The Emperor's New Clothes (song)

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"The Emperor's New Clothes"
The Emperor's New Clothes Sinéad.jpg
Single by Sinéad O'Connor
from the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
B-side
Released5 June 1990
Length
  • 5:16
Label
Songwriter(s)Sinéad O'Connor
Producer(s)Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology
"Nothing Compares 2 U"
(1990) 		"The Emperor's New Clothes"
(1990) 		"Three Babies"
(1990)
Music video
"The Emperor's New Clothes" on YouTube

"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a song recorded by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor for her second studio album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 5 June 1990 by Ensign and Chrysalis Records and reached number three in Canada, number five in Ireland, and the top 20 in Australia and Switzerland.

Composition[]

Lyrically, the song is about personal tribulations amid the oppression of the world around her, while she sings: "I will live by my own policies/I will sleep with a clear conscience".[1]

Critical reception[]

Matthew Hocter from Albumism said that the song "shows a conviction that is part anger and part middle finger to the never-ending judgement the singer faced at the time with her star sky rocketing, scrutiny around her Catholic faith, and her role as a newly single mother."[2] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as one of several "moments of brilliance".[3] Jodi Cleesattle from American Eagle wrote that the song is "the album's closest thing to a typical rock song", noting it as "an up-front autobiographical song with even, somewhat gritty vocals and strong backing on both electric and acoustic guitars."[4] Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as "jangly",[5] adding that the "clever, guitar-laced rocker is a fine choice as a follow-up". He also said it "should confirm O'Connor's status as a viable pop radio star."[6] Tom Moon from Knight Ridder called it a "show-stopping moment" and added that it is a "bitter what-I-learned-on-the-road song".[7] Music & Media noted it as "hard-hitting pop".[8] David Giles from Music Week said it's "a rockier track" and more like "Mandinka" than "Nothing Compares 2 U", "though without any of the former's quirkiness."[9] David Quantick from NME wrote that it is a song "very heavy on specifics and is full of not very obscure lines like. "He thinks I just became famous and that's what messed me up" and the splendidly un-rock 'n' roll "You know how it is/And how a pregnancy can change you"."[10] The lyric "It seems like years since you held the baby/ While I wrecked the bedroom," according to Mark Richardson from Pitchfork, "is delivered with a muted lilt, O'Connor's voice bright and possibly a little hopeful, confident in her strength despite the weight of the past".[11] Pop Rescue wrote that the song itself is "a rockier song" than the others on the album, adding that "it really has a great rhythm and shows that Sinéad is equally at home of these harder pop rock songs. This is a brilliant track!"[12] William Shaw from Smash Hits stated that "this is the most confessional record ever" and described it as "goose-pimplingly honest" in his review.[13]

Track listing[]

US CD single

  1. "The Emperor's New Clothes" (LP Version) – 5:16
  2. "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Main Mix) – 4:37
  3. "What Do You Want?" – 2:58
  4. "Mandinka" (Jake's Remix) – 5:58

Personnel[]

  • Sinéad O'Connor – vocals, songwriter, producer, acoustic guitar
  • John Reynolds – drums
  • Andy Rourke – bass
  • Marco Pirroni – electric guitar
  • Chris Birkett – engineering

Charts[]

References[]

  1. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (3 October 2003). "Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Sinéad O'Connor's 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Sinéad O'Connor - So Far: The Best of Sinead O'Connor". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ Cleesattle, Jodi (2 April 1990). "Pain, power essence of O'Connor's voice". American Eagle. p. 15.
  5. ^ Coleman, Bill (31 March 1990). "Dance Trax: The Alternative Tip Is looking Sharp" (PDF). Billboard. p. 31. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  6. ^ Coleman, Bill (16 June 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Sinead O'Connor produces a stunning second album". Spokane Chronicle. 23 March 1990. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Previews: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 March 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  9. ^ Giles, David (21 July 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. ^ Quantick, David. "SINEAD O'CONNOR – I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". NME. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  11. ^ Richardson, Mark (24 April 2009). "Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Limited Edition)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  12. ^ "REVIEW: "I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN'T GOT" BY SINEAD O'CONNOR (CD, 1990)". Pop Rescue. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 303. 11 July 1990. p. 45. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8003." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 35. 1 September 1990. p. V. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Emperor's New Clothes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  23. ^ "Charts.nz – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Sinead OConnor Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  27. ^ "Sinead OConnor Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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