Gloryland (FIFA World Cup)

"Gloryland"
"Gloryland"
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/92/Gloryland-daryl-hall.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="200" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="200">
Single by Daryl Hall ; and Sounds of Blackness
from the album Gloryland World Cup USA 94
Released	1994
Recorded	1994
Label	Mercury; PolyGram; Phonogram;
Songwriter(s)	Traditional

"Gloryland (Instrumental)"
"Gloryland (Instrumental)"
Single by Glory
from the album Gloryland
Released	1994
Recorded	1994
Label	Mercury (USA) / ; PolyGram (worldwide)
Songwriter(s)	Traditional

Gloryland was the official song of the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States.

Instrumental version edit

The instrumental version, largely based on the traditional spiritual song "Glory, Glory (Lay My Burden Down)", was performed by a formation named "Glory" with Charles John Skarbek as producer, Richard Simon Blaskey as executive producer with Snake (Chris) Davis featured prominently playing on the saxophone.^[1]

It was released on Mercury Records for American distribution and PolyGram Records Inc. worldwide. The instrumental appears in the 1994 album released under the album entitled Soccer Rocks the Globe.

Tracks:

"Gloryland"
"Gloryland (Action Mix)"
"Gloryland (Emotion Mix)"
"In Gloria (Spanish Version)"

Vocal version edit

With added lyrics for the World Cup occasion,^[2] "Gloryland" became a 1994 song by Daryl Hall and Sounds of Blackness. The song also appears on the official FIFA World Cup album Gloryland World Cup USA 94 under the title Soccer Rocks the Globe.

Daryl Hall and Sounds of Blackness also sang it at the opening ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup with lyrics. It was also used as the theme to ITV's coverage of the tournament.

Critical reception edit

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Patterned after "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", single from the just-issued Soccer Rocks the World is awash in dewy-eyed sincerity. With Hall trading off lead lines with various members of S.O.B., this sweet and slow pop/R&B track builds to a blasting, gospel-like climax. Expect this one to connect with the same folks who tear up during Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time"."^[3] Dele Fadele from NME said, "'Gloryland' is sentimental, self-regarding and overblown in excelsis — true adult-orientated mush."^[4]

Charts edit

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[5]	32
Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)^[6]	10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[7]	37
UK Singles (OCC)	36

References edit

^ Discography of "Gloryland"
^ Lyrics of "Gloryland" by Daryl Hall
^ Flick, Larry (11 June 1994). "Single Reviews". p. 65. Billboard.
^ Fadele, Dele (25 June 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 43. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^ "Daryl Hall and Sounds Of Blackness – Gloryland - The Official Theme Song Of WorldCup USA 94" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
^ "DARYL HALL AND SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS - GLORYLAND" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
^ "DARYL HALL AND SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS - GLORYLAND" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

[1] Discography of "Gloryland"

[2] Lyrics of "Gloryland" by Daryl Hall

[3] Flick, Larry (11 June 1994). "Single Reviews". p. 65. Billboard.

[4] Fadele, Dele (25 June 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 43. Retrieved 1 October 2023.

[5] "Daryl Hall and Sounds Of Blackness – Gloryland - The Official Theme Song Of WorldCup USA 94" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 18 July 2021.

[6] "DARYL HALL AND SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS - GLORYLAND" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

[7] "DARYL HALL AND SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS - GLORYLAND" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

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