Revision as of 21:42, 26 June 2011 editCanadaolympic989 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users52,084 edits Undid revision 436327554 by Δ (talk)← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 14:36, 29 October 2024 edit undo195.234.28.162 (talk)No edit summary | ||
(366 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|1985 song}} | |||
{{Infobox single | |||
{{Infobox song | |||
| Name = Broken Wings | |||
| |
| name = Broken Wings | ||
| |
| cover = Broken Wings single cover.jpg | ||
| alt = | |||
| Album = ] | |||
| |
| border = yes | ||
| caption = Picture sleeves used in some European territories | |||
| Format = ], ] | |||
| |
| type = single | ||
| |
| artist = ] | ||
| |
| album = ] | ||
| |
| B-side = | ||
* "Uniform of Youth" | |||
| Writer = ]/]/John Lang | |||
| released = June 6, 1985<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/FMQB-Album/1985/FMQB-1985-05-31.pdf|title=FMQB|page=24}}</ref> | |||
| Producer = Mr. Mister & ] | |||
| |
| recorded = November 1984 | ||
| studio = | |||
| This single = "'''Broken Wings'''" <br/>(1985) | |||
| venue = | |||
| Next single = "]" <br/>(1985) | |||
| genre = | |||
| Misc = {{Extra musicsample |Type=single |filename=Mr. Mister - Broken Wings.ogg |title="Broken Wings"}} | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
| length = | |||
* 5:42 (album version) | |||
* 4:43 (radio/video edit) | |||
* 4:30 (7" edit) | |||
| label = ] | |||
| writer = | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* John Lang | |||
| producer = | |||
* Mr. Mister | |||
* ] | |||
| prev_title = ] | |||
| prev_year = 1984 | |||
| next_title = ] | |||
| next_year = 1985 | |||
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|nKhN1t_7PEY|"Broken Wings"}}}} | |||
{{Extra album cover | |||
| header = Alternative release | |||
| type = single | |||
| image = Broken wings by mr mister australian single (copy 2).png | |||
| caption = Side A of Australian single | |||
}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
"'''Broken Wings'''" is a 1985 song recorded by American ] band ]. It was released in June 1985 as the lead single from their second album '']''. The song peaked at number one on the ] in December 1985, where it remained for two weeks. It was released as the band was just about to embark on a US tour opening for ]. "Broken Wings" became the first of two consecutive number ones of the band on the American charts, the other chart-topper being "]". Outside of the United States, "Broken Wings" topped the charts in Canada, peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Belgium (Flanders), the ], Norway, the ], ], the ] and West Germany, and the top twenty of the charts in Austria, New Zealand, Spain and ]. | |||
"'''Broken Wings'''" is the title of a song recorded by band ]. | |||
== Background and music == | |||
The band's first single from their 1985 '']'' album, "Broken Wings" reached the number-one position on the U.S. charts in December 1985, where it remained for two weeks. It was released as the band was just about to embark on a U.S. tour opening for ]. The song reached number four in the ], the highest the group ever achieved in that country. | |||
The ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/mr-mister-welcome-to-the-real-world-go-on|title=Mr. Mister: Welcome To The Real World / Go On...|first=Paul Elliott 04|last=September 2015|website=Classic Rock Magazine|date=4 September 2015|access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> was co-written with lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by ]'s ] ''].''<ref name="writing"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720091154/http://users.skynet.be/sky67891/history.htm |date=2017-07-20 }} – from Mr. Mister fansite</ref> The song is a mix of ], digitally delayed guitar, bass and drums. The song's hissing intro was an effect created by the sound of a ] played in reverse.<ref name="writing" /> | |||
Although the 1968 ] song "]" contains an identical lyric, "Take these broken wings and learn to fly", ] has described this as "a mindless unintentional reference" attributable to both compositions being influenced by the Gibran novel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/best-power-ballads/|title=19 of the greatest power ballads of all time|website=Smooth|date=2 July 2018}}</ref> | |||
==Background and music== | |||
The song was co-written with lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by a book called "]" written by ].<ref name="writing"> - from Mr. Mister fansite</ref> The lyrics "Take these broken wings and learn to fly again" may be a reference to The Beatles' song "]." | |||
The song is a mix of synth, digitally delayed guitar, bass and drums. The song's hissing intro was an effect created by the sound of ] played in reverse.<ref name="writing"/> There is a distinct guitar sound in this track thanks to ]' innovation of the electric guitar, managing to extract a delay effect at an odd timing to create a contrast to the steadiness of the bass and beat.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} | |||
The ] to the song features Page singing very high and lengthy ] notes. | |||
==Music video== | == Music video == | ||
The music video for "Broken Wings" was directed by Oley Sassone and filmed in black |
The music video for "Broken Wings" was directed by Oley Sassone and filmed in ].<ref name="vid"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041555/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=19557 |date=2017-12-01 }} – music video details</ref> It features lead vocalist/bassist ] driving through the desert in a ], the first allusion to birds. There is a scene where Page is sitting in a church when a ] flies in through the window and lands next to him on the pew and they exchange a gaze. The full band is also featured in performance scenes. Also appearing in the video are an unknown man and woman dancing ]. They are only shown from the waist down. At the end of the video Page is seen next to the Thunderbird with the vehicle's hood open. | ||
