Sorrento Moon (I Remember)

"Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" is a song written by Australian singer Tina Arena, David Tyson, and Christopher Ward for Arena's second album, Don't Ask (1994). The song is about Arena's childhood memories of summers past with her family at Sorrento in Victoria, Australia. It was produced by Tyson and released as the album's second single in Australia on 16 January 1995 by Columbia Records. The song also reached the top 40 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video was partly shot at Sorrento back-beach.

"Sorrento Moon (I Remember)"
Single by Tina Arena
from the album Don't Ask
Released	16 January 1995 (1995-01-16)
Length	4:54
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Tina Arena David Tyson Christopher Ward
Producer(s)	David Tyson
Tina Arena singles chronology
"Chains" (1994) "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" (1995) "Heaven Help My Heart" (1995)
Music video
"Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" on YouTube

The song is lyrically referred to in Client Liaison's 2017 single "A Foreign Affair", featuring Arena.^[1][2]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Kelvin Hayes complimented the song as "gorgeous", adding that it "suggests Arena may yet become the Astrud Gilberto of Australia."^[3] James Richliano from The Boston Globe wrote in his review of the Don't Ask album, "The sweet innocence is most prominent on 'Sorrento Moon (I Remember)', an uptempo gem steeped in breezy calypso rhythms".^[4] British newspaper The Guardian described it as "delicate",^[5] while a reviewer from People Magazine noted its "samba flavor".^[6] Mark Frith from Smash Hits felt Arena "still has her genius touch for the perfect ballad", as in "the wonderful Calypso summer smash".^[7]

Track listings

• Australian CD single

1. "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)"
2. "Greatest Gift" (Live)
3. "Many Rivers To Cross" (Live)
4. "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" – Radio Edit

• UK CD single

1. "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" – Radio Version
2. "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" – Spanish Version
3. "Thats The Way A Woman Feels" – The New Horns Mix
4. "Wasn't It Good" – Live Solo Version

• Austrian CD single

1. "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" – Radio Version
2. "Chains" – Unchained Vox Dub
3. "Chains" – S&M Mix

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 7 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 73 Germany (GfK)[11] 86 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 16 Scotland (OCC)[13] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 22

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Australia (ARIA)[15] 65

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[16]	Platinum	70,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Australia	16 January 1995 (1995-01-16)	CD cassette	Columbia	[17]
United Kingdom	22 July 1996 (1996-07-22)			[18]

References

1. "WATCH: CLIENT LIAISON & TINA ARENA IN 'A FOREIGN AFFAIR'". Mix Down Mag. 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
2. "Client Liaison's surprise Tina Arena cameo was the talk of Splendour". news.com.au. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
3. Hayes, Kelvin. "Tina Arena – Don't Ask". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
4. Richliano, James (27 June 1996). "Recordings". p. 27. The Boston Globe.
5. "Tina Arena: I didn't want to be ignored just because I was female". The Guardian. 23 November 2015.
6. "Picks and Pans Review: Don't Ask". People. 6 May 1996. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
7. Frith, Mark (10 May 1995). "Albums: Best New Album". Smash Hits. p. 61. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
8. "Tina Arena – Sorrento Moon (I Remember)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
9. "Tina Arena – Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 23. 10 August 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
11. "Tina Arena – Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
12. "Tina Arena – Sorrento Moon (I Remember)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
15. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2017 – via Imgur.
16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
17. "New Releases – Product Available from: 16/01/95 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 257)". ARIA. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via Imgur.
18. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 20 July 1996. p. 46. Retrieved 22 August 2021.