Broken Wings (song)

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“Broken Wings”
Single by Mr. Mister
from the album Welcome to the Real World
Released November 1985
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1984
Genre Rock/Power ballad
Length 5:42
Label RCA Records
Writer(s) R. Page/S. George/J. Lang
Producer Mr. Mister & Paul DeVilliers
Mr. Mister singles chronology
"I'll Let You Drive"
(1984)		 "Broken Wings"
(1985)		 "Kyrie"
(1985)

"Broken Wings" is a #1 hit song released as a 1985 single by the band Mr. Mister.

The band's first single from their 1985 Welcome to the Real World album, "Broken Wings" reached the number one position on the U.S. charts in December 1985, where it remained for two weeks. It was released as the band was just about to embark on a U.S. tour opening for Tina Turner. "Broken Wings" was voted at number nineteen as one of the "Most Awesomely Bad Songs" by VH1 and one of the 50 Worst Songs Ever by Blender magazine.[1] The song reached number four in the UK Singles Chart, the highest the group ever achieved in that country.

Contents

[edit] Background and music

The song was co-written with lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by a book called "Broken Wings" written by Khalil Gibran [2].

The song is a mix of synth, digitally delayed guitar, bass and drums. The song's hissing intro was an effect created by the sound of crash cymbal played in reverse [2]. There is a distinct guitar sound in this track thanks to Steve Farris' innovation of the electric guitar, managing to extract a delay effect at an odd timing to create a contrast to the steadyness of the bass and beat.[citation needed] The outro to the song features Page singing a very high and lengthy falsetto note.

[edit] Music video

A second generation Ford Thunderbird appears in the video
A second generation Ford Thunderbird appears in the video

The music video for "Broken Wings" was directed by Oley Sassone and filmed in black & white[3]. It features lead vocalist Richard Page driving through the desert in a classic old convertible. There is a scene of striking imagery where Page is sitting in a church when an eagle flies in through the window and lands next to him on the pew and they exchange a gaze. The full band is also featured in performance scenes during the video.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 7" single

  1. "Broken Wings" (single edit) - 4:29
  2. "Uniform of Youth" - 4:25

[edit] 12" single

  1. "Broken Wings" (album length) - 5:45
  2. "Uniform of Youth" - 4:25
  3. "Welcome to the Real World" - 4:18

[edit] Notable covers

  • In 1995, it was covered by John Tesh on his CD "Sax on the Beach".
  • In 1998, it was covered by C-Block on their CD "Keepin' It Real".
  • In 2001, this song was sampled for a Tupac Shakur song on his posthumous album Until the End of Time, for the title song.
  • In 2001, it was sampled and performed on the title song of Foxy Brown's Broken Silence album.
  • In 2001, it was covered by New Zealand singer K'lee
  • In 2002, the song was featured in the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on fictional station Emotion 98.3 and in the opening scene of the game.
  • In 2002, it was covered by Rocksolid on their album "Rock Anthems".
  • In 2004, Richard Cheese performed this live in Las Vegas on his album I'd Like a Virgin.
  • In 2003, the song was covered by American A Cappella group Naturally 7 on their album "What is it?"
  • In 2005, Rick Springfield sang this song on his "tribute" album The Day After Yesterday as a duet with original vocalist Richard Page.
  • In 2006, it was covered by Clay Aiken on his CD A Thousand Different Ways.
  • In 2006, Australian rockers, Repeat Offender, covered this song on their "To A Modern Love" EP.
  • In October 2006, Joe Budden released a freestyle using the beat and chorus from "Broken Wings".
  • In 2007, it was covered by The Panic Division on their CD "Songs From The Glasshouse".
  • In 2007, it was covered by Northern Kings on their CD "Reborn".
  • Prince's ex-wife Mayte covered the song early in her vocal career.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Run for Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever! from Blender.com
  2. ^ a b Notes on Broken Wings - from Mr. Mister fansite
  3. ^ MVdbase entry - music video details

[edit] External links

Preceded by
"Separate Lives" by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin		 Billboard Hot 100 number one single
December 7, 1985 – December 14, 1985		 Succeeded by
"Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie