Sometimes (Erasure song)

"Sometimes"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Circus
B-side	"Sexuality", "Say What"
Released	6 October 1986
Format	12", 7", CD
Recorded	1985–1986
Genre	Synthpop, new wave
Length	3:38
Label	Mute (UK), Sire (US)
Writer(s)	Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)	Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"Oh L'amour" (1986) "'Sometimes'" (1986) "It Doesn't Have to Be" (1987)

"Sometimes" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in October 1986 as their fourth single overall.

After three commercial flops from their debut album Wonderland, "Sometimes" 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. The song became Erasure's second Top 5 hit on the U.S. 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.

Written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, "Sometimes" typifies the Erasure "sound" — an uptempo, dance-oriented pop tune accentuated by Clarke's analogue synthesizers and Bell's lyrics about being in love. The trumpet solo is performed by Guy Barker.^[1]

"Sometimes" 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.

Music Video

The music video showcases Erasure on a building rooftop — Clarke playing an acoustic 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

7" single (MUTE51)

1. "Sometimes"
2. "Sexuality" (Single Mix)

12" single (12MUTE51)

1. "Sometimes" (12" Mix)
2. "Sexuality" (12" Mix)
3. "Say What" (Remix)

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE 51)

1. "Sometimes" (Shiver Mix)
2. "Sexuality" (Private Mix)
3. "Senseless" (Remix)

12" single (Sire 20614-0)

1. "Sometimes" (Extended Mix) 5:22
2. "Sometimes" (Shiver Mix) 7:30
3. "It Doesn't Have To Be" (The Boop Oopa Doo Mix) 7:12
4. "Sexuality" (Private Mix) 6:04

Cassette single (CMUTE51)

1. "Sometimes"
2. "Sexuality" (Single Mix)
3. "Who Needs Love Like That"
4. "Heavenly Action"
5. "Oh L'amour"

CD single (CDMUTE51)

1. "Sometimes"
2. "Sexuality" (Single Mix)
3. "Sometimes" (12" Mix)
4. "Sexuality" (12" Mix)
5. "Say What" (Remix)

Chart performance

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart[2]	45
Austrian Singles Chart[3]	10
Belgian Singles Chart [4]	2
Dutch Singles Chart[5]	2
Finnish Singles Chart[6]	5
French Singles Chart[7]	39
German Singles Chart[8]	2
Irish Singles Chart[9]	3
Italian Singles Chart[10]	22
New Zealand Singles Chart[11]	15
Spanish Singles Chart[12]	1
South African Singles Chart[13]	1
Swedish Singles Chart[14]	20
Swiss Singles Chart[15]	3
UK Singles Chart[16]	2
U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play Singles Chart[17]	4
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales Chart[18]	37

References

1. "Erasure (Andy Bell & Vince Clarke) | Official Website – SOMETIMES (SINGLE)". erasureinfo.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 104. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
4. "Erasure - Sometimes". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
5. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
6. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
7. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". lescharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
8. "charts.de". charts.de. 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. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
11. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
12. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
13. Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
14. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
15. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Sometimes". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
16. "The Official Charts Company - Sometimes by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
17. "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
18. "Music Search, Recommendations, Videos and Reviews". AllMusic. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics