Obsession (Army of Lovers song)

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"Obsession"
Army of Lovers-Obsession.jpg
Single by Army of Lovers
from the album Massive Luxury Overdose
B-side"Obsession (Dub Version)"
ReleasedSeptember 1991
RecordedSonet Studios, Stockholm
Genre
Length3:40
LabelTon Son Ton
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Army of Lovers (1991) singles chronology
"Crucified"
(1991) 		"Obsession"
(1991) 		"Candyman Messiah"
(1991)
Army of Lovers (1992) singles chronology
"Judgment Day"
(1992) 		"Obsession"
(1991) 		"Israelism"
(1993)
Music video
"Obsession" (1991) on YouTube
Music video
"Obsession" (1992) on YouTube
Alternative Cover

Obsession is a 1991 song recorded by Swedish band Army of Lovers. It is one of their most well-known songs and scored chart success across Europe. Released as the second single from their second album, Massive Luxury Overdose, it went to number-one on both the radio and the dance charts in Sweden.[1] It also peaked at number 2 in the Sweden, number 4 in Belgium, number 7 in Austria and Germany, and number 9 in Finland and Spain. The lyrics are written by Alexander Bard and Anders Wollbeck and the song is in part inspired by Laurie Anderson's 1981 song "O Superman".

In 1992, they re-released the single exclusively for the U.S and includes remixes only found in this version. It got released in September, exactly a year apart from the original release, and went to number 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Critical reception[]

Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer deemed it "another good song that deserves a listen". He added, "This is much more downbeat than their earlier stuff, with easier vocals and a sound reminiscent of old Imagination or Enigma."[2] Music & Media called it "slow disco".[3] Newcastle Evening Chronicle wrote that it's "mesmerising".[4]

Chart performance[]

"Obsession" was successful on the charts in Europe. It reached number 2 in the band's native Sweden, being held off reaching the top spot by Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". The song stayed within the Top 10 for six weeks. Additionally, it went to number-one on both the Swedish Radio Chart and the Dance Chart. It managed to climb into the Top 10 also in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, "Obsession" peaked at number 67 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on December 22, 1991.[5] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it hit number 29 in February 1992. That year, it charted also in the United States, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs.

Music video[]

The band released two versions of the music video. The first version, from 1991, features La Camilla. But after Camilla left the group, she was replaced by De La Cour who appear in the second version from 1992.

Both videos were directed by Swedish director Fredrik Boklund.[6][7] He also directed the other music videos for Army of Lovers. The first version of "Obsession" was published on YouTube in May 2016. By September 2020, the video had more than 4,1 million views.[8]

Single track listing[]

7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Obsession" (Radio Edit)3:40
2."Obsession" (Dub Version)3:43
12" maxi
No.TitleLength
1."Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)6:40
2."Obsession" (Radio Edit)3:40
3."Obsession" (Armageddon Mix)4:09
4."Obsession" (Hermaphrodisiac Mix)4:49
CD single, Australia (1991)
No.TitleLength
1."Obsession" (Radio Edit)3:40
2."Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)6:40
3."Obsession" (Dub Version)3:43
12" maxi, US (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Obsession" (Compulsion Mix)8:37
2."Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)6:41
3."Obsession" (A Cappella Mix)2:44
4."Obsession" (Shadowzone Dub)8:30
5."Obsession" (Techno-Schizo Mix)6:55
CD maxi, US (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Obsession" (Radio Edit)3:40
2."Obsession" (Compulsive Radio Edit)3:59
3."Obsession" (Compulsion Mix)8:37
4."Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)6:41
5."Obsession" (Shadowzone Dub)8:30
6."Obsession" (Techno-Schizo Mix)6:55

Charts[]

Chart (1991–1992) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 29
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 7
Greece (Virgin)[14] 9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 8
Spain (AFYVE)[17] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 67
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[21] 11
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[22] 11

References[]

  1. ^ "Spotlight: Army Of Lovers" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  2. ^ Kastanas, Andy (23 September 1992). "Sounds of Progress". p. 20. The Charlotte Observer.
  3. ^ "Spotlight: Army Of Lovers" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 October 1991. p. 24. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  4. ^ "ALBUMS/SINGLES". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 3 December 1991. page 28. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 22 December 1991 - 28 December 1991". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Army of Lovers: Obsession (Version 1) (1991)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Army of Lovers: Obsession (Version 2) (1992)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Army Of Lovers - Obsession - First Version". YouTube. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Army Of Lovers – Obsession" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Army Of Lovers – Obsession" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Top 10 Finland" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Army of Lovers – Obsession" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Army Of Lovers - Obsession" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Army of Lovers – Obsession" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  17. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Army of Lovers – Obsession". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Army of Lovers – Obsession". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Official Charts > Army of Lovers". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Army of Lovers Obsession Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Army of Lovers Obsession Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
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