Released July 20, 1991 Genre Dance-pop Label Virgin | Format cassette, vinyl, CD Length 4:32 | |
Recorded 1990—1991
Studio Masters
(Los Angeles, California)
Sunset Sound Studios
(Los Angeles, California) | ||
"The Promise of a New Day" is the second single (and lead-off track) from American artist Paula Abdul's album Spellbound. The song was written by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith. The single was released to radio while the hit "Rush Rush" was still at the top of radio airplay and the pop charts.
Contents
Song information
The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 14, 1991, becoming Abdul's sixth chart-topping single, and her last #1 hit to date.
Music video
The video for the song was recorded in front of a green screen in Hawaii. However, since Abdul was unable to film the clip due to other commitments, she shot the necessary scenes elsewhere, which were then edited into the video. Production took place during the week of July 8, 1991.
The video caused controversy when originally aired mainly because it appeared to make Abdul look taller and thinner than she actually was. However, on Pop Up Video, VH1 (and Abdul in a filmed segment) secured that the clip had been edited in such a way as to make the dancers appear closer together.
Track listings and formats
US Promo 5" CD
- The Promise Of A New Day - 7" Edit (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast 7" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast 12" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - Extended Club Version (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast Dub (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
UK 12" Record
- The Promise of a New Day - West Coast 12" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise of a New Day - Album Version (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise of a New Day - Extended Club Version (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
US Cassette
- The Promise of a New Day - 7" Edit (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
- The Promise of a New Day - 12" Mix/West Coast 12" (Peter Lord; V. Jeffrey Smith)
Official remixes
In the media
The television series In Living Color made a parody music video of this single (titled "Promise Of a Thin Me") featuring Kelly Coffield as Paula referencing that the "stretched out" appearance of the video was to make Paula Abdul look tall and thin and alleged that Paula wasn't singing on key and paid others to do it for her.
Cover versions
The song was covered by American indie band Mirror Ball Associates for the album Covers Vol. 1, which features Paul Durham (lead singer of Black Lab) on vocals.