The Millennium Prayer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Millennium Prayer)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

"The Millennium Prayer" is a song recorded by English singer Cliff Richard, in which the words of the Lord's Prayer are set to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne". It was released in November 1999 as a charity single in the lead-up to the new millennium, hence the name. The single became a surprise hit reaching number one in the UK singles chart, number two in Australia and New Zealand, number three in Ireland, and the top 20 in a number of European countries.[1][2]

Background

The original adaption of "The Lord's Prayer" to "Auld Lang Syne" (a contrafactum) was created by composer Paul Field and writer Stephen Deal as the finale to the Christian musical Hopes & Dreams (a Share Jesus International production). It is the only single that credits Jesus as a lyricist.[3] The original recording of the song, also sung by Richard, featured on the musical's soundtrack album Hopes & Dreams: A New Musical For A New Millennium released in January 1999.[4][5][1] Paul Field had also told Richard of his wife's suggestion, "that it would make a great Christmas single for Cliff." Richard took up the suggestion and recorded a new version for release as a single in the lead up to Christmas, with Field hearing of the recording from Richard after it had been recorded.[6]

Release and live performances

Richard's record label, EMI, declined to release it amid concerns about its commercial potential, so Richard approached the independent record label Papillon Records for the release, with the proceeds going to the charity Children's Promise.[1]

Richard performed the song exclusively on the TV programme An Audience with... Cliff Richard before a music video had been made for it.

The song was Richard's 14th UK No. 1 hit, his 112th hit overall, and the third highest-selling single of his career. The song was listed No. 2 of all-time worst singles in a poll run by Channel 4 in 2003.[7] The song won the Ivor Novello Award for the best selling single of 1999.[8]

The version Richard released as a single was not taken from any album, however the following year the song was included on Richard's compilation album The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits and in 2003 on his album Cliff at Christmas.

Charts and certifications

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Template:Digits/7501/ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ↑ "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  13. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Millennium Prayer". Irish Singles Chart.
  14. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 52, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  15. ↑ "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Top 40 Singles.
  17. ↑ Template:Digits/41/ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. ↑ "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Swiss Singles Chart.
  19. ↑ Template:Digits/130/ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "Authority control".

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=The_Millennium_Prayer&oldid=5465321"