State of Independence

Last updated
"State of Independence"
Jon & Vangelis State of Independence 1984 single cover.jpg
1984 reissue cover
Single by Jon & Vangelis
from the album The Friends of Mr Cairo
B-side "Beside"
ReleasedJuly 1981 (1981-07) [1]
Recorded1981
Genre Electronic, pop
Label Polydor
Composer(s) Vangelis
Lyricist(s) Jon Anderson
Producer(s) Vangelis

"State of Independence" is a song written by Jon Anderson and Vangelis.

Contents

Originally recorded in Paris by Jon and Vangelis for their 1981 album The Friends of Mr Cairo , the lyrics were improvised for the music which was conceived as spiritual and uplifting in a Byzantine style. Anderson described his state of flow:

The rhythm started and I began clapping my hands and I got into this really "up" sort of feeling ... I was singing all different kinds of things, which kept coming and hitting me, singing strange ideas that I wouldn't have even thought of. ... that went on for maybe 20 minutes. ... It was a joyful experience ... it's called the 'State of Independence' because to be independent is to be totally free and to be totally immersed in something around you and that's really what the song became.

Jon Anderson, Vangelis: The Unknown Man (1994), page 59

The track was released as a single but did not chart. It subsequently became better known when Donna Summer released a cover version a year later in 1982. That became a top 20 UK hit single (and repeated the same feat 14 years later when issued as a remixed version in 1996) and a number one hit in the Netherlands. In 1992, a third version of the song — retitled "Spiritual High (State of Independence)" — was recorded and released as a single by Moodswings, with vocals by the Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde.

Original Jon and Vangelis version (and subsequent Anderson re-recordings)

Jon & Vangelis released "State of Independence" as a single in 1981, with "Beside" as the B-side. It was re-released in 1984 and this version peaked at No. 67 on the UK Singles Chart. [2]

Jon Anderson recorded a new version of the song for his solo album Change We Must (1994) and a live acoustic version can be found on his Live from La La Land (2007). More recently, Anderson also performed the song live with the AndersonPonty Band.

Personnel

Donna Summer version

"State of Independence"
State Of Independence (U.K.).jpg
1982 worldwide picture sleeve
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Donna Summer
B-side "Love Is Just a Breath Away"
Released1982 (1982)
Recorded1982
Length5:50
Label
Composer(s) Vangelis
Lyricist(s) Jon Anderson
Producer(s) Quincy Jones
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)"
(1982)
"State of Independence"
(1982)
"I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Remix)"
(1982)
Music video
"State Of Independence" on YouTube

Original cover version (and reissue)

Donna Summer covered "State of Independence" on her 1982 album Donna Summer produced by Quincy Jones. It was released as the follow-up to her hit single "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)" in 1982. This version just missed the U.S. top 40, peaking at No. 41. It did much better in Europe, including a one-week stay at number one on the Dutch Top 40, making it Summer's second chart-topper in the Netherlands. The single was reissued in Europe in 1990 following the release of the compilation album The Best of Donna Summer.

Summer's version is notable for its all-star choir which included Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, Christopher Cross, Dyan Cannon, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, Peggy Lipton, Patti Austin, Michael McDonald, and Stevie Wonder. [3]


1996 remixes

Following the dance chart success of the 1995 remix of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", PolyGram issued a remixed version of Summer's recording of "State of Independence". The single, released both on 12" vinyl and CD on PolyGram's sub-label Manifesto, included mixes by Phil Ramocon, Sold Out, DJ Dero, Ralph Falcon & Oscar G, and Jules & Skins. It peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1996, going one place higher than the original release, with the dance mixes peaking at No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. The Martin Luther King Jr. sample introduced by Eddie Gordon into the track was to emphasize the full independent meaning of the song as he understood it.[ citation needed ]

Charts

Moodswings version

In 1992, the duo Moodswings released their album Moodfood, which scored a hit single with their cover version of the song, retitled as "Spiritual High (State of Independence) Pt. II" with vocals by Chrissie Hynde and samples from Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. The single peaked at No. 47 on the UK Singles Chart. [16] Their version was later played during the closing credits on the soundtrack of Single White Female and it was also included on the Pretenders' Greatest Hits in 2000.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pretenders</span> British-American rock band

The Pretenders are a British-American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon and Martin Chambers. Following the deaths of Honeyman-Scott in 1982 and Farndon in 1983, the band experienced numerous personnel changes; Hynde has been the band's only consistent member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Summer</span> American singer (1948–2012)

Donna Adrian Gaines, known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music gained a global following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrissie Hynde</span> American musician (born 1951)

Christine Ellen Hynde is an American-British musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band The Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alongside drummer Martin Chambers. She is the only continuous member of the band, appearing on every studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got You Babe</span> 1965 single by Sonny Bono & Cher

"I Got You Babe" is a song performed by American pop and entertainment duo Sonny & Cher and written by Sonny Bono. It was the first single taken from their debut studio album, Look at Us (1965). In August 1965, the single spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States where it sold more than one million copies and was certified Gold. It also reached number one in the United Kingdom and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Could It Be Magic</span> 1971 single by Barry Manilow

"Could It Be Magic" is a song written by Adrienne Anderson and composed by Barry Manilow, inspired by Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor, Opus 28, Number 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Stand by You</span> 1994 single by the Pretenders

"I'll Stand by You" is a song recorded by English-American rock band the Pretenders from their sixth studio album, Last of the Independents (1994). The song was written by Chrissie Hynde and the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and produced by Ian Stanley. The song is a ballad in which the singer pledges love and faithful assistance to a loved one in times of personal darkness.

