The Emperor's New Clothes (song)

"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a song recorded by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor for her second studio album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 5 June 1990 by Ensign and Chrysalis Records and reached number three in Canada, number five in Ireland, and the top 20 in Australia and Switzerland.

"The Emperor's New Clothes"
Single by Sinéad O'Connor
from the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
B-side
Released5 June 1990
Length
  • 5:16
Label
Songwriter(s)Sinéad O'Connor
Producer(s)Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor singles chronology
"Nothing Compares 2 U"
(1990)		 "The Emperor's New Clothes"
(1990)		 "Three Babies"
(1990)
Music video
"The Emperor's New Clothes" on YouTube

Composition

Lyrically, the song is about personal tribulations amid the oppression of the world around her, while she sings: "I will live by my own policies/I will sleep with a clear conscience".[1]

Critical reception

Matthew Hocter from Albumism said that the song "shows a conviction that is part anger and part middle finger to the never-ending judgement the singer faced at the time with her star sky rocketing, scrutiny around her Catholic faith, and her role as a newly single mother."[2] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as one of several "moments of brilliance".[3] Jodi Cleesattle from American Eagle wrote that the song is "the album's closest thing to a typical rock song", noting it as "an up-front autobiographical song with even, somewhat gritty vocals and strong backing on both electric and acoustic guitars."[4] Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as "jangly",[5] adding that the "clever, guitar-laced rocker is a fine choice as a follow-up". He also said it "should confirm O'Connor's status as a viable pop radio star."[6] Tom Moon from Knight Ridder called it a "show-stopping moment" and added that it is a "bitter what-I-learned-on-the-road song".[7] Music & Media noted it as "hard-hitting pop".[8] David Giles from Music Week said it's "a rockier track" and more like "Mandinka" than "Nothing Compares 2 U", "though without any of the former's quirkiness."[9] David Quantick from NME wrote that it is a song "very heavy on specifics and is full of not very obscure lines like. "He thinks I just became famous and that's what messed me up" and the splendidly un-rock 'n' roll "You know how it is/And how a pregnancy can change you"."[10] The lyric "It seems like years since you held the baby/ While I wrecked the bedroom," according to Mark Richardson from Pitchfork, "is delivered with a muted lilt, O'Connor's voice bright and possibly a little hopeful, confident in her strength despite the weight of the past".[11] Pop Rescue wrote that the song itself is "a rockier song" than the others on the album, adding that "it really has a great rhythm and shows that Sinéad is equally at home of these harder pop rock songs. This is a brilliant track!"[12] William Shaw from Smash Hits stated that "this is the most confessional record ever" and described it as "goose-pimplingly honest" in his review.[13]

Track listing

US CD single

  1. "The Emperor's New Clothes" (LP Version) – 5:16
  2. "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Main Mix) – 4:37
  3. "What Do You Want?" – 2:58
  4. "Mandinka" (Jake's Remix) – 5:58

Personnel
  • Sinéad O'Connor – vocals, songwiter, producer, acoustic guitar
  • John Reynolds – drums
  • Andy Rourke – bass
  • Marco Pirroni – electric guitar
  • Chris Birkett – engineering

Charts

References
  1. Cinquemani, Sal (3 October 2003). "Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  2. "Sinéad O'Connor's 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  3. "Sinéad O'Connor - So Far: The Best of Sinead O'Connor". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. Cleesattle, Jodi (2 April 1990). "Pain, power essence of O'Connor's voice". American Eagle. p. 15.
  5. Coleman, Bill (31 March 1990). "Dance Trax: The Alternative Tip Is looking Sharp" (PDF). Billboard. p. 31. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  6. Coleman, Bill (16 June 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. "Sinead O'Connor produces a stunning second album". Spokane Chronicle. 23 March 1990. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  8. "Previews: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 March 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  9. Giles, David (21 July 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. Quantick, David. "SINEAD O'CONNOR – I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". NME. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  11. Richardson, Mark (24 April 2009). "Sinéad O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Limited Edition)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  12. "REVIEW: "I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN'T GOT" BY SINEAD O'CONNOR (CD, 1990)". Pop Rescue. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  13. "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 303. 11 July 1990. p. 45. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  14. "Australian-charts.com – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  17. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8003." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Emperor's New Clothes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  22. "Charts.nz – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  23. "Notowanie nr442" (in Polish). LP3. 11 August 1990. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – Sinéad O'Connor – The Emperor's New Clothes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  26. "Sinead OConnor Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  27. "Sinead OConnor Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  28. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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