"The Holy River" | ||||
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Single by Prince | ||||
from the album Emancipation | ||||
B-side |
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Released | January 13, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1995–1996 | |||
Studio | Paisley Park Studios | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 4:00 (radio edit) 6:55 (album version) | |||
Label | NPG/ EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) | Prince | |||
Producer(s) | Prince | |||
Prince singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Holy River" on YouTube |
"The Holy River" is a song by American musician Prince (his stage name at that time being an unpronounceable symbol, see cover art), released as the second single from his nineteenth album, Emancipation (1996). [1] The pop/ rock-based song tells the story of spiritual enlightenment and of Prince's decision to marry Mayte Garcia. A music video was also produced to promote the single. [2]
The UK CD single was released as a two separate discs which fit in a double jewel case that was included with the first disc. Both discs had different picture sleeves and different contents, other than a "radio edit" of "The Holy River" and edit of " Somebody's Somebody" (also from Emancipation). Disc one also included two remixes of "Somebody's Somebody": a "Livestudio Mix" and an "Ultrafantasy Edit". Both were mostly re-recorded versions of the song with additional lyrics. Disc 2 included the previously released " The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Mustang Mix)" and a one-minute commercial called "On Sale Now!". The UK cassette single was the same as disc 2, but without "On Sale Now".
A US promotional release was sent to pop radio stations at the same time as " Somebody's Somebody" was sent to Urban radio stations, it was also made available to consumers for free, and only through book chain, Borders Music. It was a cassette single with the previously unreleased "Welcome 2 the Dawn", advertised as being from the upcoming album The Dawn. In reality, the song was later released on The Truth.
Excluding the re-release of " 1999", "The Holy River"/"Somebody's Somebody" became his final UK Top 40 single in his lifetime.
The mid-tempo number features a guitar melody without a chorus. It climaxes in a searing guitar and Pipe organ solo.
British magazine Music Week rated the song three out of five, describing it as "a tasteful, restrained rock ballad stripped of funk pretension. Low-key, but still pleasant." [3] David Sinclair from The Times wrote, "Gentle pop tune from the scandalously underrated Emancipation album." [4]
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
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Belgium ( Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [5] | 4 |
Germany ( Official German Charts) [6] | 92 |
Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [7] | 10 |
Netherlands ( Single Top 100) [8] | 63 |
US Hot 100 Airplay ( Billboard) | 58 |
US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard) | 19 |
US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks ( Billboard) | 31 |
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
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Scotland ( OCC) [9] | 22 |
UK Singles ( OCC) [10] | 19 |