Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1991
Across the Universe (Holly Johnson song)
Buy Across the Universe (Holly Johnson song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Across the Universe'" is a song by British singer-songwriter Holly Johnson, which was released in 1991 as the second single from his second studio album 'Dreams That Money Can't Buy'. The song was written by Johnson and produced by Andy Richards. "Across the Universe" reached No. 99 in the UK Singles Chart. The single was released with the non-LP track "Funky Paradise" as the B-side.
Background
In a 1991 interview with 'Melody Maker', Johnson spoke of the meaning behind the song, "That's me completely pissed off with the planet and the city and just wanting to get away. There's nowhere to go because the sea's polluted in Italy, you can't go to Greece 'cause there's shit all over the beach, so you know it's holidays in space."
Critical reception
On its release as a single, Robin Smith of 'Record Mirror' wrote, "Not warp factor five. More like a damp rocket on Guy Fawkes night. Our Holly does his best with this rather tatty tune but it still chugs along like a trip to Batley on a wet day in November. Abort this mission." Andrew Collins of 'New Musical Express' described it as "disgusting hogwash" and added, "Starts with a wolf-howl and then descends into galactic camp that has none of Betty Boo's appeal, but all of her ideas (that's both of them)." Soho, as guest reviewers for the magazine, were more positive in their review. Jacqueline Cuff remarked, "I like him, he's such a brilliant performer. This is everything it should be. The kids'll love it." Tim London stated, "It's great! Listen to them old-fashioned Syndrums!" Peter Kinghorn of the 'Newcastle Evening Chronicle' described it as an "odd blend of all action tune and mostly laidback vocal".
In a review of 'Dreams That Money Can't Buy', 'Select' considered the song a successful example of Johnson "adequately translat[ing] the maximum stomp of classic hi-NRG into '90s pop". They described the song as "a self-explanatory crazy acid whirl in space with much silliness and bucketfuls of Holly's adorable camp naffness." In a 2011 review of the album, Terry Staunton of 'Record Collector' considered "Where Has Love Gone?" and "Across the Universe" as "half-formed synth dance workouts" and their "elevation to single status baffling".
Track listing
;7-inch single
#"Across the Universe" - 3:59
#"Funky Paradise " - 4:13
;12-inch single
#"Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Mix)" - 6:32
#"Across the Universe" - 3:59
#"Funky Paradise " - 4:13
;12-inch single (UK promo)
#"Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Mix)" - 6:32
#"Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Instrumental Mix)" - 6:38
;Cassette single
#"Across The Universe" - 3:59
#"Funky Paradise " - 4:13
#"Across The Universe" - 3:59
#"Funky Paradise " - 4:13
;CD single
#"Across the Universe" - 3:59
#"Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Mix)" - 6:39
#"Funky Paradise " - 4:15
Charts
References
Category:1991 songs
Category:1991 singles
Category:Songs written by Holly Johnson
Category:Holly Johnson songs
Category:MCA Records singles
Buy Across the Universe (Holly Johnson song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1991