Thunder (East 17 song) explained

Thunder
Cover:Thunder_(East_17).jpg
Type:single
Artist:East 17
Album:Up All Night
B-Side:E-17 - Overture Medley
Length:4:16
Label:London
Producer:
Prev Title:Hold My Body Tight
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Do U Still?
Next Year:1996

"Thunder" is a song recorded by English boy band East 17, released as the first single from their third album, Up All Night (1995), on 23 October 1995 by London Records. It was written by band member Tony Mortimer, who co-produced it with Ian Curnow, Phil Harding and Rob Kean. The song achieved success in many countries, including Belgium (Wallonia), Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, where it was a top-10 hit. Its music video was directed by Francis Ridley,[1] featuring the band performing at an indoor set, where it later begins to rain.

Critical reception

Victoria Segal from Melody Maker noted the "bizarre fantasia" of "Thunder".[2] A reviewer from Music Week gave the song three out of five, writing, "A bland, lyrically-lacking rehash of all the elements which has made East 17 so successful. But it's catchy enough to create a stir."[3] John Robinson from NME commented, "Continuing the preoccupation with meteorological phenomena that began with 'Let It Rain', this is East 17's gothic ballad. Featuring extensive use of those slightly annoying DUM-DUM-DUM-DIDDLY-CRASH drum fills from Phil Collins' first batch of My Wife Left Me records, 'Thunder' finds the lean 'Teen out among the elements being called by a distant rumble to an intriguing and no doubt even sexual liaison under purple skies where the wild horses roam."[4]

Track listings

  1. "Thunder" (Radio Edit) – 4:16
  2. "E-17 - Overture Medley" * (Live Steam Tour '95) – 9:28
  1. "Thunder" (Radio Edit)
  2. "E-17 - Overture Medley" (Live Steam Tour '95)
  3. "Thunder" (Video Mix)
  4. "Thunder" (Lightning Mix)
  1. "Thunder" (Radio Edit) – 4:16
  2. "E-17 - Overture Medley" * (Live Steam Tour '95) – 9:28

* Contains "Let It Rain", "Stay Another Day", "House of Love", "Gold", "It's Alright", "Be There"

Credits

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995–1996)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 36
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)19
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)13
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)8
Denmark (IFPI)[6] 9
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 6
France (SNEP)13
Germany (Media Control)6
Hungary (Mahasz)[8] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] 39
Indonesia (IFPI)[10] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 3
Italy (Musica e dischi)[12] 21
Japan (Oricon)[13] 12
Lithuania (M-1)[14] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)21
Norway (VG-lista)7
Scotland (OCC)[15] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)22
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)5
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 89
Norway (Christmas Period)[18] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 33

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom23 October 1995London[21]
Japan1 December 1995CD[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: East 17: Thunder (Music Video). IMDb. 17 March 2024.
  2. Victoria. Segal. Albums. Melody Maker. 9 November 1996. 49. 17 June 2024.
  3. Reviews: Singles . . 14 October 1995 . 25 . 13 May 2021 .
  4. John. Robinson. Singles. NME. 28 October 1995. 50. 17 March 2024.
  5. "Thunder", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 4 April 2009)
  6. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 13. 1. 6 January 1996. 11. 12 April 2020.
  7. Web site: Billboard. 23 December 1995.
  8. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 52. 23 December 1995. 39. 21 January 2023.
  9. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 58. 2 December 1995. 26 June 2022.
  10. UK World Hits: Indonesia. Music Week. 17 February 1996. 36. 26 January 2023.
  11. Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 4 April 2009)
  12. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "East 17".
  13. Oricon Singles Chart Oricon Singles Chart (Retrieved 2 November 2012)
  14. Web site: M-1 Top 40. M-1.fm. 28 March 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105653/http://m-1.fm/top40/?topid=1345. 14 January 1996. 2 April 2015.
  15. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company. OfficialCharts.com.
  16. "Thunder", UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 4 April 2009)
  17. Year End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1995. Music & Media. 12. 51/52. 23 December 1995. 14. 16 February 2021.
  18. Web site: VG-lista - Topp 20 Single Julen 1995 . lista.vg.no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100623/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/1995/periode/julen . 2016-03-04.
  19. Top 100 Singles 1995. Music Week. 9. 13 January 1996.
  20. Year End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1996. Music & Media. 13. 51/52. 21 December 1996. 12. 16 February 2021.
  21. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 35. 21 October 1995. 26 July 2021.
  22. Web site: サンダー East 17. Thunder East 17. Oricon. ja. 13 March 2024.