A Song of Joy

{{Infobox song

| name = A Song of Joy

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Miguel Ríos

| album =

| B-side = El Rio

| released = 1969

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock, pop

| length = 4:45

| label = A&M

| writer = Orbe (Spanish lyrics)
Ross Parker (English lyrics)
Waldo de los Rios (musical adaptation)
Ludwig van Beethoven

| producer = Hispavox

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

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}}

"A Song of Joy" ("Himno de la alegría") is the title of a popular rock song by the Spanish singer and actor Miguel Ríos. It is set to the tune of the Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, as arranged by Waldo de los Ríos, who specialized in arranging classical music to contemporary rhythms.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)

The same melody is used in the well-known Christian hymn, "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee."

The single was enormously popular in many countries in 1970 (see 1970 in music), reaching number 1 on music charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the Easy Listening chart in the United States. On the U.S. pop chart, the song peaked at number 14 and was the only Top 40 hit for Ríos. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 16 on the British pop chart.[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/It%20Don%27t%20Come%20Easy Official Charts Company info] OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 12 August 2009. In Germany, the song is the most successful pop hymn ever.{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.de/cms/unterhaltung/tv-programm/show/die-ultimative-chartshow/ergebnis_pophymnen.html |title=Ergebnis Pophymnen |publisher=RTL.de |access-date=2011-08-20}}

The single sold over four million copies worldwide.

The song was used for hymns and anthems. It is most popularly used for the anthem of Teleton (Chile) and its other telethons.

Chart history

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1969–70)

!Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |author-link= David Kent (historian) |title= Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= St Ives, N.S.W. |year= 1993 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6|title-link= Kent Music Report }}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Canada RPM Top Singles{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3816.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - July 25, 1970}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Germany

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Indonesia (Aktuil){{cite web

|url = https://museummusikindonesia.id/2020/08/08/aktuil-edisi-061-th-1970/

|title = Aktuil Magazine 61

|author = Aktuil

|date = 1970

}}

| style="text-align:center;"|2

{{single chart|Ireland2|16|song=A Song of Joy|access-date=August 4, 2019}}
New Zealand (Listener)[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=3619#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 21 September 1970]

| style="text-align:center;"|5

South Africa (Springbok){{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(R).html|access-date=5 September 2018}}

|align="center"|3

Switzerland

| style="text-align:center;"|1

UK{{cite web|title=Official Charts Company |url=http://Officialcharts.com |access-date=2019-08-01}}

| style="text-align:center;"|16

US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}

| style="text-align:center;"|14

US Billboard Easy Listening

| style="text-align:center;"|1

US Cash Box Top 100{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19700711.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 11, 1970 |access-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608160228/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19700711.html |archive-date=June 8, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

|align="center"|9

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1970)

! style="text-align:center;"|Rank

Australia {{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |author-link= David Kent (historian) |title= Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= St Ives, N.S.W. |year= 1993 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6|title-link= Kent Music Report }}

| style="text-align:center;"|17

Canada {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3740&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3740.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3740|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca|date=17 July 2013 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|33

Switzerland [http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1970 Swiss Year-End Charts, 1970]

| style="text-align:center;"|1

US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual){{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1999 |title=Pop Annual |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0-89820-142-X}}

| style="text-align:center;"|122

US Billboard Easy Listening{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=2162|title = Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1970 - 45cat}}

| style="text-align:center;"|16

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See also

References

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