"Sunshine Reggae" is a song written and recorded by

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

duo

Laid Back Laid Back is a Danish electronic music duo group from Copenhagen, formed in 1979. The duo consists of John Guldberg (vocals, guitar, bass) and Tim Stahl (vocals, keyboards, drums, bass). They are best known for the hits " Sunshine Reggae" and ...

. It was originally released as a single in 1982 and released on their second album '' Keep Smiling'' (1983). As an international

summer hit In the entertainment industry, a summer hit is a song that is released and peaks in its popularity during summer. In some years, a single pop song will gain widespread international popularity during the summer season, becoming that summer's def ...

of 1983, it is the band's most successful song.

Reception and versions

"Sunshine Reggae" reached number one in Germany and Austria in September 1983. It peaked at number four in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium), and number nine in Switzerland. It was surprisingly popular in South America. Its popularity was further increased by a film named after the song, ''

Sunshine Reggae in Ibiza ''Sunshine Reggae in Ibiza'' (german: Sunshine Reggae auf Ibiza) is a 1983 West German comedy film directed by Franz Marischka and starring Karl Dall, Olivia Pascal Olivia Pascal (born Olivia Gerlitzki: 26 May 1957 in Munich, West Germany) is a ...

'', which premiered in November 1983. The song appeared in various single versions released by

Metronome Records Warner Music Sweden AB (previously Metronome Records) is a Swedish record company and label, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group. Metronome Records was established in 1949 by Anders Burman, Lars Burman, and Börje Ekberg and was based in Stockholm ...

Polydor Records Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...

Sire Records Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records. History Beginnings The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer ...

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and

Atlas Records Atlas Records was a jazz record label. It was merged with Polydor Records Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A ...

. The song was also released in different versions as a 12"

maxi single A maxi single or maxi-single (sometimes abbreviated to MCD or CDM) is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an A-side song and a B-side song. The first maxi singles Mungo Jerry's first single, "In the Summertime" was the ...

with a length of about 6:30 minutes. In the music video, band members are bored office workers who fantasize about a South Sea beach, where they perform the song, have fun, and play music with the locals. The video was recorded in Sri Lanka. In the US, the single's B-side song, "

White Horse A white horse is born predominantly white and stays white throughout its life. A white horse has mostly pink skin under its hair coat, and may have brown, blue, or hazel eyes. "True white" horses, especially those that carry one of the dominant ...

", became more successful. It was released as a single and went on to spend three weeks at number one on the Dance Charts.

Charts

Cover versions

A version by

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peaked at number three in Switzerland in 1983. In 2000, the version by Laid Back vs. Funkstar De Luxe peaked at number 68 in Germany.

References

{{Reflist Laid Back songs 1982 songs Danish music Number-one singles in Austria Number-one singles in Germany