"Joy"
Single by Staxx featuring Carol Leeming
B-side"Remix"
Released1993
Genre
Length
  • 3:37 (Love Joy Serious vocal edit)
  • 3:22 (original edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Simon Thorne
  • Tom Jones
Producer(s)
  • Simon Thorne
  • Tom Jones
Staxx featuring Carol Leeming singles chronology
"Joy"
(1993)		 "You"
(1995)
Music video
"Joy" on YouTube

"Joy" is the debut single by British house music studio project Staxx, assembled by producers Simon Thorne and Tom Jones. It was released in 1993 and features singer Carol Leeming, becoming a number-one hit on both the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart[1] and the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number 25. Its music video was directed by Lindy Heymann.

Chart performance

"Joy" was a club staple and a notable hit on the charts in several countries, peaking at number-one on both the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US (in February 1994) and the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada (in May 1994). In Europe, it was a top 20 hit in Denmark (20), and a top 30 hit in Switzerland (30) and the UK. In the latter, it peaked at number 25 in its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on October 10, 1993.[2] On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it hit number two. In the Netherlands, "Joy" was a top 40 hit, reaching number 33. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached its highest position as number 70, while on the European Dance Radio Chart, it peaked at number six. In Australia, it reached number 90.

In 1997, the song was released in a new remix, this time reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, number five on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number two on the UK Club Chart.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "this smokin' anthem is cast in a mold similar to Culture Beat's "Mr. Vain", wrapping a brain-embedding hook around a rapid, percolating beatbase. [...] Icing on the cake is Carol Leeming's spirited vocal appearance on several mixes."[3] In the magazine's single review, he also noted that it "has a roaring and frenetic rave-ish undercurrent", complimenting the singer as "a charming presence, playfully wrapping her feline voice around the song's ear-catching chorus and refrain."[4] Maria Jimenez from Music & Media remarked that the track "is spreading like musical wildfire."[5] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described it as a "typically excellent Carol Leeming wailed and scatted catchy soul-funk-gospel-garage-house with so many "joy"-ful influences that it's instantly familiar".[6] Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty deemed it a "delectable dance tune to liven up your current library of down-tempo jams and ballads."[7] David Petrilla from The Weekender concluded that "this song deserves all the attention it will get. It's upbeat, happy, well produced and performed. 'Joy' has what it takes to enjoy a long stay in most DJs play stacks. I wouldn't be surprised if it even crosses over to radio, but remember you heard it first on the dance floor!"[8]

On the 1997 remix, Flick from Billboard declared it as a "cute Euro-NRG ditty" and a "wonderfully bright and anthemic jam". He added, "Leeming has a sassy vocal style to offset the oh-so-happy music. She knocks off a few festive vamps and refrains that should stick to the brains of programmers within seconds."[9] Chris Finan from Music Week's RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, commenting, "Far and away a cracking record in its own right, Champion relives the moment with some deft reworkings by Grand Larceny and Monde. The best way to update this would have been to stick closely to all the hooks that made it the first time and that's exactly what's been done. Mondo just updates the tune, retaining the complete Carol Leeming vocal and using similar synth hooks over the top. An old favourite that will probably become a new favourite."[10]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Lindy Heymann.[11] It features singer Carol Leeming and two dancers performing in an empty swimming pool. The video was later published on YouTube in 2009.[12]

Track listing

Charts

See also

References

  1. ↑ Billboard
  2. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 10 October 1993 - 16 October 1993". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  3. ↑ Flick, Larry (January 8, 1994). "Dance Trax: U.K.'s deconstruction Label Builds A Roster With Klass" (PDF). Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  4. ↑ Flick, Larry (January 8, 1994). "Single Reviews: New and Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  5. ↑ Jimenez, Maria (January 29, 1994). "Groovemix: Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 8. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, James (October 2, 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ Cermak, Wendi (January 28, 1994). "Crossover: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 32. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  8. ↑ Petrilla, David (February 2, 1994). "Record Review and New Releases". p. 14. The Weekender.
  9. ↑ Flick, Larry (August 3, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 90. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Finan, Chris (July 5, 1997). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 8. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Lindy Heymann". Mvdbase.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Staxx - Joy OFFICIAL VIDEO". YouTube. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 05 Jun 1994". Retrieved March 6, 2016 – via ARIA.
  14. ↑ "RPM Dance". RPM. May 23, 1994. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. October 30, 1993. p. 21. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  16. ↑ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. February 19, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Staxx - Joy" (in Dutch). Top40.nl. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Staxx of Joy - Dutch chart". Dutchcharts.nl. January 21, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Staxx of Joy - Swiss chart". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Official Charts > Staxx". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 2, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 14, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Staxx of Joy - US Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  24. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 266.
  25. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. September 20, 1997. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 07 September 1997 - 13 September 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (07 September 1997-13 September 1997)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  28. ↑ "The Club Chart 12.07.97" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). July 12, 1997. p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  29. ↑ "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). December 25, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994". RPM. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  31. ↑ "The Club Top 100 of 1997" (PDF). Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental insert). January 10, 1998. p. 5. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
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