View source for Islands in the Stream (song)

{{short description|1983 song by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Islands in the Stream
| cover      = krdpislands.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Kenny Rogers]] and [[Dolly Parton]]
| album      = [[Eyes That See in the Dark]]
| B-side     =
* "[[I Will Always Love You]]" (US)
* "Midsummer Nights" (UK)
| released   = August 15, 1983
| recorded   = May 1983
| studio     =
* Middle Ear, Miami
* [[Lion Share Studios|Lion Share]], Los Angeles
* [[Ocean Way]], Hollywood
| genre      = [[Soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/robin-gibb-rip-hear-bee-gees-legacy-15-tracks/3/|title=Robin Gibb, RIP: Hear the Bee Gee's Legacy in 15 Tracks|date=May 21, 2012}}</ref>
| length     = 4:08
| label      = [[RCA Records]]
| writer     =
* [[Barry Gibb]]
* [[Robin Gibb]]
* [[Maurice Gibb]]
| producer   = [[Gibb-Galuten-Richardson]]
| chronology = [[Kenny Rogers]]
| prev_title = [[Scarlet Fever (song)|Scarlet Fever]]
| prev_year  = 1983
| next_title = [[This Woman (Kenny Rogers song)|This Woman]]
| next_year  = 1984
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
| artist     = [[Dolly Parton]]
| type       = singles
| prev_title = [[Potential New Boyfriend]]
| prev_year  = 1983
| title      = Islands in the Stream
| year       = 1983
| next_title = [[Save the Last Dance for Me]]
| next_year  = 1984}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|UaNGtgYwSsU|"Islands in the Stream"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"'''Islands in the Stream'''" is a song written by the [[Bee Gees]] and recorded by American [[country music]] artists [[Kenny Rogers]] and [[Dolly Parton]]. It was released in August 1983 as the first single from Rogers's fifteenth studio album ''[[Eyes That See in the Dark]]''. The Bee Gees released a live version in 1998 and a studio version in 2001.
The song reached number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the United States, giving both Rogers and Parton their second pop number-one hit (after Rogers's "[[Lady (Kenny Rogers song)|Lady]]" in 1980 and Parton's "[[9 to 5 (Dolly Parton song)|9 to 5]]" in 1981). It also topped the Country and Adult Contemporary charts. In 2005 the song topped [[Country Music Television]]'s poll of the best country duets of all time; Parton and Rogers reunited to perform the song on a CMT special. As of May 2023, it has been triple [[Platinum certification|certified Platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for three million certified units.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |title=RIAA Gold & Platinum Program: Islands In The Stream | website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] | url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=islands+in+the+stream#search_section |access-date=March 9, 2024 }}</ref>
Rogers and Parton went on to record a Christmas album together and had an additional hit with their 1985 duet "[[Real Love (Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers song)|Real Love]]".
==Background==
Named after an [[Islands in the Stream (novel)|Ernest Hemingway novel]], the song was originally written for [[Diana Ross]] in an R&B style but later reworked for the duet by Rogers and Parton.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Shcherbakova |first=Liza |title=Watch 7 Classic Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton 'Islands in the Stream' Performances Before Their Final Show |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/kenny-rogers-dolly-parton-island-in-the-stream-performance-videos-7873104/ |magazine=Billboard |date=19 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="BB">{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |title=Barry Gibb on Reuniting with Dolly Parton & Who He 'Freaked Out' Over While Recording New Country Duets Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/barry-gibb-interview-duets-album-dolly-parton-9507251/ |magazine=Billboard |date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
For licensing reasons, the song was not included on the digital release of ''Eyes That See in the Dark'' from [[Capitol Records Nashville]]. [[Sony Music]], the current owner of [[RCA Records]], protected copyrights in the recording, which is digitally available only in various compilations from Sony Music, especially those of [[Dolly Parton]].
