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Streets of Philadelphia

"Streets of Philadelphia" is a song written and performed by American rock musician Bruce Springsteen for the 1993 film Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks, an early mainstream film dealing with HIV/AIDS.[4] Released as a single by Columbia Records in 1994, the song was a hit in many countries, including Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, and Norway, where it topped the singles charts. In the United States, the single peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Springsteen's 12th and latest top-10 hit.

"Streets of Philadelphia"
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Philadelphia Official Soundtrack
B-side"If I Should Fall Behind"
ReleasedFebruary 11, 1994 (1994-02-11)
StudioThrill Hill West (Beverly Hills, California)[1]
GenreSoft rock[2]
Length
  • 3:15 (single edit)
  • 3:50 (CD soundtrack version)
  • 4:12 (LP soundtrack version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bruce Springsteen[3]
Producer(s)
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"Lucky Town"
(1993)
"Streets of Philadelphia"
(1994)
"Secret Garden"
(1995)
Music video
"Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia" on YouTube

The song received critical acclaim, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song[3] and four Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television.[5] In 2004, it finished at number 68 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top songs in American cinema.[6] The song is listed among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[7]

Background and release edit

In early 1993, Philadelphia director Jonathan Demme asked Springsteen to write a song for his film, adding "I want it to play in the malls." Springsteen replied, "Well, I'm interested, so I'd like to come up with a song for you. If you give me some time, I'll see, but I can't promise." Springsteen recalled adding, "I'm not very good at scores".

In late August 1993, following the conclusion of the 1992-1993 World Tour, Springsteen recorded a demo of his completed song at Thrill Hill Recording in Beverly Hills, California, including all the song's instrumentation. He mailed the tape to Demme, who later said, "my wife and I sat down and listened to it, and we were literally weeping by the end".[8] Meanwhile, background vocals were added by Tommy Sims (from the "Other Band").

In October 1993, Springsteen recorded the song at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, with Sims, Ornette Coleman on saxophone, and vocals by "Little" Jimmy Scott. It was mixed by Bob Clearmountain, included in the soundtrack, and the video was recorded. In mid-December, Springsteen replaced the video with his home demo from August, re-shooting some video scenes to eliminate Scott. The four-man combo version can be heard in a brief scene in the film when Tom Hanks exits Denzel Washington's office, but it was Springsteen alone playing over the opening credits.

"Streets of Philadelphia" was released on February 11, 1994. It is the first single from the film's original soundtrack, with Springsteen singing and playing all the instruments with Sims on background vocal.

The song became a worldwide chart success.[9] "Streets of Philadelphia" achieved greater popularity in Europe than in the United States. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but became a number-one single in Germany, France, and Austria. It peaked at number two in the United Kingdom,[3] becoming Springsteen's highest charting hit in the UK. The song reached number four in Australia, and spent five weeks at number 1 in Ireland.

As of 2012, "Streets of Philadelphia" is Springsteen's most recent top ten hit. The song was included on the album All Time Greatest Movie Songs, released by Sony in 1999.

