Friday Flashback

Remaking ‘Waves’

June 4, 2010 0 Comments

By all rights, any sentient being who’s been alive for the past 25 years should have grown tired of Katrina and the Waves‘ “Walking On Sunshine.” But rather than cresting in popularity like so many other ’80s favorites, the song has never really escaped the collective consciousness. And though such repetition should have resulted in eventual distaste, I still feel the love (that’s really real).

Nearly inescapable upon its release in the U.S. in 1985 (Katrina and the Waves originally recorded the song in 1983), “Walking On Sunshine” remains ridiculously ubiquitous. It’s become the go-to upbeat song for TV shows (Glee, most recently), movies, and commercials. So while Katrina and the Waves never matched the success of their debut single, the band has lived nicely off its royalties in the time since, $1 million per year by some estimates. Guitarist Kimberley Rew wrote the tune himself, but he magnanimously shares the riches with the other band members.

“Walking On Sunshine” peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 22, 1985. Hear here:

Surveying last week’s new releases, I was surprised to see Katrina and the Waves on the list with “Walking On Sunshine 25.” To celebrate the single’s 25th anniversary (counting its public popularity, not the song’s original recording), the band has recorded a brand-new take on the song the world has loved for so long.

“Walking On Sunshine” has been given an inspired global makeover with the help of South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir. Hear here:

Purchase Katrina & The Waves – “Walking On Sunshine” feat. Soweto Gospel Choir via iTunes, Amazon MP3.