Sweet Harmony (The Beloved song)

"Sweet Harmony"
Single by The Beloved
from the album Conscience
B-side "Motivation"
Released 18 January 1993
Format
Recorded 1992
Genre Electronica
Length 5:02
Label East 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)

"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 hit single by British band The Beloved. It became their biggest hit, peaking at No. 8 in the UK. None of the band's other singles made it into the Top 10.

Release

The single was released in January 1993. It peaked at #3 in Austria, #6 in Germany and Switzerland, #8 in the UK and #9 in Italy.

"Sweet Harmony" was written and produced by founder member of the Beloved and singer John Marsh and his wife, Helena Marsh. It 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, and has been used in advertising for British home improvement chain Homebase as well.

Critical reception

Billboard wrote about the song: "British synth/pop duo should have little trouble transferring the recent international chart success of this thumping dance ditty to stateside top 40 outlets. Slight techno nuances, an uplifting lyrical message, and singer Jon Marsh's warm, soothing tones add up to a delightful jam."[1]

The Gavin Report wrote: "Doing their part to end the divisivness 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."[2]

Music video

The music video for "Sweet Harmony" consisted of a naked and seated Jon Marsh surrounded by naked women - including Tess Daly - lipsynching the lyrics. 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 that the video was "not intended to be sexual" and was "as asexual as you can get"[3] The video is supposed to represent unity between humans.

This music video was later spoofed in 1998 by rapper John Forté in the song "Ninety Nine (Flash The Message)" from the album Poly Sci in which the same scenes with nude women is featured, except they have chainsaws.

Track listings

CD single
  1. "Sweet Harmony" — 5:02
  2. "Motivation" (Energised)
7" single
  1. "Sweet Harmony" — 5:02
  2. "Motivation" (Energised)
CD maxi
  1. "Sweet Harmony" — 5:04
  2. "Sweet Harmony" (Live The Dream Mix) — 7:15
  3. "Motivation" (Exercised) — 7:11
  4. "Sweet Harmony" (Love The Dub Mix) — 5:14
EP

Charts

Cover versions

In 1993, Sarah Mclachlan's song 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy' used the same chord progression slowed down.

In 2000, the song was covered on Spanish language by Spanish band Fangoria and Los Sencillos, with lyrics "Dulce armonia". This version is included on the album Interferencias.

In 2002, the song was covered by British producer Vincent Stormfield and released as "Sweet Harmony '02" by Independiente.

In 2007, the song was covered by Polish pop group Feel on their multi-platinum selling debut album.

In 2007, Russian pop group Tokio released a cover version of the song on Russian language called "My budem vmeste" ("Мы будем вместе") ("We'll be Together").

In 2014, Israeli pop singer Mei Finegold released a dance version with Shlomi Levi and Shai Rokach which acted as one of the Israeli Pride 2014 official anthems.

2014. Man without Country released a single with a cover of the song

In 2016, the song was covered by Sans Souci featuring Pearl Anderson.

In 2017, Liverpudlian indie band She Drew The Gun recorded the song, and accompanied it with a video.

In 2017, Xenturion Prime released a cover of the song.

In films and television

The song appears in the 1993 film, Piccolo grande amore.

The music video appears in the Beavis and Butt-head episode "Politically Correct", where the duo enjoy the video due to the "naked chicks" and Butt-head stating that it was the "coolest video [he has] ever seen."

An extended version of the song was used during the end credits of a season 7 episode of Dalziel and Pascoe.

The song appears in the 2006 film Alien Autopsy starring Ant and Dec.

The song appears briefly on the episode "Follow the Money" from season 3 of the TV series Narcos.

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard: NEW & NOTEWORTHY" (PDF). Billboard magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  2. ↑ Sholin, Dave. "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  3. ↑ John Marsh (interview) (2006-12-22), Youtube: The Beloved - (Making of) Sweet Harmony MV, retrieved April 12, 2016
  4. ↑ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry (submitted to charts.mail@aria.com.au), received 2015-07-15". imgur.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  5. 1 2 "Sweet Harmony", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved March 28, 2008)
  6. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. May 8, 1993. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  7. ↑ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved March 28, 2008)
  8. ↑ "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.04.1993 - 21.04.1993)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  10. ↑ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved March 28, 2008)
  11. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Beloved" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Beloved – Sweet Harmony" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Beloved – Sweet Harmony". Singles Top 100.
  14. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Beloved – Sweet Harmony". Swiss Singles Chart.
  15. ↑ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved March 28, 2008)
  16. 1 2 3 Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved September 18, 2008)
  17. ↑ 1993 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved September 18, 2008)
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