Roam
| "Roam" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
the B-52's | ||||
| from the album Cosmic Thing | ||||
| B-side | "Bushfire" | |||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Studio | Skyline (New York City) | |||
| Genre | Pop[1] | |||
| Length |
| |||
The B-52's singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Roam" on YouTube | ||||
"Roam" is a song by American
the B-52's released as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, Cosmic Thing (1989). The vocals are sung by Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, making it the only vocal track on the album without any vocal involvement from Fred Schneider. It is also the only track from the album in which the B-52's worked with a co-writer, Robert Waldrop, who penned the lyrics.[2] Released as a single in 1989, "Roam" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100
and entered the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Release
The "Roam" single was released with a variety of song's remixes as well as live tracks recorded at the
Reception
"Roam" became the band's second and final US top-10 hit, peaking at number three on the
Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "Roam".[4]
Music video
The music video for "Roam" was directed by Adam Bernstein and produced by Jonna Mattingly, with Zack Winestine serving as the director of photography. Filmed in New York City, the video contains plentiful animations and stock footage.[5]
Track listings
|
US maxi-CD single[6]
US and Australian 12-inch single[7]
|
US 7-inch and cassette single[8][9][10]
UK 7-inch, CD, and cassette single[11][3][12]
UK 12-inch single[13]
|
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the Cosmic Thing album booklet.[2]
Studios
- Recorded digitally and mixed analog at Skyline Studios (New York City)
- Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City)
Personnel
- The B-52's – music
- Fred Schneider
- Cindy Wilson – vocals
- Kate Pierson – vocals
- Keith Strickland – guitar
- Robert Waldrop – lyrics
- Sara Lee – bass guitar
- Richard Hilton – keyboard, programming
- Leroy Clouden – drums
- Nile Rodgers – production, mixing
- Budd Tunick – production management
- Tom Durack – mixing, engineering
- Ed Brooks – second engineering
- Keith Freedman – second engineering
- Paul Angelli – second engineering
- Patrick Dillett– second engineering
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[25] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[30] | 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 Pierson, Wilson, Schneider, and Strickland, respectively.[31]
- 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.[32]
Marriott Bonvoy Version
In 2023 the Bonvoy loyalty program for Marriott International released a series of ads featuring re-recorded and remixed versions of the song as part of their "Roam Around the World" campaign. The songs were produced by W Hotels Global Music Director Leah Chisholm (aka LP Giobbi) and featured vocals by Amelia Rae.[33][34][35]
References
- ^ Melchior, Al (April 6, 2024). "Remember When: The B-52s Improbably Became Bigger than Ever with 'Cosmic Thing'". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
Roam" was not typical B-52s fare. It's a straightforward pop song that relies more on its melodicism...
- ^ The B-52's (1989). Cosmic Thing (US CD album booklet). Reprise Records. W2 25854.
- ^ a b Roam (UK CD single liner notes). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1990. W9827CD, 7599-21542-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Annual Grammy Nominations". United Press International. February 19, 1991. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Video Track". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 48. December 2, 1989. p. 48.
- ^ Roam (US maxi-CD single disc notes). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. 9 21441-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Roam (US & Australian 12-inch single vinyl disc). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. 0-21441, 9 21441-0.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "The B-52's – Roam". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ Roam (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. 7-22667.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Roam (US cassette single cassette notes). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1989. 9 22667-4, 4-22667.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Roam (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1990. W 9827.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Roam (UK cassette single sleeve). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1990. W9827C.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Roam (UK 12-inch single sleeve). The B-52's. Reprise Records. 1990. W9827T, 7599-21480-0.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9078." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9075." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 22. June 2, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "The B-52's – Roam" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Roam". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "The B-52's – Roam". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "The B-52s 2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "The B-52s 2 Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "The B-52s 2 Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- Cash Box. Vol. LIII, no. 34. March 17, 1990. p. 22. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)". ARIA. Retrieved October 10, 2016 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Top 100 Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved May 14, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-14.
- Cash Box. Vol. LIV, no. 22. December 29, 1990. p. 9. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "American single certifications – B-52 – Roam". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Fast Forward parody of MTV featuring the B-52's". YouTube.
- ^ "Roam (From "Treasure Buddies") – Single". iTunes. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- ^ "Marriott Bonvoy Inspires Travelers to Discover the Unexpected as They Roam Around the World" (Press release). Bethesda, MD. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Roam Around the World | Marriott Bonvoy" (video). youtube.com. Marriott Bonvoy. Apr 17, 2023.Cited information in the video's description
- ^ "A Conversation with W Hotels Global Music Director, LP Giobbi | Marriott Bonvoy" (video). youtube.com. Marriott Bonvoy. Jul 31, 2023.Interview with LP Giobbi
