Today’s song is from an English girl group in 1983. Although it reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, its international popularity soared after its inclusion in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid, a year after the song's original release. FUN FACT: This group did NOT allow the song to be included on the film's soundtrack album, but it still reached No. 9 in the U.S.
The band’s singer, Sara Dallin said the song "played on the darker side (of summer songs): it looked at the oppressive heat, the misery of wanting to be with someone as the summer ticked by. We've all been there!"
It was ranked number 44 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s. Billboard named the song #13 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
The song has since been revived in various forms. It has appeared in several television commercials, and was covered by other acts, such as Ace of Base, who scored an international hit with it (their version reached Gold in the US) (CLIP)
In a nod to The Karate Kid, this song was used in the 2019 season 2 finale of the Netflix series Cobra Kai, which follows the main characters from the movie. The version used on the show is a cover by Kari Kimmel.
2020 was indeed a cruel summer as the coronavirus pandemic canceled concerts and left us socially distanced. The band Evanescence covered this song during this time, putting it together from the depths of quarantine.
"So many songs have taken on a new and deeper meaning during this time, and [today’s song is] one of them for me," lead singer Amy Lee said.
It's Banarama. Cruel Summer. I Know That Song!
...now do you know that THEME? All the IKTS (I Know That Song!) songs this week have a common theme. If you figure it out call us Friday for fun to see if "I Know That Theme" 800.333.0103