Top of the World (The Carpenters song)
Encyclopedia
"Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters
. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single. Originally intended to be only an album cut for the Carpenters, country singer Lynn Anderson
covered the song and released it as a single first. Anderson's version reached #2 on the U.S. country singles charts in mid-1973. The success of Anderson's version prompted the Carpenters to release a new version as a single, where it topped the U.S. pop singles chart for two weeks in December 1973. Karen Carpenter
re-recorded the song for the band's first compilation as she was not quite satisfied with the original. Brother Richard Carpenter has remixed the song's vocals, most recently for their 35th Anniversary Gold compilation.
In Japan, the song was used as the opening theme song for the 1995 Japanese drama Miseinen. In 2003, it was used for another drama, as the ending theme song for Beginner.
It appeared in the 2010 soundtrack of Shrek Forever After
.
dansband
Vikingarna had a 1974 Svensktoppen
hit with a cover version in Swedish
, "På världens tak", which was the first Vikingarna song at Svensktoppen.
In 1992, The Sugarcubes
, with Björk
as lead singer, covered the song. The song was included as a b-side on the single for Walkabout, the second single from the Album Stick Around For Joy
.
Shonen Knife
's cover appeared on the 1994 tribute album
If I Were a Carpenter. It was the ending theme song to the 1995 film The Last Supper and appeared in the 1998 film The Parent Trap
and the 2000 film The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy.
Mark O'Connor
did an acoustic guitar and mandolin (David Grisman
) version of the song on his 1979 album Markology.
In 2006, a Bossa-Nova version of the song was included in Naomi's & Goro album titled [HOME].
A Cantonese Christian song by the name of 冰天的太陽 was written using the melody of the song.
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped 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 late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single. Originally intended to be only an album cut for the Carpenters, country singer Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
covered the song and released it as a single first. Anderson's version reached #2 on the U.S. country singles charts in mid-1973. The success of Anderson's version prompted the Carpenters to release a new version as a single, where it topped the U.S. pop singles chart for two weeks in December 1973. Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
re-recorded the song for the band's first compilation as she was not quite satisfied with the original. Brother Richard Carpenter has remixed the song's vocals, most recently for their 35th Anniversary Gold compilation.
In Japan, the song was used as the opening theme song for the 1995 Japanese drama Miseinen. In 2003, it was used for another drama, as the ending theme song for Beginner.
It appeared in the 2010 soundtrack of Shrek Forever After
Shrek Forever After
Shrek Forever After, taglined as The Final Chapter, is a 2010 animated fantasy-comedy film, and the fourth and final installment in the Shrek film series, produced by DreamWorks Animation. The film was released by Paramount Pictures in cinemas on May 20, 2010 in Russia, and on May 21 in the United...
.
The Carpenters
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 2 |
| Record World | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart | 1 |
| Oricon (Japanese) Singles Chart | 21 |
| UK Singles Chart | 5 |
Lynn Anderson
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 34 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 74 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 30 |
Other cover versions
SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
dansband
Dansband
Dansband is a Swedish term for a band that plays dansbandsmusik . Dansbandsmusik is often danced to in pairs. Jitterbug and foxtrot music are often included in this category. The music is primarily inspired by swing, schlager, country, jazz, and rock...
Vikingarna had a 1974 Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...
hit with a cover version in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, "På världens tak", which was the first Vikingarna song at Svensktoppen.
In 1992, The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
, with Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
as lead singer, covered the song. The song was included as a b-side on the single for Walkabout, the second single from the Album Stick Around For Joy
Stick Around for Joy
Stick Around For Joy released in February 1992 was the third and final album released by the Icelandic alternative rock band The Sugarcubes. In terms of quality fans usually rate the album somewhere between the band's acclaimed debut, Life's Too Good and the widely panned follow-up Here Today,...
.
Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife, written in Japanese characters as 少年ナイフ, which transliterates as Shōnen Naifu, literally "Boy Knife," is an all-female Japanese pop-punk band formed in Osaka, Japan, in 1981...
's cover appeared on the 1994 tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
If I Were a Carpenter. It was the ending theme song to the 1995 film The Last Supper and appeared in the 1998 film The Parent Trap
The Parent Trap (1998 film)
The Parent Trap is a remake of the 1961 family film of the same name. It was directed and co-written by Nancy Meyers, and produced and co-written by Charles Shyer. It stars Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson as a couple who divorce soon after marrying, and Lindsay Lohan in a dual role as their...
and the 2000 film The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy.
Mark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
did an acoustic guitar and mandolin (David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
) version of the song on his 1979 album Markology.
In 2006, a Bossa-Nova version of the song was included in Naomi's & Goro album titled [HOME].
A Cantonese Christian song by the name of 冰天的太陽 was written using the melody of the song.
See also
this song bears resemblance to the 1963 hit 'Drownin' my sorrows' (Connie Francis)- Hot 100 number-one hits of 1973 (USA)Hot 100 number-one hits of 1973 (USA)These are the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973.-See also:*1973 in music*List of number-one hits *Cashbox Top 100 number-one singles of 1973...