Critical reception edit

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Springsteen's empathetic lyrics and performance zoom straight for the heart, traveling atop a slow and sturdy beat and pillowy synths. A powerful song with or without the image of the film to support it."[10] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box named it Pick of the Week, describing it as an "appropriately somber song," writing, "Written in the first person, this slow-moving ballad documents the struggle of a downtrodden and forgotten soul left to wander the dark streets, out of sight of an uncaring society. Like Hanks' character in the film, Springsteen's unfortunate draws on our sympathy, not because he asks for help but because he appears unable to help himself, an important distinction. One of The Boss’ best."[11] Kent Zimmerman from the Gavin Report concluded, "Bruce Springsteen's custom-written theme is as scary a portrait of AIDS as you're likely to hear all year long. Combining the gruesome fears of urban abandonment coupled with the tragedy of a fatal disease in just one song is surely a miracle of subtlety."[12] Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times deemed it "a moving ballad about a man whose body is being destroyed by AIDS", and "a work that shows Springsteen, despite all the questions raised by changes in his life in recent years, can still write purposeful songs that connect on a deeply emotional level." He added, "Springsteen sings in a voice that expresses the helplessness and heartache of someone dying of AIDS as convincingly as Springsteen once conveyed the dreams and aspirations of youth."[13]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "However good it may be the brooding ballad is hardly classic Bruce and can be expected to shuttle rapidly out next week".[14] A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "The man who used to walk upon E-Street, now roams the Philly lanes. This synth-dominated track from the OST Philadelphia revives the "etherealism" of Tunnel Of Love."[15] Stephen Dalton from NME wrote, "The Boss fights through eerie ambient mists and prowls in a buried, snaking backbeat as he pleads for human warmth in a freezing world. It's a heartbreaker, surpassing most of Brucie's recent chest-beating in its soulful understatement."[16] Neil Spencer from The Observer felt Springsteen's "sombre" "Streets of Philadelphia" "reflects a dark night of the soul as the disease takes hold".[17] Pete Stanton of Smash Hits gave the song four out of five, writing, "This is far gentler, far lovelier and far nicer than anything he's done for ages. Taken from the excellent film [...], this should see Bruce back in the charts."[18]

Music video edit

The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Jonathan Demme and his nephew Ted Demme in December 1993, begins by showing Springsteen walking along desolate city streets, followed by a bustling park and schoolyard, interspersed with footage from the film. After a quick shot of Rittenhouse Square, it ends with Springsteen walking along the Delaware River, with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the background. Tom Hanks is also visible as the lead character he plays in the film, looking on as Bruce begins the final verse. One newspaper review called it "the saddest track cut this decade".[8]

The vocal track for the video was recorded live with a hidden microphone, to a pre-recorded instrumental track. This technique, appropriate for emotionally intense songs for which conventional video lip-syncing would seem especially false, was used by John Mellencamp in part on his 1985 "Rain on the Scarecrow" video, and by Springsteen, in his 1987 "Brilliant Disguise" video, singing the song directly into the camera as he sits on the edge of his chair on a Sandy Hook, New Jersey sound stage.[19]

Live performances edit

Because of the song's sterling achievements in the awards world, Springsteen played the song live in three high-visibility, prime-time awards show broadcasts: at the 66th Academy Awards in March 1994, at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1994, and at the Grammy Awards of 1995 in March 1995. Between this, Philadelphia's strong box office performance, and the single being a top 10 pop hit, "Streets of Philadelphia" became one of Springsteen's best-known songs to the general music audience.

Springsteen went on to perform the song only sparingly in his concerts. In solo guitar form and missing the song's trademark synthesizers-and-drums feel, it was performed semi-regularly on the solo and stark Ghost of Tom Joad Tour between 1995 and 1997. After that, the song was performed only appearing a dozen times on the E Street Band Reunion Tour in 1999 and 2000. As of January 2016, the song has been played only a few times across the nine tours since then.

Accolades edit

Track listings edit

  • CD , 7-inch, and cassette single
  1. "Streets of Philadelphia" – 3:15
  2. "If I Should Fall Behind" – 4:43
  • CD maxi and maxi cassette
  1. "Streets of Philadelphia" – 3:15
  2. "If I Should Fall Behind" – 4:43
  3. "Growin' Up" – 3:13
  4. "The Big Muddy" – 4:11

The B-sides were selected from the previous year's live album In Concert/MTV Plugged.

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Certifications and sales edit

Certifications and sales for "Streets of Philadelphia"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[68] 3× Platinum 210,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[69] Gold 25,000*
Brazil 100,000[70]
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[71] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[72] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[74] Gold 400,000[73]
Italy (FIMI)[75] Gold 25,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[76] Gold  
United Kingdom (BPI)[77] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[78] Platinum 1,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "Streets of Philadelphia"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 11, 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
Columbia [78]
United Kingdom March 7, 1994 [79]

Cover versions edit

The song has been covered live by Jack Folland, Tori Amos, Melissa Etheridge, David Gray, Waxahatchee and Lonely the Brave. Recorded covers have been released by Ray Conniff (on his 1997 album, I Love Movies), Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Marah, Liv Kristine, Molly Johnson, Bettye LaVette, SALEM, Gregorian and I Muvrini with Anggun. Philadelphia rappers, Cassidy & the Larsiny Family have made a cover of this song on the Put Ya L in the Sky mixtape, in an effort to stop crime in the city. French artist Patrick Bruel and U2 covered the song, translating the lyrics into French while retaining the music.

