Another Day in Paradise

"Another Day in Paradise"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album ...But Seriously
Released 23 October 1989 (UK)[1]
Format
Recorded 1989
Genre Soft rock
Length 4:47 (single version)
5:22 (album version)
Label
Writer(s) Phil Collins
Producer(s)
Certification Silver (BPI)[1]
Gold (RIAA)
Phil Collins singles chronology
"Two Hearts"
(1988)		 "Another Day in Paradise"
(1989)		 "I Wish It Would Rain Down"
(1990)
Audio sample
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"Another Day in Paradise" is a protest song recorded by English drummer and singer Phil Collins. Produced by Collins along with Hugh Padgham, it was released as the first single from his number-one album ...But Seriously (1989). As with his song for Genesis, "Man on the Corner", the track has as its subject the problem of homelessness;[2] as such, the song was a substantial departure from the dance-pop music of his previous album, No Jacket Required (1985).

Collins sings the song from a third-person perspective, observing as a man crosses the street to ignore a homeless woman, and he implores listeners not to turn a blind eye to homelessness because, by drawing a religious allusion, "it's just another day for you and me in paradise". Collins also appeals directly to God by singing: "Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do? Oh Lord, there must be something you can say?"

The song was Collins' seventh and final Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, and the first number-one single of the 1990s. It was also a worldwide success, eventually becoming one of the most successful songs of his solo career. It won Collins and Padgham the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 1991 awards ceremony, while it was also nominated for Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Best Music Video, Short Form. "Another Day in Paradise" also won an award for Best British Single at the 1990 BRIT Awards. Despite the awards gained following its release, the song also generated controversy over its subject matter and has received a largely negative reaction from music critics.

Collins and David Crosby's live performance of the song at the 1991 Grammy Awards was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.[3] In 2009, Collins's version was listed at 86th on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time.[4] "Another Day in Paradise" has since been covered by several artists, including Brandy, her brother Ray J, Jam Tronik, Axxis, Novecento, and Hank Marvin.

Chart performance

The song was another massive hit for Collins. On 23 December 1989, it became his seventh (and to date, final) No. 1 single in the U.S.[2] The song was also the final No. 1 song of the 1980s in the U.S., and remained at No. 1 for four weeks, which classifies the song as a hit from the 1990s as well. This song is notable for keeping Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" from ever reaching number one. It also saw out the 1980s and saw in the 1990s at the top of the German singles chart. The song had already reached No. 2 in the UK in November of that year. The single version is slightly different from the album version in that it uses a shorter intro. David Crosby also appears performing backing vocals.

Reception

Popular music historian Colin Larkin wrote that "Another Day in Paradise" had been widely criticised.[5] Collins addressed the criticism from the English rock press at the time of its release, who found him unqualified to sing about the poor due to his wealth, by saying: "When I drive down the street, I see the same things everyone else sees. It's a misconception that if you have a lot of money you're somehow out of touch with reality."[6]

Singer-songwriter and political activist Billy Bragg was scathing of the song in an interview in 2000, drawing a contrast between Collins and an act he admired, the Clash, stating: "Phil Collins might write a song about the homeless, but if he doesn't have the action to go with it he's just exploiting that for a subject."[7] In 2003, Andrew Collins described the song as a "bland redress" for the subject of homelessness in the New Statesman.[8] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian dismissed the track in 2007 as "a song that addressed the issue of homelessness with the same insight as Sporty Spice's 'If That Were Me'".[9] Writing for the BBC in 2010, David Sheppard described the song's lyrics as "cringe-worthy" and gave it as an example of Collins "painting the bull’s-eye on his own forehead" when it came to his negative status with music critics.[10]

Writing for MSN in 2013, Hugh Wilson contrasted Collins's concern for the homeless in the song with his concern as a multimillionaire at the prospect of the UK's election of a tax-raising socialist government. Referring to Collins's statement that he would consider leaving the UK with the election of a Labour government, Wilson noted that the song led to "accusations of hypocrisy" because Collins had "bemoaned the plight of the homeless" in it. Wilson also said Collins became "an easy target when future elections came round".[11]

Personnel

Formats and track listings

12" single
  1. "Another Day in Paradise" (album version) – 5:22
  2. "Another Day in Paradise" (radio edit) – 4:04
CD maxi single
  1. "Another Day in Paradise" – 5:15
  2. "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" – 1:25
  3. "Heat on the Street" – 3:59
7" single
  1. "Another Day in Paradise" – 4:48
  2. "Heat on the Street" – 3:59

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–90) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 11
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 2
France (SNEP)[16] 8
Germany (Media Control Charts)[17] 1
Ireland (IRMA) 2
Italy (FIMI)[18] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[21] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[22] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 1
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[25] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 1
Zimbabwe Singles (ZIMA)[27] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1990) Position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 7

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[30] Gold 35,000
France (SNEP)[31] Silver 200,000
Germany (BVMI)[32] Gold 250,000
Sweden (GLF)[33] Platinum 50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Jam Tronik version

"Another Day in Paradise"
Single by Jam Tronik
from the album Now That's What I Call Music! 17
B-side "Get on The Raze"
Released 1990
Format CD
Recorded 1990
Genre
Length 4:50
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Phil Collins
Producer(s) Charlie Glas

Less than six months after the release of the original Phil Collins version, a cover version by dance act Jam Tronik was released in the UK. In April 1990 it reached its peak position of number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. It also featured on volume 17 of the popular UK series Now That's What I Call Music!. Sampled in this version is the drum loop from the 1988 Raze song "Break 4 Love".

