"Vamos a la playa" is a song by the Italian Italo disco duo Righeira, released in 1983 as the second single from their debut studio album, Righeira (1983). It was written by Johnson Righeira, the duo's lead vocalist, and producer Carmelo La Bionda. The song was the duo's only charting hit in the UK, peaking at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. The single also went to number one in Italy as well as the Swiss Hitparade. It reached number two on both the Belgian Ultratop chart and the Dutch Top 40 and on the Official German Charts it peaked at number three. Despite its ostensibly innocuous beach theme, the song actually talks about the explosion of an atomic bomb.

Background and inspiration

Johnson Righeira came up with the melody for "Vamos a la playa" as he experimented on a keyboard. In 2017, Righi told Vice journalist Demented Burrocacao how he got the idea for his song: "Towards the end of 1981, we entered a cellar with these friends who had their studio, their rehearsal room, in preparation for a New Year's Eve performance we had to do at the Casablanca in Florence. I already had a rough draft of 'Vamos a la playa', which developed from my first works that were influenced by the 1960s. I wanted to make a beach song that was post-atomic and that made extensive use of electronics. And there in that cellar, putting my hands haphazardly on a keyboard, it suddenly came to me – the chorus of 'Vamos a la playa' started playing in my head ... I must say that it certainly was one of the most important moments of my life."

Critical reception

Writing for Le journal minimal in 2022, journalist Emmanuelle Veil described the lyrics to "Vamos a la playa" as "acidic". In Fond/Sound's appraisal of Righeira, writer Diego Olivas described "Vamos a la playa" as "one of the bleakest hits to ever soundtrack a summer". In his song review for L'Humanité, Benjamin König described it as a "committed" recording. He added that "it doesn't just talk about sunbathing, but about the end of the nuclear world". Gunter van Assche of De Morgen said that "Vamos a la playa" is "one of the most cynical summer tunes ever". He also comments that "it is a miracle that this melancholy vision of fear became a worldwide hit".

Commercial performance

"Vamos a la playa" was released in the United Kingdom in 1983 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 99, moving to its peak of number 53 the next month. In Belgium, "Vamos a la playa" debuted at number 40 on the Ultratop chart on 13 August 1983 and reached a peak of number two. In the Netherlands, "Vamos a la playa" debuted at number 15 on the Dutch Top 40 and reached a peak of two on 10 September 1983. The song reached a peak of number three in Germany, where it remained for one week, before spending a total of 18 weeks on the chart. On the Swiss Singles Chart, "Vamos a la playa" was one of the highest debuting songs on the issue dated 7 August 1983. After two weeks, the song reached the top of the chart for two weeks, becoming Righeira's first number-one single there. According to Italian newspaper la Repubblica, "Vamos a la playa" has sold over three million copies worldwide.

Music video

Reception and analysis

Arne Siegmund from Watson reviewed the video in 2018, and commented that the video combined "synthesizers, colourful ties and men dancing funny." Balázs Barbi pointed out the video for its depressing atmosphere through the apocalyptic vision that constituted it. The neon colours, reddened faces and the appearance of the two singers seemed to make "the video easier to interpret", she added.

Live performances

On 1 May 2023, Johnson Righeira performed the song as part of the annual May Day concert at Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome.

Cover versions and usage in media

Pierre Littbarski performed "Vamos a la playa" for the fifth season of singing television series The Masked Singer. He was eliminated from the competition in week two.

Track listing and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from the Righeira album and 7-inch single liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

TN'T Party Zone version

The song was covered by German duo TN'T Party Zone in 1992 as "Vamos a la playa '92". The single reached No. 29 on the German Singles Chart.

Track listing and formats

Charts

Weekly charts

2001: Vamos a la playa

"2001: Vamos a la playa" is the re-packaged version of the original 1983 version of "Vamos a la playa", released as a single in 2001. "2001: Vamos a la playa" was released in Italy and Germany in 2001.

Track listing and formats

Credits and personnel