After the movie Philadelphia was released, many artists covered it. In 1993, when Rhino Records assembled its box set, Academy Award Winning Songs (1934–1993), the same year, it was unable to license the Springsteen track and instead commissioned Richie Havens to record a cover version.[80]

In 2010, the French string quartet Quatuor Ébène recorded a version on their album Fiction, with drummer Richard Héry, sung by the quartet's violist Mathieu Herzog.

The song is also covered by The Fray on their album Scars and Stories, released in 2012.

In 2011, the German group Gregorian released a Gregorian chant version of the song in their album Masters of Chant Chapter VIII.

Also in 2011, Idols South Africa season seven winner Dave van Vuuren performed the song on the show and recorded it on his album Free the Animals.[81]

In 2009, it was covered by Luis Eduardo Aute in Catalan as "Els carrers de Philadelphia", for the CD of TV3's telethon La Marató.[82]

In February 2013, Sir Elton John performed the song at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences tribute concert honoring Bruce Springsteen as the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year.[83]

Fat White Family's Saul Adamczewski and Childhood (band)'s Ben Romans-Hopcraft, covered the song on their 2018 album, Karaoke for One: Vol 1, under the band name Insecure Men.

Waxahatchee covered the song in 2021 for the deluxe issue of her 2020 album Saint Cloud.

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ Kline, Steven (September 27, 2017). "Album Review: The Killers – Wonderful Wonderful". Gigwise. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 137. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade — 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 341. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
  5. ^ "1994 Grammy Winners". Grammy Awards. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs". American Film Institute. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Sandford, Christopher (1999). SPRINGSTEEN Point Blank. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. pp. 220–221. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Dolan, Marc (2013). BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the PROMISE of ROCK 'N' ROLL. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. pp. 230–231. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  10. ^ Flick, Larry (February 19, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  11. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (February 12, 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews: Pick of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Zimmerman, Kent (January 14, 1994). "Gavin Picks — Albums" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Hilburn, Robert (July 7, 1994). "Calendar > Comment On Entertainment > Today's Top 10 List From Our Home Office". p. B8. Los Angeles Times.
  14. ^ Masterton, James (March 13, 1994). "Week Ending March 19th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  15. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. February 12, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  16. ^ Dalton, Stephen (March 19, 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 51. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
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  18. ^ Stanton, Pete (March 16, 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
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  31. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
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  51. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1994" (in German). Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
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  58. ^ "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
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  60. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  61. ^ "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  62. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  63. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1994" (in German). Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  64. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. January 14, 1995. p. 9.
  65. ^ . Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  66. ^ "1994 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. December 24, 1994. p. YE-68. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  67. ^ Lwin, Nanda. . Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  68. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  69. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  70. ^ "Notas Musicais". Jornal do Commercio (in Portuguese). July 17, 1994. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  71. ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  72. ^ "French single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  73. ^ Spahr, Wolfganf (September 17, 1994). "Movie Soundtracks Start Moving Units In Germany" (PDF). Billboard. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  74. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bruce Springsteen; 'Streets of Philadelphia')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  75. ^ "Italian single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Select "1994" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Streets of Philadelphia" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  76. ^ (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  77. ^ "British single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  78. ^ a b "American single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  79. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. March 5, 1994. p. 21.
  80. ^ "Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
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External links edit

