Released 11 November 1996 Genre Raga rock Label Columbia | Format Single (music) Length 4:57 Producer(s) John Leckie | |
"Govinda" is a song by the British rock band Kula Shaker, released on their debut album, K, on 16 September 1996. It was also issued as a single, on 11 November, and peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. "Govinda" is notable for its heavy Indian influences and includes tambura and tabla instrumentation. The song is also the only British top-ten hit to be sung entirely in Sanskrit.
Lead singer and guitarist Crispian Mills said that the song was born out of an improvisation and based on a Hindu prayer to Krishna. The words Govinda jaya jaya literally mean "Krishna (the Divine Cowherd), Glory, Glory". The text is taken from a Sanskrit devotional chant, titled "Govinda Jaya Jaya". The latter was previously recorded in 1970 by devotees from the London Radha Krishna Temple and released as the B-side of their single "Govinda" (a different song), produced by George Harrison.
Kula Shaker made a music video for the song, directed by Michael Geoghegan. The cover artwork for the single featured a Longines Conquest watch, with the band logo and song title in place of the Longines branding. An alternative version of the track, called "Govinda '97, Hari & ST. George", appeared on Kula Shaker's Summer Sun EP, released in July 1997.