Joy (Soul II Soul song)

"Joy" is a song by British musical collective Soul II Soul, released on 23 March 1992 by Virgin as the first single from their third album, Volume III Just Right (1992). The song, co-written and produced by Jazzie B, features Jamaican singer and producer Richie Stephens and was a hit in Europe. It peaked within the top-10 in Greece and the UK, and also became a top-20 hit in Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. Outside Europe, it reached number four in Zimbabwe, number 18 in New Zealand, and number 41 in Australia. A music video was produced to promote the single.

"Joy"
Single by Soul II Soul featuring Richie Stephens
from the album Volume III Just Right
Released	23 March 1992 (1992-03-23)[1]
Genre	Funk R&B
Length	4:13
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Jazzie B Will Mowat
Producer(s)	Jazzie B
Soul II Soul singles chronology
"Missing You" (1990) "Joy" (1992) "Move Me No Mountain" (1992)
Music video
"Joy" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "slinky funk/Contemporary R&B jam that is enlivened by jazz-spiced flutes and plush string fills. Though far from the act's best material, track is head-and-shoulders above typical urban and pop radio fodder." He added that remixes by Brand New Heavies "kick hard and should inspire club play".^[2] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer deemed it "a much more mainstream sound than ever before, this new track typifies their usual sound."^[3] Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly noted that "Jamaica's Richie Stephens breathes some steam" into the dance-hall-style "Joy".^[4]

James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update called it a "lurching jiggly" track, "throatily wailed by Richie Stephens through gospel-style girls hypnotically chorusing "joy, it's a new sensation, new vibration rockin' the nation"".^[5] Cary Darling from Orange County Register said that sung by Stephens and backed by a gospel choir, the song "recaptures the motion and emotion" of "Keep on Movin'".^[6] Orla Swift from Record-Journal viewed it as "soulful".^[7] Sylvia Patterson from Smash Hits named it the "jolliest tune" of the album.^[8]

Track listings

• 12-inch single, US (1992)

1. "Joy" (New Vibrations mix) – 6:43
2. "Joy" (Spag 'N Joy dub) – 5:19
3. "Joy" (radio mix) – 4:12
4. "Joy" (12-inch club mix) – 5:49
5. "Joy" (BNH mix) – 5:10
6. "Joy" (GNL Peace version) – 5:19

• CD single, Europe (1992)

1. "Joy" (radio mix) – 4:13
2. "Joy" (Brand New Heavies remix) – 5:12
3. "Joy" (album mix) – 4:32
4. "Joy" (club mix) – 5:50
5. "Joy" (instrumental dub mix) – 3:49

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 41 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 24 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 11 Europe (European Dance Radio)[12] 1 Germany (GfK)[13] 21 Greece (Virgin)[14] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 11 Italy (Musica e dischi)[16] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 19 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 18 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 29 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 21 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 4 UK Dance (Music Week)[23] 3 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[24] 14 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[25] 13 Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[26] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Europe (European Dance Radio)[27] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 94

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 21 March 1992. p. 19. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
2. Flick, Larry (11 April 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 74. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
3. Kastanas, Andy (22 April 1992). "Sounds of Progress". p. 20. The Charlotte Observer.
4. Fox, Marisa (8 May 1992). "Volume III Just Right". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
5. Hamilton, James (21 March 1992). "DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 6. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
6. Darling, Cary (26 June 1992). "Album reviews: "Volume III: Just Right"". Orange County Register. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
7. Swift, Orla (8 May 1992). "Soul II Soul's 'Just Right' just fine". Record-Journal. p. 25. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
8. Patterson, Sylvia. Smash Hits.
9. "Soul II Soul – Joy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
10. "Soul II Soul – Joy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
11. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 17. 25 April 1992. p. 23. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
12. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 15. 11 April 1992. p. 24. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
13. "Soul II Soul – Joy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
14. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 18. 2 May 1992. p. 34. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Soul II Soul". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
16. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Soul II Soul".
17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Soul II Soul" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
18. "Soul II Soul – Joy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
19. "Soul II Soul – Joy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
20. "Soul II Soul – Joy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
21. "Soul II Soul – Joy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
23. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 4 April 1992. p. 18. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
24. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. 20 June 1992. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
25. "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 27 June 1992. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
26. • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
27. "1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
28. "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.