Glittering Prize

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"Glittering Prize"
Glittering Prize.jpg
Single by Simple Minds
from the album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)
B-side "Glittering Prize Theme"
Released16 August 1982 (1982-08-16)
Genre
Length4:02
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil
Producer(s) Peter Walsh
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Promised You A Miracle"
(1982)
"Glittering Prize"
(1982)
"Someone Somewhere In Summertime"
(1982)

"Glittering Prize" is a 1982 hit single by the Scottish rock group Simple Minds, the 2nd released from their fifth studio album New Gold Dream , released the same year.

Contents

The song reached number 16 in the United Kingdom, [2] but was more successful in Australia, New Zealand and Norway, where it reached the top 10.

A compilation album, released by Simple Minds in 1992, is named after the song, and is entitled Glittering Prize 81/92 . [3]

Music video

The video continuously alternates between two main stages. The first one is set in a golden room where the band members (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, and Mick MacNeil only), all dressed in black, perform the song. The other stage is set in a dark, museum-like room, under the surveillance of a napping security guard, and featuring hanging portraits of the band members' faces made of gold. A story unfolds in this latter stage as a young woman in a bikini and whose body is all painted in gold, stealthily penetrating the room and reaching out to a sarcophagus within which lies a pharaoh version of Kerr. After having touched his face and brought the other band members back to life she then drives away with them in a car. As the guard realises the burglary, the woman, now in the golden room, rests in a long chair and sips on a cocktail before the video ends. [4]

Chart positions

Chart (1982)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 9
Ireland (IRMA) [6] 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [7] 4
Norway (VG-lista) [8] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [9] 11
United Kingdom (CIN) [2] 16

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References

  1. Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra (2016). "Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 491.
  2. 1 2 "Official Charts > Simple Minds". The Official UK Charts Company . Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  3. Glittering Prize 81/92 Cassette Sleeve Notes by Brian Hogg, 1992
  4. "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize (video)". YouTube. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 275. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Glittering Prize". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  9. "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 January 2020.