Katrina & The Waves: "Walking On Sunshine" (1985)

"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. A rerecorded version was released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single (see 1985 in music) and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States, and No. 8 in the United Kingdom. It is the Waves' first U.S. top 40 hit, and their biggest success in the UK until "Love Shine a Light" (1997). Conceived of as a ballad, Katrina decided the better part of valor was to belt the song out.

2010 was the 25th anniversary of the release of "Walking on Sunshine" and a series of back-catalog re-releases and a re-recorded version of the track are being released. A free download of one of the tracks from Kimberley Rew's solo album 'Bible of Bop' was given away in March 2010 from the band's website.

Royalties from airplay and advertisements of "Walking on Sunshine" has been extremely high. Katrina and the Waves kept the publishing rights and the royalties that typically go to the songwriter have been divided among the band members, though Katrina Leskanich was fired from the band in 1998. Estimates are that the song has earned $1 million per year for the ten years ending in 2010. According to a former employee of EMI, "Walking on Sunshine was the crown jewel in EMI's catalog," and that it was one of EMI's biggest earners from advertisers.


- Lyrics:

I used to think maybe you loved me, now baby I'm sure
And I just can't wait ‘til the day, when you knock on my door
Now everytime I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down
‘Cause I just can't wait till you write me, you're comin' around

Now I'm walking on sunshine (whoa oh)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa oh)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa oh)
And don't it feel good, hey, all right now, and don't it feel good, hey, yeah

I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it's true
And I don't wanna spend my whole life, just a waitin' for you
Now I don't want you back for the weekend, not back for a day, no-no-no
I said baby I just want you back, and I want you to stay

Oh yeah...Now I'm walking on sunshine (whoa oh)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa oh)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa oh)
And don't it feel good, hey, all right now, and don't it feel good, hey, yeah
Oh yeah, and don't it feel good

guitar solo

Walkin' on sunshine...walkin' on sunshine...yeah

I fell alive, I feel a love, I feel a love that's really real
I fell alive, I feel a love, I feel a love that's really real
I'm on sunshine baby, oh, oh yeah, I'm on sunshine baby, oh
I'm walkin' on sunshine (whoa oh )
I'm walkin' on sunshine (whoa oh )
I'm walkin' on sunshine (whoa oh )

And don't it feel good, hey, all right now
And don't it feel good, I say it, say it, say it again, now
And don't it feel good, hey, yeah now
And don't it feel good, now don't it, don't it, don't it, don't it , don't it
Don't it feel good, I say it, I say it, I say it again, now
And don't it feel good, don't it, don't it, don't it (vamp out)