Kyrie (song)

"Kyrie" (/ˈkiːri.eɪ/) is a song by American pop rock band Mr. Mister, from their album Welcome to the Real World. Released around Christmas in 1985, it hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1986, where it was number 1 for two weeks. It also hit the top spot on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart for one week. In the UK, the song peaked at number 11 in March 1986.

For other uses, see Kyrie (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Kylie (song).
"Kyrie"
Single by Mr. Mister
from the album Welcome to the Real World
B-side
  • "Run to Her"
  • "Hunters of the Night"
ReleasedDecember 1985 (US)[1]
Recorded1985
GenrePop rock[2][3]
Length
  • 4:25 (album version)
  • 4:10 (single/video version)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mr. Mister singles chronology
"Broken Wings"
(1985)		 "Kyrie"
(1985)		 "Is It Love"
(1986)
Music video
"Kyrie" on YouTube

Background and writing

The lyrics to "Kyrie" were written by Arizona-born 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.

In Greek, Kýrie, eléison means "Lord, have mercy" and is a part of many liturgical rites in both Eastern and Western Christianity. Kýrie, eléison; Christé, eléison; Kýrie, eléison is a prayer that asks "Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy."[4] According to Page the entire song is, essentially, a prayer.[5]

There is a myth that singer Richard Page wrote "Kyrie" while lying in a hospital bed after being assaulted. John Lang has stated that he was the one who was assaulted, three years before the composition, and that the incident has nothing to do with the song.[6]

The video was directed by Nick Morris, and features the band in performance mixed with footage taken at the tail end of their Autumn 1985 tour with Tina Turner.[7]

"Kyrie" was used in the hit U.S. TV series Miami Vice during season two, episode fourteen "One-Way Ticket". It was also used in the Netflix series' GLOW as well as the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs. The U.S. 7" single can be found pressed on transparent purple vinyl or polystyrene, depending on where it was manufactured.

Reception

Cash Box said it's a "booming track which...features top musicianship and a soaring chorus hook."[8]

Personnel

Credits sourced from Mix[9]

Track listing
7" single
  1. "Kyrie" (single edit) – 4:10
  2. "Run to Her" – 3:36
12" single
  1. "Kyrie" (album version) – 4:24
  2. "Run to Her" – 3:36
  3. "Hunters of the Night" – 5:07

The single edit (which was also used for the video version) ends with the a cappella phrase "Kýrie, eléison, down the road that I must travel", while the album version simply fades out.

Charts

Cover versions

In 1993, Acappella Vocal Band, a traditional Southern gospel group, included a version of the song on their album U And Me And God Make 5 (Word). The group later recorded a Spanish version of the song as well. Also in 1993, the song, retitled as "Kyrie Eleison", was covered by Contemporary Christian music duo East to West on their self-titled debut album.

Contemporary Christian artist Mark Schultz recorded it for his 2001 album Song Cinema.[41]

Notes
  1. - Mr. Mister Mr. Mister- History Archived 2017-07-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 1-14-2012.
  2. Breihan, Tom (March 5, 2021). "The Number Ones: U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 10, 2022. But "Kyrie" sounded very much like a circa-1986 pop-rock song.
  3. Smith, Troy L. (13 May 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. Kýrie, eléison – Translation from the StraightDope
  5. Richard Page discusses Kyrie Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine – RetroRewind interview
  6. Lang letter to "Mr. Music" – dated June, 2004
  7. Kyrie details Archived 2017-07-20 at the Wayback Machine – from Mr. Mister fansite
  8. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. December 21, 1985. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  9. "Classic Tracks: Mr. Mister's "Kyrie"". mixonline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 210. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  12. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0646." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  14. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9445." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  15. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3, no. 12. March 29, 1986. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  16. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kyrie". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mr Mister" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  19. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  20. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie". Top 40 Singles.
  21. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie". VG-lista.
  22. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie". Singles Top 100.
  23. "Mr. Mister – Kyrie". Swiss Singles Chart.
  24. "Mr Mister: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  25. "Mr. Mister Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  26. "Mr. Mister Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  27. "Mr. Mister Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  28. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 8, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  29. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mr. Mister – Kyrie" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  30. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 29, 1986 – via Imgur.
  31. "Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  32. "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  33. "European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 28. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  34. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  35. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  36. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  37. "Mainstream Rock Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  38. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 27, 1986. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  39. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  40. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  41. "Song Cinema - Mark Schultz - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
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