On the Radio (Donna Summer song)

"On the Radio"
One of European cover arts
Single by Donna Summer
from the album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II and Foxes (soundtrack)
B-side	"There Will Always Be a You"
Released	November 23, 1979
Format	7" single, 12" single
Recorded	1979
Genre	Pop, Disco, Adult Contemporary
Length	4:05
Label	Casablanca
Songwriter(s)	Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder
Producer(s)	Giorgio Moroder
Donna Summer singles chronology
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (1979) "On the Radio" (1979) "Sunset People" (1980)
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (1979) "On the Radio" (1979) "Sunset People" (1980)

"On the Radio" is a song by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer, released in late-1979 on the Casablanca record label. It was written for the soundtrack to the film Foxes and included on Summer's first international compilation album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II. It was released as a single and became, in January 1980, her tenth top-ten hit in the U.S. as well as her eighth and final consecutive top 5 single. "On the Radio" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the soul chart.^[1] The song was also Summer's fourteenth entry on the Billboard Disco chart, where it peaked at number eight.^[2] In Canada, it peaked at number two.^[3]

The song was released in three formats: the radio 45rpm single; the 5+ minute version included on Summer's Greatest Hits double album package, and a DJ Promo 7+ minute version released on 12" single (and included on the Foxes film soundtrack album). This last version was later released on the Bad Girls CD digipack double CD release. The Foxes soundtrack also includes an instrumental version of the song in a ballad tempo and crediting Moroder as a solo artist. In the film, the ballad tempo is heard with Donna Summer's vocals. The disco version is never heard. Donna Summer performed "On the Radio" on many television shows such as American Bandstand. The instrumental parts of this song were occasionally heard on the US version of The Price Is Right in the early 1980s when they displayed jukeboxes and stereos as prizes. While the first two versions included all written lyrics, the DJ Promo omitted the final verse, opting instead to repeat the third. Only the first "short" version ended with the famous "on the radio - adio - adio" echo vocal effect. For the second consecutive year, Summer placed at least three singles in the Billboard Year-End charts in 1980.

Official versions

• "On the Radio" – (single version) – 4:00
• "On the Radio" – (On the Radio: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2: long version) – 5:50
• "On the Radio" – (Foxes soundtrack and 12" single version) – 7:34
• "On the Radio" – (piano instrumental version from Foxes soundtrack) – 4:27

Personnel

• All vocals and lyrics by Donna Summer
• Music written by Giorgio Moroder
• Produced by Giorgio Moroder

Chart performance

Cover versions

• In 1983, a ballad version by country singer Emmylou Harris was included on her album White Shoes.
• The song was later covered by Selena.
• In 1999, Swedish singer-songwriter Bosson included a cover of the song on his album The Right Time.
• Scottish singer-songwriter, radio DJ and television presenter Michelle McManus chose this song in early 2003 as part of Contestant's Choice, on the final of Pop Idol Series 2.
• English actress-singer Martine McCutcheon released a cover version in 2001, reaching as high as number seven on the UK Singles Chart.
• In 2006, the song was recorded by Filipino singer Regine Velasquez on her Covers Vol. 2 album.
• In 2008, it was recorded by Filipino singer Jaya on her Cool Change album.
• In 2010, alternative rock band Hypnogaja released an acoustic version. The recording won the 2010 Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Male Vocal (by Hypnogaja's ShyBoy).
• In 2010, Jennifer Lopez recorded a version of the song with producer Boy George for her 2011 album Love?. This cover was eventually excluded from the album's final track list.^[13] Lopez had previously performed the song in character as slain Tejano singer Selena in the Gregory Nava biopic of the same name.
• German Singer Michelle covered the Song under the Name "Tanja Tomas" in 2006 on her Album "My Passion"
• In 2012, eurodance/vocal trance act Novaspace released a remix package produced in Germany.
• In 2013, The Saturdays released a cover of the song as a B-side track to their single Disco Love for their 2013 album Living for the Weekend.
• In 2014, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes released a cover on the album Are We Not Men? We Are Diva!

Live cover performances

• Alexandra Burke performed this song on the UK talent show The X Factor season five.
• Katelyn Tarver performed this song on the reality series, American Juniors.
• In 1995, Tejano musician Selena performed a Disco Medley featuring On The Radio in front of a sold out audience of over 60,000 people at the Houston Astrodome, breaking attendance records. It would later be released on the Selena film soundtrack and Live! The Last Concert album and DVD.
• In 2005, American Idol season 4 finalist Vonzell Solomon performed the song on the Final 3 producer's choice night. Despite the praise she received, she was eliminated the following night.
• In 2006, On The Radio was performed on Australian Idol season 4 by eventual runner-up Jessica Mauboy on the Final 8 Disco theme night. The performance was well received by the judges and audience and she was declared safe on the following verdict show.

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-the-radio-ep/id317266103