Sweet Sounds of Heaven
{{Short description|2023 song by the Rolling Stones}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox single
| name = Sweet Sounds of Heaven
| type = single
| artist = the Rolling Stones featuring Lady Gaga
| cover = The Rolling Stones - Sweet Sounds of Heaven.png
| alt = A cartoon hand with an upturned palm rising out of water, with the Rolling Stones' tongue and lips logo in the corner above it
| album = Hackney Diamonds
| released = {{Start date|2023|09|28|df=yes}}
| studio = Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles, CA){{cite AV media notes |title=Hackney Diamonds |author=The Rolling Stones |year=2023 |publisher=Polydor Records}}
| genre = * Rock{{Cite web |last=Potton |first=Ed |date=2023-09-29 |title=The Rolling Stones: Sweet Sounds of Heaven review — a jam session for the gods |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/the-rolling-stones-featuring-lady-gaga-and-stevie-wonder-sweet-sounds-of-heaven-review-9rs2zhtw0 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Times |language=en-US}}
- blues{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=2023-09-28 |title=Hear Lady Gaga Go to Church on Rolling Stones' Gospel Blues 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/lady-gaga-rolling-stones-sweet-sounds-of-heaven-single-listen-1235427892/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
- soul{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=Rolling Stones Enlist Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder For 'Sweet Sounds Of Heaven' |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/rolling-stones-lady-gaga-stevie-wonder-sweet-sounds-of-heaven/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=uDiscoverMusic.com |language=en-US}}
- gospel
| length = 7:22
5:06 (edit)
| writer = * Mick Jagger
| producer = Andrew Watt
| label = Polydor
| chronology = The Rolling Stones
| prev_title = Angry
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Mess It Up
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Lady Gaga
| type = singles
| prev_title = Bloody Mary
| prev_year = 2022
| title = Sweet Sounds of Heaven
| year = 2023
| next_title = Die with a Smile
| next_year = 2024
}}
}}
"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones, featuring American singer Lady Gaga, with Stevie Wonder on piano and keys as well as James King on saxophone. It was released on 28 September 2023 as the second single from their studio album Hackney Diamonds (2023).
Release
"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was teased by the band via an Instagram post on 25 September 2023, which played a short snippet of the track and revealed its release date.{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=2023-09-25 |title=Rolling Stones Reveal Release Date for 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven' With Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/rolling-stones-sweet-sounds-of-heaven-lady-gaga-stevie-wonder-release-date-1235420814/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} A lyric video for the radio edit of the track was uploaded to the Rolling Stones' official YouTube channel on the day of its release, and an interview with the band's frontman Mick Jagger was uploaded to the Apple Music YouTube channel as well.{{Citation |title=The Rolling Stones {{!}} Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (Edit) {{!}} Feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder {{!}} Lyric Video | date=28 September 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJd5xtbEPY |access-date=2023-09-30 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Mick Jagger: The Rolling Stones "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"', Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder {{!}} Apple Music | date=28 September 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_9sFXzQ1X8 |access-date=2023-09-30 |language=en}} On December 8, a live version of the song was released, recorded at the Racket in New York.{{cite web|date=December 8, 2023|title=Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (feat. Lady Gaga) - Live at Racket, NYC|publisher=Spotify|url=https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/track/5vo05MN3AjGdbiTtnw5jbg|access-date=December 10, 2023}}
Critical reception
"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was critically acclaimed. The Telegraph rated it five out of five stars, stating that the band is in "exultant form" and calling the track "a thrilling, uplifting proto-gospel song that belongs in the very highest echelons of the Stones' starry catalogue".{{Cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |date=2023-09-28 |title=The Rolling Stones, Sweet Sound of Heaven, review: Jagger and Gaga on astonishing, exultant form |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/the-rolling-stones-lady-gaga-sweet-sound-of-heaven-review/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |issn=0307-1235}} Consequence described the "anthemic, surprisingly emotional cut" as "one of the best late-stage songs the Stones have to offer", with the vocal interplay between Jagger and Gaga "[making] the extended track feel like it breezes by in an instant".{{Cite web |last=Krueger |first=Jonah |date=2023-09-29 |title=The Rolling Stones' "Sweet Sounds of Heaven": Review |url=https://consequence.net/2023/09/the-rolling-stones-sweet-sounds-of-heaven-song-of-the-week/ |work=Consequence |access-date=2023-09-30 |language=en-US}}
American Songwriter praised the "truly epic" track as "[proof] that rock and roll and soul music can live harmoniously", while Rolling Stone further described it as a "free-flowing soul journey" with a "gospel vibe".{{Cite web |last=Houghton |first=Cillea |date=2023-09-28 |title=The Rolling Stones Drop Epic "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-rolling-stones-drop-epic-sweet-sounds-of-heaven/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2023-09-28 |title=Hear the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Lady Gaga Summon 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rolling-stones-stevie-wonder-lady-gaga-sweet-sounds-of-heaven-1234834209/ |access-date=2023-09-30 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
RTÉ deemed the track the highlight of the album, stating "this is the Stones in excelsis, a cosmic mountain range of a gospel song featuring perhaps Lady Gaga's finest-ever vocals and astounding keys and piano playing from the band's old touring partner Stevie Wonder".{{Cite web |last=Corr |first=Alan |date=2023-10-07 |title=Review: The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds |language=en-GB |publisher=RTE |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/music-reviews/2023/1003/1408831-review-the-rolling-stones-hackney-diamonds/ |access-date=2023-10-11}} The New York Times listed "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" as the fifth best song released in 2023, stating that "the song climbs to a big, gospelly finish, with Jagger and Gaga goading each other to belt more."{{cite news|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|last2=Caramanica|first2=Jon|last3= Zoladz|first3=Lindsay|date=December 6, 2023|title=Best Songs of 2023|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/arts/music/best-songs-2023.html|access-date=December 10, 2023}}
Live performance
The Stones performed the song live with Gaga for the first time as part of their set at the Racket club in New York on October 19, 2023. Gaga joined the band on stage wearing a shimmering black and red bodysuit before engaging in a "heavenly screaming match" with Jagger during the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/10/lady-gaga-rolling-stones-sweet-sounds-of-heaven-performance.html|title=Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger Had a Heavenly Screaming Match|last=Curto|first=Justin|date=October 20, 2023|access-date=August 21, 2024|website=Vulture}} The audio of the performance was later released on digital and streaming services on December 8.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sweet-sounds-of-heaven-live-at-racket-nyc-single/1719178632|title=Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (Live at Racket, NYC) - Single - Album by The Rolling Stones & Lady Gaga - Apple Music|website=music.apple.com|access-date=8 December 2023}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| UK Vinyl Singles (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-best-selling-vinyl-albums-and-singles-of-2023/|title=The Official best-selling vinyl albums and singles of 2023|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Ainsley|first=Helen|date=4 January 2024|access-date=11 January 2024}}
| 20 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Release history
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rolling Stones songs}}
{{Lady Gaga songs|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:The Rolling Stones songs
Category:Songs written by Jagger–Richards
Category:Song recordings produced by Andrew Watt (record producer)