Chorus (Erasure song)

"Chorus"
Single by Erasure
from the album Chorus
B-side	"Over the Rainbow" "Snappy"
Released	17 June 1991
Genre	Techno [1] disco [2] synth-pop [3]
Length	4:26
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Vince Clarke Andy Bell
Producer(s)	Martyn Phillips
Erasure singles chronology
"Star" (1990) "Chorus" (1991) "Love to Hate You" (1991)
Music video
"Chorus" on YouTube

"Chorus" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in June 1991 as the first single from their fifth studio album of the same name (1991). Produced by Martyn Phillips and written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song features Clarke's electronic soundscapes and Phillips' computerised production. The single was released by Mute Records in the United Kingdom and Sire Records in the United States. It peaked at number three in both Denmark and the UK while reaching number four in Ireland. In the US, it peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Fab British duo makes a welcome return with an environmentally-conscious techno ditty. Singer Andy Bell is in fine voice on this track". ^[1] Bill Wyman from Entertainment Weekly stated that it "percolates along nicely". ^[4] A reviewer from Dundee Courier viewed it as a "refreshing burst of pure pop". ^[5] Andrew Smith of Melody Maker praised the song as "absolutely bloody marvellous" and commented, "The familiar hyperactive throbs and skyward spiralling melodies are here and, as ever, few manage to say nothing with such passion and alacrity as Bell. As it happens, we instinctively know what he means anyway, a sure sign there we're in the presence of greatness." ^[6]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted, "You can hear that these two know what's going on in the clubs without forcing themselves to follow the current dance trend. Melody is their specialty, best witnessed by the title track." ^[7] David Quantick of NME commented, "It has got a great, um, chorus, some splendid bleeping noises and a chirpy lyric about ecology. There is surely no other criterion for a good record in the 1990s." ^[8]

Retrospective response

AllMusic editor Ned Raggett described the song as "another great Erasure anthem". ^[9] In a 2007 review, the Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith commented, "Yes, the title track has the glaringly errant word "fishes" in the lyrics, but the contagious feel of the music makes up for it." ^[10] In 2014, Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly ranked it among "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks", calling it an "old-school disco raver", that is "driven by frenetic beat, streams of keyboards that sound like lasers beaming into space, and an unforgettable melody sung with great soul by Andy Bell." He added that "Chorus" is one of the Erasure's "signature songs and finest moments." ^[2] In 2020, Christopher Smith from Talk About Pop Music stated that it "kicks off" the album "in fine style". Also he noted "memorable lines", like "Go ahead with your dreamin'", "your schemin'", "and something about the fishes in the sea!" ^[11]

Chart performance

Issued prior to the release of the Chorus album, the single returned Erasure to the upper reaches of the UK Singles Chart, debuting and peaking at number three for two weeks. It was also a success in Denmark, Ireland and Switzerland, reaching number three, four and ten. In the United States, the single became Erasure's first Billboard Hot 100 entry since "Stop!" in 1989, climbing to number 83. It was more successful on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at number four to become the band's highest-placing song on this listing. In South America, "Chorus" was a top-10 hit in Colombia, reaching number eight, while peaking at number one in Israel.

Track listings

7-inch and cassette single [12] [13] "Chorus" "Over the Rainbow" 12-inch single [14] "Chorus" (Pure Trance mix) – 5:13 "Chorus" – 4:30 "Snappy" (The Spice Has Risen mix) – 5:14 "Chorus" (Transdental trance mix—fade) – 4:58 UK CD single and Japanese EP [15] [16] "Chorus" – 4:30 "Chorus" (Transdental Trance mix) – 5:15 "Snappy" – 5:17 "Over the Rainbow" – 3:27 Australian CD single [17] "Chorus" (Pure Trance mix) "Chorus" "Snappy" (The Spice Has Risen mix)

