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Sweet Harmony (The Beloved song)

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"Sweet Harmony"
Single by the Beloved
from the album Conscience
B-side"Motivation"
Released11 January 1993 (1993-01-11)[1]
StudioSarm West (London, England)
Genre
Length5:02
LabelEast West
Songwriter(s)
  • Jon Marsh
  • Helena Marsh
Producer(s)
  • Jon Marsh
  • Helena Marsh
The Beloved singles chronology
"It's Alright Now"
(1990) 		"Sweet Harmony"
(1993) 		"Celebrate Your Life" / "You've Got Me Thinking"
(1993)
Music video
"Sweet Harmony" on YouTube

"Sweet Harmony" is a song by British band the Beloved, released on 11 January 1993 by East West Records as the first and lead single from their second studio album, Conscience (1993). The song was written and produced by the band's frontman Jon Marsh with his wife, Helena Marsh, and remains the band's biggest hit. It peaked at number eight in the UK and became a club staple. The single was followed by a much talked about music video, directed by Big TV, consisting of a nude Jon Marsh surrounded by nude women in a heaven-like setting. The video was based on the record sleeve on the Jimi Hendrix album Electric Ladyland from 1968.[2]

"Sweet Harmony" was also included on the band's compilation albums Single File in 1997, The Sun Rising in 2005, and Sweet Harmony: The Very Best of the Beloved in 2011.

Background and release

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"Sweet Harmony" was written and produced by founder member of the Beloved and singer Jon Marsh and his wife, Helena Marsh. It was also the first single after the departure of Steve Waddington and was recorded at Sarm West Studios in London. It was used to promote the second season of the American soap opera Melrose Place in several European countries. The single was released on 11 January 1993 by label East West.

Chart performance

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"Sweet Harmony" was successful particularly on the charts in Europe, peaking at number three for three weeks in Austria,[3] number six in Germany and Switzerland,[4][5] number seven in Greece and Italy,[6][7] and number eight in the United Kingdom. In the latter, it peaked in its second week at the UK Singles Chart, on 24 January 1993.[8] It stayed at that position for two weeks and for ten weeks inside the UK Top 100. On the Music Week Dance Singles chart, the song peaked at number eleven same week.[9] It was also a top-20 hit in Denmark, France, Ireland, and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Sweet Harmony" peaked at number 20 in May 1993.[10] It debuted on the chart fifteen weeks earlier, at number 66 on 30 January,[11] after charting in the UK.

In North America, the song peaked at number 23 on both the US Billboard Dance Club Play and Modern Rock Tracks charts,[12][13] and number 14 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[14] Elsewhere, it was a top-10 hit in Israel and Mexico, and peaked at number 147 in Australia.[15]

Critical reception

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AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien complimented the song as a "glorious slice of ice-cool synth pop which manages to be both brooding and euphoric at the same time".[16] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "thumping dance ditty" with "slight techno nuances, an uplifting lyrical message, and singer Jon Marsh's warm, soothing tones [that] add up to a delightful jam."[17] He added that "lyrically, 'Sweet Harmony' is typical Beloved fare: spiritually uplifting and philosophical."[18] Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly said that "whereas Bryan Ferry infused rock with sensuality, Marsh and his wife-partner, Helena, lace their ethereal mix with house grooves that seduce and hypnotize." She noted that the video "features a nude Marsh humming amidst a bevy of bare bohemian babes, all seated in a swirling mist. Music to steam by indeed."[19]

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt that "doing their part to end the divisiveness around the globe, the Beloved do some positive preaching backed by the catchy dance/pop that's their trademark. Nothing like a positive message to inspire hope and encourage unity."[20] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian felt that Marsh had concocted a "pretty single" in 'Sweet Harmony', "which married house rhythms to sinuous pop melodies."[21] Derek Weiler from Kitchener-Waterloo Record named the song a "highlight" of Conscience, complimenting it as "highly enjoyable indeed."[22] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton noted that "the new Beloved single crashes in at 9 and has to be favoured for a possible No. 1."[23] Paul Lester from Melody Maker viewed it as "a wishy-washy electro-ditty with pure essence-of-fey vocals and a spiritual bleedin' New sodding Year piggin' message of global f*** peace."[24]

