| "The Arms of Orion" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US 7" single | ||||
| Single byPrince withSheena Easton | ||||
| from the albumBatman | ||||
| B-side | "I Love U in Me" | |||
| Released | October 16, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | January 25, 1989 | |||
| Studio | Paisley Park,Chanhassen | |||
| Genre | Orchestral pop | |||
| Length | 3:52 (7-inch edit) 5:03 (album version) | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Composer | Prince | |||
| Lyricist | Sheena Easton | |||
| Producer | Prince | |||
| Prince withSheena Easton singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Arms of Orion" is a 1989 song by American musicianPrince and Scottish singer and actressSheena Easton. It was the third single to be taken from Prince's 1989Batman soundtrack album. It was a Top 40 hit for them on theBillboard Hot 100 and USCash Box Top 100 charts in 198, peaking at #36 and #33 respectively.
The song is a slow, romantic ballad that is accompanied mainly by the piano. Synthesizers also play a strong role throughout the song, programmed to emulate a string section. The track also uses a subduedLinnDrum loop, and samples of rain and thunder. The lyrics, written by Sheena Easton at Prince's suggestion, allude to the constellation ofOrion.[1] Prince had to surrender all publishing rights to the songs on theBatman album including "The Arms of Orion" to Warner Bros. as part of the deal to compose, perform, and produce the soundtrack.
David Giles fromMusic Week wrote, "DecidedlyMORballad from theBatman LP which finds Prince duetting with Sheena Easton, the pair of them not sounding unlikeLionel Richie andWhitney Houston. Commercially viable, but once again "his highness" will get away with producing sub-standard floss."[2] Pan-European magazineMusic & Media called single "probably the most commercial track from theBatmanLP."[3] William Shaw ofSmash Hits was disappointed by material: "Unconvincing love ballad, with quite the corniest words ever about love and the stars and stuff."[4]
Credits from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud[5][6]
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[7] | 108 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 33 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 13 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] | 44 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 27 |
| USCash Box Top 100[12] | 33 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[13] | 36 |
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