Right Here, Right Now (Jesus Jones song)

"Right Here, Right Now" is a song by British alternative rock band Jesus Jones from their second studio album, Doubt (1991). It was released as the album's second single on 24 September 1990. Although it spent only nine nonconsecutive weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 31, it became a top-10 hit in the United States; it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1991. The single sold over one million copies, won a BMI award, and was the song most played on college radio in 1991.[4]

"Right Here, Right Now"
Artwork variant for standard UK single releases
Single by Jesus Jones
from the album Doubt
B-side"Move Me"/"Damn Good at This" (original)
"Welcome Back Victoria" (reissue)
Released24 September 1990 (1990-09-24)
Studio
  • Matrix (London, UK)
  • Ezee (London, UK)
Genre
Length3:09
Label
Songwriter(s)Mike Edwards
Producer(s)Martyn Phillips[3]
Jesus Jones singles chronology
"Real Real Real"
(1990)
"Right Here, Right Now"
(1990)
"International Bright Young Thing"
(1991)
Music video
"Right Here, Right Now" on YouTube

Content

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The song was inspired by the Revolutions of 1989 in Europe, particularly Perestroika in the Soviet Union.[5][6] Mike Edwards has said that some of the lyrics were influenced by the band's experiences playing in Romania in February 1990 shortly after the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu.[7] The lyrics were also inspired by the 1987 Prince song "Sign o' the Times" and a 1989 cover version of it by Simple Minds, which the members of Jesus Jones had first heard during television coverage of the fall of the Berlin Wall.[7] Edwards' original demo for "Right Here, Right Now" featured samples of the Prince song, as well as guitar solos by Jimi Hendrix, but producer Martyn Phillips removed both elements from the song before the band recorded it.[7]

The official video for the song shows the band performing on stage mixed with images from contemporary political events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, news footage of the collapse of the Soviet Union and speeches by American and Soviet leaders.[8]

Reception

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The song was number 14 on a list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs by the National Review in June 2006. The list's author John J. Miller explained, "The words are vague, but they’re also about the fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War."[9]

Credits

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  • Produced by Martyn Phillips
  • Recorded at Matrix Studios and Ezee Studios in London
  • Engineer Darren Allison

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 24 September 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 10-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[24]
Japan 30 January 1991 Mini-CD [25]
United Kingdom (re-release) 8 July 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[26]

Covers

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A cover version was recorded by New Zealand band The Feelers and released as a single in 2010 and on the album Hope Nature Forgives. It was chosen as the anthem to the 2011 Rugby World Cup advertising campaign.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (8 December 2021). "The Number Ones: Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 December 2023. Jesus Jones' heart-wrenchingly optimistic end-of-history dance-rocker "Right Here, Right Now" peaked at #2 behind "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
  2. ^ a b "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best". 28 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Martyn Phillips". Martyn Phillips. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  4. ^ 1993 jesusjonesarchive.info
  5. ^ Jesus Jones Archive
  6. ^ "Still here, right now". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Simpson, Dave (16 April 2018). "Jesus Jones: how we made Right Here, Right Now". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right Now (Official Video)". Vimeo. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  9. ^ Miller, John J. "Rockin’ the Right," National Review, June 5, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Jesus Jones – Right Here, Right Now". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1552." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 42. 20 October 1990. p. V. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Jesus Jones – Right Here, Right Now" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Jesus Jones – Right Here, Right Now" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "Jesus Jones – Right Here, Right Now". Top 40 Singles.
  16. ^ "Jesus Jones – Right Here, Right Now". Swiss Singles Chart.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 27 July 1991. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. 1 June 1991. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 8 June 1991. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 9 February 1991. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  22. ^ "The Year in Music 1991: Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-14. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  23. ^ a b "The Year in Music 1991" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-41. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  24. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 22 September 1990. p. 31.
  25. ^ "ライト・ヒア,ライト・ナウ | ジーザス・ジョーンズ" [Right Here, Right Now | Jesus Jones] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  26. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 July 1991. p. 21.
  27. ^ "World Cup song fails to strike a chord with online audience". The New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2011.