Sunshine on Leith (song)
{{Short description|1988 single by the Proclaimers}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sunshine on Leith
| cover = 200px
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Proclaimers
| album = Sunshine on Leith
| released = 31 October 1988{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1988/MW-1988-10-29.pdf|title=Music Week|page=50}}
| format =
| recorded = 1988
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock, Celtic rock, ballad
| label = Chrysalis
| writer = {{flatlist|
- Craig Reid
- Charlie Reid
}}
| producer = Pete Wingfield
| prev_title = I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = I'm on My Way
| next_year = 1989
}}
"Sunshine on Leith" is a ballad by Scottish folk rock duo the Proclaimers. Released in 1988, it is the title-track and second single from their album Sunshine on Leith (1988). It narrowly missed out on the UK Top 40 Singles Charts, peaking at number forty-one in the United Kingdom, and since its release, the song has become an unofficial anthem for Hibernian F.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c7781mnrye6o|title=Hibernian: 'Speechless' Iredale will never tire of Sunshine on Leith|date=3 March 2025|website=BBC Sport}}
Background
The song has been described as an "anthem of love" by the BBC, who later reported it has "brought communities together and touched lives" since its original release.{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Soul Music, Sunshine on Leith |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q9f5 |website=BBC |access-date=5 December 2024}} Since its release, "Sunshine on Leith" has become an unofficial club anthem for Scottish football club Hibernian, whose supporters often sing the song during matches. The song first began its association with the club during the Hands Off Hibs campaign in the 1990s, in response to a proposed takeover of the club by the Heart of Midlothian chairman Willie Mercer. The Proclaimers were actively involved in the campaign and headlined at the rally that was organised on behalf of the campaign at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. As a result, the song has since been described as "a love song that has become a terrace anthem".{{cite web |title=The story behind how 'Sunshine On Leith' turned into Hibs' anthem |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/the-story-behind-how-sunshine-on-leith-turned-into-hibs-anthem-2876725 |website=Belfast News Letter |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=en |date=7 June 2020}}
Release and critical reception
"Sunshine on Leith" was released as the single from the album Sunshine on Leith, released in October 1988. The song was produced by Pete Wingfield and written by both Craig and Charlie Reid.{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=Scots on the Rock |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-03-09-8903250366-story.html |access-date=6 March 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=9 March 1989}} Wingfield had previously worked with the Everly Brothers, with whom the Proclaimers were frequently compared; Reid described it as a "happy coincidence" and stated that Wingfield was hired because he had produced the Dexys Midnight Runners debut album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980).{{cite news |last1=Pilon |first1=Bernard |title=Twins don't fit image |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/496816265/ |access-date=1 January 2024 |work=The Leader Post |date=19 July 1994}}
Bill Wyman of the Chicago Reader commented that the song, which he thought to be "a cross between a hymn and an Eagles tune", "genuinely reaches," describing the track as a "'I'm in love and happy to ever have been born' tearjerker".{{cite news |last1=Wyman |first1=Bill |title=The Proclaimers--Sunshine on Leith - Music Review |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-proclaimers--sunshine-on-leith/Content?oid=873774 |accessdate=1 January 2020 |work=Chicago Reader |agency=Chicago Reader |date=27 April 1989}}
Composition
"Sunshine on Leith" has become a prominent song for families to play during funeral services in the band’s native Scotland, partly in course due to its lyrics such as "my heart is broken" and "my tears are drying, thank you". The Proclaimers claimed that the significance of the song at funeral services "is interesting" but claimed that they do not think the song has any ability to overtake "Angels" by Robbie Williams as being a popular choice for services.{{cite web |last1=Kyriazis |first1=Stefan |title=Comic Relief: The Proclaimers Sunshine on Leith song, music and film |url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1412401/The-Proclaimers-Sunshine-on-Leith-song-musical-film-meaning-500-Miles-funeral |website=Express.co.uk |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=en |date=19 March 2021}}
The songs composition has been described as "a Celtic-tinged ballad with truly heart-melting qualities".{{cite web |title=‘Sunshine On Leith’: Behind The Proclaimers’ Dazzling Second Album |url=https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/sunshine-on-leith-proclaimers-album/ |website=Dig! |access-date=5 December 2024}}
In popular culture
"Sunshine on Leith" is played frequently at Easter Road Stadium by Edinburgh-based football team Hibernian, of whom the band are supporters.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/singing-twins-bring-sunshine-to-leith-1-950052 |quote=The Best Of album, due for release in the UK on May 13, features 20 songs drawn from the duo’s 15-year career, including Sunshine On Leith, their famous anthem which is regularly played at Easter Road, home of their beloved Hibernian Football Club. |title=Singing twins bring sunshine to Leith |date=4 May 2002 |accessdate=13 October 2013 |newspaper=The Scotsman|publisher=Johnston Publishing}}
Accolades
In June 2018, "Sunshine on Leith" was voted the UK's favourite football anthem as part of the "Football Anthems World Cup" by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6.{{cite web |first1=Amy |last=Watson |title=Sunshine on Leith voted UK's favourite football anthem |url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/sunshine-on-leith-voted-uk-s-favourite-football-anthem-1-4759302 |website=The Scotsman |access-date=13 January 2020}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}} The song featured on the BBC Radio 4 series Soul Music on 15 December 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q9f5|title=Sunshine on Leith|work=Soul Music|publisher=BBC Radio 4|date=15 December 2020}}
Commercial performance
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1988) !Peak |
| {{single chart|UK|41|date=19881126|rowheader=true|access-date=29 March 2021}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Proclaimers|title=Sunshine on Leith|award=Silver|relyear=2006|certyear=2021|id=6380-1498-1|access-date=29 March 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Notable covers
"Sunshine on Leith" was recorded by David Tennant and the BBC Concert Orchestra for the charity album BBC Children in Need: Got It Covered, released in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Spierson |first=Pete |date=2019-11-05 |title=Got It Covered heading for No.1 spot in the UK’s Official Album Chart for BBC Children in Need |url=https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/2019/11/got-it-covered-heading-for-no-1-spot-in-the-uks-official-album-chart-for-bbc-children-in-need/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=BBC Children in Need |language=en-US}}
In February 2025, it was covered by Coldplay and the BBC Concert Orchestra (featuring Laura Mvula) as part of the Radio 2 Piano Room series {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn-UR5YBZBk |title=Coldplay - Sunshine On Leith ft. Laura Mvula (Radio 2 Piano Room) |date=2025-02-03 |last=BBC Music |access-date=2025-03-26 |via=YouTube}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Proclaimers}}
{{Authority control}}