetheless, it has become a live favourite.[2][3][4] and acclaimed as one of the album's most popular tracks.[5]

The song also charted in Ireland, peaking at number 19.[6]

Mel Gaynor was the drummer for the song, with Kenny Hyslop and Mike Ogletree being the other session drummers for New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84). No promotional video was made for the song's release,[7] as the band were preparing for a forthcoming tour of the UK.[8]

Title

There are minor historical discrepancies regarding the song's exact title. The original cassette version of New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) in 1982 lists the opening track as "Someone Somewhere In Summertime",[9] whereas the single release titled the song as "Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)" on the front cover.[1] The 2001 compilation album The Best of Simple Minds uses this exact title, while the 2003 DVD release "Seen The Lights: A Visual History" lists the song as "Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime)".

Style

Although a new wave track in the same genre as the band's previous two singles, "Someone Somewhere In Summertime" is noticeably different in terms of melodic effect.[10] Described by AllMusic's Dave Thompson as an "introspective" track with a "dreamy atmosphere",[5] the song is generally seen as taking a gentler and more delicate turn that, as the title suggests, evokes a yearning nature.[11] This can be seen where the song demonstrates imagining blissful or ecstatic scenes in the line: "Moments burn, slow burning golden nights, once more see city lights".[12]

Critical reception

Similarly to "Promised You a Miracle" and "Glittering Prize", "Someone Somewhere In Summertime" has received positive acclaim, praised by AllMusic's MacKenzie Wilson for its ability for "tapping into internal emotion".[13] A Rolling Stone review in 2003 described the "lush" and "erotic" song as one of the album's strongest and more "tuneful" tracks.[14] A Q magazine special in January 2005 stated the song as opening New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) in "magisterial fashion. Charlie Burchill's Edge-like guitar descended across Mick McNeil's textured keyboards, creating a ravishing sense of wonder."[12]

More recent reviews of the song, especially live, have also been positive. The Independent's Simon Price describes "Someone Somewhere In Summertime" as "an unimpeachable highlight, starting 100ft above the ground and never coming down to earth.".[2] The Guardian's Dave Simpson also complimented the track, labelling it as "a waltz through a mythical August haze" and describing its parent album as a "shimmering masterpiece".[15]

"Someone Somewhere In Summertime" has been sampled on the song "The World Is Mine" by French producer David Guetta.[16][17]

Charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 19
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[18] 36

References

  1. 1 2 "Simple Minds". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 Price, Simon (6 December 2009). "Simple Minds, LG Arena, Birmingham Foxy Shazam, Water Rats, London". The Independent (London). Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Geraghty, Helen (13 June 2011). "Simple Minds sparkle in between the rain". Kent Online.
  4. ↑ "Simple Minds High Lodge Thetford Forest live review". Lynn News. 1 July 2001. p. 35.
  5. 1 2 Thompson, Dave. "Simple Minds – Someone, Somewhere in Summertime". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Someone Somewhere". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  7. ↑ Simple Minds — Seen The Lights: A Visual History (Index list). Virgin Digital Remaster. 2003.
  8. ↑ "someone somewhere (in summertime): information". Dream Giver Redux. Simpleminds.org. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  9. ↑ New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) (Sleeve Credits). 1982.
  10. ↑ Hogg, Brian (1982). Glittering Prize 81/92 (Cassette sleeve notes).
  11. ↑ "someone somewhere (in summertime) single". Dream Giver Redux. Simpleminds.org. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  12. 1 2 Stubbs, David (May 2002). "New Gold Dreams (81,82,83,84) Articles & Reviews". Uncut. Simpleminds.org.uk.
  13. ↑ Wilson, MacKenzie. "Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  14. ↑ Fricke, David (14 April 1983). Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) at the Wayback Machine (archived 9 July 2008). Rolling Stone (RS 393) (Straight Arrow). ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  15. ↑ Simpson, Dave (1 December 2008). "Simple Minds". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "David Guetta". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "the world is mine by david guetta featuring jd davis: information". Dream Giver Redux. Simpleminds.org. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1982-11-20" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 June 2014.

External links

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