"Hallelujah!" is a song by former

Frankie Goes to Hollywood Frankie Goes to Hollywood were an English synth-pop band formed in Liverpool in 1980. The group's best-known line-up comprised Holly Johnson (vocals), Paul Rutherford (backing vocals), Peter Gill (drums, percussion), Mark O'Toole (bass guit ...

singer

Holly Johnson William Holly Johnson (born 9 February 1960) is an English artist, musician, and writer, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who achieved huge commercial success in the mid-1980s. Prior to that, in the late 1970s he was ...

, which was released in 1998 as a promotional single and included on his third studio album '' Soulstream'' (1999). The song was written by Johnson (lyrics and music) and Nick Bagnall (music).

Background

In a 1998 interview, Johnson said of the song's message, "'Hallelujah' is a sort of spiritual, universal love song. It's for the disenfranchised, people who feel they're not able to relate to orthodox religion, but also feel that there is something out there that is positive and good. It's about being grateful and enjoying life."

Release

"Hallelujah!" was the debut release on Johnson's own label Pleasuredome. He recalled in 2010 of the song's release as a promotional-only single, "It was a test to try and learn how to release something on my own label." As a single, "Hallelujah!" was issued as two different 12-inch vinyl releases. The first was subtitled "The First Cut Is the Deepest..." and the second "The Second Cut Is the Neatest...". "Hallelujah!" debuted at No. 27 on ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...

s 'The Club Chart' and No. 30 on 'The Pop Chart' on 24 October 1998. The following week, 31 October, it reached its peak at No. 8 on 'The Club Chart' and No. 14 on 'The Pop Chart'. It was Johnson's biggest UK club hit since his 1989 single "

Love Train "Love Train" is a hit single by the O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached No. 1 on both the R&B Singles and the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in February and March 1973 respectively, and No. 9 on the UK Singles C ...

Critical reception

On its release in 1998, Alan Jones of ''

'' wrote, "Johnson has been very quiet of late, but has now returned with the exceptionally fine - and very retro - 'Hallelujah!'. Guaranteed to put him back into the Top 40, on promo it is initially fastest off the mark in upfront clubs." In a review of ''Soulstream'', ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' wrote, " ohnson'snew philosophy runs something like: "Radiate light, love power, set free your soul." That's from 'Hallelujah!', whose rather pat optimism resurfaces on 'The Best Invention' and 'All U Need Is Love'. The message would resound more profoundly if it were accompanied by some decent tunes, rather than colourless beats-by-the-yard that do nothing for Johnson's reedy voice." In a retrospective review, Jon O'Brien of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

commented, "The retro stylings are more forgivable when Johnson's distinctive, powerful vocals and life-affirming lyrics are let loose on the dancefloor, with the infectious camp Euro-disco of 'Hallelujah' and 'Disco Heaven'."

Track listing

;12-inch promo single #1 (The First Cut Is the Deepest...) #"Hallelujah!" (Soundscapers, Jazzed Up Club Mix) - 6:52 #"Hallelujah!" (Eric Kupper, 12" Pump Mix) - 6:17 #"Hallelujah!" (Eric Kupper, 12" Pump Mix Dub) - 6:17 ;12-inch promo single #2 (The Second Cut Is the Neatest...) #"Hallelujah!" (Frankie Says... 12" Disco Mix) - 7:10 #"Hallelujah!" (Frankie Says... 7" Pop Mix) - 4:21 #"Hallelujah!" (Eric Kupper, 12" Pump Mix) - 6:17 #"Hallelujah!" (Soundscapers, Jazzed Up Club Mix) - 6:52

References

{{Holly Johnson 1998 songs 1998 singles Songs written by Holly Johnson Holly Johnson songs