The Promise of a New Day
"The Promise of a New Day" is the second single (and lead-off track) from American artist Paula Abdul's album Spellbound. The song was written by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith. The single was released to radio while the hit "Rush Rush" was still at the top of radio airplay and the pop charts. It is an upbeat pop and dance-pop song that lyrically finds the singer feeling optimistic about a relationship as well as the lives of future generations.
"The Promise of a New Day" | ||||
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Single by Paula Abdul | ||||
from the album Spellbound | ||||
Released | July 20, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1990—1991 Studio Masters[1] (Los Angeles, California) Sunset Sound Studios (Los Angeles, California) | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 4:32 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paula Abdul, Peter Lord, Sandra St. Victor, V. Jeffrey Smith | |||
Producer(s) | Peter Lord & V. Jeffrey Smith | |||
Paula Abdul singles chronology | ||||
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Chart performance
"The Promise of a New Day" debuted at No. 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the week ending July 20, 1991, claiming the spot of Hot Shot Debut.[2] The following week, the single climbed to No. 26, with this week claiming the Greatest Airplay Gainer.[3] The song reached No. 1 on the chart on September 14, 1991 and ended the reign of Bryan Adams' long-running No. 1 hit, "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)." The following week, it fell to No. 5, and departed the Top 40 only four weeks later. It was Abdul's sixth chart-topping single, and her last No. 1 single to date.[4]
Music video
The video, directed by Big TV! (Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom) was shot during the week of July 8, 1991.[5] Filming took place in two different locations with backgrounds for the video being shot in Hawaii, with Abdul and her backup dancers being filmed separately on a sound stage and later composited through blue screen. Abdul was unable to attend filming in Hawaii due to prior commitments.
When released, the video garnered controversy due to its post-work, which was edited and elongated in order to make Abdul appear thinner and taller than she actually was. For this, Abdul was criticized and ridiculed in the media and the video would end up becoming parodied. Most notoriously, on the sketch show In Living Color, where a music video was shot for the show titled "Promise of a Thin Me" with Kelly Coffield as Abdul. The television show ridiculed Abdul for her weak singing voice, her then-recent lip syncing allegation, her weight gain, and the stretched appearance of her music video.
Track listings and formats
US Promo 5" CD
- The Promise Of A New Day - 7" Edit (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast 7" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast 12" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - Extended Club Version (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast Dub (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
UK 12" Record
- The Promise of a New Day - West Coast 12" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise of a New Day - Album Version (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise of a New Day - Extended Club Version (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
US Cassette
- The Promise of a New Day - 7" Edit (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise of a New Day - 12" Mix/West Coast 12" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Cover versions
The song was covered by American indie band Mirror Ball Associates for the album Covers Vol. 1, which features Paul Durham (lead singer of Black Lab) on vocals.
References
- http://crydee.sai.msu.ru/public/lyrics/asv-collection/Lyrics/Abdul_Paula/abdul.91
- "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- Kleid, Beth (July 8, 1991). "Tv/video". latimes.com.
- "Paula Abdul: Chart History". billboard.com.
- "Australian-charts.com – Paula Abdul – The Promise of a New Day". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Ultratop.be – Paula Abdul – The Promise of a New Day" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1642." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Paula Abdul – The Promise of a New Day". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Paula Abdul – The Promise of a New Day" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Charts.nz – Paula Abdul – The Promise of a New Day". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Paula Abdul – The Promise of a New Day". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Paula Abdul Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- "Paula Abdul Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 21, 1991). "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103 no. 51. p. YE-14.