Roam

"Roam" is a song by the B-52's. It was released as the fourth single from their 1989 album, Cosmic Thing, following "(Shake That) Cosmic Thing", "Channel Z", and "Love Shack". The vocals are sung by Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson.

"Roam"
US CD maxi-single
Single by the B-52's
from the album Cosmic Thing
B-side	"Bushfire"
Released	1989
Recorded	1988
Genre	Pop rock new wave power pop jangle pop
Length	4:54 (album version) 4:05 (single edit)
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Kate Pierson Fred Schneider Keith Strickland Robert Waldrop Cindy Wilson
Producer(s)	Nile Rodgers
The B-52's singles chronology
"Love Shack" (1989) "Roam" (1989) "Deadbeat Club" (1990)
Music video
"Roam" on YouTube

"Roam" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1990, spending a total of 20 weeks on the chart, and it also reached number three on the Cash Box chart. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 1990. Worldwide, the song became a top-ten success in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, peaking at numbers four, nine, and two, respectively. In February 1991, the B-52's were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Roam".[1]

Track listings

US 12-inch maxi-single[2] A1. "Roam" (extended remix) – 5:27 A2. "Roam" (instrumental) – 5:25 B1. "Roam" (12-inch remix) – 8:17 B2. "Bushfire" (LP version) – 4:56 US maxi single[3] "Roam" (7-inch remix) – 5:11 "Roam" (radio mix) – 4:13 "Roam" (12-inch remix) – 8:17 "Bushfire" (LP version) – 4:56 "Roam" (extended remix) – 5:25 "Roam" (instrumental) – 5:27 International 7-inch single[4] A. "Roam" (edit) – 4:05 B. "Bushfire" (LP) – 4:56

UK 12-inch promo single[5] A1. "Roam" (12-inch remix) B1. "Roam" (12-inch extended remix) B2. "Roam" (radio mix) UK and European CD single[6] "Roam" (edit) "Whammy Kiss" (live) "Dance This Mess Around" (live) Australian 12-inch maxi-single[4] "Roam" (extended mix) – 5:27 "Roam" (instrumental) – 5:25 "Roam" (12-inch remix) – 8:32 "Roam" (LP) – 4:56

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 4 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[8] 13 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 40 Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 40 Ireland (IRMA)[11] 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[13] 17 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 3 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[15] 10 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[16] 10 US Cash Box Top 100[17] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Australia (ARIA)[18] 68 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 45 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 45 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 40 US Cash Box[22] 36 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[23][24] 229

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18]	Gold	35,000^^
United States (RIAA)[25]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

• The Chipettes covered the song in the 1991 Alvin and the Chipmunks album The Chipmunks Rock the House.
• A parody of the song and video, called "Comb," was a skit on Fast Forward in 1990 as the B-52's began the Australian leg of their Cosmic Tour. The video, which poked fun at Pierson's and Wilson's bouffant wigs, starred Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Michael Veitch and Peter Moon as Kate, Cindy, Fred and Keith respectively.[26]
• The song was performed by the cast of the 2002 stage version of Earth Girls Are Easy.
• The Yayhoos covered the song on their 2006 album Put The Hammer Down.
• Argentine female singer Marcela Morelo covered the song on her 2009 album Otro Plan in a Spanish version.
• Caroline Sunshine covered the song for the soundtrack to the 2012 film Treasure Buddies.

References

1. "Annual Grammy Nominations". United Press International. February 19, 1991. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
2. "Roam" – US 12-inch maxi-single (Vinyl disc). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. 0-21441, 9 21441-0.CS1 maint: others (link)
3. "Roam" – US maxi-single (Liner notes and compact disc). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. 9 21441-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
4. "Australian-charts.com – The B-52's – Roam". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
5. "Roam" – UK 12-inch single promo (Vinyl disc). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. SAM 662.CS1 maint: others (link)
6. "Roam" – UK & European CD single (CD sleeve). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1990. W9827CD, 7599-21542-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9078." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
8. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9075." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 22. June 2, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
10. "Offiziellecharts.de – The B-52's – Roam". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Roam". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
12. "Charts.nz – The B-52's – Roam". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
14. "The B-52s 2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
15. "The B-52s 2 Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
16. "The B-52s Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
17. "Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIII no. 34. March 17, 1990. p. 22. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
18. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved October 10, 2016.
19. "Top 100 Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
20. "Top Selling Singles of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
21. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 22, 1990). "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102 no. 51. p. YE-14.
22. "Awards – Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIV no. 22. December 29, 1990. p. 9. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
23. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The Listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
24. https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboards-top-songs-90s
25. "American single certifications – B-52's – Roam". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 16, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Q_94Ymdqo

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics