Glittering Prize
| "Glittering Prize" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Simple Minds | ||||
| from the album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) | ||||
| B-side | "Glittering Prize Theme" | |||
| Released | August 1982 | |||
| Format | 12", 7" | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 4:02 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Writer(s) | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil | |||
| Producer(s) | Peter Walsh | |||
| Simple Minds singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Glittering Prize" is a 1982 hit single by the Scottish rock group Simple Minds, and released on their fifth studio album New Gold Dream, released the same year.
The song reached #16 in the United Kingdom[1] and the top 20 in other countries including Australia,[2] Ireland,[3] New Zealand[4] and Sweden.[5]
A compilation album, released by Simple Minds in 1992, is named after the song, and is entitled Glittering Prize 81/92,[6]
Music video
The video continuously alternates between two main stages. The first one is set in a golden room where the band members (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, and Mick MacNeil only), all dressed in black, perform the song. The other stage is set in a dark, museum-like room, under the surveillance of a napping security guard, and featuring hanging portraits of the band members' faces made of gold. A story unfolds in this latter stage as a young woman in a bikini and whose body is all painted in gold, stealthily penetrating the room and reaching out to a sarcophagus within which lies a pharaoh version of Kerr. After having touched his face and brought the other band members back to life she then drives away with them in a car. As the guard realises the burglary, the woman, now in the golden room, rests in a long chair and sips on a cocktail before the video ends.[7]
Chart positions
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[3] | 11 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[8] | 8 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] | 4 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[5] | 11 |
| United Kingdom (CIN)[1] | 16 |
References
- 1 2 "Official Charts > Simple Minds". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 275. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- 1 2 "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Glittering Prize'". Fireball Media. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- 1 2 "charts.org.nz > Simple Minds – Glittering Prize (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- 1 2 "swedishcharts.com > Simple Minds – Glittering Prize (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- ↑ Glittering Prize 81/92 Cassette Sleeve Notes by Brian Hogg, 1992
- ↑ "Simple Minds – Glittering Prize (video)". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
- ↑ "norwegiancharts.com > Simple Minds – Glittering Prize (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-10-30.