Johnny, Johnny Come Home

"Johnny, Johnny Come Home" is a 1989 song recorded by Norwegian band Avalanche. It was their debut single and can be considered as its signature song. Released in March 1989 it helped launch the band's career achieving a smash success in France where it topped the chart and also in Norway was a top three hit, but its sales remained minimal in other countries.[1]

"Johnny, Johnny Come Home"
Single by Avalanche
B-side"Dance mix"
Released1989
GenreSynthpop, dance
Length4:18
LabelWarner Music, Wea
Songwriter(s)Kjetil Rosnes, Vinton Hoover
Producer(s)Vinton Hoover
Avalanche singles chronology
"Johnny, Johnny Come Home"
(1989)
"I Will Wait"
(1989)

Background and release

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Written by Vinton Hoover and Avalanche's member Kjetil Rosnes, "Johnny Johnny Come Home" was published twice: first in late 1988, with a red cover single, then in March 1989 with a blue one containing a new remix. The refrain is composed of the title repeated eight times and many onomatopoeias ("Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na"). Two songs with almost the same title, "Johnny Come Home", by Fine Young Cannibals in 1985, then by The Men They Couldn't Hang in 1987, are not related to Avalanche's one.

Chart performance

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In France, "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" debuted at number 43 on the chart edition of 1 April 1989, and climbed regularly until reaching the top ten in its sixth week. It topped the chart from it tenth week and remained there for eight consecutive weeks before being dislodged by Kaoma's massive summer hit "Lambada"; then it almost did not stop to drop and totaled 17 weeks in the top ten and 26 weeks in the top 50.[2] In Norway, the song was ranked in the top ten for eleven weeks from the 27th week of 1989, including a peak at number three in its sixth week.[3] The song was also released in Germany, but failed to reach the chart. On the European Hot 100 Singles, it debuted at number 98 on 28 April 1989, reached number two in its 15th week, being blocked from the number one slot by Sonia's "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You",[4] and spent 23 weeks on the chart, eight of them in the top ten.

Track listings

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Charts and sales

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1989) Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100)[4] 2
France (Airplay Chart [AM Stations])[12] 3
France (SNEP)[2] 1
Israel (IBA)[13] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[3] 3

Year-end charts

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Chart (1989) Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 28
France (SNEP)[15] 3
Israel (IBA)[16] 8

Certifications

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Certifications for "Johnny, Johnny Come Home"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[17] Gold 400,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 160. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X..
  2. ^ a b "Avalanche – Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Avalanche – Johnny, Johnny Come Home". VG-lista. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 31. 5 August 1989. p. IV-V. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  5. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, 7" single 1 France (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  6. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, 7" single 2 France (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  7. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, 7" single Germany (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  8. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, 7" single Norway (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  9. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, CD single Germany (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  10. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, 12" maxi Germany (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  11. ^ "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" at Discogs, 12" maxi remixes France (Avalanche – "Johnny, Johnny Come Home") (accessdate: 11 October 2021).
  12. ^ "Playlist report – France" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 29. 22 July 1989. p. II. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 23 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ "Israeli weekly chart (Reshet Gimel, IBA)". pizmonet. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ Legrand, Emmanuel (3 February 1990). "French Product Dominates Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 5. p. 10. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "Israeli year-end chart (Reshet Gimel, IBA)". pizmonet. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  17. ^ "French single certifications – Avalanche – Johnny, Johnny Come Home" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 24, 2021. Select AVALANCHE and click OK.