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Words (The Christians song)

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1989 single by the Christians
"Words"
Single by the Christians
from the album Colour
B-side"Long Gone"
Released11 December 1989 (1989-12-11)
Length7:17
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Henry Priestman, Seán Ó Riada
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 song by English band the Christians. It was the first single from their second album, Colour (1990). Released on 11 December 1989, the song reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and became a number-one hit in France, where it topped the SNEP chart for two weeks in May 1990. "Words" additionally became a top-10 hit in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain.

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".

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

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

In France, "Words" debuted at number 48 on the chart edition of 10 March 1990, climbed every week and reached number one for two weeks, and spent 11 weeks in the top ten and 19 weeks in the top 50. It was the band's best-selling single in France. The song was also a top ten hit in Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands.

Music video

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

Track listings

  • CD maxi
  1. "Words" – 7:17
  2. "Long Gone" – 3:22
  3. "Funny Money" – 3:35
  • 7-inch single
  1. "Words" – 5:26
  2. "Long Gone" – 3:22

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Chart) 152
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 8
Europe (European Airplay Top 50) 13
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 20
France (SNEP) 1
Ireland (IRMA) 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 5
Spain (AFYVE) 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 18
UK Singles (OCC) 18

Year-end charts

Chart (1990) Position
Belgium (Ultratop) 95
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 41

See also

References

  1. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 December 1989. p. 31. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinea Bis. p. 184. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  3. "Bubbling Down Under 5 November 1990". www.bubblingdownunder.com. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  4. "The Christians – Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 22. 2 June 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 12. 24 March 1990. p. III. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 2 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  7. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "The Christians". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 47. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. "The Christians – Words" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Christians". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  11. "The Christians – Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  12. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  13. "The Christians – Words". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  15. "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  16. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 60. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 15 January 2020 – via World Radio History.
  17. "Single top 100 over 1990" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
The Christians
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