It's a Fine Day

At the time of the release, the producers behind the British dance sensation couldn't legally reveal themselves. There was a story being told about how the group was formed, that supposedly the producers had stumbled on classically-trained vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw, hearing her sing while they were up a tree recording the sounds of birds on a DAT recorder at a Spiral Tribe rave in the Hertfordshire woods to sample for a new track.[8][9]

"It's a Fine Day" went on to become very successful on the charts in Europe, peaking at number-one in Greece and number two in Spain. It entered the top 10 also in Finland (10), Ireland (6), Italy (9), and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single reached number five in its second week on the UK Singles Chart, on February 23, 1992.[10] It spent two weeks at that position and ended up as number 60 on the UK Year-end chart. On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it was even more successful, reaching number three. "It's a Fine Day" was a top 20 hit in Austria (14), France (14), Germany (18) and on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 16 in March 1992. And a top 30 hit in Belgium (24), Sweden (22) and Switzerland (24).

Outside Europe, the song peaked at number eight in Israel and soared to the number-one position on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, while reaching number 12 on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart and number 30 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. In Australia, the single reached the top 60, peaking at number 54.

Larry Flick from Billboard felt the "quirky dance act" has made a "near-perfect, radio-friendly ditty", noting that it's "empowered with a potent blend of, ethereal female vocals, a hypnotic hook, and an electro-hip beat."[11] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer declared it as "a dance-pop tune with "rave" undertones and pretty female vocals that'll make your day better than fine."[12] Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly described it as a "bubble-gummy dance track", adding that "this self-described ambient-techno group lives up to the genre’s esoteric side."[13] Dave Sholin from Gavin Report replied on the circulating story around the group, "A likely story. In any case, it was a fortunate meeting that gave life to this hot track."[8] Dave Simpson from Melody Maker complimented it as "a masterstroke in conception and execution", stating that "in five years' time, anyone searching for the sound and spirit of early '92 won't be far from "It's a Fine Day'"."[14]

Alan Jones from Music Week found that "it's the nearest thing yet to an ambient rave. Watch it chase Kylie and 2 Unlimited up the chart."[15] Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty wrote, "Like nothing else out there, this track is simultaneously spacey and driving, bordering on the current Euro-rave movement."[9] Danny Scott from Select remarked its "surreal ambient house sounds".[16] Seamus Quinn from NME said, "Believe me when I tell you that this will be a monster hit. It's also a very odd record. It combines an element of Temper Temper's "It's All Outta Loving You" with deliciously dreamy female vocals and a thumping rhythm track." He concluded, "A winner."[17] Another editor, Stephen Dalton, felt it's "the sound of spring arriving early. You'll love it."[18] And Roger Morton declared it as "a seductive piece of lightweight house, which takes Crystal Waters style breezy beats and nursery school melodies, and showers them with blossom and balloons."[19] Andy Beevers from the RM Dance Update called it "one of the year's most unusual hits."[20] Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, but stated that it "has become something of a dance anthem."[21]

AllMusic editor MacKenzie Wilson said the song is "melodically enchanting with loopy trance vibes and textured synth waves", noting Kirsty Hawkshaw's "dove-like vocals transcended into freewheeling soundscapes".[22] In 1999, Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger called it a "precious lullaby for a sleepless generation."[23] In 2010, "It's a Fine Day" was ranked number 182 in Pitchfork Media's list of "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s".[7]

The accompanying music video for "It's a Fine Day" was directed by David Betteridge.[24] It first aired in February 1992. The video features Kirsty Hawkshaw with her standout shaved head and bodysuit, performing and dancing against a backdrop of what is supposed to be a fine day.