Road to Joy (Peter Gabriel song)

"Road to Joy" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in June 2023 as the sixth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. The track is one of the last tracks to emerge for the album, it had originally been conceived around 2000's OVO called "Pukka", albeit sounding very different to the final rendition of the track. The track was produced by Gabriel and English musician Brian Eno, and features Tony Levin on bass, Manu Katché on drums, John Metcalfe on string arrangements, and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The single features the artwork "Middle Finger in Pink" by Ai Weiwei. Gabriel traveled to Cambridge to meet with Ai, who was unfamiliar with Gabriel's work. After a follow-up visit in London was successful, Ai Weiwei agreed to collaborate with Gabriel. Ai then sent three designs for Gabriel to choose from, all of which centered around "a middle finger raised against authority".

"I'm a big fan of Ai Weiwei, both as an artist, as a designer and as a human rights campaigner. He's an incredibly brave man and regularly risks the wrath of the Chinese government. But his work is exceptional, often political and quite extraordinary."

The track has been described as being more fun and upbeat than the rest of the record, Gabriel stated about the track's more upbeat nature that "the excitement and energy in the song was something that I was getting off on. I felt we didn't have enough of that for this record."

Personnel

Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, synths, manipulated charango
David Rhodes – guitars, backing vocals
Don-E – bass synth
Tony Levin – basses
Manu Katché – drums
Josh Shpak – trumpet
Brian Eno – rhythm programming and progressing, manipulated guitar and ukulele
Hans-Martin Buff – additional percussion and synths
Ron Aslan – additional synths

Orchestra

Orchestral arrangement: John Metcalfe
Violins: Everton Nelson, Ian Humphries, Louisa Fuller, Charles Mutter, Cathy Thompson, Natalia Bonner, Richard George, Marianne Haynes, Martin Burgess, Clare Hayes, Debbie Widdup, Odile Ollagnon
Violas: Bruce White, Fiona Bonds, Peter Lale, Rachel Roberts
Cellos: Ian Burdge, Chris Worsey, Caroline Dale, William Schofield, Tony Woollard, Chris Allan
Double bass: Chris Laurence, Stacy Watton, Lucy Shaw
Orchestra conductor: John Metcalfe
Orchestra leader: Everton Nelson
Sheet music supervisor: Dave Foster
Orchestra contractor: Lucy Whalley and Susie Gillis

Choir

Soweto Gospel Choir

Soprano: Linda Sambo, Nobuhle Dhlamini, Phello Jiyane, Victoria Sithole
Alto Maserame Ndindwa, Phumla Nkhumeleni, Zanele Ngwenya, Duduzile Ngomane
Tenor: George Kaudi, Vusimuzi Shabalala, Xolani Ntombela, Victor Makhathini
Bass: Thabang Mkhwanazi, Goodwill Modawu, Warren Mahlangu, Fanizile Nzuza
Musical director / vocal arranger: Bongani "Honey" Ncube

Charts

Chart performance for "Road to Joy"
Chart (2023)	Peak position
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)	55
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)	4
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)	45

References

^ "Road to Joy released". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
^ "Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Road To Joy": Listen". Stereogum. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
"Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Road to Joy"". Pitchfork. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
"Peter Gabriel Interviewed: "I wanted to be there at the end of Genesis."". Mojo. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
Redfern, Mark. "Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Road to Joy"". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
Ewingpublished, Jerry (5 June 2023). "Listen to Peter Gabriel's cheery new single Road To Joy". louder. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
"Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
"Peter Gabriel Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
"Peter Gabriel Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

v t e Peter Gabriel
Studio albums	Peter Gabriel (Car) Peter Gabriel (Scratch) Peter Gabriel (Melt) Peter Gabriel (Security) So Us Up Scratch My Back New Blood I/O
Live albums	Plays Live Plays Live Highlights Secret World Live Live Blood Back to Front: Live in London Growing Up Live
Singles	"Solsbury Hill" "Modern Love" "D.I.Y." "Games Without Frontiers" "No Self Control" "Biko" "I Don't Remember" "Shock the Monkey" "I Have the Touch" "Wallflower" "Sledgehammer" "In Your Eyes" "Don't Give Up" "Big Time" "Red Rain" "Shaking the Tree" "Digging in the Dirt" "Steam" "Blood of Eden" "Kiss That Frog" "While the Earth Sleeps" "When You're Falling" "The Barry Williams Show" "More Than This" "Growing Up "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" "Darkness" "Down to Earth" "Panopticom" "The Court" "Playing for Time" "I/O" "Four Kinds of Horses" "Road to Joy" "So Much" "Olive Tree" "Love Can Heal" "This Is Home" "And Still" "Live and Let Live"
Songs	"Here Comes the Flood" "On the Air" "Intruder" "Family Snapshot" "The Rhythm of the Heat" "San Jacinto" "That Voice Again" "Mercy Street" "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" "Come Talk to Me" "Secret World" "Sky Blue"
Soundtracks	Birdy Passion OVO Long Walk Home
Compilations	Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats Revisited Hit Rated PG Flotsam and Jetsam
Concert tours	Secret World Tour Back to Front Tour i/o The Tour
Films	Secret World Live Growing Up: Live Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped
Video games	Xplora1: Peter Gabriel's Secret World Eve Myst IV: Revelation
Other	Discography Genesis WOMAD Passion – Sources The Story of OVO Millennium Dome Show Play: The Videos Big Blue Ball And I'll Scratch Yours Real World Records Real World Studios Solid State Logic (SSL)
Peter Gabriel discography

Categories: