Obsession (Army of Lovers song)

Obsession is a 1991 song recorded by Swedish band Army of Lovers. It is one of their most well-known songs and scored chart success across Europe. The single was released as the second single from their second album, Massive Luxury Overdose and went to number-one in both the radio and the dance charts in Sweden.[1] "Obsession" also peaked at number 2 in the Sweden, number 4 in Belgium, number 7 in Austria and Germany, and number 9 in Finland. The lyrics are written by Alexander Bard and Anders Wollbeck and the song is in part inspired by Laurie Anderson's 1981 song "O Superman".

"Obsession"
Single by Army of Lovers
from the album Massive Luxury Overdose
B-side	"Obsession (Dub Version)"
Released	September 1991 and 1992
Recorded	Sonet Studios, Stockholm
Genre	Downtempo Synth-pop
Length	3:40
Label	Ton Son Ton
Songwriter(s)	Alexander Bard Anders Wollbeck
Producer(s)	Alexander Bard Anders Wollbeck
Army of Lovers (1991) singles chronology
"Crucified" (1991) "Obsession" (1991) "Candyman Messiah" (1991)
Army of Lovers (1992) singles chronology
"Judgment Day" (1992) "Obsession" (1992) "Israelism" (1993)
Music video
"Obsession" (1991) on YouTube
Music video
"Obsession" (1992) on YouTube
Alternative Cover

In 1992, they re-released the single exclusively for the U.S and includes remixes only found in this version. It got released in September, exactly a year apart from the original release, and went to number 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Critical reception

Music & Media described the song as "slow disco".[2] In their review of Massive Luxury Overdose, British newspaper Newcastle Evening Chronicle wrote that it's "mesmerising".[3]

Chart performance

"Obsession" was successful on the charts in Europe. It reached number 2 in the band's native Sweden, being held off reaching the top spot by Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". The song stayed within the Top 10 for six weeks. Additionally, it went to number-one on both the Swedish Radio Chart and the Dance Chart. It managed to climb into the Top 10 also in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, "Obsession" peaked at number 67 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on December 22, 1991.[4] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it hit number 29 in February 1992. That year, it charted also in the United States, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs.

Music video

The band released two versions of the music video. The first version, from 1991, features La Camilla. But after Camilla left the group, she was replaced by De La Cour who appear in the second version from 1992.

Both videos were directed by Swedish director Fredrik Boklund.[5][6] He also directed the other music videos for Army of Lovers. The first version of "Obsession" was published on YouTube in May 2016. By September 2020, the video had more than 4,1 million views.[7]

Single track listing

7" single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Obsession" (Radio Edit)	3:40
2.	"Obsession" (Dub Version)	3:43

12" maxi

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)	6:40
2.	"Obsession" (Radio Edit)	3:40
3.	"Obsession" (Armageddon Mix)	4:09
4.	"Obsession" (Hermaphrodisiac Mix)	4:49

CD single, Australia (1991)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Obsession" (Radio Edit)	3:40
2.	"Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)	6:40
3.	"Obsession" (Dub Version)	3:43

12" maxi, U.S. (1992)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Obsession" (Compulsion Mix)	8:37
2.	"Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)	6:41
3.	"Obsession" (A Cappella Mix)	2:44
4.	"Obsession" (Shadowzone Dub)	8:30
5.	"Obsession" (Techno-Schizo Mix)	6:55

CD maxi, U.S. (1992)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Obsession" (Radio Edit)	3:40
2.	"Obsession" (Compulsive Radio Edit)	3:59
3.	"Obsession" (Compulsion Mix)	8:37
4.	"Obsession" (Schizoperetta Mix)	6:41
5.	"Obsession" (Shadowzone Dub)	8:30
6.	"Obsession" (Techno-Schizo Mix)	6:55

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8]	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9]	4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10]	29
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11]	9
Germany (Official German Charts)[12]	7
Greece (Virgin)[13]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	2
Sweden (Swedish Dance Chart)	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16]	67

Chart (1992)	Peak position
US Billboard Dance Club Songs[17]	11
US Billboard Dance Singles Sales[18]	11

References

1. "Spotlight: Army Of Lovers" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
2. "Spotlight: Army Of Lovers" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 October 1991. p. 24. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
3. "ALBUMS/SINGLES". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 3 December 1991. page 28. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
4. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 22 December 1991 - 28 December 1991". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
5. "Army of Lovers: Obsession (Version 1) (1991)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
6. "Army of Lovers: Obsession (Version 2) (1992)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
7. "Army Of Lovers - Obsession - First Version". YouTube. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Army Of Lovers – Obsession" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
9. "Ultratop.be – Army Of Lovers – Obsession" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
10. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
11. "Top 10 Finland" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Army Of Lovers – Obsession". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
13. "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
14. "Army Of Lovers - Obsession" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Army of Lovers – Obsession" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
16. "Official Charts > Army of Lovers". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
17. "Army of Lovers Obsession Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
18. "Army of Lovers Obsession Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2019.