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Blue Savannah#Charts

{{Short description|1990 single by Erasure}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Blue Savannah

| cover = Erasure single bluesavannah.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Erasure

| album = Wild!

| B-side =

  • "Runaround on the Underground"
  • "No G.D.M."

| released = {{start date|1990|1|25|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop

| length = 4:23

| label = Mute

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = You Surround Me

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Star

| next_year = 1990

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|HZPQtb6NWKM|"Blue Savannah"}}}}

}}

"Blue Savannah" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure from their fourth studio album, Wild! (1989). Written by members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song was released as a single in Japan on 25 January 1990 and was issued in the United Kingdom the following month. Alfa Records released it in Japan as the album's lead single, 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 has been described as an uplifting love song.

Following the song's release, "Blue Savannah" became Erasure's eighth top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number three on the UK singles chart. In Ireland, it reached the same position, making it Erasure's 10th top-10 hit there. Elsewhere, the song reached number seven in Denmark and number 12 on the US Billboard 12-inch Singles Sales chart. The music video for the song was directed by Kevin Godley, featuring a mysterious blue hand painting Bell and Clarke completely blue.

Release

"Blue Savannah" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It also was a top-10 hit in Denmark and Ireland and returned the band to the top 20 in West Germany, where the song peaked at number 13. The release of the single brought about the usual array of remixes and B-sides. 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 2016, the remix was included on the Erasure 30th-anniversary anthology From Moscow to Mars, making its first-ever official release on an Erasure album.

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from AllMusic declared the song as a "strong number", remarking its "relatively low key pulse, which sounds like a light motorik/Kraftwerk number given the appropriate Erasure sparkle."{{cite web|first= Ned |last= Raggett |title= Erasure – Wild! |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 4 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/wild%21-mw0000202225}} Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as an "NRG-etic number"{{cite magazine|first= Bill |last= Coleman |title= Dance Trax: R&B Tracks Provide A Slice Of 'Ghetto Heaven' |work= Billboard |date= 21 April 1990 |page= 25 |access-date= 14 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-04-21.pdf}} and a "lilting, easy-paced gem."{{cite magazine|first=Bill|last=Coleman|url= https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-03-31.pdf |title= Single Reviews |work= Billboard |date= 31 March 1990 |access-date= 14 February 2020 |page= 78}} Ernest Hardy from Cashbox commented, "Here, Erasure completely shake off their old drag for some Kraftwerk attire, then a Kraftwerk-meets-hip-hop groove thang. It's better than the original."{{cite magazine|first= Ernest |last= Hardy |title= On The Dancefloor: New Grooves - Pick O' the Week |work= Cashbox |date= 7 April 1990 |page= 14 |access-date= 27 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-04-07.pdf}} Scottish Dundee Courier complimented the song as "such sterling work".Dundee Courier. 27 June 1991. p. 12.

In a retrospective review, Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly named it "perhaps Erasure's best sounding track—put it on now and it's so fresh that it sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday." He described it as "audio daydream; a sublimely beautiful melody, sung with real feeling by Andy Bell, over some of Vince Clarke's loveliest keyboard work. That amazingly vibrant piano part just pops out of the speakers. This is what great pop music is all about—it makes you feel warm just listening to it."{{cite magazine|first= Chris |last= Gerard |title= Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks |work= Metro Weekly |date= 17 September 2014 |access-date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://www.metroweekly.com/2014/09/erasures-40-greatest-tracks/}} Darren Lee from The Quietus noted "the lush electro-splendour" of "Blue Savannah", stating that it is one of "the most gloriously effervescent pop anthems ever recorded."{{cite magazine|first= Darren |last= Lee |title= Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits |work= The Quietus |date= 27 February 2009 |access-date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://thequietus.com/articles/01217-erasure-total-pop-erasure-s-first-40-hits-album-review}} Christopher Smith from Talk About Pop Music called it "joyous" and "Erasure at its very best." He noted that Bell's voice across the first verses and chorus "are both haunting and sensual in equal measure."{{cite web|first= Christopher |last= Smith |title= Review: 'Wild!' – Erasure |publisher= Talk About Pop Music |date= 16 October 2019 |access-date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://talkaboutpopmusic.com/2019/10/16/review-wild-erasure/}}

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Blue Savannah" was directed by English singer, songwriter, musician and music video director Kevin Godley. It shows Clarke and Bell performing the song in a large, white room, which gets painted blue as the video progresses. A mysterious blue hand is coming down from above. Reaching the room, it holds a paint brush in view. The camera follows the hand as it paints Clarke and a shirtless Bell until they both are completely blue. Eventually gold-coloured leaves, similar to those shown on the Wild! album cover, blow in and cover the duo as they perform. Danny Scott from Select praised "the splendid colours" of the Godley-directed video.{{cite magazine|first=Danny|last=Scott|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2018/02/videos.jpg|title=Reviews: New Videos|work=Select|date=January 1993|page=82|access-date=2 January 2025}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

