Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1991
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
Buy Set Adrift on Memory Bliss 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
"'Set Adrift on Memory Bliss'" is a song by American hip-hop group P.M. Dawn, released in August 1991 as the second single from their debut album, 'Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience' (1991). It is built around samples of Spandau Ballet's "True", the Soul Searchers' "Ashley's Roachclip", and the Bob James version of Paul Simon's "Take Me to the Mardi Gras", with the remainder of the song written by P.M. Dawn vocalist Attrell "Prince Be" Cordes. Only Prince Be and "True" writer Gary Kemp were credited for writing the track.
The song was P.M. Dawn's first and only number-one hit on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100, and it was the first number-one song after the debut of the Nielsen SoundScan system, which monitored airplay and sales more closely than before, when 'Billboard' had to rely on manual sales reports and airplay data. According to the test charts of the SoundScan system, "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" was at number one for at least three weeks but officially has a one-week reign at number one. Worldwide, it reached number one in New Zealand, number three in the United Kingdom and number seven in Australia. It was ranked number 81 on VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop'. And 'Blender' ranked it at number 94 in their list of 'Greatest Songs Since You Were Born' in 2005.
Critical reception
Justin Chadwick from Albumism called the song "unforgettable" and "pure pop perfection". He added, "Regardless of where you ultimately netted out with respect to your overall opinion of P.M. Dawn, if you're like me, you were hooked the first time you heard the pop-infused brilliance of "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"." Steve Huey from AllMusic described it as a "shimmering" ballad. Another editor, Hal Horowitz said it is an "amazingly mature debut tune". Dave Sholin from the 'Gavin Report' wrote, "Hypnotic rap from New Jersey brothers Prince Be and DJ Minutemix set to Spandau Ballet's 1983 smash "True" not only brings back a memory or two, it's sure to create new ones. It has fresh production elements and a chorus with all the relaxing, calming qualities of a nice long massage. A massive hit overseas, it's set to become just as big in North America thanks to early airplay at key crossover outlets."
Alan Jones from 'Music Week' commented, "A brilliant soundscape starts with some nice vocal work, followed by the drum track from Dennis Edwards' Don't Look Any Further before Spandau Ballet's True leads into a mellow rap. A serene summer smash." A reviewer from 'Newcastle Evening Chronicle' described it as a "dreamy rap song".'Newcastle Evening Chronicle'. September 7, 1991. p. 28. Retrieved November 28, 2020. Johnny Dee from 'Smash Hits' called it the "dreamiest, most laid-back record ever invented." He added, "Quite what lyrics like "rubber bands expand in a frustrating sigh" mean is a total mystery, but if ever a record could be described as aherm like being massaged by a bag of marshmallows, then this is it. Melt city!" While reviewing 'Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience', the magazine's Gary Kipper stated that the song "is, of course, one of the most summery records ever made".
Impact and legacy
"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" was ranked number 81 on VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop'. In 2005, 'Blender' ranked it at number 94 in their list of 'Greatest Songs Since You Were Born'. In 2020, Cleveland.com listed the song at number 27 in their ranking of the best 'Billboard' Hot 100 No. 1 song of the 1990s, calling it "one of the most unlikely No. 1 hits on this list and maybe the most complex." They added, "Somehow it all amounts to four minutes of hip hop, well, bliss."
Music video
The music video for the song premiered in August 1991 and was directed by American film director Mark Pellington. Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley appears toward the end of the video.[http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=22029 mvdbase.com - PM Dawn - "Set adrift on memory bliss"]
Track listings
* '7-inch single'
# "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (radio mix) 3:57
# "For the Love of Peace" 3:29
* '12-inch single'
:A1. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (extended mix) 6:04
:A2. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (radio mix) 3:57
:B1. "A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think)" (Youth extended mix) 6:05
:B2. "A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think)" (Youth radio mix) 3:58
* 'CD maxi'
# "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (radio mix) 3:58
# "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (extended mix) 6:03
# "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (LP version) 4:12
# "For the Love of Peace" 3:29
Charts and sales
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
See also
* List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1991 (U.S.)
References
Category:1990s ballads
Category:1991 singles
Category:1991 songs
Category:1992 singles
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Mark Pellington
Category:Music Week number-one dance singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:P.M. Dawn songs
Category:Songs written by Attrell Cordes
Category:Songs written by Gary Kemp
Buy Set Adrift on Memory Bliss now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1991