Wikipedia

Sing Hallelujah! (Dr. Alban song)

"Sing Hallelujah!" is a song recorded by Sweden-based musician and producer Dr. Alban, released in 1993 as the third single from his second studio album, One Love (1992). Been described as an "discothèques anthem with dance and disco sonorities",[2] the song, written by Alban with its producer, Denniz Pop, became a hit in many European countries. It was a top-5 hit in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland and Switzerland. In the UK, it peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. Its accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.[3] In 2005, "Sing Hallelujah!" charted again when it was re-recorded by the artist in new versions, peaking at number 12 in Finland.

"Sing Hallelujah!"
Single by Dr. Alban
from the album One Love
B-side"Remix"
Released1993
GenreEurodance[1]
Length
  • 4:00 (short version)
  • 4:24 (album version)
Label
  • SweMix
  • Cheiron
  • BMG
  • Logic Light
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Denniz Pop
Dr. Alban singles chronology
"One Love"
(1992) 		"Sing Hallelujah!"
(1993) 		"Look Who's Talking"
(1994)
Music video
"Sing Hallelujah!" on YouTube
Audio sample
Dr. Alban - "Sing Hallelujah" (Short)

Critical reception edit

Larry Flick from Billboard noted that the song already had enjoyed a very hot run through much of England and Europe. He added, "The record's peppy pop/NRG personality is enhanced by rousing handclaps, insistent piano lines, and a chirpy gospel choir. Truly irresistible tune will have you raising your hands to the sky and singing along with the wonderfully catchy chorus."[4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "The latest single is by no means as catchy as the last, has the disadvantage of not being embedded in the psyche of drunken Brits on the Costa Del Sol during the summer and is generally not very good anyway so further chart progress is unlikely."[5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Pulling teeth is apperently [sic] not so painful after all, because down at the doctor's a gospel choir breaks loose on a dance beat."[6] Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty remarked that the song is "creating a buzz in the clubs".[7]

Chart performance edit

"Sing Hallelujah!" made an impact on the charts on several continents, becoming a major hit in many countries. In Europe, the song was a top-5 hit in Belgium (3),[8] Denmark (3),[9] Finland (2),[10] Germany (4),[11] Iceland (5),[12] Switzerland (4),[13] as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number four.[14] In Germany, it entered as number 77 and peaked seven weeks later. The song spent 33 weeks within the German singles chart. In addition, it was a top-10 hit in Austria (7),[15] France (7),[16] Greece (10),[17] Ireland (6),[18] the Netherlands (6),[19] Norway (8),[20] Portugal (7),[21] and Sweden (6).[22] In Sweden, the single debuted as number 32 on Sverigetopplistan, before peaking 3 weeks later. It spent 8 weeks within the Swedish singles chart.

In the United Kingdom, "Sing Hallelujah!" only reached the UK Top 20, peaking at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart on April 25, 1993, after 4 weeks on the chart.[23] But on the UK Music Week Dance Singles chart and Record Mirror Club Chart, it reached numbers nine and eight.[24][25] Outside Europe, the single was a top-5 hit in Australia, peaking at number five on the ARIA singles chart.[26] In North America, it also peaked at number five on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart, and at numbers 15 and 20 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales charts.[27][28] In Africa, the song charted in Zimbabwe, peaking at number 11.[29]

"Sing Hallelujah!" was awarded with a gold record in Denmark (45,000), a silver record in France, with a sale of 25,000 units, and a platinum record in Australia and Germany, after 70,000 and 500,000 singles were sold.

Impact and legacy edit

English DJ, producer and broadcaster Dave Pearce included "Sing Hallelujah!" in his all-time top 10 in 1997, saying, "A really anthemic vibe. I play this on special occasions and when it breaks down into the chorus it always gets a top reaction. It's guaranteed to put a smile on the face and to send knickers and handbags flying thru the air!"[30]

Track listings edit

Charts edit

Certifications and sales edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[49] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[50] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[51] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[52] Platinum 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Mozaic version edit

In 1995, Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Records released a dance track based on an interpolation of "Sing Hallelujah!" called "Sing It (The Hallelujah Song)". Credited to an act called Mozaic, the song became a hit in the UK, debuting at its peak position of No. 14 in August 1995.[53] In 2015, Oakenfold would include the "Quivvers Dirty Dub" mix of the song on his compilation album 25 Years of Perfecto Records.[54]

References edit

  1. ^ Rainho, Ricardo. "Dr. Alban – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ^ Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit. tubes. Alinéa Bis. pp. 269–270. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  3. ^ "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 13. 27 March 1993. p. 25. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (7 August 1993). "Single Reviews > Dance" (PDF). Billboard. p. 53.
  5. ^ Masterton, James (4 April 1993). "Week Ending April 10th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  6. ^ "New Releases > Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 10. 6 March 1993. p. 11. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  7. ^ Cermak, Wendi (14 May 1993). "Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 32. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 16. 17 April 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  11. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Íslenski Listinn: Topp 40: Vikan 2. – 8. April" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. 1 April 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 19. 8 May 1993. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510. See last week peak position.
  15. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 18. 1 May 1993. p. 24.
  18. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sing Hallelujah!". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  19. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  21. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 10. 6 March 1993. p. 20.
  22. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 10 April 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  25. ^ a b "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 17 April 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  27. ^ a b "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 0989." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "Dr. Alban – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  29. ^ a b Kimberley, Chris (2000). Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book. Harare.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  30. ^ "Jock On His Box" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 9 August 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  31. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 18. 1 May 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  32. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. 8 May 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  34. ^ "Yamboo feat. Dr. Alban: Sing Hallelujah" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  35. ^ "Yamboo feat. Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  40. ^ "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 23. Library and Archives Canada. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  41. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  42. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1993". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  43. ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir. 4 January 1994. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Single Top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  46. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  47. ^ "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  48. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1994". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  49. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  50. ^ "Danish single certifications – Dr. Alban – Sing Hallelujah!". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  51. ^ "French single certifications – Dr Alban – Sing Hallehujah" (in French). InfoDisc. Select DR ALBAN and click OK. 
  52. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dr. Alban; 'Sing Halleluja')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  53. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 30 July 1995 – 05 August 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  54. ^ Smith, Jordan (24 March 2015). "Album review: 25 Years of Perfecto Records". Ibiza Spotlight. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
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