== |
== Reception == | ||
'']'' wrote about the song:<ref>{{Cite web|work=]|title=The Number Ones: Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings"|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2106886/the-number-ones-mr-misters-broken-wings/columns/the-number-ones/|author=Tom Breihan|date=13 November 2020}}</ref> | |||
===7" single=== | |||
{{quote|Lyrically, "Broken Wings" is an attempt to keep a relationship together through the magic of flowery language: "Take these broken wings/ And learn to fly again, learn to live so free/ When we hear the voices sing/ The book of love will open up and let us in." Those words are grandiloquent enough to be self-parody, but Page delivers them all perfectly straight-faced. He means every bit of it. In Page's mouth, the word "take" becomes a desperate animal yelp. I love it. I also love how overproduced "Broken Wings" is. The song is all ominous churn, and it never really kicks in. Instead, it captures a state of sustained anticipation.}} | |||
== Track listing == | |||
#"Broken Wings" (single edit) - 4:29 | |||
;7" single<ref name="AUS">{{Cite web | url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mr.+Mister&titel=Broken+Wings&cat=s | title=Mr. Mister – Broken Wings | website=Australian-charts.com | publisher=Hung Medien | access-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref> | |||
#"Uniform of Youth" - 4:25 | |||
#"Broken Wings" (single edit) – 4:29 | |||
#"Uniform of Youth" – 4:25 | |||
;12" maxi single<ref name="AUS" /> | |||
#"Broken Wings" (album |
#"Broken Wings" (album version) – 5:45 | ||
#"Uniform of Youth" |
#"Uniform of Youth" – 4:25 | ||
#"Welcome to the Real World" |
#"Welcome to the Real World" – 4:18 | ||
==Charts== | == Charts == | ||
{{col-begin}} | {{col-begin}} | ||
{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
{|class="wikitable sortable" | |||
=== Weekly charts === | |||
!Chart (1985-1986) | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" | |||
!Peak<br>position | |||
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Broken Wings" | |||
! scope="col"| Chart (1985–1986) | |||
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| Australia (])<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|page=210|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> | |||
|] | |||
| 4 | |||
|align="center"|17 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Austria|17|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true}} | |||
|Canadian ] | |||
|align="center"|1 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Flanders|2|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true}} | |||
|] | |||
|align="center"|2 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=0611|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2020}} | |||
|] | |||
|align="center"|3 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|2|chartid=9326|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2020}} | |||
|] | |||
|align="center"|4 | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| Europe (])<ref>{{cite magazine |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=] |volume=3 |issue=5 |date=February 8, 1986 |page=12 |oclc=29800226}}</ref> | |||
|] | |||
| 3 | |||
|align="center"|13 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2020}} | |||
|] | |||
|align="center"|14 | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| Italy ('']'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |magazine=] |language=it |access-date=May 31, 2022}} ''Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Broken wings" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".''</ref> | |||
|] | |||
| 6 | |||
|align="center"|4 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Mr Mister|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2020}} | |||
|] | |||
|align="center"|4 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2020}} | |||
|U.S. ''Billboard'' ] | |||
|align="center"|1 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|New Zealand|13|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true}} | |||
|U.S. ''Billboard'' ] | |||
|align="center"|3 | |||
|- | |- | ||
{{single chart|Norway|4|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true}} | |||
|U.S. ''Billboard'' ] | |||
|align="center"|4 | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| South Africa (])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html |title=SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Songs A–B |website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525235531/http://rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html |archive-date=May 25, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| 20 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| Spain (])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|language=es|edition=1st|location=Madrid|publisher=]|date=September 2005|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> | |||
