"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
Single by the Proclaimers
from the album Sunshine on Leith
Written1988
ReleasedAugust 1988
StudioChipping Norton (Oxfordshire, England)
Genre
Length3:37
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
  • Charlie Reid
  • Craig Reid
Producer(s)Pete Wingfield
The Proclaimers singles chronology
"Make My Heart Fly"
(1987)		 "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
(1988)		 "Sunshine on Leith"
(1988)

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" is a song written and performed by Scottish duo the Proclaimers, and first released in August 1988 by Chrysalis as the lead single from their second album, Sunshine on Leith (1988). The song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart on its initial release and topped the charts of Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand.

In 1993, following its appearance in the American film Benny & Joon, the song was released in North America. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in August 1993 as well as number eight on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, number 25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart; and number four in Canada. In 2007, the Proclaimers re-recorded the song with English comedians Peter Kay and Matt Lucas for the UK's Comic Relief charity telethon, scoring a number one hit in the UK and outperforming their original UK chart run.

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" has become a live staple at the Proclaimers' concerts. The duo played it at Edinburgh 50,000 – The Final Push at Murrayfield Stadium on 6 July 2005, the final concert of Live 8, to symbolise the conclusion of "The Long Walk to Justice".

Background

The song was mainly written by the duo in 1988 while they were sitting in a flat in Edinburgh waiting to go up and play a gig in Aberdeen. Craig Reid has said that the band's earnings from the song are about five times more than the rest of their catalogue combined.[3]

Critical reception

The Stud Brothers from Melody Maker said, "The Proclaimers are a real pick-up, the sonic equivalent of a warm and welcome blanketbath. [...] Jolly good show chaps."[4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "We have to get used to this, the acoustic Scottish duo being supported by a full line-up of instruments. Produced by Pete Wingfield, this highly rhythmic pop song is a taster to the forthcoming LP, Sunshine On Leith."[5] Jane Solanas from NME commented, "This is a rousing, romantic ditty that is slightly less brain-torturing than 'Letter from America', but only just. It's real fairisle jumper, bushy beards, and beer in a tankard time. Acid House has not touched The Proclaimers."[6]

Later success

Originally recorded and released in 1988, the song's success was initially limited mostly to the United Kingdom and Australia. Later in 1993, it was included as one of the main themes of the 1993 American romantic comedy film Benny & Joon starring Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson; subsequently, due to the exposure it received through the film, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" reached the top three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart during the summer of that year.[7][8]

Track listings

All tracks were written and composed by Charlie and Craig Reid, except where noted.

  • 7-inch single
  1. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – 3:37
  2. "Better Days" – 3:14
  • 12-inch single
  1. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – 3:37
  2. "Better Days" – 3:14
  3. "Teardrops" – 2:33
  • CD single
  1. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – 3:37
  2. "Better Days" – 3:14
  3. "Teardrops" – 2:33
  4. "I Can't Be Myself" (Merle Haggard) – 2:30

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[31] Platinum 90,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[32] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 800,000[35]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Comic Relief version

"(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles"
Single by the Proclaimers featuring Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin
Released17 March 2007
Recorded1988, 2007
Genre
Length3:41
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
  • Charlie Reid
  • Craig Reid
The Proclaimers singles chronology
"Restless Soul"
(2005)		 "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles"
(2007)		 "Life with You"
(2007)
Peter Kay singles chronology
"(Is This The Way To) Amarillo"
(2005)		 "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles"
(2007)		 "The Winner's Song"
(2008)
Comic Relief singles chronology
"Walk This Way"
(2007)		 "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles"
(2007)		 "Just Can't Get Enough"
(2009)

In 2007, the Proclaimers re-recorded the song with Peter Kay and Matt Lucas as their characters Brian Potter from Phoenix Nights and Andy Pipkin from Little Britain respectively. There is a slight change in the title of the song, with the parentheses placed around "(I'm Gonna Be)" rather than "(500 Miles)". The lyrics also include a change, with the words "roll 500 miles" replacing "walk 500 miles", because the characters Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin are both in wheelchairs. "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" was released as a charity single for Comic Relief immediately following its performance on the Comic Relief 2007: The Big One television show on BBC1 on 16 March 2007.[36] It reached number 3 on the official UK Singles Chart on download sales alone, and one week later reached number 1, where it remained for three weeks. It sold 126,000 copies in its first week, making it the biggest-selling number one of the year up to that point.[37] Its sales were double that of the official Comic Relief single by Girls Aloud vs. Sugababes, and their cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way". The song ended 2007 as the year's 8th biggest-selling single in the UK.[38] The song was popular in Ireland as well and peaked at #7 in Irish Singles Chart.

