"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" | ||||
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Single by Sting | ||||
from the album Mercury Falling | ||||
Released | 13 February 1996 | |||
Studio | Lake House (Wiltshire) | |||
Genre | Adult contemporary[1] | |||
Length | 6:43 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sting | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Sting singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Sting - Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" on YouTube |
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" is a song by the English musician Sting. It was released as the lead single from his fifth solo studio album Mercury Falling on 13 February 1996. The soul-influenced track was inspired by a friend suffering from AIDS, and the impact such an event can have on one's outlook on life.[2]
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" reached the top 20 in Sting's native UK.[3] The song was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards.[4]
Background
[edit]"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" was inspired by a friend of Sting's who was suffering from AIDS. Sting described it as a "song about death, or dealing with death in a way that offers some sort of hope".[2]
Musically, the song was influenced by Stax artists such as Otis Redding; Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin were also listed as significant influences.[5] Fitting in with this theme, Sting brought in the Memphis Horns to play on the track.[5]
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" became a top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at number 15.[3] The single was less successful in the US, reaching number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it did better on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, peaking at number 3.[6] It found its greatest success in Canada, where it entered the top 10, reaching number 7.[6]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks written by Sting, except "Someone to Watch Over Me" written by George and Ira Gershwin.
Standard CD single
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (Edit) – 4:31
- "Englishman in New York" – 4:27
- "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – 6:05
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (LP Version) – 6:41
CD maxi–single (US and Japan)
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (LP Version) – 6:41
- "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – 6:05
- "Someone to Watch Over Me" – 4:00
- "Englishman in New York" – 4:27
Remixes by A & G Division
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Classic Edit) – 4:38
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Full Testament Mix) – 12:32
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Great Divide Mix) – 7:40
- "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Great Divide Dub) – 12:29
Charts
[edit]Chart (1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[7] | 65 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] | 7 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] | 58 |
Italy (FIMI)[10] | 20 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 43 |
UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 15 |
US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 86 |
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] | 3 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Q – Sting Interview". sting.com. May 1996. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Sting Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Kot, Greg (8 January 1997). "Pumpkins a Smash with 7 Grammy Nominations". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Mercury Falling Tour Programme". sting.com. 1996. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Sting Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Sting Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot". Top Digital Download.
- ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Sting: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Sting Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.