The Sign (song)

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"The Sign" is a song by the Swedish band Ace of Base, which was released on 29 October 1993 in Europe. It was an international hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and spending six non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. More prominently, it became the top song on Billboard's 1994 Year End Chart. It appeared on the band's album Happy Nation (titled The Sign in North America).

Video The Sign (song)

Background

In Europe, Ace of Base's debut album was called Happy Nation, and when Arista was prepping the American album release, the label thought it could use a few new tunes. Ace of Base had already written "The Sign" for their second album. The execs decided to not only hasten its release, but also to make the song the title track.

Maps The Sign (song)

Composition

"The Sign" has been described as a "techno-reggae confection with a killer chorus". It's seemingly about a couple contemplating the state of their relationship and deciding to split up, a summation Jonas Berggren in an interview has stated is "more or less" correct.

The song is performed in the key of G major for the verses and chorus but in G minor for the intro and instrumental breaks. The song follows a tempo of 97 beats per minute in common time. The group's vocals span from A₃ to E₅.

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Critical reception

Neil Strauss from The New York Times wrote about the song: "Ace of Base creates another pop ballad about an imperfect relationship by repeating a deceptively mystical hook ("I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes") over a minimal bass line." Music & Media commented: "More pop reggae from the same Swedish chiefs."

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Chart performance

In Europe "The Sign" reached #1 in Denmark, Finland, Germany and Spain. At November 28 it entered the Eurochart Hot 100 at #29 and peaked at #2 eight weeks later. It also peaked at #1 in Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Canada and Zimbabwe. And in the US it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Hot 100 charts.

The song was the No. 1 song of 1994 according to Billboard magazine's year-end charts. The song was ranked at number 60 on The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs for the first 50 years of the Hot 100 chart and received a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance By a Group or Duo at the 1995 Grammy Awards.

"The Sign" entered the European airplay chart Border Breakers at number 10 on November 21, 1993, due to crossover airplay in Central-Europe. It also peaked twice at number 1; on December 18, staying for five weeks and again on March 9 for a two week stay. Together, "The Sign" and Ace of Base's next single "Don't Turn Around" monopolised either the number 1 or 2 spot on Border Breakers for 36 weeks. "The Sign" in the end of 1994 also held the record for longest-running single on Border Breakers, with a total of 42 weeks before slipping off on August 20.

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Music video

The music video of the song features the pop group singing amidst romantic and joyful images; "The Sign" was depicted as a computer generated ankh (also known as key of life) and a djed (ancient Egyptian symbol representing stability). The music video is directed by Mathias Julien.

Amid the images is a little story of a man and woman sitting side by side until the man leaves, seemingly abandoning the woman. However, he comes back with a rose and offers it to the woman. The woman graciously accepts and takes his hand. However, a bright light shines in the woman's face, drawing her away, abandoning the man and dropping the rose on the chair.

The video was released in five different edits throughout various territories. In the US, the original edit of the video was later re-edited, changing some of the shots with Jenny in the foreground from black and white to color. Other versions show more shots of the group singing with their backs in a circle, as well as more shots of Linn singing her parts in her solo black and white take.

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Usage in media

The song was heavily featured in the fifth season finale of American Dad!, "Great Space Roaster". The song has also been covered in the TV series Full House, in which fictional band "Girl Talk", led by character Stephanie Tanner, mess up the song during the performance. Girl Talk performed the song again in Fuller House. The song is also played in the South Park episode "Prehistoric Ice Man," the 2012 comedy Pitch Perfect and in the pilot of Hindsight. In 2016, it was covered in a commercial for Uncle Ben's rice.

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Track listings

CD single - Australia

1. "The Sign" - 3:08
2. "The Sign" (Long Version) - 4:43

CD single - Germany

1. "The Sign" (The Remix) - 5:40
2. "The Sign" (Ultimix) - 6:49
3. "The Sign" (Dub Version) - 5:10

CD single - Japan

1. "The Sign" - 3:08
2. "Young And Proud" - 3:56

CD single - UK

1. "The Sign" - 3:08
2. "The Sign" (Long Version) - 4:43
3. "The Sign" (Dub Version) - 5:10

CD single - U.S.

1. "The Sign" (Ultimix) - 6:49
2. "The Sign" - 3:08
3. "Young And Proud" - 3:56
4. "Happy Nation" (12" Version) - 6:40

CD maxi - France

1. "The Sign" (Radio Edit) - 3:08
2. "The Sign" (Long Version) - 4:43
3. "The Sign" (Dub Version) - 5:10

7" single - France

1. "The Sign" (Radio Edit) - 3:08
2. "The Sign" (Long Version) - 4:43

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Official versions

• Album Version
• Ultimix
• Dub Version
• Long Version
• The Remix
• Ultimix Remix
• Freedom Bunch Mix (2009)

On several of the band's compilation albums, an error occurred with "The Sign", cutting one second from the beginning.

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Personnel

• Vocals by Linn Berggren, Jenny Berggren and Jonas Berggren
• Backing vocals by Jenny Berggren, Linn Berggren, Jonas Berggren and Douglas Carr
• Written by Jonas Berggren
• Produced by Denniz Pop, Douglas Carr and Jonas Berggren
• Recorded at Cheiron Studios

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Charts and sales

Chart successions

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References

External links

• "The Sign" Official music video on YouTube
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Source of the article : Wikipedia