Blue Savannah
Encyclopedia
"Blue Savannah" is a song by Erasure
which was issued as a single from the duo's fourth studio album Wild!
in 1990. Mute Records
released it in Europe as the album's third single, and Sire Records
released it in the United States as the album's second single.
It is a classic Erasure synth pop song written by members Vince Clarke
and Andy Bell
. One of the band's signature songs, the duo still perform it regularly in concert. An uplifting love song, the instrumentation is crisp and heavily synthesized
, accented with sweeping, programmed piano.
The music video
shows Clarke and Bell performing the song in a large, white room, which gets painted blue as the video progresses. An off-camera person holds a paint brush in view, and 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 featured on the Wild! album cover, blow in and cover the duo as they perform.
"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 Germany
, where the song hit number thirteen. The release of the single brought about the usual array of remix
es and B-sides. Although several club mixes of "Blue Savannah" were issued commercially, the Shep Pettibone
'Out of the Blue' mix proved to be most popular in dance clubs. This remix, available only on promotional copies of the 12 inch single, was never officially released and fetches a premium from collectors on trading sites such as eBay
. 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 Leamington Spa
, Warwickshire
, the song is often played at the end of music nights across the town as a finale.
"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.
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
which was issued as a single from the duo's fourth studio album Wild!
Wild!
Wild! is the fourth studio album by British band Erasure. Released in 1989, it was the follow-up album to their 1988 breakthrough The Innocents...
in 1990. Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
released it in Europe as the album's third single, and Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
released it in the United States as the album's second single.
It is a classic Erasure synth pop song written by members Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
and Andy Bell
Andy Bell (singer)
Andrew Ivan "Andy" Bell is the lead singer of the English synthpop duo Erasure. He also has a solo career, with the albums Non-Stop and Electric Blue.-Early life:Andy Bell originates from the Dogsthorpe area in Peterborough...
. One of the band's signature songs, the duo still perform it regularly in concert. An uplifting love song, the instrumentation is crisp and heavily synthesized
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, accented with sweeping, programmed piano.
The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
shows Clarke and Bell performing the song in a large, white room, which gets painted blue as the video progresses. An off-camera person holds a paint brush in view, and 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 featured on the Wild! album cover, blow in and cover the duo as they perform.
"Blue Savannah" became one of Erasure's most successful singles, peaking at number three on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It also returned the band to the Top 20 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where the song hit number thirteen. The release of the single brought about the usual array of remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es and B-sides. Although several club mixes of "Blue Savannah" were issued commercially, the Shep Pettibone
Shep Pettibone
Robert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...
'Out of the Blue' mix proved to be most popular in dance clubs. This remix, available only on promotional copies of the 12 inch single, was never officially released and fetches a premium from collectors on trading sites such as eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
. 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 Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, the song is often played at the end of music nights across the town as a finale.
"Blue Savannah" was the inspiration for the song "Escribeme en el Cielo" three years later by the Mexican group Sentidos Opuestos
Sentidos Opuestos
Mexican Latin pop duet Sentidos Opuestos was formed by local producer Miguel Blasco in the early 1990s. Alessandra Rosaldo started singing at the age of 12, soon becoming a backup singer for Latin star Lucero. Joined by Chacho Gaytán, the act released a self-titled debut album in 1993, getting...
, which is strikingly similar in its instrumental arrangements and melody.
7" single (MUTE109) / Cassette Single (CMUTE109)
- "Blue Savannah"
- "Runaround on the Underground"
12" single (12MUTE109) / CD single (CDMUTE109)
- "Blue Savannah" (Mark SaundersMark SaundersMark Saunders, is a British record producer who has worked on a number of albums. He relocated to New York City in 1996 and currently works from his facility in Manhattan - Beat360 Studios....
Mix) - "Runaround on the Underground"
- "No G.D.M."
Limited 12" single #1 (L12MUTE109)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix II)
- "No G.D.M." (Unfinished Mix)
- "Runaround on the Underground" (12" Mix)
Limited 12" single #2 (XL12MUTE109)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix II)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix I)
Limited CD single (LCDMUTE109)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix I)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix II)
- "Runaround on the Underground" (12" Mix)
U.S. CD maxi-single (21428-2)
- Also released on 12" (Sire 21428-0) and cassette (Sire 21428-4), minus "Blue Savannah" (Single Version).
- "Blue Savannah" (Single Version)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix I)
- "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche Mix II)
- "Runaround on the Underground" (12" Mix)
- "Blue Savannah" (Mark Saunders Remix)
- "Supernature" (William OrbitWilliam OrbitWilliam Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
's Mix) - "No G.D.M." (Zeus B. HeldZeus B. HeldZeus B. Held is a German music producer and musician, known for his work in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He was involved with several artists of the Krautrock, Disco and New Wave era, such as Birth Control, Rockets, Gina X Performance, Dead Or Alive, John Foxx, Fashion and Men Without Hats on their...
Mix)
Chart performance
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Dance/Urban Chart | 17 | 5 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 48 | 6 |
| German Singles Chart | 13 | 17 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 | 6 |
| UK Singles Chart | 3 | 10 |
| US Dance/Club Play Singles | 44 | 5 |
| US Hot Dance Music Sales | 12 | |