"Breakfast in Bed" is a soul–R&B song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Eddie Hinton and Donnie Fritts for Dusty Springfield. It takes a knowing spin on the line "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", the title of a song that had previously been a number one hit for her in the UK. After being released on her 1969 album Dusty in Memphis, it was recorded and popularized the same year by Baby Washington. Harry J produced three reggae versions in 1972, by Lorna Bennett, Scotty, and Bongo Herman.

"Love Can Build a Bridge" is a song written by Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet, and John Barlow Jarvis, and recorded by American country music duo the Judds. It was released in 1990 as the second single and title track from their album of the same name. It was a top-five country hit in mid-1991. The song has inspired several cover versions, including one by Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry, and Eric Clapton that topped the UK Singles Chart in 1995.

Moodswings is a musical duo composed of Grant Showbiz and James F. T. Hood.

<i>The Friends of Mr Cairo</i> 1981 studio album by Jon and Vangelis

The Friends of Mr Cairo is the second album by Jon and Vangelis, released in July 1981.

<i>Donna Summer</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Donna Summer

Donna Summer is the tenth studio album by American songwriter Donna Summer, released on July 19, 1982, by Geffen Records. It featured the Top 10, Grammy-nominated "Love Is in Control " single. The album itself saw a drop in chart position from her previous album, peaking at No.20, but ultimately outsold it by remaining on the Billboard 200 for 37 weeks - nearly 20 weeks more. Its longevity was aided by follow-up singles "State of Independence" and "The Woman in Me", which charted at 41 and 33 respectively.

<i>Endless Summer: Donna Summers Greatest Hits</i> 1994 greatest hits album by Donna Summer

Endless Summer: Donna Summer's Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer, released on November 8, 1994. It contains many of Summer's best known songs, from her 1970s breakthrough to the release of the album. Unlike 1993's The Donna Summer Anthology, which contains the majority of the songs in their original longer forms, Endless Summer generally includes single versions of the songs. However, the version sold in the United Kingdom uses the album version of the track "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt",, not the more club-oriented mix released as a single there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back on the Chain Gang</span> 1982 single by the Pretenders

"Back on the Chain Gang" is a song written by American-British musician Chrissie Hynde, originally recorded by her band the Pretenders and released as a single by Sire Records in September 1982. The song was included on The King of Comedy soundtrack album in March 1983 and was later included on the Pretenders' third album, Learning to Crawl, in January 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle of the Road (song)</span> 1983 single by The Pretenders

"Middle of the Road" is a song by the Pretenders, released as the third single from the album Learning to Crawl. The single was released in the US in November 1983, then in the UK in February 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakaway (Donna Summer song)</span> 1989 single by Donna Summer

"Breakaway" is a song from the album Another Place and Time by Donna Summer, recorded in 1989. The song was released in October 1989 as the fourth single from the album by Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records (Europe) and was a top 50 hit in UK. The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Miles</span> 1983 single by Pretenders

"2000 Miles" is a song by British-American rock band Pretenders. Written by lead vocalist Chrissie Hynde and produced by Chris Thomas, it was released on 18 November 1983 as the second single from their third studio album, Learning to Crawl (1984). It was most popular in the UK, where it peaked at No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1983. In the US, it was released as the B-side of both the 7-inch single and 12-inch single remix of the band's hit "Middle of the Road".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Get Me Wrong</span> 1986 single by the Pretenders

"Don't Get Me Wrong" is a song by British-American alternative rock group the Pretenders. It was the first single released from the group's fourth studio album, Get Close (1986). It was also included on the band's The Singles album, released in 1987. Frontwoman Chrissie Hynde said she was inspired to write the song for her friend John McEnroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vangelis discography</span>

Vangelis was a Greek musician, composer, and producer. He began his music career in the 1960s with the Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child and in the 1970s began composing electronic music. He gained wide mainstream popularity after composing soundtracks to film Chariots of Fire (1981) and Blade Runner (1982). His solo career discography consists of 23 studio albums, 26 compilation albums, 12 soundtrack albums, and roughly 29 singles. The majority of his film, documentary, theatre, and ballet & dance scores weren't released or officially released. He also collaborated with Jon Anderson and as a duo Jon and Vangelis released 4 studio albums, 2 compilations, and 13 singles, and with Irene Papas released two studio albums.

<i>Moodfood</i> 1992 studio album by Moodswings

Moodfood is a 1992 album by Moodswings. This album prominently features Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders on most of the lead vocals.

I'll Find My Way Home is a song written by Jon Anderson and Vangelis for the Jon and Vangelis' 1981 album The Friends of Mr Cairo. The single was released in late November 1981, reaching the top ten in several European countries including the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 865. ISBN   9780862415419.
  2. "The Official Charts Company - Jon And Vangelis - State Of Independence" . Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  3. "State of Independence by Donna Summer". Songfacts . Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  4. Radio Luxembourg Singles, 11 November 1982
  5. "dutchcharts.nl - Donna Summer - State Of Independence" . Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  6. "irishcharts.ie search results" . Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  7. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  8. "The Official Charts Company - Donna Summer - State Of Independence" . Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "allmusic - Donna Summer > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" . Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  10. "dutchcharts.nl - Donna Summer - State Of Independence (New Bass Mix)" . Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  11. "The Official Charts Company - Donna Summer - State Of Independence 1990" . Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  12. "The Official Charts Company - Donna Summer - State Of Independence 1996" . Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  13. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982".
  14. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  15. "The RM Club Chart of the Year 96" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). January 11, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  16. "The Official Charts Company - Moodswings Featuring Chrissie Hynde - Spiritual High" . Retrieved March 18, 2009.