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The Promise
single by Arcadia
B-side "Rose Arcana" (Extended)
Released 1986
Recorded 1985
Studio Studio de la Grande Armée, Paris, France
Format 7", 12"
Genre Art rock, new wave, synthpop
Length 4:45 (7" Mix)
7:06 (Extended Remix)
Label EMI, Parlophone
Writer(s) Rhodes, Le Bon, Taylor,
Producer(s) Alex Sadkin
Arcadia
Arcadia

"The Promise" is the third single by Arcadia, released from the album So Red the Rose by EMI-Parlophone in 1986.

This was the group's second UK single.

About the song[]

The song was written and performed by Arcadia, a pop group formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, during a break in that band's schedule.

Recorded at the Studio de la Grande Armée in Paris, France, the track features backing vocals by Sting.

"The song is about the western world's betrayal of the third world" - Simon Le Bon, Ask Katy January 2001.

Music video[]

Filmed in black & white, the video was directed by Marcello Anciano.

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes[]

The single mix for "The Promise" was heavily edited down from the album's hefty 7:28 to a leaner, more radio friendly 4:45. In fact, even Alex Sadkin and Ron Saint Germain's "Extended Remix" clocked in at only 7:05 almost 25 seconds shy of the album cut.

The B-side to the single was an extended mix of album track "Rose Arcana". Rumour has it that the 51 seconds the track takes up on So Red The Rose was down to time constraints, so the instrumental's full beauty can only be felt on this single release.

Covers, samples, & media references[]

The death metal band Novembre covered "The Promise" as a bonus track on their 2006 album Materia.

Track listing[]

7": Parlophone / NSR 2 (UK)

  1. "The Promise" (7" Mix) - 4:45
  2. "Rose Arcana" (Extended) - 5:37

12": Parlophone / 12 NSR 2 (UK)

  1. "The Promise" (Extended Remix) - 7:06
  2. "Rose Arcana" (Extended) - 5:37
  3. "The Promise" (7" Mix) - 4:45

Other appearances[]

Albums:

Videos:

Personnel[]

Arcadia are:

With:

Also credited:

Lyrics[]

Whose tears on a gaping voice
Who's stretching arms match the hunger of mine
These lips will they never join
Always draw me closer and further entwined

With a promise dealer understand, all freedoms fade away
To a point of view where many different pathways meet
And we're standing on this precipice with nothing much to save
But the deep blue screams of falling dreams with our next move

Heaven hide your eyes
Heaven's eyes will never dry

The shades of a thousand steel
Come flashing by my face in the fury of war
In desolation and abandoned fields
The hungry make their stand when they'll stand for no more

Hear the passion in their voices, see the heaven in their eyes
Their hopes and schemes are waiting dreams for less than paradise
And sometimes we make promises we never mean to keep
For blackmail is the only deal a promise dealer sees

Heaven hide your eyes
Heaven's eyes will never dry
Heaven hide your eyes
Heaven's eyes will never dry

Heaven hide your eyes
Heaven's eyes will never dry
Heaven hide your eyes
Heaven's eyes will never dry

Heaven hide your eyes
Heaven's eyes will never dry

See also[]

References[]


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