"Love... Thy Will Be Done" is the first single released from American singer and actress
Martika's second album, Martika's Kitchen (1991). The
Prince-produced single, written by Martika and Prince,[1] was released on July 18, 1991 by
Columbia, and reached the top 10 on the charts of seven countries, including Australia, where it peaked at number one in October 1991. The song's black-and-white music video was directed by
Michael Haussman.[2]
Background
This song introduced Martika to a more
adult contemporary sound than her previous efforts. The song is particularly remarkable for its constant backline, played by the drums and the bass, without any variation throughout the song, neither as far as rhythm or intensity are concerned, independently of other effects in the song (climax, forte, piano, backing vocals, etc.). Similarly, the melody insists particularly on monochord lines and repeats the "love thy will be done" notes as a
leitmotif. According to an article in the
online magazinePitchfork, the song "almost certainly" contains a
sample of "
Fifty-Fifty Clown" by Scottish band
Cocteau Twins.[3]
Track listings
7-inch single
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
"Mi tierra" – 4:34
CD maxi
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
"Mi tierra" – 4:35
"Temptation" – 4:45
CD single
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
"Mi tierra" – 4:34
Cassette
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
"Mi tierra" – 4:34
Charts
Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for "Love... Thy Will Be Done"
Prince performed this song during his tours in the later 1990s and in 2012. He also used a sample of it for his cover of "
One of Us" on his album Emancipation. Prince's original version was released on his posthumous album Originals in 2019. Singer
Jessie Ware released a cover version in April 2013,[30] and singer
Delta Goodrem released a cover version in September 2014.[31]
In 2014, Australian singer/songwriter
Delta Goodrem released a version to promote her Australia and New Zealand tour with opera singer
Andrea Bocelli. It was announced on her
Twitter account just days before the release. It was released on
iTunes and
Google Play as a digital download and at
JB Hi-Fi and
Sanity as a CD single. Pre-orders from Sanity came with a limited edition 'D' keyring. The CD single also includes a cover of
Shakespears Sister's song "
Stay".