==Musical structure==
The song is sung in moderate [[4/4 time|{{music|time|4|4}} time]], with Rogers and Parton alternating lead vocals. Their version is in [[C major]] when Rogers sings lead, but [[modulation (music)|changes]] to [[A-flat major]] when Parton takes over the lead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0147495|title='Islands in the Stream' sheet music|work=Musicnotes.com|date=May 4, 2015|access-date=12 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060240/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0147495|archive-date=November 13, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Reception==
''[[Cash Box]]'' said that "the sound is simply gorgeous, as is the melody, as are the voices."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-08-27.pdf|date=August 27, 1983|accessdate=2022-07-20|page=8}}</ref>
In 2024, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked the song at #104 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-country-songs-1234986540/dolly-parton-and-kenny-rogers-islands-in-the-stream-1235010853/|title =The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time|magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]|date =May 24, 2014}}</ref>
==Commercial performance==
The song knocked [[Bonnie Tyler]]'s "[[Total Eclipse of the Heart]]" out of No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also topping the Country and Adult Contemporary listings. In December of that year, it was [[platinum certification|certified platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for selling over two million physical copies in the US.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After becoming available for digital download, it had sold a further 834,000 digital copies in the US, {{As of|2019|January|lc=yes}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://roughstock.com/news/2019/01/43574-top-30-digital-singles|title=Top 30 Digital Singles: January 15, 2019|work=RoughStock|first=Matt|last=Bjorke|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106155344/http://roughstock.com/news/2019/01/43574-top-30-digital-singles|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In Australia, the song was number one for one week in December 1983 and became one of the highest selling singles of 1984.
The song reached a peak of No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart in 1983. {{As of|2014|July}}, it had also sold 245,577 digital copies in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countryroutesnews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/country-bites-news-snippets-june-30.html |date=13 July 2014 |title=Country Bites News snippets June 30 - July 6, 2014 |work=Country Routes News |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140723074509/http://countryroutesnews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/country-bites-news-snippets-june-30.html |archive-date=July 23, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> {{As of|2017}}, it had racked up 287,200 downloads and 4.83 million streams in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/dolly-parton-s-biggest-hits-of-the-digital-age-in-the-uk-revealed__16085/|title=Happy Birthday Dolly Parton! Her most downloaded songs in the UK revealed|website=officialcharts.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322205856/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/dolly-parton-s-biggest-hits-of-the-digital-age-in-the-uk-revealed__16085/|archive-date=March 22, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==In popular media==
In April 2008, [[South Bend]], [[Indiana]], radio station [[WYXX|WZOW]] played the song continuously for several days on end,<ref>[http://www.indianaairwaves.com/2008.html :Indiana Aiwaves:<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024905/http://www.indianaairwaves.com/2008.html |date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref> a [[stunting (broadcasting)|stunt]] drawing attention to the station's format change from [[alternative rock]] to [[adult contemporary]].
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (1983–1984)
! Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=256}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
{{single chart|Austria|1|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|song=Islands in the Stream|rowheader=true|refname=}}
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium ([[VRT Top 30]] Flanders)
|align="center"|4
|-
!scope="row"|Canada ([[The Record (magazine)|''The Record'']])<ref>{{cite book |last=Lwin|first=Nanda|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|edition=1st |date=2000|publisher=Music Data Research|location=Canada|isbn=1-896594-13-1}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary Tracks (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
|align="center"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Country Tracks (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
|align="center"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
|align="center"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])
|align="center"|2
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')
|align="center"|49
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|4|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|song=Islands in the Stream|rowheader=true|refname=}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|song=Islands in the Stream|rowheader=true|refname=}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|2|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|song=Islands in the Stream|rowheader=true|refname=}}
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(P).html|access-date=5 September 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|-
!scope="row"|Spain ([[PROMUSICAE|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|align="center"|28
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|3|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|song=Islands in the Stream|rowheader=true|refname=}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|7|date=19840101|rowheader=true|artist=|song=|refname=}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Kenny Rogers|rowheader=true|song=|refname=}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Kenny Rogers|rowheader=true|song=|refname=}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Kenny Rogers|rowheader=true|song=|refname=}}
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100
|align="center"|1
|-
!scope="row" |Venezuela ([[Associated Press|AP]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TzhEAAAAIBAJ&dq=canciones+mas+populares+la+opinion&pg=PA10&article_id=1473,3708531|title=Las canciones más populares en América Latina|newspaper=[[La Opinión (Los Angeles)]]|language=es|access-date=September 30, 2024|date=November 21, 1983}}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|25|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|song=Islands in the Stream|songid=1023|rowheader=true|access-date=April 30, 2020|refname=}}
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (1983)
!scope="col"|Rank
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus83">{{cite web |url=https://i.imgur.com/860ttad.jpg |title=Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983 |publisher=[[Kent Music Report]] |via=Imgur.com |access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|40
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6699&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1983-12-31|title=The Official New Zealand Music Chart|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082957/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=3872|archive-date=March 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|40
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1983YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1983 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox Magazine]] |access-date=2015-05-09 |df=mdy |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825143147/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1983YESP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (1984)
!scope="col"|Rank
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=436}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1984|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1984.html|access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1984.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1984/Top 100 Songs of 1984|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530090815/http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1984.htm|archive-date=May 30, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|56
|}
===All-time charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1958–2018)
! Position
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|238
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|title=Islands in the Stream|award=Platinum|relyear=1983|certyear=2020|access-date=June 27, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|title=Islands in the Stream|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1983|certyear=2021|access-date=14 December 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Islands in the Stream|artist=Kenny Rogers feat. Dolly Parton|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1983|certyear=2024|id=10222|access-date=August 13, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers|title=Islands in the Stream|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=3392-2940-1|access-date=June 13, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton|title=Islands in the Stream|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1983|certyear=2023|access-date=May 24, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|title=Islands in the Stream|artist=Kenny Rogers|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1983|certyear=2021|source=artist|access-date=January 20, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true|streamsonly=true}}
==Notable cover versions==
* Danish blues-rock singer [[Peter Thorup]] and pop singer [[Anne-Grete|Anne-Grete Rendtorff]] had great success with a version with Danish lyrics in 1984 called "Skibe uden Sejl" (Ships Without Sails). The song was used as title track for the Danish TV series ''Måske i morgen'' (Maybe Tomorrow) shown on Danish national television [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]].