  • Brucebase history of song
  • "Streets of Philadelphia" review at Allmusic
  • Information on the "Streets of Philadelphia" single at Allmusic
  • Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia on YouTube

streets, philadelphia, this, article, about, song, bruce, springsteen, streets, city, philadelphia, category, streets, philadelphia, song, written, performed, american, rock, musician, bruce, springsteen, 1993, film, philadelphia, starring, hanks, early, mains. This article is about the song by Bruce Springsteen For the streets in the city of Philadelphia see Category Streets in Philadelphia Streets of Philadelphia is a song written and performed by American rock musician Bruce Springsteen for the 1993 film Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks an early mainstream film dealing with HIV AIDS 4 Released as a single by Columbia Records in 1994 the song was a hit in many countries including Austria Canada France Germany Iceland Ireland Italy and Norway where it topped the singles charts In the United States the single peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming Springsteen s 12th and latest top 10 hit Streets of Philadelphia Single by Bruce Springsteenfrom the album Philadelphia Official SoundtrackB side If I Should Fall Behind ReleasedFebruary 11 1994 1994 02 11 StudioThrill Hill West Beverly Hills California 1 GenreSoft rock 2 Length3 15 single edit 3 50 CD soundtrack version 4 12 LP soundtrack version LabelColumbiaSongwriter s Bruce Springsteen 3 Producer s Bruce Springsteen Chuck PlotkinBruce Springsteen singles chronology Lucky Town 1993 Streets of Philadelphia 1994 Secret Garden 1995 Music video Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia on YouTubeThe song received critical acclaim including the Academy Award for Best Original Song 3 and four Grammy Awards Song of the Year Best Rock Song Best Rock Vocal Performance Solo and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television 5 In 2004 it finished at number 68 on AFI s 100 Years 100 Songs survey of top songs in American cinema 6 The song is listed among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll 7 Contents 1 Background and release 2 Critical reception 3 Music video 4 Live performances 5 Accolades 6 Track listings 7 Personnel 8 Charts 8 1 Weekly charts 8 2 Year end charts 8 3 Decade end charts 9 Certifications and sales 10 Release history 11 Cover versions 12 See also 13 References 14 External linksBackground and release editIn early 1993 Philadelphia director Jonathan Demme asked Springsteen to write a song for his film adding I want it to play in the malls Springsteen replied Well I m interested so I d like to come up with a song for you If you give me some time I ll see but I can t promise Springsteen recalled adding I m not very good at scores In late August 1993 following the conclusion of the 1992 1993 World Tour Springsteen recorded a demo of his completed song at Thrill Hill Recording in Beverly Hills California including all the song s instrumentation He mailed the tape to Demme who later said my wife and I sat down and listened to it and we were literally weeping by the end 8 Meanwhile background vocals were added by Tommy Sims from the Other Band In October 1993 Springsteen recorded the song at A amp M Studios in Los Angeles with Sims Ornette Coleman on saxophone and vocals by Little Jimmy Scott It was mixed by Bob Clearmountain included in the soundtrack and the video was recorded In mid December Springsteen replaced the video with his home demo from August re shooting some video scenes to eliminate Scott The four man combo version can be heard in a brief scene in the film when Tom Hanks exits Denzel Washington s office but it was Springsteen alone playing over the opening credits Streets of Philadelphia was released on February 11 1994 It is the first single from the film s original soundtrack with Springsteen singing and playing all the instruments with Sims on background vocal The song became a worldwide chart success 9 Streets of Philadelphia achieved greater popularity in Europe than in the United States It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart but became a number one single in Germany France and Austria It peaked at number two in the United Kingdom 3 becoming Springsteen s highest charting hit in the UK The song reached number four in Australia and spent five weeks at number 1 in Ireland As of 2012 update Streets of Philadelphia is Springsteen s most recent top ten hit The song was included on the album All Time Greatest Movie Songs released by Sony in 1999 Critical reception editLarry Flick from Billboard wrote Springsteen s empathetic lyrics and performance zoom straight for