Sunny (Bobby Hebb song)

"Sunny" is a soul jazz standard written by the American singer and songwriter Bobby Hebb in 1963. It is one of the most performed and recorded popular songs, with hundreds of versions released and its chord progression influencing later songs. BMI rates "Sunny" No. 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century".^[2]

"Sunny"
Side A of the US single
Single by Bobby Hebb
from the album Sunny
B-side	"Bread"
Released	June 1966[1]
Recorded	February 21, 1966
Studio	Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre	Soul jazz
Length	2:44
Label	Philips
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Hebb
Producer(s)	Jerry Ross
Bobby Hebb singles chronology
"Sunny" (1966) "A Satisfied Mind" (1966)
Official audio
"Sunny" on YouTube

Background and composition

Bobby Hebb, 1966

Hebb's parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians. Hebb and his older brother Harold performed as a song-and-dance duo in Nashville, beginning when Bobby was three and Harold was nine. Hebb performed on a TV show hosted by country music record producer Owen Bradley.

Hebb wrote the song after his older brother, Harold, was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub.^[3] Hebb was devastated by the event and many critics say it inspired the lyrics and tune. According to Hebb, he merely wrote the song as an expression of a preference for a "sunny" disposition over a "lousy" disposition following the murder of his brother.^[4]

Events influenced Hebb's songwriting, but his melody, crossing over into R&B (#3 on U.S. R&B chart) and Pop (#2 on U.S. Pop chart), together with the optimistic lyrics, came from the artist's desire to express that one should always "look at the bright side". Hebb has said about "Sunny":

All my intentions were to think of happier times and pay tribute to my brother – basically looking for a brighter day – because times were at a low. After I wrote it, I thought "Sunny" just might be a different approach to what Johnny Bragg was talking about in "Just Walkin' in the Rain".

Chord progression's legacy

Its sixteen-bar form starts with two repeats of a four-bar phrase starting on the song's E minor tonic i chord followed by a V⁷–I to C major and a ii–V⁷ in the last bar to return to the first i chord:

𝄆 E^m7 𝄀 G⁷ 𝄀 C^maj7 𝄀 F♯^m7 B⁷ 𝄇

The third four-bar phrase's last bar is substituted with F⁷ (the tritone sub of the B⁷ dominant chord):

𝄀 E^m7 𝄀 G⁷ 𝄀 C^maj7 𝄀 F⁷ 𝄀

The fourth and final four-bar phrase is a ii–V⁷–i that settles on the song's tonic:

𝄀 F♯^m7 𝄀 B⁷ 𝄀 E^m 𝄀 𝄎 𝄂

Elements of this "Sunny" chord progression are found in some later jazz and pop songs, notably:^[5]

• "Red Clay" (title track of Freddie Hubbard's 1970 album Red Clay) loops the "Sunny" progression's first four bars for soloing (but modifies the first V⁷–I into a full ii–V⁷–I and modifies the ii–V⁷ in the last bar into a ii^ø–V⁷)
• "If You Want Me to Stay" (from Sly and the Family Stone's 1973 album Fresh)
• "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" (from Stevie Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions)
• "Angela" (the theme song from the TV series Taxi by Bob James and released in his 1978 album Touchdown)
• "Electric Lady" (from Janelle Monáe's 2014 studio album The Electric Lady)
• "Just the Two of Us" (by Bill Withers, William Salter, and Ralph MacDonald released in 1981 as a single recorded by Grover Washington Jr.) has a double-time reordering of the "Sunny" progression's first four bars. Subvariants of this progression can be found, for example, in:
  • "Thank U, Next" (from Ariana Grande's 2019 album Thank U, Next) can be thought of as a half-time variant.

Bobby Hebb versions

1966 recording

The personnel on the Bobby Hebb recording included Joe Shepley, Burt Collins on trumpet, Micky Gravine on trombone, Artie Kaplan and Joe Grimaldi on sax, Artie Butler on piano, Joe Renzetti and Al Gorgoni on guitar, Paul (PB) Brown and Joe Macho on bass, Al Rogers on drums and George Devens on percussion.^[6] The song was recorded while the session was in overtime; many of the studio musicians booked for that date had to leave early for other recording sessions. Joe Renzetti was the arranger. Its form modulates up a half step every cycle after the second cycle and ends with a looped tag.

"Sunny" was originally part of an 18-song demo recorded by producer Jerry Ross, also famous for Spanky and Our Gang, Keith's "98.6" and "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" by Jay & the Techniques (Hebb was offered this song but didn't want to be considered a novelty act and let the song go to Jay Proctor).

