Troy (song)

"Troy" is a song written and recorded by Sinéad O'Connor, the first single from her 1987 debut album, The Lion and the Cobra. In 2002, a dance version of the song was released as "Troy (The Phoenix from the Flame)" becoming a top 10 hit on several international dance charts including the US. The lyrics are based on the poem No Second Troy by William Butler Yeats.

"Troy"
Single by Sinéad O'Connor
from the album The Lion and the Cobra
B-side"Still Listening"
Released1987
Format7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, CD single
GenrePop rock, baroque pop
Length6:34
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Sinéad O'Connor
Producer(s)Sinéad O'Connor
Kevin Mooney
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology
"Heroine"
(1986)		 "Troy"
(1987)		 "Mandinka"
(1987)
Music video
"Troy" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted in his review, that songs like "Troy", "Jackie", and "Jerusalem" "are compelling because of their hushed, quiet intensity."[1] Mark Richardson from Pitchfork described the song as a "epic and visceral psychodrama", and added that it is "lushly orchestrated, painting the story of desire and betrayal on a wall-sized canvas."[2] Sal Cinquemani from Slant wrote that "the fierce melodrama of young love and betrayal is imbued with the surrounding violence in "Troy", the song's crumbling romance equated with the burning of the famous Greek city." He added that the song "is, perhaps, the album's defining moment, exhibiting all of the traits—vulnerability, fury, conviction, theatricality—the infamously outspoken singer-songwriter would become known for in the years that followed."[3]

Music video

The video featured O'Connor, completely bald and covered with gold and silver body paint, singing to a background of moving images including flames.

Live performances

O'Connor only sang "Troy" live the year after it was released, after that she refused to perform "Troy" again until 2008 when she performed at the Night of the Proms in Belgium and The Netherlands.

Chart performance
Chart (1988)
(Original version)		 Peak
position
Dutch Top 40[4] 5
Dutch GfK Singles Chart[5] 8
Flemish Singles Chart[6] 12
Chart (2002)
(Remix version)		 Peak
position
Flemish Singles Chart[7] 35
UK Singles Chart[8] 48
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[9] 3
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[9] 6

References
  1. "Sinéad O'Connor - The Lion and the Cobra". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  2. Richardson, Mark (2009-04-24). "Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Limited Edition)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  3. Cinquemani, Sal (2007-08-03). "Review: Sinéad O'Connor, The Lion and the Cobra". Slant. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  4. "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 3, 1988". Archived from the original on 2008-01-20. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  5. "dutchcharts.nl". Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  6. "ultratop.be". Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  7. "ultratop.be". Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  8. "charts-surfer.de search results". Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  9. "Allmusic – Sinéad O'Connor – Billboard singles". Retrieved January 3, 2009.
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