Rosanna (song)
"Rosanna" | ||||
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Single by Toto | ||||
from the album Toto IV | ||||
B-side | "It's a Feeling" | |||
Released | ||||
Recorded | 1982 | |||
Studio |
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Genre |
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Length |
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Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | David Paich | |||
Producer(s) | Toto | |||
Toto singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Rosanna" on YouTube |
"Rosanna" is a song written by
The song reached number two on the
Composition and lyrics
The song was written by David Paich, who has said that the song is based on numerous girls he had known. As a joke, the band members initially played along with the common assumption that the song was based on Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time. Arquette herself played along with the joke, commenting in an interview that the song was about "my showing up at 4 a.m., bringing them juice and beer at their sessions".[8]
However, in Steve Lukather's book, "The Gospel According to Luke," Lukather states undeniably that the song was indeed about Arquette. Even going as far as to say that at one point Arquette finally relented and admitted the song was about her.
In the verses, the key is changed from G major to F major, accompanied on the original recording by the lead vocalist changing from Steve Lukather to Bobby Kimball.[9]
The
The overlapping keyboard solos in the middle were created by David Paich and Steve Porcaro recording a multitude of keyboard lines (some of which were cut from the final recording) using a Micro-Composer, a
Steve Porcaro and Lukather describe it as "the ultimate Toto track".
Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Toto's greatest song, saying that it was "Easily one of the 1980's best singles".[16]
Music video
The West Side Story-inspired video was directed by Steve Barron and set in a stylized urban streetscape, with Rosanna represented by a dancer whose bright red dress contrasts with the gray surroundings. The band plays within a chain-link fence enclosure. Cynthia Rhodes is featured as the lead dancer Rosanna, which led to her being cast in Staying Alive the following year.[17] Patrick Swayze was also uncredited as a dancer in the music video and he and Rhodes would both star in the movie Dirty Dancing.[18]
Despite not playing on the actual recording, new bassist Mike Porcaro (brother of Jeff and Steve) appears in the video, as original Toto bass player David Hungate left before the video was made. Lenny Castro is also featured with the band as a percussionist.[19]
Personnel
Adapted from album's liner notes.[20]
Toto
- Bobby Kimball – lead vocals (verses and choruses), backing vocals
- Steve Lukather – lead vocals (verses), backing vocals, guitars
- David Paich – backing vocals, keyboards, horn arrangements
- Steve Porcaro – keyboards
- David Hungate – bass guitar
- Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Tom Kelly – backing vocals
- Lenny Castro – congas and percussion
- Jim Horn – saxophone
- Tom Scott – saxophone
- Jimmy Pankow – trombone
- Gary Grant – trumpet
- Jerry Hey – trumpet, horn arrangements
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1982–1983) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[21] | 16 |
Austrian Top 40[22] | 11 |
Belgian Radio 2 Top 30
|
22 |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 7 |
Canadian RPM Top Singles | 4 |
Dutch Top 40 | 3 |
TROS Europarade
|
20 |
French Singles Chart | 46 |
German Singles Chart[22] | 24 |
Irish Singles Chart | 11 |
Italian Singles Chart | 12 |
New Zealand Singles Chart[22] | 22 |
Norwegian Singles Chart[22] | 2 |
South African Singles Chart | 3 |
Spanish Radio Chart | 31 |
Swiss Singles Chart[22] | 3 |
U.K. Singles Chart[23]
|
12 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 17 |
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks | 8 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1982) | Rank |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[24] | 74 |
Canadian RPM Top Singles | 27 |
Dutch Top 40 | 31 |
Italian Singles Chart | 30 |
South African Singles Chart | 15 |
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[25] | 14 |
Sales and certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[26] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[27] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[28] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[30] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Weezer cover
In 2018, American rock band Weezer released a cover of the track to poke fun at an attempt by fans to get them to cover "Africa", another song by Toto.[31] Weezer went on to release a cover of "Africa" five days later.
In popular culture
The song is featured in the season four episode of The Middle titled "The Hose".[citation needed]
References
- ^ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Rosanna discography".
- ISBN 9781538137666.
- SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (July 31, 2021). "What a Fool Believes Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- ^ David Roberts British Hit Singles & Albums, Guinness World Records Limited
- ^ Caldwell, Carol (June 9, 1983). "Baby, It's Her". Rolling Stone. No. 397. pp. 17, 19.
- ^ a b c d "Toto Encyclopedia: Rosanna". Toto99.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ISBN 0-471-79411-2.
- ^ "Jeff Porcaro: The Rosanna Shuffle", DrummerWorld.com.
- ^ "The Rosanna Half Time Shuffle by Jeff Porcaro" Youtube.com
- ^ Kaye, Ben (July 30, 2018). "Toto to release cover of Weezer's "Hash Pipe"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 10, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. April 10, 1982. p. 74. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Kachejian, Brian. "Top 10 Toto songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Cynthia Rhodes: Actress, Dancer, & Singer", nctc.net.
- ^ ""Dirty Dancing - Trivia" (1987) at IMDB". IMDb.
- ^ "Toto - Rosanna (Official HD Video)". YouTube. Toto. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Toto IV (booklet). Columbia. 1982.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c d e "Rosanna" chart history, Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". EveryHit.com. March 16, 2000. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. January 3, 1983. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. December 25, 1982. p. TIA-20.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Toto – Rosanna". Music Canada.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Toto – Rosanna". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "British single certifications – Toto – Rosanna". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Toto – Rosanna". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Weezer Cover Toto's Cheeseball '80s Hit "Rosanna" -- Listen". Stereogum. May 24, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
External links
- Lyrics on official Toto website
- MusicStack information