World in Your Hands

"World in Your Hands" is a song by German Eurodance group Culture Beat, released in March 1994 as the fourth single and the last one marketed in almost all countries in Europe from their second album, Serenity (1993). As for other Culture Beat's singles, a CD maxi entirely composed of remixes was added among the available media a short time after. The ballad is written by Nosie Katzmann with Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweie. It was a top-10 hit in Finland and the Netherlands. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 20. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley and filmed in Sweden.

"World in Your Hands"
Single by Culture Beat
from the album Serenity
Released21 March 1994 (1994-03-21)[1]
Length5:33
LabelDance Pool
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Torsten Fenslau
Culture Beat singles chronology
"Anything"
(1993)		 "World in Your Hands"
(1994)		 "Inside Out"
(1995)
Music video
"World in Your Hands" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic editor William Cooper complimented the song as "competent and entertaining".[2] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "Just when it seemed Culture Beat records could not get any faster they suddenly release a slow one."[3] Ian Gittens from Melody Maker found that it "isn't quite so instant [as "Anything"] but it does boast the kind of killer chorus which many infinitely hipper club acts and DJs would die for."[4] Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "After a trio of big hits, it is becoming obvious that Culture Beat aren't going to disappear overnight. And this is actually a more stylish and better-written song than some of their tunes, but it will probably meet with more resistance too as it is less obvious "in your face". Basically, it is a sweet ballad, but one which has been submerged beneath heavy percussion and bass elements and, like all the group's songs, it comes with a leaden rap."[5]

Terry Staunton from NME commented, "Stress on my mind, I think I'll end it all/People tell me to stand tall/But I don't wanna live/Got nothin' to give/And I'm tired of hitting walls. Bloody hell! Continental techno pop with a suicide lyric! Can't wait to read The Chart Show captions on this one. Never mind Mr Vain, Culture Beat ought to be calling the Samaritans. Inevitably destined for the Top Ten, and surely the only hit from this or any other year that advocates topping yourself with a bullet and a shot of gin."[6] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue remarked that it lets singer Tania Evans' vocals "to really shine", adding that "at times, her vocals remind me of Neneh Cherry, and it’s actually a really nice track".[7] Sylvia Patterson from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, writing, "They are the new Snap! and to prove it they're here with a song just like all the others except it's got that "sinister" moody synth and underwater piano."[8]

Chart performance

"World in Your Hands" was a hit in most of the European countries where it was released, but it didn't reach the same level of success as the previous singles of the band. However, it entered the top 10 in both Finland and the Netherlands, reaching number four and ten, respectively. Additionally, the single was a top 20 hit in Ireland (13), Denmark (16), Germany (18), and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it reached number 20 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on 27 March 1994.[9] On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it fared better, peaking at number 17. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "World in Your Hands" peaked at number 25 in May 1994. Outside Europe, the song reached number 37 in New Zealand and number 57 in Australia.

Music video

The accompanying music video of "World in Your Hands" was directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley.[10] It was filmed in Stockholm, Sweden,[11] featuring lead singer Tania Evans performing in a winter landscape. The video was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in April 1994.[12] Broadley had previously directed the videos for the group's earlier singles, "Mr. Vain" and "Anything".

Track listings

Charts

References
  1. "Single Releases". Music Week. 19 March 1994. p. 21.
  2. Cooper, William. "Culture Beat – Serenity". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. Masterton, James (27 March 1994). "Week Ending April 2nd 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  4. Gittens, Ian (26 March 1994). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. Jones, Alan (19 March 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. Staunton, Terry (26 March 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 49. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  7. "Reviewe: "Serenity" by Culture Beat (CD, 1993)". Pop Rescue. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  8. Patterson, Sylvia (2 March 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 56. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  9. "World in Your Hands", UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 6 August 2008)
  10. "Credits - Matt Broadley". mattbroadley.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  11. "Culture Beat - World in Your Hands Music Video 1994". Eurokdj.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  12. "Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 April 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  13. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 26 Jun 1994". ARIA. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  15. "World in Your Hands", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 10 February 2008)
  16. "Culture Beat – World in Your Hands" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. Danish Singles Chart. 1 April 1994.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 7 May 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  19. Finnish peak
  20. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 6 August 2008)
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Culture Beat" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. "Culture Beat – World In Your Hands" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 27 March 1994 - 02 April 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  24. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 2 April 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  25. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 9 April 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  26. "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
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