| 13 | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|Sweden|14|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true}} | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|Switzerland|4|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true}} | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=Mr Mister|artistid=22912|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2020}} | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Mr. Mister|rowheader=true|access-date=May 17, 2017}} | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|3|artist=Mr. Mister|rowheader=true|access-date=May 17, 2017}} | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|4|artist=Mr. Mister|rowheader=true|access-date=May 17, 2017}} | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| US '']'' Top 100 Singles<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19851214.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 14, 1985 |magazine=] |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225000247/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19851214.html |archive-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| 1 | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|West Germany|8|artist=Mr. Mister|song=Broken Wings|songid=1375|rowheader=true|access-date=May 24, 2019}} | |||
|} | |} | ||
{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
===Year-end charts=== | |||
=== Year-end charts === | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" | |||
|+ 1985 year-end chart performance for "Broken Wings" | |||
! scope="col"| Chart (1985) | |||
! scope="col"| Position | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0619&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0619.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0619 |title=RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 |magazine=] |volume=43 |issue=16 |date=December 28, 1985 |page=11 |issn=0033-7064 |via=]}}</ref> | |||
! Chart (1985-1986) | |||
| 37 | |||
! Position | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| US ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html |title=The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1985 – Top 100 Pop Singles |magazine=] |date=December 28, 1985 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326081321/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html |archive-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| 52 | |||
|align="center"| 37 | |||
|} | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" | |||
|+ 1986 year-end chart performance for "Broken Wings" | |||
! scope="col"| Chart (1986) | |||
! scope="col"| Position | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://i.imgur.com/F7ais40.jpg |title=National Top 100 Singles for 1986 |magazine=] |issue=650 |date=December 29, 1986 |via=]}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| 44 | |||
|align="center"| 62 | |||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1986&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles |language=nl |publisher=] |access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart | |||
| 50 | |||
|align="center"| 5 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0760&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0760.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0760 |title=Top 100 Singles of '86 |magazine=] |volume=45 |issue=14 |date=December 27, 1986 |page=5 |issn=0033-7064 |via=]}}</ref> | |||
| 76 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986 |magazine=] |volume=3 |issue=51/52 |date=December 27, 1986 |page=28 |oclc=29800226}}</ref> | |||
| 43 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1986 |title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986 |language=nl |publisher=] |access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| 40 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1986&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986 |language=nl |publisher=] |access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| 62 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| UK Singles (])<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986) |magazine=] |date=January 24, 1987 |page=24 |issn=0265-1548}}</ref> | |||
| 99 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1986/hot-100-songs |title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986 |magazine=] |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603140007/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1986/hot-100-songs |archive-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| 5 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1986/adult-contemporary-songs |title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1986 |magazine=] |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521212235/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1986/adult-contemporary-songs |archive-date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| 25 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| US ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Singles<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1986YESP.html |title=The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles |magazine=] |date=December 27, 1986 |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130165601/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1986YESP.html |archive-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| 72 | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| West Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1986 |title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986 |language=de |publisher=] |access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> | |||
| 57 | |||
|} | |} | ||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
== Certifications == | |||
==Notable covers== | |||
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Broken Wings"}} | |||
] appears in the video]] | |||
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Mr. Mister|title=Broken Wings|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|date=December 23, 1985|access-date=August 2, 2023}} | |||
