Sunshine on a Rainy Day

"Sunshine on a Rainy Day" is a 1990 single released by British female pop singer and songwriter Zoë. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart in September 1991 and also charted within the top 40 in Ireland, Sweden and Zimbabwe, where it reached number-one.

"Sunshine on a Rainy Day"
Single by Zoë
from the album Scarlet Red and Blue
Released1990
GenrePop
Length4:17
Songwriter(s)
Zoë singles chronology
"Sunshine on a Rainy Day"
(1990)		 "Lightning"
(1991)
Music video
"Sunshine on a Rainy Day" on YouTube

Background

The song was originally released at the end of 1990, when it only managed to reach number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. It was not until the remix by Mark 'Spike' Stent in August 1991 that it hit number four on the same chart and became her biggest hit to date. It was the 18th best-selling single of 1991. The track was used in UK advertisements for the Amiga 500 computer, which added to its popularity.

Zoë re-recorded the song in 2008 with her folk band Mama. This version is available on their debut CD, Crow Coyote Buffalo.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Photogenic British lass steps from out of left field with a percussive, midtempo gem on which she often comes across like a smoky Sophie B. Hawkins. Soft, syncopated hip-hop-derived beats support acoustic strumming, subtle electric chords, and flower-child lyrical prose. Track starts from a simple, sparse point, and builds to a rousing tambourine-shaking climax. Fueled with multiformat appeal."[1] Randy Clark from Cashbox described it as a "brooding club track"[2] James Hamilton from Music Week called it a "Tom's Diner inspired hypnotic folksy singalong roller, a real "sleeper" last autumn, now slightly remixed."[3] NME said the song is "a must for this summer" and "a certain Top 10 in the current climate".[4] Sophie Lawrence reviewed the song for Smash Hits, commenting, "It's a bit Belinda Carlisle-ish." She added, "I love it. It's really folky. She's got a brilliant voice. That's a record I'd definitely go out and buy."[5] Another editor, Mark Frith stated that "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" has become "an anthem of unparalleled exuberance".[6]

Charts

Christine Anu version
"Sunshine on a Rainy Day"
Single by Christine Anu
from the album Come My Way
ReleasedMay 2000
GenrePop
Length3:50
LabelMushroom Records
Songwriter(s)Martin Glover, Zoë Pollock
Producer(s)Stuart Crichton
Christine Anu singles chronology
"Now Until the Break of Day"
(1997)		 "Sunshine on a Rainy Day"
(2000)		 "Jump to Love"
(2000)

In May 2000, Christine Anu released a version of the song as the first single from her second studio album, Come My Way. The song peaked at number 26 on the Australian Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for 15 weeks.

Track listing

CD single (MUSH019522)

  1. "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" (Radio Mix) - 3:50
  2. "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" (Wicked Beat Sound System Mix) - 4:13
  3. "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" (Scotia Nostre Mix) - 5:57

Charts
Chart (2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 26

Other versions
  • In 1994, Naomi Campbell covered the song on her album, babywoman.
  • The song was covered by Emma Bunton on her debut solo album A Girl Like Me in 2001.
  • A version by dance artists Ed Real & Mark Richardson was released in 2003 on Nukleuz Records.
  • Happy hardcore versions include "Sunshine" by Slipmatt and Eruption, and "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" by DJ Stompy.

References
  1. "Billboard: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104 no. 43. 24 October 1992. p. 78. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. Clark, Randy (17 October 1992). "Music Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. "Dance: Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. 17 August 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  4. "Zoe - Sunshine on a Rainy Day Remix 1991" (PDF). Music Week. 10 August 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. Lawrence, Sophie (21 August 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 41. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  6. Frith, Mark (19 February 1992). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 54. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  8. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015 – via Imgur.
  9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 39. 28 September 1991. p. 29. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sunshine on a Rainy Day". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  11. Radio Luxembourg Singles, 15 September 1991
  12. "Swedishcharts.com – Zoë – Sunshine on a Rainy Day". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  14. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 August 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  16. "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 11 January 1992. p. 20.
  17. "Australian-charts.com – Christine Anu – Sunshine on a Rainy Day". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
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