Sweet Lullaby
Encyclopedia
"Sweet Lullaby" is a world music
/ethnic electronica
song by Deep Forest
which originally appeared on their eponymous album
. The song gained popularity in 1992 and 1993 where it was released as a single, becoming a top 30 hit in many European and Oceanian countries. In 1994, it was re-released in remixed versions.
lullaby
from the Solomon Islands
called "Rorogwela", and uses a vocal sample
originally recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp in 1970 and later released by UNESCO
as part of their Musical Sources collection. The lyrics refer to a young orphan being comforted by his older brother despite the loss of their parents.
The music video
, directed by Tarsem Singh
, was also nominated for several awards at the 1994
MTV Video Music Awards
. The video consists of a little girl riding a tricycle in front of iconic scenes from around the globe.
In 2005, the song gained renewed exposure when it was featured in Matt Harding
's Where the Hell is Matt? viral video
. The video featured the Nature's Dancing 7" Mix of the song. In 2008, Harding traveled to the Solomons island of Malaita
to try to find Afunakwa, the woman who is thought to be the performer of "Rorogwela" on Zemp's recording. According to Harding's follow-up video Where the Hell is Afunakwa?, Afunakwa had died in 1998.
The song and videoclip were used at some point in the mid-nineties to advertise the world-conscious Australian television station SBS
, accompanied by the subtext "The world is an amazing place".
The song was sampled by Moby
in his track Flying Foxes from Play: The B Sides
.
The saxophonist Jan Garbarek
recorded his own instrumental arrangement of the song on his album "Visible World" (1995), with the title "Pygmy Lullaby". In the CD cover it is erroneously stated that the melody is African.
, #10 on the British charts, #78 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 and the Top 20 in France and Switzerland.
1 "Sweet Lullaby (remix '92)"
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
/ethnic electronica
Ethnic electronica
Ethnic Electronica combines elements of Electronic and World Music and was developed in the 1990s. The term Ethnic Electronica appears in music zines, in online music-related forums and blogs, and also in a title of a 2003 compilation "Another Life: A Journey Into Ethnic Electronica"...
song by Deep Forest
Deep Forest
Deep Forest is a musical group consisting of two French musicians, Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet. They compose a style of world music, sometimes called ethnic electronica, mixing ethnic with electronic sounds and dance beats or chillout beats...
which originally appeared on their eponymous album
Deep Forest (Deep Forest album)
Deep Forest is the first and eponymous album by the musical group Deep Forest: French duo Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez. The album mixes New Age electronics with UNESCO field recordings of music from Zaire, the Solomon Islands, Burundi, Tibesti and the Sahel.A percentage of the profits from...
. The song gained popularity in 1992 and 1993 where it was released as a single, becoming a top 30 hit in many European and Oceanian countries. In 1994, it was re-released in remixed versions.
Song information
The song is based around a traditional BaeguBaeggu language
The Baeggu language is spoken by the indigenous people of the North Malaita Island in the Solomon Islands. In 1999 there were 5,900 people known to speak the language. The language is largely intelligible with Baelelea, To'aba'ita, and Lau.-External links:*...
lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
from the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
called "Rorogwela", and uses a vocal sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
originally recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp in 1970 and later released by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as part of their Musical Sources collection. The lyrics refer to a young orphan being comforted by his older brother despite the loss of their parents.
The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Tarsem Singh
Tarsem Singh
Tarsem Dhandwar Singh , known professionally as Tarsem, is an Indian director who has worked on films, music videos, and commercials.- Life and career :...
, was also nominated for several awards at the 1994
1994 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1994 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 8, 1994, honoring the best music videos from June 16, 1993, to June 15, 1994. The show was hosted by Roseanne Barr at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and this would be the last time there was a female host for the VMAs until Chelsea...
MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
. The video consists of a little girl riding a tricycle in front of iconic scenes from around the globe.
In 2005, the song gained renewed exposure when it was featured in Matt Harding
Matt Harding
Matthew "Matt" Harding , is an American traveler, video game designer, and Internet celebrity known as Dancing Matt for his viral videos that show him dancing in front of landmarks and street scenes in various international locations...
's Where the Hell is Matt? viral video
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
. The video featured the Nature's Dancing 7" Mix of the song. In 2008, Harding traveled to the Solomons island of Malaita
Malaita
Malaita is the largest island of the Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands. A tropical and mountainous island, Malaita's pristine river systems and tropical forests have not been exploited. Malaita is the most populous island of the Solomon Islands, with 140,000 people or more than a third of the...
to try to find Afunakwa, the woman who is thought to be the performer of "Rorogwela" on Zemp's recording. According to Harding's follow-up video Where the Hell is Afunakwa?, Afunakwa had died in 1998.
The song and videoclip were used at some point in the mid-nineties to advertise the world-conscious Australian television station SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
, accompanied by the subtext "The world is an amazing place".
The song was sampled by Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
in his track Flying Foxes from Play: The B Sides
Play: The B Sides
Play: The B Sides is a B-side compilation album by American electronica musician Moby. It was originally bundled in a limited edition box set in 2000 with Moby's previously acclaimed album, Play, but later released separately on July 27, 2004....
.
The saxophonist Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war Czesław Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's daughter...
recorded his own instrumental arrangement of the song on his album "Visible World" (1995), with the title "Pygmy Lullaby". In the CD cover it is erroneously stated that the melody is African.
Chart performances
The debut single for the group, "Sweet Lullaby" was a success for Deep Forest, reaching #3 in Norway, #7 on the Australian ARIA ChartsARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, #10 on the British charts, #78 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 and the Top 20 in France and Switzerland.
Track listings
CD single
CD maxi
12" maxi
|
7" single
CD single - Promo
12" maxi - Remixes
|
Peak positions
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 17 |
| German Singles Chart | 31 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 15 |
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Music Club Play | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 14 |
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
8 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 11 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 78 |
1 "Sweet Lullaby (remix '92)"
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 | 82 |