Interview: Sun's still shining on Katrina Leskanich

Published on Friday 12 February 2010 14:30

LITTLE wonder Katrina Leskanich is Walking On Sunshine right now.

It might 25 years since her Top 10 hit of the same name was released, but a quarter of a century on it is still capturing the imagination of music lovers and film-makers alike – just this week it featured in a mash-up on the latest cult US series to hit British TV screens, Glee.

Not that Leskanich should be too surprised. It has already featured in numerous Hollywood blockbusters and, two years ago, was identified in a survey as the second most played summer song on UK radio.

The singer, who heads to the Pleasance Theatre on Sunday to perform at a Valentine's Night Benefit for Waverley Care, confesses, "It's always a surprise to hear it crop up in the most unusual places. American Psycho, that crazy movie with Christian Bale, was one. That was pretty wild. It was also in The Secret Of My Success with Michael J Fox and Look Who's Talking with John Travolta – probably one of the best moments ever is having John Travolta dance to your song."

Walking On Sunshine also featured in the 1997 Mr Bean film, High Fidelity in 2000 and Disney's 2005 hit, Herbie: Fully Loaded. Not bad considering that, initially at least, the success it brought was unexpected.

"It wasn't even that in character with the other songs we were doing at the time," recalls Leskanich. "We always felt we were more like the Ramones, sort of grungy pop.

"Actually, it used to be a dancefloor clearer because people didn't know how to dance to that beat until, thankfully, someone invented the pogo and you could just stand in one pace and jump up and down. That kind of saved us, although when our guitar player Kim first wrote it we did think it had that 'irritation factor' that could help it."

The 25th anniversary of the release, then, is keeping the 49-year-old busy. She may no longer be with the band but people still want to hear her sing Walking On Sunshine and The Waves' other big hit, Love Shine A Light, which won the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin – Britain's one and only win in the last 28 years.

"That was last thing we did together, we split the year after that," she says, before being tempted to muse on what the UK needs to do to win the contest again.

"They're putting a bit more thought into it now. I thought it was really inspired when Andrew Lloyd Webber got involved and, of course, Pete Waterman is writing the song this year and he IS the pop-meister. He knows what is good."

So what are her thoughts on rumours that X Factor stars Jedward could be flying the British flag?

"I have to admit I thought that was a joke," she laughs, "But the people who run Eurovision want to get some buzz going and I guess Jedward are pretty hot just now. They would give it some focus and raise the profile.

"To be honest, I don't think Eurovision should be taken too seriously and in the spirit of that, they are probably exactly right for it.

"It didn't really surprise us when we won. We didn't really know anything about the contest at the time and we felt confident that we had a really good song that would be a hit in its own right. But once you get into the show, you realise that these Eurovision songs are very specific... we even thought that Love Shine A Light was a little too good, but thankfully it came through.

"I think the bright green shirt helped too."

Expect to hear both songs on Sunday night.

Also appearing at the fund-raiser are outrageous Fringe favourites Topping & Butch, who will entertain with their satirical take on current affairs, life, love and celebrity gossip. The duo will be joined by special guest, mezzo soprano Maria Tecce.

Waverley Care Valentine's Night Benefit, The Pleasance Theatre, The Pleasance, Sunday, 8pm, 10, 0131-556 9710

Waverley Care is Scotland's leading charity providing care and support to people living with HIV and Hepatitis C