Situation (song)


"Situation" is a 1982 single by British synth-pop band Yazoo. The song was originally released in the UK as the B-side to Yazoo's debut single, "Only You", which went to number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Released as a single in North America, the song peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, and hit the top 40 in Canada, peaking at number 31. In late summer 1982 it became Yazoo's first song to top the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, remaining at number one on this chart for four weeks. It also crossed over to the Black Singles chart, peaking at number 31.
The song features a synthesizer hook by Vince Clarke, combined with the vocals of Alison Moyet. The song, and particularly Moyet's laughter heard in the introduction, has since been sampled in countless other songs, including the international novelty dance hit "Macarena".
Its most famous version is the American 12-inch remix by François Kevorkian. This version was included on the US version of Yazoo's album Upstairs at Eric's and is the version of the song which receives the most radio airplay in the United States.
In 1990, and again in 1999, the song was remixed by various noted DJs, including Peter Rauhofer and Richard "Humpty" Vission. The 1999 remixes were released to dance clubs. In October of that same year, this renewed interest in the song sent "Situation" to number 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for a second time.
In 2006, Slant Magazine ranked the song at number 64 in their list of the "100 Greatest Dance Songs".

Versions

The original version's first chorus does not have the response lyrics. The 7" version skips to the verses before the first chorus with response lyrics.

Track listings

1982 release

; UK 7" single
  1. "Only You" – 3:11
  2. "Situation" – 2:22
; UK 12" single
  1. "Only You" – 3:11
  2. "Situation " – 5:18
; US 7" single
  1. "Situation" – 3:44
  2. "Situation – 3:13
; US 12" single
  1. "Situation" – 5:40
  2. "Situation " – 5:45

    1990 remixes

; 7" single
  1. "Situation "
  2. "State Farm "
; 12" single
  1. "Situation "
  2. "Situation "
  3. "State Farm "
; CD single
  1. "Situation "
  2. "State Farm "
  3. "Situation "
  4. "Situation "

    1999 remixes

; 12" single
  1. "Situation "
  2. "Situation "
  3. "Situation "
; 12" single
  1. "Situation
  2. "Situation "
; CD single
  1. "Situation "
  2. "Situation "
  3. "Situation "
  4. "Situation "
  5. "Situation "
  6. "State Farm "
  7. "Situation "
  8. "State Farm "
  9. "Situation "

    Accolades

indicates the list is unordered.

Charts

Original version

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Situation '90

1999 Mixes

Cover versions

It was covered by Welsh singer Tom Jones in 1994 on his album, The Lead and How To Swing It.

Sampling

The song has been sampled numerous times for its synthesized beat. Among the artists who have sampled "Situation" are:
The song has been featured on various 1980s compilation albums as well as appearing in a commercial for Classic NES Series.
It was featured in the films The Rules of Attraction, Pride and in TurboTax's 2014 commercial for Super Bowl XLVIII.