Babylon (David Gray song)

"Babylon" is a song by British singer-songwriter David Gray. Originally released on 12 July 1999 as the second single from his fourth album, White Ladder (1998), it was re-released as the album's fourth single on 19 June 2000. "Babylon" peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart in June 2000 and received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in January 2021. The single also charted in the United States, peaking at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart.

"Babylon"
Single by David Gray
from the album White Ladder
B-side
  • "Lead Me Upstairs" (live)
  • "New Horizons" (live)
Released12 July 1999 (1999-07-12)
GenreFolktronica[1]
Length
  • 4:25 (album version)
  • 3:40 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)David Gray
Producer(s)
  • David Gray
  • Iestyn Polson
  • Craig McClune
David Gray singles chronology
"This Year's Love"
(1999)		 "Babylon"
(1999)		 "Please Forgive Me"
(1999)
David Gray singles chronology
"Please Forgive Me"
(1999)		 "Babylon"
(2000)		 "Please Forgive Me"
(2001)
Alternative covers
US promo CD cover

A remix titled "Babylon II" appears exclusively on the US version of the album.[2] The single's B-side, "Over My Head", also appears on the Japanese pressing of the album as a bonus track.[3] Remixes by Flightcrank were commissioned in 2000, appearing on several promotional releases.

Described as Gray's signature song,[4][5] "Babylon" is "about a love that is lost and found again".[6]

Music videos

Two videos were produced to accompany the song. Version one was released in 2000 and directed by Kieran Evans. It features David Gray singing directly into the camera as it pans from right to left across a number of scenes throughout the city of London at nighttime. A second, and stylistically similar, video was also released which shows Gray performing the song intercut with live concert footage and street scenes in San Francisco.

Track listings

UK CD single (1999)[7]

  1. "Babylon"
  2. "Lead Me Upstairs" (live at the Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin, on 16 December 1998)
  3. "New Horizons" (live at the Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin, on 16 December 1998)

UK CD and cassette single (2000); Australian CD single[8][9][10]

  1. "Babylon" (radio mix one)
  2. "Tell Me More Lies"
  3. "Over My Head"

European CD single[11]

  1. "Babylon" (radio mix one)
  2. "Tell Me More Lies"

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the 2000 UK CD single liner notes and the White Ladder album booklet.[8][12]

  • David Gray – writing, vocals, guitar, piano, production
  • Craig McClune – drums, vocals, bass, production
  • Tim Bradshaw – keyboards
  • Iestyn Polson – production, programming, engineering
  • Phil Knott – cover photo
  • Yumi Matote – design

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 12 July 1999 CD IHT [30]
United Kingdom (re-release) 19 June 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 EastWest [31]
United States 28 August 2000
RCA [32]
24 October 2000 Contemporary hit radio [33]

Cover versions

In 2008, Australian singer Kate Ceberano recorded a cover version of "Babylon" for her album So Much Beauty.[34]

References
  1. Ezell, Brice (22 March 2019). "David Gray Brings Back the Folktronica on 'Gold in a Brass Age'". PopMatters.
  2. White Ladder (US enhanced CD album liner notes). David Gray. RCA Records. 2000. 07863 69351-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "David Gray White Ladder Japan Promo CD ALBUM (222673)". Eil.com. 2 August 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. Papadatos, Markos (5 June 2019). "Review: David Gray puts on high-octane show at Beacon Theatre in New York (Includes first-hand account)". www.digitaljournal.com.
  5. Doyle, Pip (19 July 2022). "'It Really Is Like Time Travel': David Gray On The 20th Anniversary Of White Ladder". 96fm.com.
  6. Berezow, Alex (14 January 2023). "5 great (and underrated) songs about cities". BigThink.com.
  7. Babylon (UK CD single liner notes). David Gray. IHT Records. 1999. IHT CDS002, 5033826 1403 2 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Babylon (UK CD single liner notes). David Gray. IHT Records, EastWest Records. 2000. EW215CD1, 8573-83703-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Babylon (UK cassette single sleeve). David Gray. IHT Records, EastWest Records. 2000. EC215C.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Babylon (Australian CD single liner notes). David Gray. IHT Records, EastWest Records. 2000. 8573854242.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Babylon (European CD single liner notes). David Gray. IHT Records, EastWest Records. 2000. 8573848102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. White Ladder (UK CD album booklet). David Gray. IHT Records. 1998. IHTCD001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Issue 580" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 28. 8 July 2000. p. 8. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  15. "David Gray – Babylon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography David Gray". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. "David Gray – Babylon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  18. "David Gray – Babylon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  21. "David Gray Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. "David Gray Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  23. "David Gray Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  24. "David Gray Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  25. "David Gray Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  26. "David Gray Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  27. "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. 20 January 2001. p. 25.
  28. "Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  29. "British single certifications – David Gray – Babylon". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  30. "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 July, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 10 July 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  31. "New Releases – For Week Starting June 19, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 June 2000. p. 23. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  32. "Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2319. 25 August 2000. p. 28.
  33. "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1373. 20 October 2000. p. 48. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  34. "Kate Ceberano - So Much Beauty". 30 April 2008 – via www.discogs.com.
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