Roam
Encyclopedia
"Roam" was the fourth single from The B-52's
' 1989 hit album Cosmic Thing
, following "(Shake That) Cosmic Thing," "Channel Z," and "Love Shack
." Roam was a number-three hit on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart in January 1990. The vocals are sung by Kate Pierson
and Cindy Wilson
.
The Discovery Channel
used 'Roam' in its own television commercials throughout the late 1990s. Subaru of New Zealand
used it in a 2004 commercial. The song is playable in the music video game
Rock Band. "Roam" is also used as the theme for the Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Show in the SSI Radio Network. The song has been used on PBS World
. The song was used in the unaired pilot of the sitcom "Get A Life
."
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
' 1989 hit album Cosmic Thing
Cosmic Thing
Cosmic Thing is the fifth studio album by New Wave band The B-52's, released in 1989. It contains the singles "Love Shack" and "Roam", which remain two of their most popular tunes...
, following "(Shake That) Cosmic Thing," "Channel Z," and "Love Shack
Love Shack
"Love Shack" is a single by rock band The B-52's. Originally released in 1989 from their album Cosmic Thing, the single was the band's biggest hit song and first million-copy seller...
." Roam was a number-three hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart in January 1990. The vocals are sung by Kate Pierson
Kate Pierson
Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. One of the multi-instrumentalists in the band, Pierson played guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments...
and Cindy Wilson
Cindy Wilson
Cynthia Leigh Wilson is a vocalist and a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s.- Career :...
.
The Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
used 'Roam' in its own television commercials throughout the late 1990s. Subaru of New Zealand
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
used it in a 2004 commercial. The song is playable in the music video game
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
Rock Band. "Roam" is also used as the theme for the Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Show in the SSI Radio Network. The song has been used on PBS World
PBS World
PBS World is a 24-hour United States over-the-air digital subchannel showing public TV non-fiction, science, nature, news, public affairs and documentaries...
. The song was used in the unaired pilot of the sitcom "Get A Life
Get a Life (TV series)
Get a Life is a television sitcom that was broadcast in the United States on the Fox Network from September 23, 1990, to March 8, 1992. The show starred Chris Elliott as a 30-year-old paperboy named Chris Peterson. Peterson lived in an apartment above his parents' garage...
."
Track listing
- "Roam" (7" Remix) - 5:13
- "Roam" (Radio Mix) - 4:15
- "Roam" (12" Remix) - 8:19
- "Bushfire" (LP Version) - 4:59
- "Roam" (Extended Remix) - 5:30
- "Roam" (Instrumental) - 5:27
Cover versions
- A parody of the song and video, called "Comb," was a skit on Fast Forward in 1990 as The B-52s began the Australian leg of their Cosmic Tour. The video, which poked fun at Pierson's and Wilson's bouffant wigs, starred Gina RileyGina RileyGina Riley is an Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian.Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid. In the latter she was also a producer and writer...
and Jane TurnerJane TurnerJane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...
. - The song was performed by the cast of the 2002 stage version of Earth Girls Are Easy.
- The YayhoosThe YayhoosThe Yayhoos are an American rock group. The band was once described as the "Harlem Globetrotters of Roots Rock", "a genuine, supergroup of southern-rock and alt.country heavyweights" and just "supergroup." The four bandmates share singing, songwriting and playing duties.- Members' background :*Dan...
covered the song on their 2006 album Put The Hammer Down. - The ChipettesThe ChipettesThe Chipettes are a fictional group of anthropomorphic chipmunk singers first appearing on the cartoon series Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1983. In this and related materials, the Chipettes served as female featured characters in their own right, starring in numerous episodes...
covered the song for the 1991 album The Chipmunks Rock the HouseThe Chipmunks Rock the HouseThe Chipmunks Rock the House is a music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released in 1991 by Quality Special Products.- Side one :# "Cradle of Love" # "Freedom! '90" # "Roam" ...
. - The Argentine female singer Marcela MoreloMarcela MoreloMarcela Morelo , also known as La Morelo, is an Argentine singer-songwriter. She has released seven critically acclaimed studio albums, which all earned either Gold of Platinum record...
covered the song on their 2009 album "Otro Plan" in a Spanish version
Peak positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
15 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
17 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
6 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 40 |