"Sunny" was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City and released as a single in 1966. It met with immediate success, which resulted in Hebb touring in 1966 with the Beatles. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late August 1966.^[7]

American TV series Soul! in 1971 had a live duo video with Ron Carter on electric bass that starts with a rubato guitar introduction followed by four loops of the "James Bond" chord progression (which is also used for the final tonic of the chord progression) before starting the main vocal form. It ends with a long vamp which includes a bass solo.

Weekly charts

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles[8]	2
Japanese Singles Chart	86
Netherlands	2
New Zealand (Listener)[9]	16
South Africa (Springbok)[10]	7
UK Singles Chart[11]	12
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	2
US Billboard R&B Singles	3
US Cash Box Top 100[13]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1966)	Position
Dutch Singles Chart[14]	31
US Billboard Hot 100[15]	27
US Cash Box[16]	3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[18]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

1976 recording

"Sunny '76"
Side A of the 1975 US single
Single by Bobby Hebb
B-side	"Proud Soul Heritage"
Released	1975
Genre	Disco
Length	3:31
Label	Laurie (US)
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Hebb
Producer(s)	Joe Renzetti & Marty Sheriden

"Sunny '76'" is a reharmonized disco take on Bobby Hebb's song. Like the original 1966 version, it features Hebb; however, an updated disco beat was implemented with an eye to having it played in discos around the world. This version was arranged by Joe Renzetti, who also arranged the original record.

The 7-inch single was released in late 1975. The B-side featured another song of Hebb's called "Proud Soul Heritage". The song managed to become a minor hit, reaching No. 94 on the R&B chart.^[19]

Mieko Hirota version

Before Bobby Hebb recorded his own version of the song it was recorded by Japanese singer Mieko Hirota, backed by the Billy Taylor Trio.^[20] This version was released on her album "Miko in New York" in January 1966, just one month before Hebb would release his own recording of the song.

Cher version

"Sunny"
Single by Cher
from the album Chér
B-side	"She's No Better Than Me" "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
Released	September, 1966
Length	3:10
Label	Liberty
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Hebb
Producer(s)	Sonny Bono
Cher singles chronology
"I Feel Something in the Air" (1966) "Sunny" (1966) "Behind the Door" (1966)

Cher sang the song on her third solo LP Chér, an album of covers released in September 1966. "Sunny" was the third single off the album for the European and Asian markets, achieving success mostly in Scandinavian countries. It is considered to be a tribute to her husband at the time, Sonny Bono.

Weekly charts

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Danish Singles Chart[21]	8
Netherlands (Cash Box Holland)[22]	1
Finnish Singles Chart[23]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24]	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25]	2
Norwegian Singles Chart[26]	1
Swedish Singles Chart[27]	3
UK Singles Chart[28]	32

Year-end charts

Chart (1966)	Position
Dutch Singles Chart[14]	31

Boney M. version

"Sunny"
Single by Boney M.
from the album Take the Heat off Me
B-side	"New York City"
Released	November 22, 1976
Genre	Eurodisco
Length	4:01
Label	Hansa Records (FRG) Atlantic Records (UK) Atco Records (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Hebb
Producer(s)	Frank Farian
Boney M. singles chronology
"Daddy Cool" (1976) "Sunny" (1976) "Ma Baker" (1977)
Audio video
"Boney M. - Sunny (Official Audio)" on YouTube

Eurodisco group Boney M. recorded the song for their 1976 debut album, Take the Heat off Me, produced by Frank Farian and arranged by Stefan Klinkhammer. Following their breakthrough single "Daddy Cool", "Sunny" topped the German charts and reached the top ten in many other countries.^[29][30][31]

The single's B-side was "New York City", a reworked version of Gilla's (another Farian artist) 1976 hit single "Tu es!" and its English version "Why Don't You Do It", which had an intro borrowed from the Boney M. album track "Help Help". This was issued in some territories instead of "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" on "Take the Heat off Me".

The track was remixed and reissued several times in 1988, 1999, 2000 and 2015, and was sampled by Mark Ronson for his 2003 song "Ooh Wee" and by Boogie Pimps on their 2004 version. While Liz Mitchell sang the original lead vocals on Boney M.'s version, original member Maizie Williams recorded a solo version in 2006. The original version was also featured in the Umbrella Academy season 2 soundtrack.^[32] The 2000 remix appeared on Boney M.'s remix album 20th Century Hits.

