Kirsty Hawkshaw, the voice behind Opus III’s 1992 hit ‘It’s A Fine Day’, shares the making of one of UK dance music’s most beloved hits.
Hawkshaw gives DJ Mag an insight into her musical upbringing – from growing up as the daughter of famous composer Alan Hawkshaw, the man behind the iconic Countdown theme tune, to becoming a part of the travelling free party scene in the ’90s with Spiral Tribe – and recalls recording her vocals for the single, an interpretation of an Edward Barton poem originally sung by Jane, in a kitchen in Sunderland.
Produced by Kevin Dodds, Ian Munro and Nigel Walton, ‘It’s A Fine Day’ became an instant hit, and launched Kirsty into the spotlight with TV interviews, Top of the Pops performances and worldwide shows, an experience she wasn’t always comfortable with.
From Orbital’s ‘Halcyon’ to Skrillex & Boys Noize’s 2023 hit ‘Fine Day Anthem’, Hawkshaw’s vocal has been sampled countless times. 32 years later, she shares her feelings on this phenomenon, and speaks about what the track still means to her today.
Electronic music history is rich with unforgettable and timeless classics. In our series, DJ Mag explores the tales behind some of the world’s favourite dance tracks, told by the people that made them
Watch more from the series here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxGQNM_MbRMj0o92dwsw61tI7fZme2HNT&si=YvAHHGypdlWp_aDo
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Discover the making of more classics via our playlist 👉 https://bit.ly/3OpDWh7
Can you do 2 Unlimited – Get Ready For This?
Moloko – Sing it back!
😀Jane – Its A Fine Day – (Official Video, 1983) In December 1982 Cherry Red released a 17 track sampler album, selling for 99p, it entered the Independent Chart at no. 1,
and in the chart for nearly a year selling 120,000 copies. Two years later a film was released, shot and edited by Christopher Collins, it went on to recieve high acclaim,
including winning the prize for best short film at the Italian film festival 1984.
😀FKA Twigs Performs “It’s a Fine Day” at Vogue World: London / Vogue YouTube Channel
😀It’s a fine day ( Melô da sedutora ) New Joy – Featuring – Sandra Gottlied / 1993 Warner Music Brasil / DJ’s Beat
😀Jane + Opus III Reversed = Orbital – Halcyon
😀JANE – IT’S A FINE DAY (A GUY CALLED GERALD) 1992
😀JKRS – It’s A Fine Day
😀Miss Jane – It’s A Fine Day (ATB Radio Edit) (1998) [Official Video]
😀Euphonik – It’s A Fine Day ft. Zandra
😀Opus III – It’s A Fine Day (Salecky Remix)
😀Opus III – It’s A Fine Day (MAER Remix)
😀OPUS III – It’s a fine day [ALPHA 9 Remix]
😀Opus III – It’s A Fine Day (Paayne Hardstyle Remix)
😀It’s A Fine Day · Barcode Brothers
😀It’s A Fine Day (State Of Trance Mix) · Agamemnon Project
😀Povee – It’s A Fine Day (Original Mix)
😀Miss Jane – It’s a Fine Day (Staco Progressive House Mix)
😀Kirsty Hawkshaw – Fine Day (James Holden Remix)
😀Keanu Silva – Fine Day
😀Deepierro – It’s A Fine Day
😀It’s a Fine Day · Deborah De Luca · Valeria Mancini
😀Sub Focus – Fine Day
😀BEAUZ – Fine Day
😀Skrillex & Boys Noize – Fine Day Anthem
😀MURANA – It’s a Fine Day (Quadra Remix)
😀DJ DimixeR, Serge Legran, MURANA – It’s a Fine Day
😀Coone & Brennan Heart – Fine Day
😀Opus III – It’s a fine day (Anfisa Letyago High Nrg Edit)
😀Opus III – It’s A Fine Day (Emcroy Remix)
😀Opus III – Fine Day (DSF Remix)
😀Opus III – It’s a Fine Day (Ambient Mix 1)
😀Opus III – It’s A Fine Day (Hexlogic Remix)
😀Opus III – It’s A Fine Day (Sassa Remix)
😀Miss Jane – Fine Day (Rexalted Remix)
😀DJ Thera ft. Yuna-X – It’s A Fine Day (Hard Bass 2013 Mix)
😀Estiva – It’s A Fine Day (ASOT 1166)
😀It’s a Fine Day – Opus III (Grigoré remix)
Can you approach Delerium for their mega super all time favorite track “Silence”. or at least Tiesto ISOS`s remix of the track
Request for motorcycle – As the rush comes ❤
I was never into the rave scene, passing phase like move however I would say like most cultural changes, it drives artists like this this to make beautiful music with a signature stamped all over the period, which is timeless. Great interview Kirsty
Funny how she says “skrillex is huge he won’t go near me”. She really doesn’t realize even now how big of a song and movement this song was, it dwarfs anything skrillex has ever done for dance music
I’ve got a wild rave story about this song, I was at a house party in the winter, with hundreds of people there, breakbeats and drum n bass… when suddenly a balcony with about ten people smoking on it collapsed. Police and ambulance arrived and we were all kicked out. My friend and I get into a VW golf and drive off but slide on the snow and ice about 2-3kms down the road. We’re trapped in the car in -20 Celsius weather, and the only CD we have is Opus 3 it’s a fine day Single. Instead of trying to get out of the car and dig it out of the snow, we decided to party in the car listening only this song o repeat for hours.
The past was better days, the end, thinking of those days honestly brings a tear to my when i compare it to the world we suffer today. Great tune – still love it.
I was 10 when this tune was released and I still love it to this day. Nature feel to it
The UK free party scene was just magical, best years of my life. 🙂