It's a Fine Day

"It's a Fine Day" is a song written by English poet and musician Edward Barton. It was originally recorded a cappella in 1983 by Jane, and later by Opus III for whom it was a major international hit in 1992.

Original recording by Jane
"It's a Fine Day"
Single by Jane
A-side"It's a Fine Day"
B-side"Of All Leaves Were Falling"
Released1983
LabelCherry Red Records
Songwriter(s)Edward Barton

Barton wrote the lyrics as a poem when living in the Hulme area of Manchester.[1] It was originally sung unaccompanied by, and credited to, Jane – that is, Jane Lancaster, Barton's girlfriend.[2][3] They recorded and released it independently, and it was played by radio DJ John Peel. It was then heard by Iain McNay of Cherry Red Records, who obtained the rights to the record and released it more widely on his label in 1983.[4] It reached number 5 on the UK Indie Chart, and later appeared, credited to Jane and Barton, on their eponymous mini-album Jane and Barton. This version of the song appeared on the 2013 indie-pop compilation album Scared to Get Happy: A Story of Indie-Pop 1980–1989.

Jane's unaccompanied vocal version of the song was given a backing track by A Guy Called Gerald in 1992.

Charts
Chart (1983) Peak
position
UK Indie (The Official Charts Company)[5] 5

Opus III version
"It's a Fine Day"
Single by Opus III
from the album Mind Fruit
B-side"Evolution Rush"
ReleasedFebruary 1992
StudioFluffy Trees Studio
Length3:36
LabelPWL International
Songwriter(s)Edward Barton
Producer(s)Opus III
Opus III singles chronology
"It's a Fine Day"
(1992)		 "I Talk to the Wind"
(1992)
Music video
"It's a Fine Day" on YouTube

Also in 1992, the song was covered by English electronic music group Opus III, whose lead vocalist was Kirsty Hawkshaw. It was their debut and released as the first single from their album, Mind Fruit. The single reached number 5 in the United Kingdom and number-one in Greece and on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play. In 2010, the song was named the 182nd best track of the 1990s by Pitchfork Media.[6] The two chief differences from Jane's original were that this version was not recorded a cappella but with a full instrumental accompaniment, and that it used only the first verse and chorus of the original song's lyrics.

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from most music critics. AllMusic editor MacKenzie Wilson said the song is "melodically enchanting with loopy trance vibes and textured synth waves". He noted Hawkshaw's "dove-like vocals transcended into freewheeling soundscapes".[7] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that this "quirky dance act" has made a "near-perfect, radio-friendly ditty". He noted that it is "empowered with a potent blend of, ethereal female vocals, a hypnotic hook, and an electro-hip beat."[8] Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly described it as a "bubble-gummy dance track" and added that "this self-described ambient-techno group lives up to the genre’s esoteric side."[9]

Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted it as a "precious lullaby for a sleepless generation."[10] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented that lead vocalist Hawkshaw "is the only name we know because the producers who put this British Dance sensation together can't legally reveal themselves. Supposedly, Kirsty was singing in her garden while this mysterious group was recording the sounds of birds. A likely story. In any case, it was a fortunate meeting that gave life to this hot track."[11] Music Week stated that "it's the nearest thing yet to an ambient rave. Watch it chase Kylie and 2 Unlimited up the chart."[12]

The Network Forty wrote that "the song came about when the boys behind the group were out in the Hertfordshire woods recording bird noises to sample for a new track and stumbled on Classically-trained vocalist Kirsty." They added further that "the group approaches their music committed to a pure English vocal crossed with the backdrop of organic Dance rhythm. The overall effect is a powerful ambient concept of style and character which can't be ignored. Like nothing else out there, this track is simultaneously spacey and driving, bordering on the current Euro-Rave movement."[13] Andy Beevers from Record Mirror called it "one of the year's most unusual hits."[14] Danny Scott from Select noted the "surreal ambient House sounds" of the track in his review of Mind Fruit.[15] Mark Frith from Smash Hits stated that it "has become something of a dance anthem."[16]

Chart performance

"It's a Fine Day" went on to become very successful on the charts in Europe, peaking at number-one in Greece. It managed to climb into the Top 10 also in Finland, Ireland, Italy, Spain (number 2) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single reached number 5 in its second week at the UK Singles Chart, on February 23, 1992.[17] It spent two weeks at that position. Additionally, "It's a Fine Day" went into the Top 20 in Austria, France, Germany and on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it hit number 16. Outside Europe, it peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and number 30 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks in the United States. In Australia, the single reached the Top 60, peaking at number 54.

