Rosanna

"Rosanna"
Single by Toto
from the album Toto IV
B-side	"It's a Feeling"
Released	1982
Format	7", CD single
Recorded	1982
Genre	Soft rock, jazz fusion, R&B
Length	5:31
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	David Paich
Producer	Toto
Toto singles chronology
"Live for Today" (1981) "Rosanna" (1982) "Make Believe" (1982)

"Rosanna" is a song written by David Paich and performed by the American rock band Toto, the opening track from their 1982 album Toto IV. This song won the Record of the Year Grammy Award in the 1983 presentations. Rosanna was also nominated for the Song of the Year award. In musician circles, the song is known for its highly influential half-time shuffle, the Rosanna shuffle, as well as a blowing ending guitar solo played by guitarist Steve Lukather.^{[citation needed]}

The song Rosanna peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks,^[1] and also peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart.^{[citation needed]}

The B-side of the vinyl single was the song "It's a Feeling", which is also on the album Toto IV.

Composition

The drum pattern is known as a "half-time shuffle", and shows "definite jazz influence".^[2] Featuring ghost notes and derived from the combination of what Jeff Porcaro calls the "Bernard Purdie half time shuffle" (Purdie shuffle) and the "John Bonham beat" (from "Fool in the Rain") with the well-known Bo Diddley beat.^[3]

Music video

The video is set in a stylized urban streetscape, with Rosanna shown as a dancer whose bright red dress contrasts with her grey surroundings. The band plays within a chain-link fence enclosure. Cynthia Rhodes is featured as the lead dancer which led to her being cast in Staying Alive the following year. It also featured Thomas Guzman-Sanchez of the legendary dance group Chain Reaction as one of the male dancers. He did the Boogaloo/Popping body wave leaping over another dancer.

Personnel

Toto

• David Paich - synthesizer, piano, backing vocal, horn arrangements
• Steve Lukather - lead and backing vocals, guitar
• Bobby Kimball - lead and backing vocals
• Jeff Porcaro - drums
• Steve Porcaro - synthesizer
• David Hungate – bass

Guest musicians

• Lenny Castro - percussion, conga
• Tom Scott - saxophone
• Jim Horn - saxophone
• Gary Grant - trumpet
• Jerry Hey - trumpet and horn arrangements
• James Pankow - trombone
• Tom Kelly - backing vocal

Charts

Year-End Chart

Sample usage

Art of Noise used a one second sample of "Rosanna" on their 1983 track "Beat Box (Diversion One)," featured on both Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? and Daft.

Covers/Parodies

• Christian parody band ApologetiX parodied the song as "Hosanna" on their album Wise Up and Rock.

References

External links

• Lyrics on official Toto website
• Information from Yahoo
• MusicStack information

v t e Toto David Paich Steve Lukather Joseph Williams Steve Porcaro Simon Phillips Mike Porcaro Jeff Porcaro Bobby Kimball David Hungate Fergie Frederiksen Greg Phillinganes Jean-Michel Byron Studio albums Toto Hydra Turn Back Toto IV Isolation Fahrenheit The Seventh One Kingdom of Desire Tambu Mindfields Through the Looking Glass Falling in Between Live albums Greatest Hits Live...and More Absolutely Live Livefields Live in Amsterdam Falling in Between Live Compilation albums Past to Present 1977–1990 Best Ballads Toto XX Super Hits The Very Best of Toto The Essential Toto The Collection Soundtracks Dune Notable songs "Hold the Line" "I'll Supply the Love" "Georgy Porgy" "99" "Rosanna" "Make Believe" "Africa" "I Won't Hold You Back" "Stranger in Town" "I'll Be over You" "Pamela" "Stop Loving You" "Mushanga" "Bottom of Your Soul" Related people Lenny Castro Nathan East Tony Spinner Tom Kelly Joe Porcaro Marty Paich Related articles Discography Members Rosanna shuffle Boz Scaggs Book:Toto