the heart traveling atop a slow and sturdy beat and pillowy synths A powerful song with or without the image of the film to support it 10 Troy J Augusto from Cash Box named it Pick of the Week describing it as an appropriately somber song writing Written in the first person this slow moving ballad documents the struggle of a downtrodden and forgotten soul left to wander the dark streets out of sight of an uncaring society Like Hanks character in the film Springsteen s unfortunate draws on our sympathy not because he asks for help but because he appears unable to help himself an important distinction One of The Boss best 11 Kent Zimmerman from the Gavin Report concluded Bruce Springsteen s custom written theme is as scary a portrait of AIDS as you re likely to hear all year long Combining the gruesome fears of urban abandonment coupled with the tragedy of a fatal disease in just one song is surely a miracle of subtlety 12 Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times deemed it a moving ballad about a man whose body is being destroyed by AIDS and a work that shows Springsteen despite all the questions raised by changes in his life in recent years can still write purposeful songs that connect on a deeply emotional level He added Springsteen sings in a voice that expresses the helplessness and heartache of someone dying of AIDS as convincingly as Springsteen once conveyed the dreams and aspirations of youth 13 In his weekly UK chart commentary James Masterton said However good it may be the brooding ballad is hardly classic Bruce and can be expected to shuttle rapidly out next week 14 A reviewer from Music amp Media commented The man who used to walk upon E Street now roams the Philly lanes This synth dominated track from the OST Philadelphia revives the etherealism of Tunnel Of Love 15 Stephen Dalton from NME wrote The Boss fights through eerie ambient mists and prowls in a buried snaking backbeat as he pleads for human warmth in a freezing world It s a heartbreaker surpassing most of Brucie s recent chest beating in its soulful understatement 16 Neil Spencer from The Observer felt Springsteen s sombre Streets of Philadelphia reflects a dark night of the soul as the disease takes hold 17 Pete Stanton of Smash Hits gave the song four out of five writing This is far gentler far lovelier and far nicer than anything he s done for ages Taken from the excellent film this should see Bruce back in the charts 18 Music video editThe accompanying music video for the song directed by Jonathan Demme and his nephew Ted Demme in December 1993 begins by showing Springsteen walking along desolate city streets followed by a bustling park and schoolyard interspersed with footage from the film After a quick shot of Rittenhouse Square it ends with Springsteen walking along the Delaware River with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the background Tom Hanks is also visible as the lead character he plays in the film looking on as Bruce begins the final verse One newspaper review called it the saddest track cut this decade 8 The vocal track for the video was recorded live with a hidden microphone to a pre recorded instrumental track This technique appropriate for emotionally intense songs for which conventional video lip syncing would seem especially false was used by John Mellencamp in part on his 1985 Rain on the Scarecrow video and by Springsteen in his 1987 Brilliant Disguise video singing the song directly into the camera as he sits on the edge of his chair on a Sandy Hook New Jersey sound stage 19 Live performances editBecause of the song s sterling achievements in the awards world Springsteen played the song live in three high visibility prime time awards show broadcasts at the 66th Academy Awards in March 1994 at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1994 and at the Grammy Awards of 1995 in March 1995 Between this Philadelphia s strong box office performance and the single being a top 10 pop hit Streets of Philadelphia became one of Springsteen s best known songs to the general music audience Springsteen went on to perform the song only sparingly in his concerts In solo guitar form and missing the song s trademark synthesizers and drums feel it was performed semi regularly on the solo and stark Ghost of Tom Joad Tour between 1995 and 1997 After that the song was performed only appearing a dozen times on the E Street Band Reunion Tour in 1999 and 2000 As of January 2016 the song has been played only a few times across the nine tours since then Accolades editAward Category ResultAcademy Awards 20 3 Best Original Song WonASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures WonGolden Globe Awards 21 Best Original Song