* [[Feist (singer)|Feist]] and [[Constantines]] released a single of the song in 2008.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Lindsay |first1=Cam |date=2008-04-16 |title=Constantines & Feist "Islands in the Stream" |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/constantines_feist-islands_in_stream |access-date=2023-01-04 |magazine=Exclaim! |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Country artists [[Hailey Whitters]] and [[Ernest (musician)|Ernest]], under the moniker Countrypolitan, covered the song in 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Hudak |first1=Joseph |date=2021-07-30 |title=Hailey Whitters and Ernest Cover 'Islands in the Stream' for New Duets EP |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/hailey-whitters-ernest-islands-in-the-stream-countrypolitan-1204898/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]] released a solo cover of the song from her series [[9-1-1 (TV series)|9-1-1]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallucci |first1=Nicole |title='9-1-1' Releases Jennifer Love Hewitt's "Islands in the Stream" Cover In Honor Of Maddie And Chimney's Wedding |url=https://decider.com/2024/05/02/911-jennifer-love-hewitt-islands-in-the-stream-cover-spotify-madney-wedding-song/ |website=Decider |access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref>
==Sampling==
The song was sampled in "[[Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)]]", recorded by American rapper [[Pras]] featuring [[Mya (singer)|Mya]] and [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://standpointconsulting.com/dolly-parton/|title=Dolly Parton: An Island In the Stream|website=Standpoint Consulting|date=March 29, 2023|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>
==Bee Gees' recorded version==
{{Infobox song
| name     = Islands in the Stream
| cover    =
| alt      =
| type     =
| artist   = [[Bee Gees]]
| album    = [[Their Greatest Hits: The Record]]
| released = 20 November 2001
| recorded = 2001
| studio   =
| venue    =
| genre    = [[Rhythm and blues]]
| length   = 4:23
| label    = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| writer   =
* [[Barry Gibb]]
* [[Robin Gibb]]
* [[Maurice Gibb]]
| producer =
* Barry Gibb
* Robin Gibb
* Maurice Gibb
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|zumqwkSq9YA|"Islands in the Stream"}}
}}
}}
The [[Bee Gees]] performed their version live at the [[MGM Grand Las Vegas|MGM Grand]] in [[Las Vegas]] on 14 November 1997, which was released a year later on ''[[One Night Only (Bee Gees album)|One Night Only]]'', with solo vocal by [[Barry Gibb]].  A studio version was recorded for their 2001 retrospective ''[[Their Greatest Hits: The Record]]'', which has since featured on the 2004 ''[[Number Ones (Bee Gees album)|Number Ones]]'' and on the 2010 ''[[Mythology (Bee Gees album)|Mythology]]'' box set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/01.html|title=Gibb Songs : 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204192524/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/01.html|archive-date=December 4, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The chorus of [[Pras]]'s 1998 hit "[[Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)]]", which in turn is a reworking of the original Rogers and Parton release, replaces the final chorus in the studio recording. The live version of the song appears on their ''[[Love Songs (Bee Gees album)|Love Songs]]'' compilation.
