B-side Remix Length 3:55 | Released 15 November 1992 Label Epic, Dance Pool | |
Format CD single, CD maxi,
7" single, 12" maxi Genre World/Ethnic electronica | ||
"Sweet Lullaby" is a song by French world music/ethnic electronica Deep Forest which originally appeared on their eponymous album. The song gained popularity in 1992 and 1993 when it was released as a single, becoming a top 30 hit in many European and Oceanian countries. In 1994, it was re-released in remixed versions.
Contents
Song information
The song is based around a traditional Baegu lullaby from the Solomon Islands called "Rorogwela", and uses a vocal sample originally recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp in 1970 and later released by UNESCO as part of their Musical Sources collection. The lyrics refer to a young orphan being comforted by his older brother despite the loss of their parents.
For a time, Australian TV network SBS used the song as its theme.
Music video
The music video, directed by Tarsem Singh, was also nominated for several awards at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. The video consists of a little girl riding a tricycle in front of iconic scenes from around the globe (e.g. Moscow, Barcelona, New York City, Varanasi, and other locations).
Chart performances
The debut single for the group, "Sweet Lullaby" was a success for Deep Forest, reaching #3 in Norway, #7 on the Australian ARIA Charts, #10 on the British charts, #78 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100, and the Top 20 in France and Switzerland.