Kyrie (song)
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| "Kyrie" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Mr. Mister | ||
| from the album Welcome to the Real World | ||
| Released | Dec. 1985 | |
| Format | 7", 12" | |
| Genre | Pop rock | |
| Length | 4:10 | |
| Label | RCA Records | |
| Writer(s) | R. Page/S. George/J. Lang | |
| Producer(s) | Mr. Mister & Paul DeVilliers | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Mr. Mister singles chronology | ||
| "Broken Wings" (1985) |
"Kyrie" (1985) |
"Is It Love" (1986) |
"Kyrie" was a #1 hit song by the 1980s pop/rock band Mr. Mister, from their 1985 album Welcome to the Real World. Released in late 1985, it hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in March of 1986, where it was #1 for two weeks.
Contents |
[edit] Background and writing
The words to "Kyrie" were written by singer Richard Page while on tour with Adam Ant, and according to Page it is essentially a prayer.[1] The words "Kyrie eleison" translate from the Greek as "Lord have mercy" (or "O Lord, have mercy").[2]
The song's lyrics cleverly uses the phrase "Kyrie eleison" which sounds more like the phrase "Kyrie lays on" when sung aloud:
- "Kyrie eleison down the road that I must travel
- Kyrie eleison through the darkness of the night"
The video for this song was directed by Nick Morris, and features the band in performance mixed with footage taken at the tail end of their Fall 1985 tour with Tina Turner.[3]
[edit] Track listing
[edit] 7" single
- "Kyrie" (single edit) - 4:10
- "Run To Her" - 3:36
[edit] 12" single
- "Kyrie" (album length) - 4:24
- "Run To Her" - 3:36
- "Hunters Of The Night" - 5:07
The single edit of the song ends with the acappella phrase "Kyrie eleison down the road that I must travel", while the album version simply fades out.
[edit] Trivia
- Mr. Mister performed "Kyrie" (along with "Broken Wings") live on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 7, 1985.
- John LaBarbera arranged a version of this song for his big band's album Fantazm.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Richard Page discusses Kyrie - RetroRewind interview
- ^ Kyrie eleison - Translation from the StraightDope
- ^ Kyrie details - from Mr. Mister fansite
[edit] Links
- Kyrie - video courtesy of YouTube
| Preceded by: "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single March 1, 1986 |
Succeeded by: "Sara" by Starship |
