Kyrie (song)

Single infobox |
Name = Kyrie


Artist = Mr. Mister
from Album = Welcome to the Real World
Released = December, 1985
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded =
Genre = Pop rock
Length = 4:25
Label = RCA Records
Writer = R. Page/S. George/J. Lang
Producer = Mr. Mister & Paul DeVilliers
Chart position =
*#1 (US Billboard Hot 100)
*#11 (UK Singles Chart)
*#7 (German Singles Chart)
*#1 (Norwegian Singles Chart)
*#3 (Swiss Singles Chart)
Last single = "Broken Wings" (1985)
This single = "Kyrie"
(1985)
Next single = "Is It Love"
(1986)

"Kyrie" was a #1 hit song by the 1980s pop/rock band Mr. Mister, from their 1985 album "Welcome to the Real World". Released in late 1985, it hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in March of 1986, where it was #1 for two weeks.

Kýrie, eléison, which means "Lord, have mercy" is a part many liturgical rites in Eastern and Western Christianity. "Kýrie, eléison; Christé, eléison; Kýrie, eléison" is a prayer that asks for, "Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy". The words "Kýrie, eléison" translate from the Greek as "Lord, have mercy" (or "O Lord, have mercy"). [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mkyrie.html Kýrie, eléison] - Translation from the StraightDope]

Background and writing

The words to "Kyrie" were written by lyricist John Lang who co-wrote the songs on all of Mr. Mister's albums. The music was composed by Richard Page and Steve George while on tour with Adam Ant, and according to Page it is essentially a prayer. [http://www.retrorewind.com/tales/mrmr.htm Richard Page discusses Kyrie] - RetroRewind interview]

The song's lyrics cleverly uses the phrase "Kýrie, eléison"::"Kýrie, eléison, down the road that I must travel:Kýrie, eléison, through the darkness of the night" The video for this song was directed by Nick Morris, and features the band in performance mixed with footage taken at the tail end of their Fall 1985 tour with Tina Turner. [http://users.skynet.be/sky67891/history.htm Kyrie details] - from Mr. Mister fansite]

There is an urban legend that singer Richard Page wrote this song while lying in a hospital bed following an unprovoked attack. John Lang has stated that he was the one who was attacked, three years before "Kyrie" was written, and that the incident has nothing to do with the song. [ [http://www.jerryosborne.com/6-14-04.htm Lang letter to "Mr. Music"] - dated June, 2004]

Track listing

7" single

#"Kyrie" (single edit) - 4:10
#"Run to Her" - 3:36

12" single

#"Kyrie" (album length) - 4:24
#"Run to Her" - 3:36
#"Hunters of the Night" - 5:07

The single edit of the song ends with the a cappella phrase "Kýrie, eléison, down the road that I must travel", while the album version simply fades out.

Trivia

* Mr. Mister performed "Kyrie" (along with "Broken Wings") live on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 7, 1985.
* Contemporary Christian group East to West covered this song on their debut album "East to West".
* Mark Schultz sings a remixed version of this song on his album "Song Cinema" (2002).
* John LaBarbera arranged a version of this song for his big band album "Fantazm" (2005).
* An a capella version of the song is performed by a young actress in the film "The Squid and the Whale" (2005).
* Susanna Fields covered this song on her album "All of This Is Really Me" (2006).
* On several of his tours, Clay Aiken also covered this song.

Notes

Links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb0Gak88lDA Kyrie] - Video courtesy of YouTube