Weekly charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35] 30
Germany (Media Control Charts)[36] 17
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[37] 19

Brandy and Ray J version

"Another Day in Paradise"
Single by Brandy and Ray J
from the album Urban Renewal
Released March 17, 2001 (Europe)
Format
Recorded 2000
Genre
Length 4:32
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Phil Collins
Producer(s) Guy Roche
Certification Gold (IFPI Germany)[38]
Brandy singles chronology
"Never Say Never"
(2000)		 "Another Day in Paradise"
(2001)		 "What About Us?
(2002)
Ray J singles chronology
"That's Why I Lie"
(1998)		 "Another Day In Paradise"
(2001)		 "Wait a Minute"
(2001)

In 2001, siblings Brandy and Ray J covered the song for the Phil Collins tribute album Urban Renewal. Produced by Guy Roche and released as the album's lead single, the cover version became a top ten success in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the UK, receiving gold certifications in Australia (35,000), Germany (150,000), France (100,000) and Switzerland (25,000). In 2002, this version of the song was included on the European edition of Brandy's Full Moon album.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of the 2001 version of "Another Day in Paradise".

CD maxi single
  1. "Another Day in Paradise" (R&B-Version) – 4:32
  2. "Another Day in Paradise" (Stargate Mix) – 4:19
  3. "Another Day in Paradise" (Stargate Classic Club) – 4:22
  4. "Another Day in Paradise" (Knee Deep Remix) – 6:28
  5. "Another Day in Paradise" (Black Legend VS. J-Reverse Club Mix) – 7:54
CD single
  1. "Another Day in Paradise" (R&B-Version) – 4:32
  2. "Another Day in Paradise" (Stargate Mix) – 4:19
The Remixes - 12" maxi
  1. "Another Day in Paradise" (Knee Deep Remix) – 6:28
  2. "Another Day in Paradise" (Black Legend vs. J-Reverse Club Mix) – 7:54

Charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[39] 11
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[40] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[41] 9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[42] 7
Denmark (Tracklisten)[43] 6
France (SNEP)[44] 11
Germany (Official German Charts)[45] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[46] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[48] 29
Norway (VG-lista)[49] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[52] 5

Other covers

References

  1. 1 2 3 "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for Phil Collins (page 3)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  2. 1 2 Maury Dean (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 60. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  3. ↑ "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume 1: Various Artists". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  4. ↑ "Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time". Billboard. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  5. ↑ Larkin, Colin (14 Sep 2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Concise (5th Edition). Omnibus Press. ISBN 1846098564. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Holden, Stephen (6 December 1989). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Brunner, Rob (30 June 2000). "Bragg-ing Rites". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Collins, Andrew (24 February 2003). "Give music a chance". New Statesman. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (19 September 2007). "I wish I'd never heard of Phil Collins ...". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Sheppard, David. "Phil Collins Going Back Review". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Hugh (3 April 2013). "Famous men and their misunderstood politics". MSN. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  13. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  16. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise" (in French). Les classement single.
  17. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise (single)". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  18. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: C". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Phil Collins search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  20. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise". Top 40 Singles.
  21. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise". VG-lista.
  22. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise". Singles Top 100.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ "Official Charts > Phil Collins". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  26. ↑ "Billboard > Artists / Phil Collins > Chart History > The Hot 100 (page 2)". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  27. ↑
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  28. ↑ "SWISS YEAR-END CHARTS 1990language= German". Schweizer Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  29. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1990". Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  30. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  31. ↑ "InfoDisc : Les Certifications (Albums) du SNEP (Bilan par Artiste)". Institut français d'opinion publique (in French). InfoDisc.fr. Search for "Phil Collins" and press "OK" to see the search results. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Phil Collins; 'Another Day In Paradise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Swedish single certifications – Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  34. ↑ "American single certifications – Phil Collins – Another Day In Paradise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jam Tronik – Another Day in Paradise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Jam Tronik - Another Day In Paradise (single)". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  37. ↑ "Official Charts > Jam Tronik". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  38. ↑ IFPI Germany Database Search Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  39. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  40. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  41. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  42. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  43. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  44. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  45. ↑ "Musicline.de – Brandy & Ray J Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  46. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 6, 2001". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  47. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Brandy & Monica search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  48. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  49. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise". VG-lista. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  50. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  51. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Brandy And Ray J – Another Day In Paradise". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  52. ↑ "Brandy & Monica: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  53. ↑ "Soft Rock Symphonies (1990): London Symphony Orchestra". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
  54. ↑ "Last.fm/music". Last.fm. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  55. ↑ http://www.cienradios.com.ar/argentina/la-100/videos/la-100-vivo-2da-edicion-en-todas-las-disquerias-del-pais-desde-el-3-de-agost
  56. ↑ http://www.wetpaint.com/the-voice/articles/2013-11-11-watch-jonny-gray-sing-live
  57. ↑
  58. ↑
  59. ↑ "Ronan Keating - Another Day in Paradise". BBC Online. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.

External links

Preceded by
"Don't Know Much" by Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville		 Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single
2 December 1989 (5 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" by Michael Bolton
Preceded by
"We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
23 December 1989 – 13 January 1990 		Succeeded by
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" by Michael Bolton
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