Walking on Broken Glass

"Walking on Broken Glass"
Single by Annie Lennox
from the album Diva
B-side "Don't Let Me Down"
"Legend in My Living Room"
"River Deep, Mountain High"
"Here Comes the Rain Again"
Released 22 August 1992
Format
Recorded 1992
Genre Pop
Length 4:12 (album version)
3:58 (single mix)
Label BMG, Arista
Songwriter(s) Annie Lennox
Producer(s) Stephen Lipson
Annie Lennox singles chronology
"Precious"
(1992)		 "Walking on Broken Glass"
(1992)		 "Cold"
(1992)

"Precious"
(1992)		 "Walking on Broken Glass"
(1992)		 "Cold"
(1992)

"Walking on Broken Glass" is a song written and performed by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, taken from her 1992 album, Diva. The song reached #1 in Canada, #8 in the United Kingdom and Ireland and #14 in the United States singles charts.

Track listing

CD single
  1. "Walking on Broken Glass" (single version) (4:03)
  2. "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" (4:18)
  3. "River Deep, Mountain High" (3:33)
  4. "Here Comes the Rain Again" (4:44)
  5. "Walking on Broken Glass" (3:50)

Tracks 2-5 were recorded for MTV Unplugged in July 1992.

UK CD single
  1. "Walking On Broken Glass" (Single Version) (4:03)
  2. "Legend In My Living Room" (3:45)
  3. "Don't Let Me Down" (Lennon/McCartney)* (3:49)
  • Non-album studio track

Music video

A screenshot from the "Walking on Broken Glass" music video

Directed by Sophie Muller, the music video is based in part on the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons, and on period films dealing with the late 18th century, such as Amadeus. John Malkovich, who starred in the former film, is joined by Hugh Laurie, in similar garb to the 18th century dress he wore to play Prince George, The Prince Regent from Blackadder the Third.[1]

The setting of the video is that of a salon evening at Prince George's Carlton House, and is meant to represent an assembly of nobles and notables for an evening of society, gambling and dancing, the highlight of which is the arrival and feting of the newlyweds, the groom of which is played by Malkovich.

Lennox's character is striking in her somewhat unusual dress (a royal red in an environment dominated by white, a stage costuming technique designed to draw significant attention to her), and in wearing a 'Turkish' headdress hat in an environment dominated by wigs of the period. Lennox's character displays significant pique, as she is emotionally wounded by the appearance of her former lover on the arm of his new bride.

Throughout the video, she tries to communicate the conflicting emotions of jealousy, continued desire, and anger towards this man who still clearly holds her heart. In the process, she spurns the previously welcome advances of the Prince Regent (Laurie), and repels him, to his embarrassment. Lennox's character consumes glass after glass of champagne and grows ever more agitated, until she finally throws herself at Malkovich's character, to the shock and amusement of the partygoers. Lennox's character, furious and realizing that she has made a fool of herself, flees the party, only to be swept into Malkovich's arms when she reaches the foot of the stairs.

Personnel

  • Engineer - Heff Moraes
  • Producer - Stephen Lipson
  • Written by - Annie Lennox

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 58
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 37
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 15
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[6] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 51
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 61
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 31
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 6
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 3

See also

References

  1. ↑ Billboard 7 Dec 2002 Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2011
  2. ↑ Ryan Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  3. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1863." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1874." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Annie Lennox". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Charts.nz – Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Annie Lennox: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.