Robbert Tilli from Music & Media found that the "synth-dominated tune is a traditional verse-chorus pop song, which means very melodic and radio friendly."[25] Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "slowly throbbing".[26] Rune Slyngstad from Norwegian Nordlandsposten viewed it as "catchy, synth-oriented pop not far from Pet Shop Boys at their best."[27] Anita Naik from Smash Hits felt the song is "wonderful" and "heartfelt stuff".[28] Another Smash Hits editor, Tom Doyle, praised it as "brilliant", saying, "Jon Marsh is a diamond geezer and so it was heartwarming to witness his safe return to the charts with the brilliant 'Sweet Harmony'."[29] Richard Riccio from St. Petersburg Times wrote, "Yes, there is the consistent beat. The lilting 4/4 bounce of the first single [...] tickles the spine as well as the ear. Marsh purrs the vocals like a well-fed feline, the cool detachment of the verse compensated by the singalong chorus and warm saxophone."[30]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Sweet Harmony" was directed by Big TV.[31] It consisted of a nude and seated Jon Marsh surrounded by nude women - including Tess Daly - lipsynching the lyrics. It is based on the record sleeve on Jimi Hendrix' 1968 album Electric Ladyland, which was taken by photographer David Montgomery. Clouds, fog, and white-out effects were used to create a high contrast, while the participants used their arms, legs and hair to cover themselves. In an interview, Marsh said the video was "not intended to be sexual" and was "as asexual as you can get".[32] The video is supposed to represent unity between humans. It was nominated for the International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Europe at MTV Europe Music Awards in 1993. Later made available by VEVO on YouTube, the video had generated more than 40 million views on the platform as of early 2024.

Impact and legacy

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British magazine Classic Pop ranked "Sweet Harmony" number two in their list of the top 40 dance tracks from the 90's in 2022.[33]

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[52] Gold 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 January 1993. p. 6. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ "The Beloved Still Loved After Long Absence" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 5. 30 January 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  4. ^ a b "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony". Swiss Singles Chart.
  6. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 18. 1 May 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 20. 15 May 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 January 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. 8 May 1993. p. 23. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 5. 30 January 1993. p. 43. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 19 June 1993. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 1 May 1993. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. 8 May 1993. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry (submitted to charts.mail@aria.com.au), received 2015-07-15". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015 – via Imgur.
  16. ^ O'Brien, Jon. "The Beloved - Sweet Harmony: The Very Best of the Beloved". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  17. ^ Flick, Larry (3 April 1993). "New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  18. ^ Flick, Larry (27 February 1993). "DanceTRAX" (PDF). Billboard. p. 33. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  19. ^ Fox, Marisa (9 April 1993). "Conscience". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  20. ^ Sholin, Dave (26 March 1993). "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  21. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (12 April 1996). "This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian.
  22. ^ Weiler, Derek (15 April 1993). "Cynical Lyrics' : Double bass gives album unique sound". Kitchener-Waterloo Record.
  23. ^ Masterton, James (17 January 1993). "Week Ending January 23rd 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  24. ^ Lester, Paul (9 January 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 25. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  25. ^ Tilli, Robbert (30 January 1993). "The Beloved Still Loved After Long Absence" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 5. p. 27. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  26. ^ Jones, Alan (13 February 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 20. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  27. ^ Slyngstad, Rune (17 February 1993). "Nye Album". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 34. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ Naik, Anita (17 February 1993). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 52. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  29. ^ Doyle, Tom (17 March 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  30. ^ Riccio, Richard (16 April 1993). "The Beloved Take To The Dance Floor". St. Petersburg Times.
  31. ^ "Beloved Sweet harmony VIVA VHS". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  32. ^ John Marsh (interview) (22 December 2006). "Youtube: The Beloved - (Making of) Sweet Harmony MV". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  33. ^ "90s Dance – The Essential Playlist". Classic Pop. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  34. ^ "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  35. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 19 November 1993.
  36. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 9. 27 February 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  37. ^ "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  38. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.04.1993 – 21.04.1993)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 15 April 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  39. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweet Harmony". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  40. ^ "Regional EHR Top 20: South" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 10. 6 March 1993. p. 23.
  41. ^ "Los Discos Mas Populares > Éxitos Internacionales En México". Notitas Musicales (in Spanish). August 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via www.facebook.com.
  42. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Beloved" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  43. ^ "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  44. ^ "The Beloved – Sweet Harmony". Singles Top 100.
  45. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 6 February 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  46. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 6 February 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  47. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  48. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  49. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  50. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  51. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  52. ^ "Italian single certifications – Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  53. ^ "British single certifications – Beloved – Sweet Harmony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
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