WonGrammy Awards 22 Record of the Year NominatedSong of the Year WonBest Male Rock Vocal Performance WonBest Rock Song WonBest Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television WonMTV Movie Awards Best Song from a Movie NominatedMTV Video Music Awards Best Male Video NominatedBest Video from a Film WonTrack listings editCD 7 inch and cassette single Streets of Philadelphia 3 15 If I Should Fall Behind 4 43CD maxi and maxi cassette Streets of Philadelphia 3 15 If I Should Fall Behind 4 43 Growin Up 3 13 The Big Muddy 4 11The B sides were selected from the previous year s live album In Concert MTV Plugged Personnel editBruce Springsteen vocals keyboards drum machine Tommy Sims background vocalsCharts editWeekly charts edit Weekly chart performance for Streets of Philadelphia Chart 1994 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 23 4Austria O3 Austria Top 40 24 1Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 25 2Canada Top Singles RPM 26 1Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 27 6Denmark IFPI 28 3Europe Eurochart Hot 100 29 1Europe European AC Radio 30 1Finland Suomen virallinen lista 31 3France SNEP 32 1Germany Official German Charts 33 1Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 34 1Ireland IRMA 35 1Italy Musica e dischi 36 1Netherlands Dutch Top 40 37 6Netherlands Single Top 100 38 5New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 39 3Norway VG lista 40 1Scotland OCC 41 2Sweden Sverigetopplistan 42 3Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 43 2UK Singles OCC 44 2US Billboard Hot 100 45 9US Adult Contemporary Billboard 46 3US Mainstream Rock Billboard 47 3US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 48 13US Cash Box Top 100 49 6 Year end charts edit Year end chart performance for Streets of Philadelphia Chart 1994 PositionAustralia ARIA 50 39Austria O3 Austria Top 40 51 4Belgium Ultratop 52 8Canada Top Singles RPM 53 4Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 54 30Europe Eurochart Hot 100 55 3France SNEP 56 5Germany Official German Charts 57 3Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 58 2Netherlands Dutch Top 40 59 13Netherlands Single Top 100 60 31New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 61 50Sweden Sverigetopplistan 62 13Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 63 12UK Singles OCC 64 22US Billboard Hot 100 65 54US Adult Contemporary Billboard 66 18Decade end charts edit Decade end chart performance for Streets of Philadelphia Chart 1990 1999 PositionCanada Nielsen SoundScan 67 52Certifications and sales editCertifications and sales for Streets of Philadelphia Region Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 68 3 Platinum 210 000 Austria IFPI Austria 69 Gold 25 000 Brazil 100 000 70 Denmark IFPI Danmark 71 Gold 45 000 France SNEP 72 Gold 250 000 Germany BVMI 74 Gold 400 000 73 Italy FIMI 75 Gold 25 000 Norway IFPI Norway 76 Gold United Kingdom BPI 77 Platinum 600 000 United States RIAA 78 Platinum 1 000 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Release history editRelease dates and formats for Streets of Philadelphia Region Date Format s Label s Ref United States February 11 1994 7 inch vinylCDcassette Columbia 78 United Kingdom March 7 1994 79 Cover versions editThe song has been covered live by Jack Folland Tori Amos Melissa Etheridge David Gray Waxahatchee and Lonely the Brave Recorded covers have been released by Ray Conniff on his 1997 album I Love Movies Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Marah Liv Kristine Molly Johnson Bettye LaVette SALEM Gregorian and I Muvrini with Anggun Philadelphia rappers Cassidy amp the Larsiny Family have made a cover of this song on the Put Ya L in the Sky mixtape in an effort to stop crime in the city French artist Patrick Bruel and U2 covered the song translating the lyrics into French while retaining the music After the movie Philadelphia was released many artists covered it In 1993 when Rhino Records assembled its box set Academy Award Winning Songs 1934 1993 the same year it was unable to license the Springsteen track and instead commissioned Richie Havens to record a cover version 80 In 2010 the French string quartet Quatuor Ebene recorded a version on their album Fiction with drummer Richard Hery sung by the quartet s violist Mathieu Herzog The song is also covered by The Fray on their album Scars and Stories released in 2012 In 2011 the German group Gregorian released a Gregorian chant version of the song in their album Masters of Chant Chapter VIII Also in 2011 Idols South Africa season seven winner Dave van Vuuren performed the song on the show and recorded it on his album Free the Animals 81 In 2009 it was covered by Luis