Troy (song)

"Troy" is the debut single by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor, released in 1987 from her debut studio album The Lion and the Cobra. Written by O'Connor, the lyric is based on the poem No Second Troy by William Butler Yeats.^{[citation needed]} In 2002, a dance version of the song was released as "Troy (The Phoenix from the Flame)", becoming a top-ten hit on several international dance charts, including the US Dance Club Songs chart.

"Troy"
Single by Sinéad O'Connor
from the album The Lion and the Cobra
B-side	"Still Listening"
Released	19 October 1987[1]
Recorded	1986
Studio	Oasis Studios (London, England)
Genre	Baroque pop alternative rock pop rock
Length	6:34
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Sinéad O'Connor
Producer(s)	Sinéad O'Connor Kevin Moloney
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology
"Heroine" (1986) "Troy" (1987) "Mandinka" (1987)
Music video
"Troy" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted in his review that songs like "Troy", "Jackie" and "Jerusalem" "are compelling because of their hushed, quiet intensity".^[2] Mark Richardson from Pitchfork described the song as an "epic and visceral psychodrama", adding it is "lushly orchestrated, painting the story of desire and betrayal on a wall-sized canvas".^[3] Sal Cinquemani from Slant wrote: "...the fierce melodrama of young love and betrayal is imbued with the surrounding violence in 'Troy,' the song's crumbling romance equated with the burning of the famous Greek city." He added the song "is, perhaps, the album's defining moment, exhibiting all of the traits—vulnerability, fury, conviction, theatricality—the infamously outspoken singer-songwriter would become known for in the years that followed".^[4] In the documentary Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares (2022), she explained that the song is about a traumatic experience during her childhood involving her mother.^{[citation needed]}

Music video

The video featured O'Connor, completely bald and covered with gold and silver body paint, singing to a background of moving images including flames. The building featured in several shots is on Montpelier Hill, just south of Dublin, known as the Hell Fire Club.

Live performances

O'Connor sang "Troy" live only during the year after it was released at Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands,^[5] subsequently refusing to do so ^{[citation needed]} until 2008, when she performed at the Night of the Proms in Belgium and the Netherlands.

"In Dublin I was doing this show one night," she recalled, "and somebody yelled out, 'Troy, Troy.' And I went, I'm fucking troying."^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Troy" (original version) Chart (1987–1988) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 8 Weekly chart performance for "Troy" (remix version) Chart (2002) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 35 UK Singles (OCC)[11] 48 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 3

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Troy" (original version) Chart (1988) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 79

References

1. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 47.
2. "Sinéad O'Connor - The Lion and the Cobra". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
3. Richardson, Mark (24 April 2009). "Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Limited Edition)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
4. Cinquemani, Sal (3 August 2007). "Review: Sinéad O'Connor, The Lion and the Cobra". Slant. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
5. Sinéad O'Connor - Troy (Pinkpop Festival 1988) Youtube.com, 4 maart 2007
6. Doyle, Tom (October 2005). "The Mojo interview". Mojo. No. 143. p. 42.
7. "Sinéad O'Connor – Troy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
9. "Sinéad O'Connor – Troy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
10. "Sinéad O'Connor – Troy (The Phoenix From The Flame)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
12. "Sinead O'Connor Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
13. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2021.