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King for a Day (Thompson Twins song)

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"King For A Day" is a 1985 song by the British band the Thompson Twins. It was released as the third single from the band's fifth album Here's to Future Days.

"King For A Day"
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Here's to Future Days
B-side"Rollunder"
Released11 October 1985[1]
Recorded1984–1985
GenrePop rock
Length5:20 (album version)
3:58 (single version)
LabelArista Records
Songwriter(s)Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, Joe Leeway
Producer(s)Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"Don't Mess With Doctor Dream"
(1985) 		"King For A Day"
(1985) 		"Revolution"
(1985)
Audio
"King for a Day" on YouTube
US 7-inch vinyl sleeve
For other songs titled "King for a Day", see King for a Day.

It was written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway. There are two versions of the song, with various edits and remixes of the two. The UK version of the song has alternate lyrics and is more synth based. The US and album versions contain electric guitar. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, spending six weeks on the chart[2] and would be the band's final UK Top 40 hit. The single fared better in America where it peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[3] It was a success on the Swedish Trackslistan, occupying the number one spot for four consecutive weeks in November 1985, during a seven week chart stay.[4]

The B-side, "Rollunder", was exclusive to this single with two versions; a shorter 7-inch version and an extended version. It is a variation of the band's song "Roll Over", which was planned for release as a single earlier in 1985, but withdrawn from sale at the last moment.

Music video

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A promotional music video was made for the single that was directed by Meiert Avis. Three edited versions of the video are known to exist. The first version features Bailey, Currie, and Leeway at the "Hard Cash Hotel" with Bailey singing to Currie as he attempts to cheer her up. The ending shows the trio playing their instruments in front of stained glass windows with a backing band dressed as nuns.[5] The second edited version shows more shots of the trio performing with the backing band interspersed with scenes from the trio at the hotel.[6] The third edit omits any scenes from the hotel and solely features the trio performing with the backing band dressed as nuns in front of stained glass windows.[7]


Formats

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Japanese Promo 7" vinyl single (7 inch record / 45)

  1. "King for a Day" (single 45 edit) - 4:14
  2. "Rollunder"

7-inch UK vinyl single

  1. "King for a Day" (Special U.K. Mix Re Edit) – 5:57
  2. "Rollunder" (12" Version) – 4:46

12-inch UK vinyl single

  1. "King for a Day" (extended mix) – 8:02
  2. "Rollunder" – 6:50

12-inch UK vinyl single

  1. "King for a Day" (US re-mix) – 7:20
  2. "Rollunder" – 6:50

7-inch US vinyl single

  1. "King for a Day" (single version) – 3:58
  2. "Rollunder" – 4:40

12-inch US vinyl single

  1. "King for a Day" (rock radio edit) – 4:10
  2. "King for a Day" (LP version) – 5:20
  3. "Roll Over" (LP version) – 4:58

Personnel

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Written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway.

  • Tom Bailey – vocals, piano, Fairlight, synthesizers, guitar, contrabass, Fairlight and drum programming
  • Alannah Currie – marimba, acoustic drums, percussion, tuned percussion, backing vocals, lyrics
  • Joe Leeway – congas, percussion, backing vocals
  • Nile Rodgers – additional guitar and backing vocals
  • Produced by Nile Rodgers and Tom Bailey
  • Mixed by James Farber
  • Mixed at Skyline Studio, NYC
  • Photography – Rebecca Blake
  • Artwork/Design – Andie Airfix, Satori
  • Art Direction – Alannah

Chart performance

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Chart (1985–1986) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 22
Australian Singles Chart[8] 20
Canadian Singles Chart[9] 12
New Zealand Singles Chart [10] 4
Swedish Singles Chart [11] 10
Swedish Trackslistan[4] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 8
US Adult Contemporary[3] 13
Year-end charts Rank
Swedish Trackslistan 1985[12] 6
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) 1986[13] 96

References

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  1. ^ Strickland, Andy (5 October 1985). "Index: Royal Twins". Record Mirror. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b "Thompson Twins – King For A Day". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "King For A Day – Thompson Twins". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  4. ^ a b Trackslistan 1985-11-30 Sveriges Radio
  5. ^ "Thompson Twins - King for a Day - Video Dailymotion". Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  6. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Thompson Twins - "King For A Day" (UK) (FULL Nuns version)". Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Australian-Charts". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Thompson Twins RPM 100". CollectionsCanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  10. ^ "New Zealand Charts". Charts.nz. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Swedish Charts". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  12. ^ Tracklistan 1985 Sveriges Radio
  13. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (27 December 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21. {{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
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