;Personnel (studio version)
*[[Robin Gibb]] – vocals
*[[Maurice Gibb]] – keyboard, [[programming (music)|programming]]
* John Merchant – [[sound engineer]]
;Personnel (live version)
*[[Barry Gibb]] – lead vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
*[[Robin Gibb]] – harmony and backing vocals
*[[Maurice Gibb]] – harmony and backing vocals, keyboard
with
*[[Alan Kendall]] – lead guitar
*[[Steve Gibb]] – guitar
==Comic Relief version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = (Barry) Islands in the Stream
| cover      = ByrnNessaGibb.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Ruth Jones (actress)|Ruth Jones]] and [[Rob Brydon]] featuring [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] and [[Robin Gibb]]
| album      = Islands in the Stream
| released   = March 8, 2009
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
* [[Country music|Country]]
* [[comedy music|comedy]]
| length     =
| label      =
| writer     =
* [[Barry Gibb]]
* [[Maurice Gibb]]
* [[Robin Gibb]]
| producer   = [[Hugh Padgham]]
| chronology = [[Robin Gibb]]
| prev_title = [[Too Much Heaven]]
| prev_year  = 2007
| next_title = [[I've Gotta Get a Message to You]]
| next_year  = 2011
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|iyVAt1gJ-Xs|"Barry Islands in the Stream"}}
}}
}}
On March 8, 2009, Welsh celebrities [[Ruth Jones (actress)|Ruth Jones]] and [[Rob Brydon]], in character as Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West from the hit BBC sitcom ''[[Gavin & Stacey]]'', released a version of the song as a single for [[Comic Relief]]. [[Tom Jones (singer)|Sir Tom Jones]] also features on the song, performing the final verse and chorus, whilst [[Robin Gibb]] appears on the single as a backing vocalist.
Re-titled "(Barry) Islands in the Stream", in reference to the [[Barry Island]] setting of ''Gavin & Stacey'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/drama/tv-news/news/stars-out-in-force-for-red-nose-day-2009/4920|title=What's On TV.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220082802/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/drama/tv-news/news/stars-out-in-force-for-red-nose-day-2009/4920|archive-date=February 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> it entered at the top of the [[UK Singles Chart]] on March 15, 2009. This meant the Gibb Brothers had achieved number one songs in five successive decades, the first songwriters to achieve this feat. It also made [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], at the age of 68, the oldest person to have a UK number one song, until the record was taken in 2020 by [[Tom Moore (fundraiser)|Captain Tom Moore]] for his involvement in "[[You'll Never Walk Alone#Michael Ball & Captain Tom Moore version|You'll Never Walk Alone]]" at the age of 99.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/captain-tom-moore-claims-victory-on-the-official-chart-with-youll-never-walk-alone-becomes-the-oldest-artist-to-reach-number-1__29563/|title=Captain Tom Moore claims Number 1 victory on the Official Chart|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=24 April 2020|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
The video was filmed in [[Barry Island]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] and the [[Nevada]] desert, with both Gibb and Jones appearing in the video alongside Jones and Brydon. [[Nigel Lythgoe]] also makes a cameo appearance as a talent competition judge.
===Track listing===
* '''CD single'''
# "(Barry) Islands in the Stream" – 3:56
# "Wisemen" – 3:14
# "Somethin' Stupid" – 2:48
# "Islands in the Stream" (music video) – 4:21
* '''DVD single'''
# "(Barry) Islands in the Stream" (full-length video) – 8:56
# "(Barry) Islands in the Stream" (making of the video) – 14:30
===Charts===
====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2009)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=European Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=121|issue=12|page=46|date=March 28, 2009}}</ref>
|align="center"|11
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=20090322|rowheader=true|access-date=July 10, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|1|date=20090322|rowheader=true|access-date=July 10, 2018|refname="ukrelief"}}
|}
====Year-end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2009)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusYE2009.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2009|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|access-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|108
|}
==See also==
*[[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1983|List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1983]]
==References==
*''The [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] Book of Number 1 Hits''
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Dolly Parton}}
{{Kenny Rogers}}
{{Tom Jones}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Country Song}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1983 songs]]
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:2009 singles]]
[[Category:Bee Gees songs]]
[[Category:Barry Gibb songs]]
[[Category:Dolly Parton songs]]
[[Category:Kenny Rogers songs]]
[[Category:Kikki Danielsson songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Austria]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Barry Gibb]]
[[Category:Songs written by Maurice Gibb]]
[[Category:Songs written by Robin Gibb]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Albhy Galuten]]
[[Category:RCA Records Nashville singles]]
[[Category:Polydor Records singles]]
[[Category:Comic Relief singles]]
[[Category:Male–female vocal duets]]
[[Category:Songs about islands]]