Sometimes (Erasure song)

"Sometimes" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in October 1986 as their fourth single overall. Written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it typifies the Erasure sound — an uptempo, dance-oriented pop tune accentuated by Clarke's phase distortion and analogue synthesizers and Bell's lyrics about being in love. The trumpet solo is performed by Guy Barker.[1] After three commercial flops from their debut album Wonderland, the single became Erasure's first bona fide hit, peaking at number one in South Africa, number two in their native United Kingdom and in Germany, and becoming a huge international hit. In the US, it became Erasure's second Top 5 hit on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it charted alongside "It Doesn't Have to Be" and peaked at number four. Peaking only at number 39 in the French Singles Chart, "Sometimes" still remains Erasure's last chart entry in France ever since. The single spent seventeen weeks in the UK singles chart — the duo's longest chart run for a single in that country — and was included on Erasure's second album The Circus, released six months later in March 1987.

"Sometimes"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Circus
B-side"Sexuality", "Say What"
Released6 October 1986
Recorded1985–1986
GenreSynthpop, new wave
Length3:38
LabelMute (UK), Sire (US)
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"Oh L'amour"
(1986)		 "Sometimes"
(1986)		 "It Doesn't Have to Be"
(1987)
Music video
"Sometimes" on YouTube

Critical reception

Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly wrote, "It remains one of their signature songs. It has the classic Erasure sound of the acoustic guitar providing rhythm over the electronic beat. It's easy to see why it was their first big hit – it's irresistibly catchy and singable."[2]

Music video

The music video for the song showcases Erasure on a building rooftop — Clarke playing a resonator guitar and Bell singing — as they weave through white sheets hanging from a laundry line; near the end of the video rain starts to fall on the duo.

Track listings

Charts
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 45
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 10
Belgium (Ultratop)[5] 2
Denmark (IFPI)[6] 9
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 5
France (SNEP)[8] 39
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 3
Italy (FIMI)[10] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 2
New Zealand (RIANZ Singles Chart)[12] 15
Spain (AFYVE)[13] 1
South Africa (South African Singles Chart)[14] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 20
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[17] 2
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[18] 4
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[19] 37
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[20] 2

References
  1. "Erasure (Andy Bell & Vince Clarke) | Official Website – SOMETIMES (SINGLE)". erasureinfo.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  2. Gerard, Chris (17 September 2014). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 104. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. "Erasure - Sometimes". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. Danish Singles Chart 27 February 1987
  7. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  8. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". lescharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  10. "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: E". Hitparadeitalia.it. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  11. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  12. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". charts.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  13. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  14. Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  15. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  16. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  17. "The Official Charts Company - Sometimes by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  18. "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  19. "Music Search, Recommendations, Videos and Reviews". AllMusic. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  20. "charts.de". charts.de. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
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