Kay also directed a video clip of the song featuring himself as Brian Potter, Lucas as Andy, David Walliams as Lou, The Proclaimers and an audience of celebrity guests, comprising Johnny Ball, David Beckham, David Bellamy, Dusty Bin, Tony Blackburn, Stan Boardman, Basil Brush, Bob the Builder, Holly Willoughby, Bucks Fizz, Cannon and Ball, Bob Carolgees & Spit the Dog, Jasper Carrott, Keith Chegwin, Jimmy Cricket, Tess Daly, Bobby Davro (referred to in the lyrics), Carol Decker, Sally Dynevor, Lesley Garrett, Clare Grogan, Paul Henry, Frazer Hines, Siobhan Redmond (credited as "Her off Holby City"), Elton John, The Krankies, Burt Kwouk, Bonnie Langford, Eddie Large, Michael Le Vell, Limahl, Kenny Lynch, Des Lynam, Timmy Mallett, Jennie McAlpine, Amanda Mealing, Terry Nutkins, Bill Oddie, Paul O'Grady, Postman Pat, Wendi Peters, Robert Powell, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Rupert the Bear, Showaddywaddy, Status Quo, Frank Sidebottom, Sonia, Kathy Staff, Dennis Taylor, David Tennant, Willie Thorne, Kate Thornton, Dave Lee Travis, Roy Walker, Louis Walsh, Pete Waterman, Lizzie Webb, June Whitfield and Gary Wilmot. Osama bin Laden (then still a fugitive terrorist), Lord Lucan (missing since 1974) and Shergar (a kidnapped racehorse) are also falsely credited as appearing in the video.

Track listing

  • CD single
  1. "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" – 3:41
  2. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (1988 Original Version) – 3:37

The enhanced CD and DVD also featured the promotional video for the song and a photo gallery.

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Ygelsias, Matthew (21 May 2007). "The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist". The Atlantic.
  2. 1 2 Leeson, Josh (20 April 2019). "The Proclaimers on how songs can carry you 500 miles and beyond". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  3. ↑ Simpson, Dave (10 August 2015). "The Proclaimers: how we made I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ↑ The Stud Brothers (20 August 1988). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 September 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Solanas, Jane (20 August 1988). "Singles". NME. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Benny & Joon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Rachel Portman". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers". toponehitwonders.com. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ↑ "The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. ↑ "The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2221." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2217." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 41. 8 October 1988. p. 26. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. ↑ "Tonlist Top 10". DV. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  16. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Gonna Be". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. ↑ "The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ↑ "The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". Swiss Singles Chart.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 21 August 1993. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 7 August 1993. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 3 July 1993. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1989". ARIA.
  25. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  27. ↑ "The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  28. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  29. ↑ "2006 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  30. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 225.
  31. ↑ "Danish single certifications – The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  32. ↑ "Italian single certifications – The Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 23 September 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  33. ↑ "British single certifications – Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "American single certifications – Proclaimers – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". Recording Industry Association of America.
  35. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3. BPI Communications. 15 January 1994. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  36. ↑ "Stars unite for Comic Relief show". BBC News. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  37. ↑ "Singles – 31.03.07: The Proclaimers". Music Week. London, England: UBM. 31 March 2007.
  38. 1 2 "The 2007 Official Singles Chart". Music Week. London, England: UBM: 11. 12 January 2008.
  39. ↑ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 16. 21 April 2007. p. 63. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  40. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". Irish Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  43. ↑ "British single certifications – Proclaimers ft Brian Potter & Andy Pipkin – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". British Phonographic Industry.
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