US maxi-CD single [18] "Chorus" (single mix) – 4:30 "Chorus" (Pure Trance mix) – 5:13 "Snappy" (12-inch remix) – 5:33 "Chorus" (Aggressive Trance mix) – 8:49 "Chorus" (Transdental Trance mix) – 5:15 "Snappy" (The Spice Has Risen mix) – 5:14 "Over the Rainbow" – 3:27 US 12-inch single and Canadian maxi-cassette single [19] [20] A1. "Chorus" (Pure Trance mix) – 5:13 A2. "Chorus" (Transdental Trance mix) – 5:15 A3. "Snappy" (12-inch remix) – 5:33 B1. "Chorus" (Aggressive Trance mix) – 8:49 B2. "Snappy" (The Spice Has Risen mix) – 5:14 US cassette single [21] "Chorus (Fishes in the Sea)" (single mix) "Snappy" (12-inch remix)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Chorus" Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [22] 77 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [23] 20 Colombia [24] 8 Denmark (Tracklisten) [25] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) [26] 8 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [27] 12 Germany (GfK) [28] 17 Ireland (IRMA) [29] 4 Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) [30] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [31] 16 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [32] 72 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [33] 37 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [34] 10 UK Singles (OCC) [35] 3 UK Dance ( Music Week ) [36] 32 UK Indie ( Music Week ) [37] 1 US Billboard Hot 100 [38] 83 US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [39] 4 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [40] 14 US Dance Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [41] 6

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Chorus" Chart (1991) Position Europe (European Hit Radio) [42] 71 UK Singles (OCC) [43] 51 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [44] 22

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Chorus"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	17 June 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Mute	[45]
Australia	8 July 1991	12-inch vinyl cassette	Liberation Mute	[46]
Japan	21 August 1991	CD	Mute	[47]
Australia	19 August 1991		Liberation Mute	[48]

References

1. Flick, Larry (13 July 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 77. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
2. Gerard, Chris (17 September 2014). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly . Retrieved 21 November 2020.
3. Classic Pop Staff (27 March 2025). "Top 40 synth-pop songs". Classic Pop . Retrieved 17 May 2025.
4. Wyman, Bill (22 November 1991). "Chorus". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 11 November 2020.
5. Dundee Courier . 27 June 1991. p. 12.
6. Smith, Andrew (1 June 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 31.
7. "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . 9 November 1991. p. 17. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
8. Quantick, David (29 June 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 18.
9. Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Chorus". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 February 2020.
10. Smith, Michael R. (10 June 2007). "Chorus – Erasure". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
11. Smith, Christopher (14 February 2020). "Review: 'Chorus' (Deluxe Edition) – Erasure". Talk About Pop Music. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
12. Chorus (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. Mute 125.
13. Chorus (UK cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. C Mute 125.
14. Chorus (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. 12 Mute 125.
15. Chorus (UK CD single disc notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. CD Mute 125.
16. コーラス[Chorus] (Japanese CD EP liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. ALCB-319.
17. Chorus (Australian CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records, Liberation Records. 1991. D 11022.
18. Chorus (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 9 40123-2.
19. Chorus (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 9 40123-0.
20. Chorus (Canadian cassette single cassette notes). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 24 1234.
21. Chorus (Fishes in the Sea) (US cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 9 19202-4.
22. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
23. "Erasure – Chorus" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
24. "Bogotá". El Tiempo (Colombia) (in Spanish). 25 July 1991. p. 49. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
25. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 30. 27 July 1991. p. 20. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
26. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 28. 13 July 1991. p. 29. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
27. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
28. "Erasure – Chorus" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
29. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chorus". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
30. Radio Luxembourg Singles. 7 July 1991.
31. "Erasure – Chorus" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 11 April 2021.
32. "Erasure – Chorus" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
33. "Erasure – Chorus". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
34. "Erasure – Chorus". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
36. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 6 July 1991. p. 22. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
37. "Distribution: Indie Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 July 1991. p. 20. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
38. "Erasure Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
39. "Erasure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
40. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
41. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
42. "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
43. "1991 Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 11 January 1992. p. 20. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
44. "The Year in Music 1991 – Top Modern Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-41. ISSN   0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
45. "Erasure singles".
46. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 8/07/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 76. 7 July 1991. p. 19.
47. "コーラス | イレイジャー" [Chorus | Erasure] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 14 January 2024.
48. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 19/08/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 82. 18 August 1991. p. 19.