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sunny" by Boney M.

Chart (1976–77)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[33]	36
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34]	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35]	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[36]	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[37]	6
Ireland (IRMA)[38]	4
Italy (Musica e dischi)[39]	21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[40]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[42]	17
Norway (VG-lista)[43]	4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44]	11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45]	2
UK Singles (OCC)[46]	3
West Germany (GfK)[47]	1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Sunny" by Boney M.

Chart (1977)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[48]	12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[49]	5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50]	20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[51]	25
West Germany (Official German Charts)[52]	12

Certifications and sales

ž

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France	—	500,000[53]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom 1977 release	—	250,000[55]
United Kingdom (BPI)[56]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other notable cover versions

• Christophe Willem covered the song in 2006 (#3 in France, #9 in Belgium (Wallonia), #17 in Switzerland)^[57]
• American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell covered the song as part of the TV special, One World: Together at Home^[58]

References

1. Rodriguez, Robert (2012). Revolver: How the Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n' Roll. Montclair: Backbeat Books. p. 245. ISBN 978-1-61713-009-0.
2. "BMI's Top 100 Songs Of The Century". Archer2000.net. Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
3. "How Bobby Hebb's personal tragedy connected with a nation". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
4. Maddox, David. "One So True | Stories". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
5. Cleary, Tom (2019-11-26). "A history of the chord progression from Bobby Hebb's 'Sunny', and an original tune based on it ('Eye On The Sky')". BirdFeed. Archived from the original on 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
6. "Soul Hits from NYC". soul60scodified.wordpress.com.
7. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1966-09-05. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
9. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
10. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
11. "CHER | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
12. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
13. "Cash Box Top 100 8/27/66". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
14. Dutch Singles Chart (1966). "Dutch Singles Chart; End of year charts". Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
15. "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
16. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
17. "British single certifications – Bobby Hebb – Sunny". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
18. "American single certifications – Bobby Hebb – Sunny". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
19. Larkin, Colin (1993). The Guinness who's who of soul. The Guinness encyclopedia of popular music. Enfield: Guinness publ. ISBN 978-0-85112-733-0.
20. Sunny — Bobby Hebb’s 1963 song brought cheer to the world | Financial Times Published: Sept 22 2024 | access-date=07 Feb 2025 | URL: https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/sunny.html
21. "Denmark's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
22. "Holland's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
23. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard magazine. October 12, 1966. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
24. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. "Bobby Hebb / Cher / Georgie Fame - Sunny". top40.nl. Retrieved 2024-12-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
25. DutchCharts. "Cher - Sunny". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
26. "Norway's Best-Sellers" (PDF). Cash Box Magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
27. "Swedish's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
28. "Cher's UK chart history". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
29. Steffen Hung. "Boney M. - Sunny". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
30. "BONEY M | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
31. "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres N° 1 des 70's". Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
32. Topham, Michelle (2 August 2020). "Listen to Boney M.'s 'Sunny' from The Umbrella Academy, Season 2, Episode 3, "The Swedish Job"".
33. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
34. "Boney M. – Sunny" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
35. "Boney M. – Sunny" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
36. "Boney M. – Sunny" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
37. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
38. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Boney M". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
39. Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Singoli 1960–2019 (in Italian). Independently Published. ISBN 9781093264906.
40. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
41. "Boney M. – Sunny" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
42. "Boney M. – Sunny". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
43. "Boney M. – Sunny". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
44. "Boney M. – Sunny". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
45. "Boney M. – Sunny". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
46. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
47. "Offiziellecharts.de – Boney M. – Sunny" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
48. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1977" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
49. "Jaaroverzichten 1977" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
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53. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). Fabrice Ferment (ed.). "TOP – 1977". 40 ans de tubes : 1960–2000 : les meilleures ventes de 45 tours & CD singles (in French). OCLC 469523661. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2024 – via Top-France.fr.
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55. "Boney M Gets Awards" (PDF). Cash Box. 10 December 1977. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
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57. Steffen Hung. "Christophe Willem - Sunny". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
58. Noah Yoo (2020-04-18). "Watch Billie Eilish Cover Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" on One World: Together at Home". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2021-11-14.

External links

• "Sunny" - Bobby Hebb (1966) on YouTube
• "Sunny" - Boney M. (Original 1977 release) on YouTube
• "Sunny" - Boney M. (ZDF Disco performance - 05.02.1977) on YouTube
• "Sunny" - Boney M. (ZDF Silvester-Tanzparty performance - 31.12.1977) on YouTube