{{Prose|date=August 2008}} | |||
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Mr Mister|title=Broken Wings|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=15728-148-1|date=June 14, 2019|access-date=May 10, 2024}} | |||
*In 1986, it was covered by ] on his album "It Takes Two". | |||
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}} | |||
*In 1992, ]'s ex-wife ] covered the song, with backing vocals by her older sister Janíce García. | |||
*In 1995, it was covered by ] on his CD "Sax By the Fire". | |||
*In 1998, it was covered by ] on their CD "]". | |||
*In 2001, this song was sampled for a ] song on his posthumous album '']'', for the title song. | |||
*In 2001, it was sampled and performed on the title song of ]'s '']'' album. | |||
*In 2001, it was covered by ] singer ] | |||
*In 2002, the song was featured in the game '']'' on fictional station ] and in the opening scene of the game. | |||
*In 2003, the song was covered by American A Cappella group ] on their album "What is it?" | |||
*In 2003, it was covered for the video game ]. | |||
*In 2004, ] performed this live in ] on his album '']''. | |||
*In 2005, ] sang this song on his "tribute" album ''The Day After Yesterday'' as a duet with original vocalist Richard Page. | |||
*In 2006, it was covered by ] on his CD '']''. | |||
*In 2006, ] released a freestyle using the beat and chorus from "Broken Wings". | |||
*In 2007, it was covered by ] on their CD "]". | |||
*In 2007, it was covered by ] on their CD "]". | |||
*In 2010, ] recorded a cover version of "Broken Wings" for his 80s covers album "Soundtrack of the 80s". | |||
== |
== K'Lee version == | ||
New Zealand pop singer ] covered "Broken Wings" and released it as a single on June 11, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html|title=New Releases|website=netcd.co.nz|date=June 11, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010616172504/http://netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html|archive-date=June 16, 2001|access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref> Her version peaked at number two on the ], becoming her highest-charting single there along with 2002's "Can You Feel Me?"<ref name="kleenz"/> | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
== |
=== Charts === | ||
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" | |||
* - video courtesy of YouTube | |||
|+ Chart performance for "Broken Wings" | |||
! Chart (2001) | |||
! Peak<br />position | |||
|- | |||
{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=K'Lee|song=Broken Wings|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2023|refname="kleenz"}} | |||
|} | |||
== Samples == | |||
{{S-start}} | |||
"Broken Wings" was sampled in the posthumous ] song "]".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D03tbYix8y4C&pg=PA133 |title=Tupac Shakur, (2-Pac) in the Studio|first= Jake |last= Brown |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-9767735-0-4|page=133|publisher=Amber Books }}</ref> The song reached No. 4 in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/mr-mister/broken-wings |title=Broken Wings by Mr Mister|work=Songfacts }}</ref> | |||
{{Succession box | |||
| before = "]" by ] and ] | |||
== References == | |||
| title = ] ] | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
| years = December 7, 1985 – December 14, 1985 | |||
| after = "]" by ] | |||
{{Mr. Mister}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Kahlil Gibran}} | |||
{{succession box | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
| before = "]" by ] | |||
| title = ] ] | |||
| years = December 14, 1985 | |||
| after = "]" by ] | |||
}} | |||
{{S-end}} | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 14:36, 29 October 2024
1985 song"Broken Wings" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Picture sleeves used in some European territories | ||||
Single by Mr. Mister | ||||
from the album Welcome to the Real World | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | June 6, 1985 | |||
Recorded | November 1984 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Mr. Mister singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Broken Wings" on YouTube | ||||
Alternative release | ||||
Side A of Australian single | ||||
"Broken Wings" is a 1985 song recorded by American pop rock band Mr. Mister. It was released in June 1985 as the lead single from their second album Welcome to the Real World. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1985, where it remained for two weeks. It was released as the band was just about to embark on a US tour opening for Tina Turner. "Broken Wings" became the first of two consecutive number ones of the band on the American charts, the other chart-topper being "Kyrie". Outside of the United States, "Broken Wings" topped the charts in Canada, peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Belgium (Flanders), the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and West Germany, and the top twenty of the charts in Austria, New Zealand, Spain and Sweden.
Background and music
The ballad was co-written with lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by Kahlil Gibran's novel Broken Wings. The song is a mix of synth, digitally delayed guitar, bass and drums. The song's hissing intro was an effect created by the sound of a crash cymbal played in reverse.
Although the 1968 Beatles song "Blackbird" contains an identical lyric, "Take these broken wings and learn to fly", Richard Page has described this as "a mindless unintentional reference" attributable to both compositions being influenced by the Gibran novel.
