"Glittering Prize" is a 1982 hit single by the Scottish rock group Simple Minds, the 2nd released from their fifth studio album New Gold Dream, released the same year.
| "Glittering Prize" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Simple Minds | ||||
| from the album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) | ||||
| B-side | "Glittering Prize Theme" | |||
| Released | 16 August 1982 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:02 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil | |||
| Producer(s) | Peter Walsh | |||
| Simple Minds singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song reached number 16 in the United Kingdom,[2] but was more successful in Australia, New Zealand and Norway, where it reached the top 10.
A compilation album, released by Simple Minds in 1992, is named after the song, and is entitled Glittering Prize 81/92.[3]
Music video edit
The video continuously alternates between two main stages. The first one is set in a golden room where the band members (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, and Mick MacNeil only), all dressed in black, perform the song. The other stage is set in a dark, museum-like room, under the surveillance of a napping security guard, and featuring hanging portraits of the band members' faces made of gold. A story unfolds in this latter stage as a young woman in a bikini and whose body is all painted in gold, stealthily penetrating the room and reaching out to a sarcophagus within which lies a pharaoh version of Kerr. After having touched his face and brought the other band members back to life she then drives away with them in a car. As the guard realises the burglary, the woman, now in the golden room, rests in a long chair and sips on a cocktail before the video ends.[4]
Chart positions edit
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 11 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 4 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[8] | 8 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[9] | 11 |
| United Kingdom (CIN)[2] | 16 |
References edit
- ^ Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra (2016). "Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 491.
- ^ a b "Official Charts > Simple Minds". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ Glittering Prize 81/92 Cassette Sleeve Notes by Brian Hogg, 1992
- ^ "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize (video)". YouTube. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 275. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Glittering Prize". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 January 2020.