Music video

The music video for "It's a Fine Day" was directed by David Betteridge.[18] It first aired in February 1992. The video features Kirsty Hawkshaw (with her standout shaved head and bodysuit) performing and dancing against a backdrop of what is supposed to be a fine day.

CD single
  1. "It's a Fine Day" (edit) – 3:40
  2. "It's a Fine Day" – 5:30
  3. "Evolution Rush" – 6:11
  4. "It's a Fine Day" (a cappella version) – 3:42

7" single
  1. "It's a Fine Day" (edit) – 3:40
  2. "Evolution Rush" (edit) – 4:21

12" maxi
  1. "It's a Fine Day" (club remix) – 6:45
  2. "It's a Fine Day" (club remix) – 6:45

Charts

Later versions

The song was also the basis of Orbital's 1993 track, "Halcyon + On + On", on their second eponymous album – the "la la la" section of the chorus was backmasked and sampled throughout the song. Interestingly enough, a music video for the song featured Hawkshaw, who was the aforementioned vocalist in the song’s sample.

A Cantonese-language version of this single, "Can lalalalali at night only," was recorded by Hong Kong singer Yolinda Yan in 1992.

A further version was released in 1998, credited to Miss Jane. This was produced by Italian producers David Carlotti and Carmine Sorrentino. The remake does feature vocals from the original Jane version. Luise Gard provided the on-stage image for the touring version of Miss Jane, but did not contribute to the recordings.[40] Various remixes of this version were issued, including one by ATB.

Other versions have been recorded by Dallas Superstars and the Barcode Brothers. Norwegian artist Erlend Øye also covered the song on his album that was part of the DJ-Kicks series.

Opus III vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw has remade the song three times: in 2002 with Mike Koglin, in 2008 with Kinky Roland, and in 2019 as “Fine Day 2K19.”

The American electropop/hip-hop act Far East Movement used the song's background as the basis for their single "I Party" from their 2009 album "Animal."

The Jane version was used in a 1986 commercial for Kleenex tissue in Japan, which itself has attracted attention as a Japanese urban legend.[41]

References
  1. Archived March 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Mojo magazine, March 2008, p.76
  3. "Albums by Jane and Barton: Discography, songs, biography, and listening guide". Rate Your Music. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  4. Archived October 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4
  6. "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  7. "Opus III - Mind Fruit". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  8. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  9. "Mind Fruit". Entertainment Weekly. November 6, 1992. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  10. Ewing, Tom (September 8, 1999). "80. OPUS III – "It's A Fine Day"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  11. Sholin, Dave (July 17, 1992). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 52. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  12. "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 8, 1992. p. 6. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  13. "Hot Crossover: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. June 10, 1992. p. 42. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  14. "DJ Directory: Opus III" (PDF). Record Mirror. February 15, 1992. p. 3. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  15. "Reviews: New Albums". Select. August 1, 1992. p. 93. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  16. "New Singles". Smash Hits. February 19, 1992. p. 54. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 23 February 1992 - 29 February 1992". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  18. "Opus III feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw: It's a fine day". Mvdbase.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  19. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  20. "Austriancharts.at – Opus III – It's a Fine Day" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Opus III – It's a Fine Day" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  22. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  23. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  24. "Lescharts.com – Opus III – It's a Fine Day" (in French). Les classement single.
  25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Opus III – It's a Fine Day". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  26. "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's a Fine Day". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  28. Israel Top-30 10.03.1992
  29. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 26. June 27, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  30. "Opus III - It's A Fine Day" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Opus III – It's a Fine Day" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  33. "Swedishcharts.com – Opus III – It's a Fine Day". Singles Top 100.
  34. "Swisscharts.com – Opus III – It's a Fine Day". Swiss Singles Chart.
  35. UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  36. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 22, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  37. Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 12, 2008)
  38. "Opus III Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  39. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  40. "Miss Jane Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  41. "Cursed Kleenex commercial ~ Pink Tentacle". pinktentacle.com.
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