Blue Savannah

"Blue Savannah" became one of Erasure's most successful singles, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also returned the band to the top 20 in West Germany, where the song peaked at number 13. In Israel, it hit number-one. The release of the single brought about the usual array of remixes and B-sides. Although several club mixes of "Blue Savannah" were issued commercially, the Shep Pettibone 'Out of the Blue' mix proved to be the most popular in dance clubs. This remix, available only on promotional copies of the 12-inch single, was never officially released and often fetches a premium from collectors. Compact disc versions of the promotional single which contain the 'Out of the Blue' remix are even more rare. In 2004, HiBias Records of Canada started their Retro:Active - Rare & Remixed CD series and the 'Out of the Blue' mix received its first official release, on volume one. In 2016, the remix was included on the Erasure 30th-anniversary anthology From Moscow to Mars, making its first-ever official release on an Erasure album. "Blue Savannah" was the inspiration for the song "Escribeme en el Cielo" three years later by the Mexican group Sentidos Opuestos, which is strikingly similar in its instrumental arrangements and melody.

Ned Raggett from AllMusic called "Blue Savannah" a "strong number", noting "the relatively low key pulse", "which sounds like a light motorik/Kraftwerk number given the appropriate Erasure sparkle."[1] Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as a "NRG-etic number"[2] and a "lilting, easy-paced gem."[3] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox commented, "Here, Erasure completely shake off their old drag for some Kraftwerk attire, then a Kraftwerk-meets-hip-hop groove thang. It’s better than the original."[4] Dundee Courier complimented the song as "such sterling work".[5] Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly stated that it is "perhaps Erasure's best sounding track – put it on now and its so fresh that is sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday." He described it as "audio daydream; a sublimely beautiful melody, sung with real feeling by Andy Bell, over some of Vince Clarke's loveliest keyboard work. That amazingly vibrant piano part just pops out of the speakers. This is what great pop music is all about – it makes you feel warm just listening to it."[6] Darren Lee from The Quietus noted "the lush electro-splendour" of "Blue Savannah", stating that it is one of "the most gloriously effervescent pop anthems ever recorded."[7] Christopher Smith from TalkAboutPopMusic called it "joyous" and "Erasure at its very best." He noted that Bell's voice across the first verses and chorus "are both haunting and sensual in equal measure."[8]

The music video directed by English singer, songwriter, musician and music video director Kevin Godley shows Clarke and Bell performing the song in a large, white room, which gets painted blue as the video progresses. A mysterious blue hand is coming down from above. Reaching the room, it holds a paint brush in view. The camera follows the hand as it paints Clarke and a shirtless Bell until they both are completely blue. Eventually gold-colored leaves, similar to those shown on the Wild! album cover, blow in and cover the duo as they perform.

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics