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She's a River

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"She's a River"
Single by Simple Minds
from the album Good News from the Next World
B-side
  • Instrumental
  • "E 55"
  • "Celtic Strings"
Released16 January 1995
Recorded1994
GenreRock
Length4:31
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Love Song" / "Alive and Kicking"
(1992) 		"She's a River"
(1995) 		"Hypnotised"
(1995)

"She's a River" is the first single released from Scottish rock band Simple Minds' eleventh studio album, Good News from the Next World. Written by band members Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr, the song was inspired by Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, a book about self-discovery. Released in January 1995, "She's a River" reached number three in Canada and Italy, number seven in the Flanders region of Belgium, and number nine on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it peaked at number six on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

Background

According to guitarist/keyboardist Charlie Burchill and vocalist Jim Kerr, the song was inspired by Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, which contains themes of self-discovery. Kerr explained, "As [a] younger man I relied so much on this book (among many others) to guide me through my own chaos. That need continues, as does the need to have inspirational music driving me on further still."[1] Kerr went on to describe the storyline near the end of the book that inspired him the most:

Toward the end of his life, Govinda hears about an enlightened ferryman and travels to Siddhartha, not initially recognizing him as his old childhood friend. Govinda asks the now-elderly Siddhartha to relate his wisdom and Siddhartha replies that for every true statement there is an opposite one that is also true; that language and the confines of time lead people to adhere to one fixed belief that does not account for the fullness of the truth. Because nature works in a self-sustaining cycle, every entity carries in it the potential for its opposite and so the world must always be considered complete. Siddhartha simply urges people to identify and love the world in its completeness. Siddhartha then requests that Govinda kiss his forehead and, when he does, Govinda experiences the visions of timelessness that Siddhartha himself saw with Vasudeva by the river. Govinda bows to his wise friend and Siddhartha smiles radiantly, having found enlightenment.

— Jim Kerr, [1]

"She's a River" was the first single released by the band featuring Mark Schulman on drums. Kerr called his performance "brilliant" and one-of-a-kind.[1]

Chart performance

Released on 16 January 1995, "She's a River" was a big commercial success for Simple Minds, and it became one of their last significant hits as well. The song reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's eighth top-ten hit on that chart,[2] and number five in their native Scotland.[3] Throughout mainland Europe, the song charted well, reaching number three in Italy,[4] number seven in Flemish Belgium,[5] and the top 40 in several other nations, including Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.[6][7][5] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 12 during its second week on the chart.[8] In Australasia, "She's a River" reached number 29 in Australia and number 21 in New Zealand.[5]

In North America, "She's a River" was very successful in Canada. It debuted at number 61 on 30 January—the highest debut of the week—and peaked at number three five weeks later, on 13 March.[9][10] The song stayed on the RPM Top Singles chart for 12 more weeks, and it ended 1995 as Canada's 30th best-selling single.[11] In the United States, the single peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Simple Minds' first hit in the country since "See the Lights", which reached number 40 in 1991.[12] It also reached number six on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart,[13] number 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart,[14] and number 33 on the Mainstream Top 40.[15]

Track listings

European CD single/Australian maxi-single

  1. "She's a River" – 4:31
  2. "She's a River" (Instrumental) – 5:28
  3. "E 55" – 5:10
  4. "Celtic Strings" – 5:13

US CD single[16]

  1. "She's a River" – 4:29
  2. "She's a River" (LP Version) – 5:32
  3. "She's a River" (Duo Mix) – 4:25
  4. "E 55" – 5:07

US cassette single

Side A

  1. "She's a River" – 4:29
  2. "She's a River" (LP Version) – 5:32

Side B

  1. "She's a River" (Duo Mix) – 4:25
  2. "E 55" – 5:07

French 7" EP

  1. A. "She's a River" (Edit)
  2. B. "E 55"

Charts

References

  1. ^ a b c "She's a river". simpleminds.org. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 6. 11 February 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d "Simple Minds – She's a River". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.3 '95 – 10.3 '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 March 1995. p. 24. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – She's a River". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 6. 11 February 1995. p. 13. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2722". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8015." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Simple Minds Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Simple Minds Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Simple Minds Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Simple Minds Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River [US CD]] Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Notowanie nr678". LP3 (in Polish). 27 January 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  25. ^ "Simple Minds – She's a River". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  26. ^ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
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