Walking On Sunshine was written by Kimberley Rew, guitarist of the English rock band Katrina and the Waves, who composed both the music and the lyrics. It first appeared on the band's 1983 album Walking on Sunshine, released by Attic Records on 1 December 1983. A re-recorded version appeared on the band's self-titled 1985 album and was issued as its second single on 15 April 1985, with “Going Down to Liverpool” on the B-side. Classed as new wave, pop rock and bubblegum, the song is bright and upbeat, and its sheet music is written in B-flat major.
In 1985 it reached No. 8 in the UK, No. 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 4 in Australia, No. 3 in Canada and No. 2 in Ireland, and it was the Waves' first American top-40 hit. Its later uses include the theme of the Australian game show The Main Event, a Glee mashup with Beyoncé's “Halo”, and appearances in films such as High Fidelity and American Psycho and in television series such as Sports Night and Futurama. Later covers came from Reel Big Fish, Ice Nine Kills and Kelly Clarkson, and the song has been played at Tampa Bay Rays home wins since 2025.
