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Two Princes

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"Two Princes"
Single cover
Single by Spin Doctors
from the album Pocket Full of Kryptonite
B-side
  • "Off My Line"
  • "Rosetta Stone"
Released1992
Genre
Length
  • 4:16 (album version)
  • 3:26 (radio edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Frank Aversa
  • Mark White
  • Eric Schenkman
  • Chris Barron
  • Aaron Comess
Spin Doctors singles chronology
"Little Miss Can't Be Wrong"
(1992) 		"Two Princes"
(1992) 		"Jimmy Olsen's Blues"
(1993)
Music video
"Two Princes" on YouTube

"Two Princes" is a song by American rock group Spin Doctors, released in 1992 by Epic Records as the second single from the group's debut album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite (1991). The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Cash Box Top 100. Outside of the US, it topped the charts in Iceland and Sweden, and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The song earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.[4] The group filmed two different music videos for "Two Princes"; one of them was in black-and-white. One of the videos was directed by Richard Murray and premiered in February 1992.[5]

The song was ranked No. 41 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s";[6] conversely, it was ranked No. 21 on Blender magazine's "50 Worst Songs Ever".[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic named "Two Princes" one of the "best tracks" of the album.[8] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The Doctors' growing legion of fans will devour this treat from Pocket Full of Kryptonite within seconds." He explained further, "Percolating rhythm section, courtesy of Aaron Comess and Mark White, propels Eric Schenkman's scratchy guitars and a pure-pop hook. Engaging vocals by Christopher Barron and lively instrumentation assure instant album-rock and alternative play, with visions of successfully crossing into the pop arena realistically dancing in everyone's heads."[9] Randy Clark from Cash Box commented, "This crunchy rock/funk groove hints of the same raw, unpolished but infectious street quality of the early Rolling Stones except with an unspoiled and urgent alternative style."[10] A reviewer from Kingston Informer complimented the song as "brilliant".[11]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton noted, "Leaping just as dramatically into the Top 10 come the Spin Doctors, almost 18 months after the track was first heard by the American public. It touches a chord with many as well. Marry him or marry me, I'm the one who loves you baby can't you see...."[12] Ian Gittins from Melody Maker called it a "fairly catchy single", and "amiable and harmless and pleasant enough".[13] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Although the album [...] was released about two years ago, the singles of the medicals are still doing fine. Put your faith in this one too, as the funky guitar rock of this 'royal' track is as infectious as you could wish for."[14] Roger Morton from NME praised it as "a freak wonder-song" with a "million-dollar hook."[15] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave "Two Princes" five out of five and named it Best New Single, saying, "This is their second bash at the UK charts and it's just marvellous. A thumping drum beat with guitars rocking all over the place, it makes you want to jump onto the nearest table and dance and twirl and swing your head around until you eventually, er, pass out!"[16] Troy J. Augusto from Variety named the song one of the group's "undeniable gems".[17]

Track listings

[edit]
  • 7-inch, CD, and cassette single
  1. "Two Princes" (album version) – 4:16
  2. "Off My Line" (live) – 5:30
  • 12-inch and maxi-CD single
  1. "Two Princes" (album version) – 4:16
  2. "Off My Line" (live) – 5:30
  3. "Rosetta Stone" (live) – 8:07

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[60] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[61] Gold 25,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[62] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Platinum 600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 1992 Cassette Epic Associated
United Kingdom May 3, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Epic [64]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Marotta, Michael (July 7, 2014). "So… the fucking Spin Doctors are playing a free show at City Hall Plaza this week". Vanyaland. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  2. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (May 21, 2007). "The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Waldman, Scott (April 3, 2020). "10 Best Pop-Rock Songs of the '90s". Loudwire. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Bird, Rick (January 7, 1994). "Aging rockers to duke it out for Grammys". Cincinnati Post. p. 1C.
  5. ^ "The Spin Doctors – "Two princes"". Mvdbase.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s: Full List". VH1. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007.
  7. ^ Aizlewood, John; et al. (May 2004). "Run For Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever!". Blender. Archived from the original on May 8, 2004.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Spin Doctors – Pocket Full of Kryptonite". AllMusic. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Flick, Larry (January 23, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 4. p. 80. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  10. ^ Clark, Randy (January 23, 1993). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 5. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Kingston Informer. November 4, 1994. p. 21.
  12. ^ Masterton, James (May 30, 1993). "Week Ending June 5th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  13. ^ Gittins, Ian (October 2, 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "New Releases > Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 18. May 1, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Morton, Roger (October 2, 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 14. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Daniels, Leesa (April 28, 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 49. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  17. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (August 30, 1994). "Spin Doctors; Gin Blossoms; Cracker". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  20. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  22. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 29. July 17, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  23. ^ "Music & Media / Billboard – European Top 100 Singles – Week Ending 31.07.93". World Charts. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013.
  24. ^ "EHR Top 40 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 24. July 17, 1993. p. 12. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  25. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  26. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  27. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  28. ^ "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. August 7, 1993. p. 25. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  29. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40: Vikan 15.–21. apríl". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 15, 1993. p. 21. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Two Princes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  31. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  32. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  33. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  34. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes". VG-lista. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  35. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 31/1993" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 47. July 31, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  36. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  37. ^ "Spin Doctors – Two Princes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  39. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. June 12, 1993. p. 16. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  40. ^ "Spin Doctors Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  41. ^ "Spin Doctors Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  42. ^ "Spin Doctors Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  43. ^ "Spin Doctors Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  44. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending April 17, 1993". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012.
  45. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  46. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1993". ARIA Charts. ARIA. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  48. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 23. Library and Archives Canada. December 18, 1993. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  49. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1993". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015.
  50. ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. pp. 16–17. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  51. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  53. ^ "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  54. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  55. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
  56. ^ "Airplay Top 50 1993" (PDF). Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 41. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  57. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1993". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  58. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  59. ^ "Danish single certifications – Spin Doctors – Two Princes". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  60. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Spin Doctors; 'Two Princes')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  61. ^ "Italian single certifications – Spin Doctors – Two Princes" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  62. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Spin Doctors – Two Princes". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  63. ^ "British single certifications – Spin Doctors – Two Princes". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  64. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 1, 1993. p. 23.
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