Summer Son

For the Craig Lancaster novel, see The Summer Son.

"Summer Son" is a song by Scottish band Texas, released as the second single from their fifth studio album, The Hush (1999). The song was released in Europe on 9 August 1999 and in the United Kingdom on 16 August 1999, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. In mainland Europe, "Summer Son" became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching the top five in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, and Wallonia. It has received gold certifications in Belgium and Germany and a silver certification in the United Kingdom.

"Summer Son"
Artwork used for most releases
Single by Texas
from the album The Hush
B-side	"Don't You Want Me" (live)
Released	9 August 1999 (1999-08-09)
Studio	Shar's house, Park Lane (Glasgow, Scotland)
Length	4:06
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Johnny McElhone Sharleen Spiteri Eddie Campbell Robert Hodgens
Producer(s)	Johnny Mac
Texas singles chronology
"In Our Lifetime" (1999) "Summer Son" (1999) "When We Are Together" (1999)
Alternative cover
UK CD2 artwork
Music video
"Summer Son" on YouTube

A major chart success for the band, it has appeared on three of their compilation albums: The Greatest Hits (2000),^[1] Texas 25 (2015)^[2] and The Very Best of 1989–2023 (2023).^[3]

Critical reception

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun noted that the band are infusing the song with "an ABBA-esque melancholy."^[4] Howard Cohen from The Miami Herald said they do "some Garbage/ABBA melding", picking it as "this CD's catchiest number."^[5] Stephen Dalton from NME wrote that "these 12 tracks perform their ear-soothing job with ruthless efficiency", noting the "Abba-tinged retro-disco" of "Summer Son".^[6] A reviewer from Sunday Mercury stated that "the new single from Texas, is a great wedge of Scot pop. With its tubular bells chorus, catchy riff and Sharleen's breathy vocals, it's one of the best singles for weeks and deserves to go straight into the top 10."^[7] Sunday Tribune complimented its title as "really clever, right, because it's called 'Summer Son', and she's talking about a bloke, but it sounds a bit like 'Summer Sun'".^[8] Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald deemed it "hugely infectious".^[9]

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It features Spiteri writhing with a hunky male model on a bed. The video was banned from daytime TV, as it was deemed too provocative.^[10]

Track listings

• UK CD1^[11]

1. "Summer Son" (enhanced version)
2. "Don't You Want Me" (live at Glastonbury 99)
3. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder radio mix)

* Enhanced CD includes video and photo gallery

• UK CD2^[12]

1. "Summer Son"
2. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder alternative 12-inch)
3. "Summer Son" (Tee's Freeze mix) - 7:30

• UK 12-inch single^[13]

A1. "Summer Son" (Sunburn mix) – 7:39

A2. "Summer Son" (Love to Infinity radio mix) – 3:57

B1. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder alternative 12-inch) – 5:14

B2. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder radio mix) – 3:39

• UK cassette single and European CD single^[14][15]

1. "Summer Son" – 4:04
2. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder radio mix) – 3:39

• Australian CD single^[16]

1. "Summer Son"
2. "Don't You Want Me" (live at Glastonbury '99)
3. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder alternative 12-inch)
4. "Summer Son" (Love to Infinity Sunburn mix)
5. "Summer Son" (Tee's Freeze mix)
6. "Say What You Want" (live at 2Day FM in Sydney, 28 May 1997)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from The Hush album booklet.^[17]

Studios

• Recorded at Shar's house and Park Lane (Glasgow, Scotland)
• Mixed at the Mix Suite, Olympic Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Texas – all instruments, programming
  • Johnny McElhone – writing, production (as Johnny Mac)
  • Sharleen Spiteri – writing
  • Eddie Campbell – writing
  • Ally McErlaine
• Robert Hodgens – writing
• Tony McGovern – guitars
• Paul Smith – guitars
• Richard Hynd – drums, additional programming
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 95 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 4 Croatia (HRT)[22] 6 Denmark (IFPI)[23] 10 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 3 France (SNEP)[26] 4 Germany (GfK)[27] 3 Greece (IFPI)[28] 3 Hungary (Mahasz)[23] 4 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[29] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[30] 18 Italy (Musica e dischi)[31] 39 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 63 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 15 Scotland (OCC)[34] 3 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 31 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[38] 5 Chart (2023) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[39] 65

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40] 91 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[41] 44 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[42] 27 France (SNEP)[43] 42 Germany (Media Control)[44] 36 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[45] 78 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 28 UK Singles (OCC)[47] 147 UK Airplay (Music Week)[48] 28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[49]	Gold	25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[50]	Gold	250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51]	Silver	200,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	9 August 1999	CD	Mercury	[35]
United Kingdom	16 August 1999	CD cassette		[52]