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The Emperor's New Clothes (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = The Emperor's New Clothes
| cover = The Emperor's New Clothes Sinad.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Sinad O'Connor
| album = I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
| B-side =
* "What Do You Want?"
* "Mandinka" (remix)
| released = 5 June 1990
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label =
* Ensign
* Chrysalis
| writer = Sinad O'Connor
| producer = Sinad O'Connor
| prev_title = Nothing Compares 2 U
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Three Babies
| next_year = 1990
| misc =
}}
"'The Emperor's New Clothes'" is a song recorded by Irish singer Sinad O'Connor for her second studio album, 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got' (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 5 June 1990 by Ensign and Chrysalis Records and reached number three in Canada, number five in Ireland, and the top 20 in Australia, Italy and Switzerland.
Composition
Lyrically, the song is about personal tribulations amid the oppression of the world around her, while she sings: "I will live by my own policies/I will sleep with a clear conscience".
Critical reception
Matthew Hocter from Albumism said that the song "shows a conviction that is part anger and part middle finger to the never-ending judgement the singer faced at the time with her star sky rocketing, scrutiny around her Catholic faith, and her role as a newly single mother." AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as one of several "moments of brilliance". Jodi Cleesattle from 'American Eagle' wrote that it is "the album's closest thing to a typical rock song", and "an up-front autobiographical song with even, somewhat gritty vocals and strong backing on both electric and acoustic guitars." Bill Coleman from 'Billboard' described it as a "jangly", "clever, guitar-laced rocker [which] is a fine choice as a follow-up". He also said it "should confirm O'Connor's status as a viable pop radio star." Tom Moon from 'Knight Rider' called it a "show-stopping moment" and a "bitter what-I-learned-on-the-road song".
Pan-European magazine 'Music & Media' viewed it as "hard-hitting pop". David Giles from 'Music Week' said it's "a rockier track", more like "Mandinka" than "Nothing Compares 2 U", "though without any of the former's quirkiness." David Quantick from 'NME' wrote that it is a song "very heavy on specifics and is full of not very obscure lines like. "He thinks I just became famous and that's what messed me up" and the splendidly un-rock 'n' roll "You know how it is/And how a pregnancy can change you"." The lyric "It seems like years since you held the baby/ While I wrecked the bedroom," according to Mark Richardson from 'Pitchfork', "is delivered with a muted lilt, O'Connor's voice bright and possibly a little hopeful, confident in her strength despite the weight of the past". Pop Rescue wrote that the song itself is "a rockier song" than the others on the album, adding that "it really has a great rhythm and shows that Sinad is equally at home of these harder pop rock songs. This is a brilliant track!" William Shaw from 'Smash Hits' stated that "this is the most confessional record ever", describing it as "goose-pimplingly honest".
Track listing
* 'US CD single'
# "The Emperor's New Clothes" (LP Version) 5:16
# "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Main Mix) 4:37
# "What Do You Want?" 2:58
# "Mandinka" (Jake's Remix) 5:58
Personnel
* Sinad O'Connor vocals, songwriter, producer, acoustic guitar
* John Reynolds drums
* Andy Rourke bass
* Marco Pirroni electric guitar
* Chris Birkett engineering
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
References
Category:1990 songs
Category:1990 singles
Category:Sinad O'Connor songs
Category:Songs written by Sinad O'Connor
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