Across the Universe (Holly Johnson song)

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"Across the Universe"
Single by Holly Johnson
from the album Dreams That Money Can't Buy
B-side"Funky Paradise"
Released4 March 1991 (UK)[1]
2 April 1991 (Europe)[2]
GenrePop
Length3:56
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Holly Johnson
Producer(s)Andy Richards
Holly Johnson singles chronology
"Where Has Love Gone?"
(1990) 		"Across the Universe"
(1991) 		"The People Want to Dance"
(1991)

"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.[3] The single was released with the non-LP track "Funky Paradise" as the B-side.

Background[edit]

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."[4]

Critical reception[edit]

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."[5] 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!"[6] Peter Kinghorn of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle described it as an "odd blend of all action tune and mostly laidback vocal".[7]

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."[8] 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".[9]

Track listing[edit]

7-inch single
  1. "Across the Universe" - 3:59
  2. "Funky Paradise " - 4:13
12-inch single
  1. "Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Mix)" - 6:32
  2. "Across the Universe" - 3:59
  3. "Funky Paradise " - 4:13
12-inch single (UK promo)
  1. "Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Mix)" - 6:32
  2. "Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Instrumental Mix)" - 6:38
Cassette single
  1. "Across The Universe" - 3:59
  2. "Funky Paradise " - 4:13
  3. "Across The Universe" - 3:59
  4. "Funky Paradise " - 4:13
CD single
  1. "Across the Universe" - 3:59
  2. "Across The Universe (Space-A-Go-Go Mix)" - 6:39
  3. "Funky Paradise " - 4:15

Charts[edit]

Chart (1991) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[3] 99

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dee, Johnny (2 March 1991). "Index - Releases". Record Mirror. p. 7.
  2. ^ Tilli, Robbert (4 May 1991). "Spotlight: Holly Johnson". Music & Media. p. 15.
  3. ^ a b "holly-johnson | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  4. ^ Clerk, Carol (30 March 1991). "Holly Johnson - The Return of the Eco-Maniac". Melody Maker. pp. 38–39.
  5. ^ Smith, Robin (9 March 1991). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 14.
  6. ^ Collins, Robin; Cuff, Andrew; London, Tim (16 March 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 20.
  7. ^ Kinghorn, Peter (2 April 1991). "Singles/Choices". Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
  8. ^ "Zang Tuum Tumb and all that | Articles | Space cowboy". Zttaat.com. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  9. ^ "Dreams That Money Can't Buy - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
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