Donna (10cc song)

"Donna" is the first single by British art pop band 10cc. Released in 1972, it peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] The song was written by Lol Creme and Kevin Godley.

"Donna"
Single by 10cc
from the album 10cc
B-side"Hot Sun Rock"
Released23 September 1972
Genre
Length2:53
LabelUK Records
Songwriter(s)Lol Creme
Kevin Godley
10cc singles chronology
"Donna"
(1972)		 "Johnny Don't Do It"
(1972)

Overview

"Donna", a parody of doo-wop songs[2] (see also "Donna" by Ritchie Valens), was originally written as a potential B-side to the song "Waterfall". The song features sharp contrasts between falsetto in the chorus (Creme) and deep monotone vocals (Godley) in the verse. The melody line is similar to the Beatles song "Oh! Darling".[3][4]

Band member Eric Stewart has said: "We knew it had something. We only knew of one person who was mad enough to release it, and that was Jonathan King."[2] The song was subsequently released on King's UK Records label. The band had considered releasing it under the name of "Doctor Father Part Two", resurrecting a band name they had used for their 1970 song "Umbopo". Band manager Harvey Lisberg said there was "a vague sort of plan at that time to keep on bringing out records under different names until they got a hit".[2]

Upon release of the single in the U.S., Record World said that "This Frank Zappa-ish production is currently a top record in England and is silly enough to make it here."[5]

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (1972) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 53
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 2
France (SNEP)[8] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 2
Chart (1973) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (1973) Rank
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 20
UK[14] 26

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 552/3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. George Tremlett (1976). The 10cc Story. Futura. ISBN 0-8600-7378-5.
  3. Newton, Liam (16 November 2020). "A word in your ear". YouTube.
  4. Gouldman, Graham. "10cc Radio Interview 1992". www.the10ccfanclub.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  5. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 11 November 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 307. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Donna". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. "Song artist 303 - 10cc". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  10. "10cc – Donna" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. "10cc – Donna" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. "Jaaroverzichten 1973" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  13. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1973" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  14. admin (29 March 2021). "Year-End Chart 1972 – UK". YourMusicCharts. Retrieved 5 July 2023.


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