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The Wanderer (Donna Summer song)
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Wikipedia article
"'The Wanderer'" is a song by American singer Donna Summer, released as the lead single from her 1980 eighth album of the same name, which was the first for her new label Geffen Records after recording her previous albums with Casablanca Records. Despite the label change, Summer continued to work with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, who had produced the majority of her hits in the late 1970s. However, it marks a change in style for The Queen of Disco, incorporating new wave styled synth riffs and a shuffling beat.
This first 45 from the album became a big hit for Summer in the United States, peaking at number three on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 for 3 weeks. and reaching number two in 'Cash Box' magazine as well. It was Summer's eleventh single to sell over a million copies in the United States. In Canada, the song spent four weeks at number four. A 12" promotional single was issued, however, unlike all her Top 40 hits prior to this one it was not an extended version.
Composition
"The Wanderer" incorporates heavy new wave styled synth riffs and a shuffling beat. Vocally, it was a return to her understated 1975 debut sound - soft, whispery phrases were the norm in this song, taking on an almost Elvis Presley effect, instead of the power belt she had used often since her 1977 album 'Once Upon a Time' and 1978 hit single "Last Dance".
Charts
Weekly charts
{|class="wikitable sortable"! Chart (198081)
! Peak
position
|-
| Australia (ARIA)
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
| Canada Top Singles (CBC)
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
| Canada Top Singles ('RPM')
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
| Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
| Italy ('Musica e dischi')
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
| style="text-align:center;"| 26
|-
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)
| style="text-align:center;"| 30
|-
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)
|align="center"|5
|-
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
| Spain Radio (Los 40)
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
| UK Singles (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"| 48
|-
| US 'Billboard' Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ('Billboard')
| style="text-align:center;"|16
|-
| US 'Cash Box'
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|}
Year-end charts
References
Category:1980 singles
Category:Donna Summer songs
Category:Songs written by Giorgio Moroder
Category:Songs written by Donna Summer
Category:Song recordings produced by Giorgio Moroder
Category:Song recordings produced by Pete Bellotte
Category:1980 songs
Category:Geffen Records singles
Category:American new wave songs
Category:Dance-rock songs
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