Skye (song)
"Skye" is a 1984 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the second single from their fourth studio album Heartland (1985). Released on 30 November 1984, St. Andrews Day in Scotland, "Skye" is a tribute to the Isle of Skye, the island in the Inner Hebrides off the coast of mainland Scotland, where the band originate from. It was produced by Alan O'Duffy, alongside its B–side "Hey Mandhu".

Background 

The track "Skye" was written by the band as an acknowledgement of their place of origin, the Isle of Skye off the coast of mainland Scotland, where they formed in 1973. Jerry Smith from Musicweek commented that "Skye" was a "change of direction from the normal sedate folk rock", whilst describing the song as "a fast paced single with a rousing chorus and guitar lines vaguely reminiscent of Big Country", claiming the song to be "a fine piece of Gaelic tinged rock and roll".

Release and promotion 

"Skye" was released in 1984 as the second single from their fourth studio album Heartland. It marked one of the earliest releases by the band since signing with Simple Records. They were credited by the record label for "danceable rock music heavily tinged with Celtic influences from their native Isle of Scotland". The first release by the band under Simple Records was the predecessor single to "Skye", "Dance Called America" was released in August 1984 on both 7" and 12" formats. Simple Records had recently signed a distribution deal with EMI Records shortly before "Skye" was released.

The first known occasion the band performed the track live was during a concert at Caol Community Center in Fort William in 1985. By 1986, the song was featured on the bands setlist for concerts in Scotland and Germany.  In 1987, during their supporting act appearance in Edinburgh for Irish rock band U2, "Skye" was included on the setlist for the concert played at Murrayfield Stadium on 1 August 1987, and featured on all concert appearances by the band that year.

In 1996, "Skye" was performed by the band during their appearance at Rockpalast held in Philipshalle, Düsseldorf. The concert was later released on DVD in 2020. 

Chart and sales controversy 

Gallup, Inc. was criticised heavily by Simple Records after "Skye" was deleted from the listing of singles that charted between 100-200 on the UK Singles Charts, citing that Gallup had given them "no way to fight back" and dispute the decision. Gallup began an investigation into alleged suspicious sales of "Skye" after it was deemed ineligible for charting, despite it charting at number 108 on the UK Singles Charts in the week previous. A spokesperson for Gallup claimed that "Skye" had been deemed ineligible for charting and thus deleted from the listing due to a "discrepancy between the returns from chart panel shops and those from the check panel", further adding that Gallup deemed the sales of the single to "be suspicious". Four incidents were recorded and flagged to Gallup surrounding multiple sales.

Simple Records argued that unusual sale figures were in part due to "most loyal Runrig fans" being Scottish Gaelic speakers. Solicitor Michael Mellersh who was acting on behalf of the record company stated in a letter to Gallup that "many native Gaels go home to the islands in early December until the New Year. While Simple has serviced some general record stores direct, most people in those regions rely on those friends and relations returning to the cities to send copies to them". Four incidents were recorded and flagged to Gallup surrounding multiple sales. Representatives of Simple Records and the British Phonographic Industry met with Gallup to discuss the single. 

The investigation by Gallup was delayed as a result of bad weather in January 1985. Shirlie Stone, who ran Simple Records, said that she was "disappointed at the lack of information coming from Gallup".

Track listing
1984 7" Vinyl, White Label

 "Skye" 
 "Hey Mandu"

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, single

 "Skye" 
 "Hey Mandu"

Chart performance 

Chart (1984)Peakposition

See also

 Isle of Skye
 Runrig discography

References

 

Category:1984 songs
Category:1984 singles
Category:Runrig songs