Released 1983 | Length 2:44 Writer(s) Edward Barton | |
"It's a Fine Day" is a song written by English poet and musician Edward Barton. It was originally recorded a cappella in 1983 by Jane, and later by Opus III for whom it was a major international hit in 1992.
Contents
Original recording by Jane
Barton wrote the lyrics as a poem when living in the Hulme area of Manchester. It was originally sung unaccompanied by, and credited to, Jane - that is, Jane Lancaster, Barton's girlfriend. They recorded and released it independently, and it was played by radio DJ John Peel. It was then heard by Iain McNay of Cherry Red Records, who obtained the rights to the record and released it more widely on his label in 1983. It reached number 5 on the UK Indie Chart, and later appeared, credited to Jane and Barton, on their eponymous mini-album Jane and Barton. This version of the song appeared on the 2013 indie-pop compilation album Scared to Get Happy: A Story of Indie-Pop 1980-1989.
Jane's unaccompanied vocal version of the song was given a backing track by A Guy Called Gerald in 1992.
Opus III version
Also in 1992, the song was covered by Opus III, whose lead vocalist was Kirsty Hawkshaw. The two chief differences from Jane's original were that this version was not recorded a cappella but with a full instrumental accompaniment, and that it used only the first verse and chorus of the original song's lyrics. This version reached number 5 in the UK charts, and number 1 on the US Hot Dance Club Play Chart. The song's video featured Hawkshaw (with her standout shaved head and bodysuit) performing and dancing against a backdrop of what is supposed to be a fine day.
Track listings
- "It's a Fine Day" (edit) — 3:40
- "It's a Fine Day" — 5:30
- "Evolution Rush" — 6:11
- "It's a Fine Day" (accapella version) — 3:42
- "It's a Fine Day" (edit) — 3:40
- "Evolution Rush" (edit) — 4:21
- "It's a Fine Day" (club remix) — 6:45
- "It's a Fine Day" (club remix) — 6:45
Later versions
The song was also the basis of Orbital's 1993 track, "Halcyon + On + On", on their second eponymous album - the "la la la" section of the chorus was backmasked and sampled throughout the song.
A Cantonese-language version of this single, "Can lalalalali at night only," was recorded by Hong Kong singer Yolinda Yan in 1992.
A further version was released in 1998, credited to Miss Jane. This was produced by Italian producers David Carlotti and Carmine Sorrentino. The remake does feature vocals from the original Jane version. Luise Gard provided the on-stage image for the touring version of Miss Jane, but did not contribute to the recordings. Various remixes of this version were issued, including one by ATB.
Other versions have been recorded by Dallas Superstars and the Barcode Brothers. Norwegian artist Erlend Øye also covered the song on his album that was part of the DJ-Kicks series.
Opus III vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw has remade the song in both 2002 with Mike Koglin and in 2008 with Kinky Roland.
The American electropop/hip-hop act Far East Movement used the song's background as the basis for their single "I Party" from their 2009 album "Animal."
The Jane version was used in a 1986 commercial for Kleenex tissue in Japan, which itself has attracted attention as a Japanese urban legend.