The Holy River

"The Holy River"
UK CD single
Single by Prince
from the album Emancipation
B-side	"Somebody's Somebody" (Radio edit) "Somebody's Somebody" (Livestudio Mix) "Somebody's Somebody" (Ultrafantasy Edit) "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (Mustang Mix) "On Sale Now!"
Released	January 13, 1997
Recorded	1995–1996
Studio	Paisley Park Studios
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:00 (radio edit) 6:55 (album version)
Label	NPG/EMI
Songwriter(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Betcha by Golly Wow!" (1996) "The Holy River" (1997) "Somebody's Somebody" (1997)
Music video
"The Holy River" on YouTube

"The Holy River" is a song by American musician Prince (his stage name at that time being an unpronounceable symbol, see cover art), released in January 1997 by NPG/EMI as the second single from his nineteenth album, Emancipation (1996).[1] The pop/rock-based song tells the story of spiritual enlightenment and of Prince's decision to marry Mayte Garcia. A music video was also produced to promote the single.[2]

Releases

The UK CD single was released as a two separate discs which fit in a double jewel case that was included with the first disc. Both discs had different picture sleeves and different contents, other than a "radio edit" of "The Holy River" and edit of "Somebody's Somebody" (also from Emancipation). Disc one also included two remixes of "Somebody's Somebody": a "Livestudio Mix" and an "Ultrafantasy Edit". Both were mostly re-recorded versions of the song with additional lyrics. Disc 2 included the previously released "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Mustang Mix)" and a one-minute commercial called "On Sale Now!". The UK cassette single was the same as disc 2, but without "On Sale Now".

A US promotional release was sent to pop radio stations at the same time as "Somebody's Somebody" was sent to Urban radio stations, it was also made available to consumers for free, and only through book chain, Borders. It was a cassette single with the previously unreleased "Welcome 2 the Dawn", advertised as being from the upcoming album The Dawn. In reality, the song was later released on The Truth.

Excluding the re-release of "1999", "The Holy River"/"Somebody's Somebody" became his final UK Top 40 single in his lifetime.

Composition

The mid-tempo number features a guitar melody without a chorus. It climaxes in a searing guitar and Pipe organ solo.

Critical reception

David Stubbs from Melody Maker felt the song found TAFKAP "at his most limpid, most William Blake-like, in his sexual mysticism."[3] Music Week gave the song three out of five, describing it as "a tasteful, restrained rock ballad stripped of funk pretension. Low-key, but still pleasant."[4] David Sinclair from The Times wrote, "Gentle pop tune from the scandalously underrated Emancipation album."[5]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Holy River"

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[6]	4
Germany (GfK)[7]	92
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[8]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]	63
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)	58
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)	19
US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)	31

Weekly chart performance for "The Holy River/Somebody's Somebody"

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Scotland (OCC)[10]	22
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	19

References

1. "The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince) – The Holy River". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
2. "The Holy River of Prince in video on Jukebox". Jukebox. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
3. Stubbs, David (November 30, 1996). "Freedom '96?". Melody Maker. p. 44. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
4. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 15, 1997. p. 23. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
5. Sinclair, David (March 1, 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
6. "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince – The Holy River" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
7. "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince – The Holy River" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
8. "Tipparade-lijst van week 12, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
9. "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince – The Holy River" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
11. "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.