Music video
The music video for "Broken Wings" was directed by Oley Sassone and filmed in black and white. It features lead vocalist/bassist Richard Page driving through the desert in a classic Ford Thunderbird, the first allusion to birds. There is a scene where Page is sitting in a church when a Harris's Hawk flies in through the window and lands next to him on the pew and they exchange a gaze. The full band is also featured in performance scenes. Also appearing in the video are an unknown man and woman dancing tango. They are only shown from the waist down. At the end of the video Page is seen next to the Thunderbird with the vehicle's hood open.
Reception
Stereogum wrote about the song:
Lyrically, "Broken Wings" is an attempt to keep a relationship together through the magic of flowery language: "Take these broken wings/ And learn to fly again, learn to live so free/ When we hear the voices sing/ The book of love will open up and let us in." Those words are grandiloquent enough to be self-parody, but Page delivers them all perfectly straight-faced. He means every bit of it. In Page's mouth, the word "take" becomes a desperate animal yelp. I love it. I also love how overproduced "Broken Wings" is. The song is all ominous churn, and it never really kicks in. Instead, it captures a state of sustained anticipation.
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Broken Wings" (single edit) – 4:29
- "Uniform of Youth" – 4:25
- 12" maxi single
- "Broken Wings" (album version) – 5:45
- "Uniform of Youth" – 4:25
- "Welcome to the Real World" – 4:18
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000 |
United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000 |
Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
K'Lee version
New Zealand pop singer K'Lee covered "Broken Wings" and released it as a single on June 11, 2001. Her version peaked at number two on the New Zealand Singles Chart, becoming her highest-charting single there along with 2002's "Can You Feel Me?"
Charts
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
---|---|
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 2 |
Samples
"Broken Wings" was sampled in the posthumous Tupac song "Until the End of Time". The song reached No. 4 in the UK.
References
- "FMQB" (PDF). p. 24.
- September 2015, Paul Elliott 04 (4 September 2015). "Mr. Mister: Welcome To The Real World / Go On..." Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Notes on Broken Wings Archived 2017-07-20 at the Wayback Machine – from Mr. Mister fansite
- "19 of the greatest power ballads of all time". Smooth. 2 July 2018.
- MVdbase entry Archived 2017-12-01 at the Wayback Machine – music video details
- Tom Breihan (13 November 2020). "The Number Ones: Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings"". Stereogum.
- ^ "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 210. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0611." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9326." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3, no. 5. February 8, 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Broken Wings". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 31, 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Broken wings" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mr Mister" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings". Top 40 Singles.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings". VG-lista.
- "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Songs A–B". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings". Singles Top 100.
- "Mr. Mister – Broken Wings". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "Mr Mister: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Mr. Mister Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Mr. Mister Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Mr. Mister Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 14, 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Mr. Mister – Broken Wings" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. December 28, 1985. p. 11. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1985 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 28, 1985. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 29, 1986 – via Imgur.
- "Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- "European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 28. OCLC 29800226.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986)". Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548.
- "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 27, 1986. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- "Canadian single certifications – Mr. Mister – Broken Wings". Music Canada. December 23, 1985. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- "British single certifications – Mr Mister – Broken Wings". British Phonographic Industry. June 14, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. June 11, 2001. Archived from the original on June 16, 2001. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "K'Lee – Broken Wings". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- Brown, Jake (2005). Tupac Shakur, (2-Pac) in the Studio. Amber Books. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-9767735-0-4.
- "Broken Wings by Mr Mister". Songfacts.
Mr. Mister | |
---|---|
| |
Studio albums | |
Compilation albums | |
Singles | |
Related articles |
Kahlil Gibran (works) | ||
---|---|---|
Books |
| |
Adaptations |
| |
Inspirations |
| |
Related |
- 1985 songs
- 1985 singles
- 1998 singles
- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- Black-and-white music videos
- Cashbox number-one singles
- Mr. Mister songs
- Rock ballads
- RCA Records singles
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Songs written by Richard Page (musician)
- Songs written by Steve George (keyboardist)
- Pop ballads
- 1980s ballads
- Music based on novels