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  • 7-inch single and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=MUTE 109}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=C MUTE 109}}
  1. "Blue Savannah"
  2. "Runaround on the Underground"
  • UK 12-inch and CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=12 MUTE 109}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK CD liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=CD MUTE 109}}
  1. "Blue Savannah"
  2. "Runaround on the Underground"
  3. "No G.D.M."
  • UK limited-edition 12-inch single 1{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK limited 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Mute Records|id=L12 MUTE 109}}

:A1. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix II)

:B1. "No G.D.M." (Unfinished mix)

:B2. "Runaround on the Underground"

  • UK limited-edition 12-inch single 2{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK limited 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Mute Records|id=XL12 MUTE 109}}
  1. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix II)
  2. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix I)
  • UK limited-edition CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=UK limited CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=LCD MUTE 109}}
  1. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix I)
  2. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix II)
  3. "Runaround on the Underground"
  • Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Alfa Records|id=ALDB-9}}
  1. "Blue Savannah"
  2. "You Surround Me"

{{col-2}}

  • US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=9 21428-2}}
  1. "Blue Savannah" (single version) – 3:51
  2. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix I) – 7:04
  3. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix II) – 6:13
  4. "Runaround on the Underground" (12-inch mix) – 6:41
  5. "Blue Savannah" (Mark Saunders remix) – 6:51
  6. "Supernature" (William Orbit's mix) – 6:59
  7. "No G.D.M." (Zeus B. Held mix) – 4:24
  • US and Canadian 12-inch and maxi-cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=US & Canadian 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=9 21428-0; 92 14280}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=US & Canadian maxi-cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=9 21428-4; 92 14284}}

:A1. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix I) – 7:04

:A2. "Blue Savannah" (Der Deutsche mix II) – 6:13

:A3. "Runaround on the Underground" (12-inch mix) – 6:41

:B1. "Blue Savannah" (Mark Saunders remix) – 6:51

:B2. "Supernature" (William Orbit's mix) – 6:59

:B3. "No G.D.M." (Zeus B. Held mix) – 4:24

  • US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Blue Savannah|others=Erasure|year=1990|type=US cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=9 22721-4}}
  1. "Blue Savannah" (7-inch edit) – 3:45
  2. "91 Steps" – 5:33

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg |title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received June 5, 2012 |access-date=9 September 2015 |via=Imgur |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605213523/http://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg |archive-date=5 June 2015}}

| 159

{{single chart|Canadadance|17|chartid=9132|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2021}}
scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI)Danish Singles Chart. 27 April 1990.

| 7

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-03-31.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|issue=13|page=IV|date=31 March 1990|access-date=11 February 2021}}

| 6

{{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Blue Savannah|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2021}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/erasure/erasure-blue-savannah-13585|title=Erasure — Blue Savannah|publisher=Top40.nl|access-date=24 August 2021}}

| 14

{{single chart|Dutch100|48|artist=Erasure|song=Blue Savannah|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2021}}
{{single chart|UK|3|date=19900324|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|44|artist=Erasure|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|12|artist=Erasure|rowheader=true|access-date=26 July 2021}}
{{single chart|West Germany|13|artist=Erasure|song=Blue Savannah|songid=10432|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2021}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990)

!Position

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1990|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|issue=51|page=36|date=22 December 1990|access-date=11 February 2021}}

| 88

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1990|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1990|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=22 June 2020}}

| 85

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=1990 Top 100 Singles|magazine=Music Week|location=London, England|page=41|date=2 March 1991}}

| 42

{{col-end}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|Japan

|25 January 1990

|Mini-CD

|Alfa

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/41683/products/35681/1/|title=ブルー・サバンナ {{!}} イレイジャー|trans-title=Blue Savannah {{!}} Erasure|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=6 September 2023}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|26 February 1990

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl}}

|Mute

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1990/MW-1990-02-24.pdf|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=39|date=24 February 1990|access-date=26 July 2021}} Misprinted as 23 February. The New Albums section uses the correct date.

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Erasure}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1989 songs

Category:1990 singles

Category:Erasure songs

Category:Music videos directed by Kevin Godley

Category:Mute Records singles

Category:Sire Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Gareth Jones

Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Saunders

Category:Songs written by Andy Bell (singer)

Category:Songs written by Vince Clarke

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles