Gangsta's Paradise (song)
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| "Gangsta's Paradise" | ||||
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| Single by Coolio featuring L.V. | ||||
| from the album Gangsta's Paradise, Dangerous Minds OST and I Am L.V. | ||||
| Released | July 31, 1995 | |||
| Format | CD single, cassette, 12-inch single | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap | |||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | Tommy Boy Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Coolio Doug Rasheed Larry Sanders Stevie Wonder |
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| Producer | Doug Rasheed | |||
| Coolio singles chronology | ||||
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"Gangsta's Paradise" is a rap song by Coolio featuring L.V. from the movie Dangerous Minds (1995). The song was later released on the albums Gangsta's Paradise and Dangerous Minds soundtrack in 1995. Coolio was awarded a Grammy for the song/album. The song was voted as the best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll.
It sampled the chorus and music of the song "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder (1976). Wonder performed the song with Coolio and L.V. at the 1995 Billboard Awards.
The song was also listed at #69 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All-Time[1] and #1 biggest selling single of 1995 on U.S. Billboard.[2]
In 2008, it was ranked number 38 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
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[edit] Background and writing
L.V. released a solo version of the single in 1996 on his debut album, I Am L.V.. This version did not feature Coolio, and featured additional lyrics written by L.V. himself. The single did not repeat the popularity of the original with Coolio.[citation needed]
[edit] Lyrics and music
The music is a reworking of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise", a song from his album Songs in the Key of Life. "Gangsta's Paradise" uses the same tune, and a different orchestration of the same backing music. Coolio changed the lyrics to be more relevant to life on the streets.
The song begins with a line from Psalm 23:4 from the Bible: As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but then diverges with: I take a look at my life / And realize there's nothin' left. Adding to some of the religious overtones are choral vocals in the background.
Many of the lyrics are very dark and tragic and are meant to be a criticism of the violence and tragedy of the "gangsta" life. The choral lines (sung by L.V.) Tell me why are we so blind to see / That the ones we hurt are you and me offer an especially plaintive self-criticism.
[edit] Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua of Propaganda Films, and featured Michelle Pfeiffer reprising her earlier role in Dangerous Minds.
When Coolio won the Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, he said in a press conference that Bone Thugs-n-Harmony deserved the award for "Tha Crossroads".
[edit] Chart performances
The single reached number one in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand, making it Coolio's most successful single. Following Coolio's appearance in the UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother 2009 Gangsta's Paradise re-entered the UK singles chart peaking at #31.
[edit] Parodies
There are some parodies of the song, including "Amish Paradise" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, which was released the following year, reaching #53 on the U.S. chart. Coolio claimed that he did not give permission for the parody, which led to disagreements between the two. Yankovic claimed that he had been told Coolio had given the go-ahead through his record label, and apologized. Because of this incident, Yankovic now only does parodies by artists that he has spoken with directly, rather than through intermediaries. Photos from the XM Satellite Radio booth at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show suggest Yankovic and Coolio may have made amends. [3]
The Christian rock band ApologetiX also did a parody called "Shepherd's Paradise" based on Psalm 23.
Another parody by Paul Shanklin using Gangsta's Paradise is "Algore Paradise," in which Shanklin sings in the voices of Al Gore and Bill Clinton. The Choral Line as sung by Shanklin (as Clinton) goes, Tell me why is it / so hard to see / If he's really a man, or just a tree.
Death metal parody-group Ten Masked Men have also done a rendition of the song. The former boy band Blue used a sample of the instrumental for their single "Curtain Falls".
post hardcore band In Fear and Faith covered this song as well, as well as Death/Thrash band Artas.
The song appeared on the television show New York Undercover.
Sturman George Russian band ("Штурман Жорж") used a sample of the instrumental for their single "Ausweis" ("Аусвайс").
[edit] Sales records and awards
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Billboard
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MTV |
[edit] Track listings
- CD single
- "Gangsta's Paradise" — 4:00
- "Gangsta's Paradise" (instrumental) — 3:49
- CD maxi
- "Gangsta's Paradise" — 4:00
- "Gangsta's Paradise" (instrumental) — 3:49
- "Fantastic Voyage" (album version) by Coolio — 4:04
[edit] Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria[4] | Platinum | January 8, 1996 | 30,000 |
| Germany[5] | 2 x Platinum | 1996 | 600,000 |
| Netherlands[6] | Platinum | 1995 | 60,000 |
| Norway[7] | 4 x Platinum | 1996 | 40,000 |
| UK[8] | Platinum | November 1, 1995 | 600,000 |
| U.S.[9] | Gold - Platinum | February 23, 1996 | 3,000,000 |
[edit] Charts
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| Preceded by "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single September 9, 1995 - September 23, 1995 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey |
| Preceded by "A Kind of Christmas Card" by Morten Harket |
Norwegian VG-Lista number one single 42/1995 - 2/1996 (14 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Jesus to a Child" by George Michael |
| Preceded by "Fairground" by Simply Red |
United Kingdom Number 1 single October 28, 1995 - November 4, 1995 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "I Believe"/"Up on the Roof" by Robson & Jerome |
| Preceded by "Stayin' Alive" by N-Trance feat. Ricardo Da Force |
Australian ARIA number one single October 22, 1995 - January 14, 1996 (11 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Jesus to a Child" by George Michael |
| Preceded by "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey |
New Zealand RIANZ number one single (first run) October 29, 1995 - December 17, 1995 (8 weeks) |
Succeeded by "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men |
| Preceded by "Lucky Love" by Ace of Base |
Finnish number one single 44/1995 - 1/1996 (9 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Jesus to a Child" by George Michael |
| Preceded by "Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)" by Guus Meeuwis & Vagant |
Dutch Top 40 number one single November 4, 1995 - December 9, 1995 (6 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Ademnood" by Linda, Roos & Jessica |
| Preceded by "Waterfalls" by TLC |
Swiss number one single (first run) November 5, 1995 - December 3, 1995 (5 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson |
| Preceded by "Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)" by Guus Meeuwis & Vagant |
Belgian (Flanders) number one single (first run) December 2, 1995 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Ik ben een vent" by Jimmy B |
| Preceded by "Je sais pas" by Céline Dion |
French SNEP number one single (first run) December 2, 1995 - February 17, 1996 (12 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Dieu m'a donné la foi" by Ophélie Winter |
| Preceded by "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson |
Belgian (Wallonia) number one single December 2, 1995 - March 2, 1996 (14 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Spaceman" by Babylon Zoo |
| Preceded by "Ik ben een vent" by Jimmy B |
Belgian (Flanders) number one single (second run) December 16, 1995 - December 30, 1995 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Knockin'" by Double Vision |
| Preceded by "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson |
Swiss number one single (second run) December 17, 1995 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson |
| Preceded by "Knockin'" by Double Vision |
Austrian number one single December 17, 1995 - February 11, 1996 (8 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Spaceman" by Babylon Zoo |
| Preceded by "The Sign" by Ace of Base |
Billboard Hot 100 Number one single of the year 1995 |
Succeeded by "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio |
| Preceded by "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men |
New Zealand RIANZ number one single (second run) January 14, 1996 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men |
| Preceded by "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson |
Swiss number one single (third run) January 21, 1996 - February 11, 1996 (4 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Children" by Robert Miles |
| Preceded by "Dieu m'a donné la foi" by Ophélie Winter |
French SNEP number one single (second run) March 2, 1996 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Spaceman" by Babylon Zoo |
[edit] References
- ^ Billboard.com - Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time
- ^ [1]
- ^ Weird and COOLIO?!?!? » Yank Blog
- ^ Austrian certifications ifpi.at (Retrieved August 1, 2008)
- ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved August 4, 2008)
- ^ Dutch certifications nvpi.nl (Retrieved December 9, 2008)
- ^ Norwegian certifications Ifpi.no (Retrieved August 4, 2008)
- ^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved August 4, 2008)
- ^ U.S. certifications riaa.com (Retrieved August 4, 2008)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Gangsta's Paradise", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 21, 2008)
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved February 21, 2008)
- ^ "Gangsta's Paradise", UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved August 4, 2008)
- ^ a b c d Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 4, 2008)
- ^ 1995 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1995 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1995 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 30, 2009)
- ^ 1996 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1996 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1996 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
- ^ 1996 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved April 20, 2008)
[edit] External links
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