Words (The Christians song)

"Words"
Single by The Christians
from the album Colour
B-side "Long Gone"
Released December 1989 Ireland, UK
1990 France, Sweden
Format 7" single, CD maxi
Recorded 1989
Length 7:17
Label Island
Writer(s) Henry Priestman
Producer(s) Laurie Latham
The Christians singles chronology
"Ferry Cross the Mersey"
(1989)		 "Words"
(1989)		 "I Found Out"
(1990)
Music video
"Words" on YouTube

"Words" is a 1989 song recorded by the English band The Christians. It was their first single from their second album, Colour. Released in December 1989 in Ireland and UK and in the first months of 1990 in other Europeans countries, the song was the first major hit from the band outside the UK.

Song information

The group adapted a famous refrain of Irish folk heritage, known as "Mná na hÉireann", written by Seán Ó Riada, which translates as "Women of Ireland". It has been recorded by The Chieftains and Kate Bush among many others. According to Expert of French charts Elia Habib, the song has a "sweet both melody and performance".[1]

Song's lyrics are written on the cover of the CD maxi and the vinyl.

This single had a great success in France, although the group was not really known to the general public. The song achieved a lesser success in UK where it reached #18 (as in Sweden) and was a failure in Germany.

In France, "Words" debuted at the bottom of the chart (Top 50) on March 10, 1990, but reached very quickly the first places, topping for two weeks in May but managed to stay in the Top 10 for 11 weeks. It fell off the chart after its 19th week. Thus it was the best-selling single of the band in France. The song was also a big hit in Ireland and the Netherlands, reaching there the Top 10.

Music Video

The song's music video is notable for stunning landscape, and features Doyden Castle (Port Quin), and Port Isaac in Cornwall, England.

Track listings

  1. "Words" — 7:17
  2. "Long Gone" — 3:22
  3. "Funny Money" — 3:35
  1. "Words" — 5:26
  2. "Long Gone" — 3:22

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Irish IRMA Singles Chart[2] 6
UK Singles Chart[3] 18
Chart (1990) Peak
position
Dutch Top 40[4] 5
French SNEP Singles Chart[5] 1
Swedish Singles Chart[5] 18

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Dutch Top 40[4] 41

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Le Temps des yéyés" by Les Vagabonds		 French SNEP number-one single
May 12, 1990 - May 19, 1990 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Sacrifice" by Elton John

References

  1. ↑ Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinea Bis. p. 184. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  2. ↑ Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved February 21, 2008)
  3. ↑ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved August 6, 2008)
  4. 1 2 "Single top 100 over 1990" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Words", Dutch Maga Top 100, French and Swedish singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 21, 2008)
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