Eduardo Aute in Catalan as Els carrers de Philadelphia for the CD of TV3 s telethon La Marato 82 In February 2013 Sir Elton John performed the song at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences tribute concert honoring Bruce Springsteen as the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year 83 Fat White Family s Saul Adamczewski and Childhood band s Ben Romans Hopcraft covered the song on their 2018 album Karaoke for One Vol 1 under the band name Insecure Men Waxahatchee covered the song in 2021 for the deluxe issue of her 2020 album Saint Cloud See also edit nbsp Philadelphia portalList of number one hits of 1994 Austria List of RPM number one singles of 1994 List of European number one hits of 1994 List of number one hits of 1994 France List of number one hits of 1994 Germany List of number one singles of 1994 Ireland List of 1964 1994 number one hits in NorwayReferences edit Dolan Marc 2013 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the PROMISE of ROCK N ROLL New York NY W W Norton amp Company Inc pp 230 231 Retrieved February 9 2020 Kline Steven September 27 2017 Album Review The Killers Wonderful Wonderful Gigwise Retrieved December 3 2019 a b c d Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 137 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 King Alex P 2004 Hit parade 20 ans de tubes in French Paris Pascal p 341 ISBN 2 35019 009 9 1994 Grammy Winners Grammy Awards Retrieved February 15 2021 AFI s 100 Years 100 Songs American Film Institute Retrieved February 15 2021 The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Archived from the original on March 17 2010 Retrieved October 5 2020 a b Sandford Christopher 1999 SPRINGSTEEN Point Blank New York NY Little Brown and Company pp 220 221 Retrieved February 9 2020 Dolan Marc 2013 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the PROMISE of ROCK N ROLL New York NY W W Norton amp Company Inc pp 230 231 Retrieved February 9 2020 Flick Larry February 19 1994 Single Reviews PDF Billboard p 57 Retrieved March 17 2021 Augusto Troy J February 12 1994 Pop Singles Reviews Pick of the Week PDF Cash Box Retrieved February 27 2022 Zimmerman Kent January 14 1994 Gavin Picks Albums PDF Gavin Report Retrieved March 10 2022 Hilburn Robert July 7 1994 Calendar gt Comment On Entertainment gt Today s Top 10 List From Our Home Office p B8 Los Angeles Times Masterton James March 13 1994 Week Ending March 19th 1994 Chart Watch UK Retrieved September 6 2021 New Releases Singles PDF Music amp Media February 12 1994 p 11 Retrieved March 9 2021 Dalton Stephen March 19 1994 Long Play NME p 51 Retrieved August 17 2023 Spencer Neil March 6 1994 Pop Releases The Observer Stanton Pete March 16 1994 New Singles Smash Hits p 53 Retrieved December 29 2022 Luerssen John 2012 Springsteen FAQ All That s Left to Know About the Boss New York NY Backbeat Books p 279 ISBN 978 1617130939 Retrieved February 9 2020 The 66th Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Retrieved July 2 2017 Philadelphia Golden Globes HFPA Retrieved July 5 2021 1994 Grammy Award Winners Grammy com Retrieved May 1 2011 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved April 7 2020 Top RPM Singles Issue 2407 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved July 17 2018 Top RPM Adult Contemporary Issue 2450 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved July 17 2018 Top 10 Sales in Europe PDF Music amp Media Vol 11 no 19 May 7 1994 p 13 Retrieved April 7 2020 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 11 no 14 April 2 1994 p 18 Retrieved November 25 2019 Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25 PDF Music amp Media April 2 1994 p 25 Retrieved May 28 2023 Nyman Jake 2005 Suomi soi 4 Suuri suomalainen listakirja in Finnish 1st ed Helsinki Tammi ISBN 951 31 2503 3 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in French Les classement single Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved April 7 2020 Islenski Listinn Topp 40 31 3 06 4 94 Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic March 30 1994 Retrieved October 1 2019 The Irish Charts Search Results Streets of Philadelphia Irish Singles Chart Retrieved April 7 2020 Top 10 Sales in Europe PDF Music amp Media Vol 11 no 19 May 7 1994 p 13 Retrieved November 25 2019 Nederlandse Top 40 week 15 1994 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia Top 40 Singles Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia VG lista Retrieved April 7 2020 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved July 17 2018 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia Singles Top 100 Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved April 7 2020 Bruce Springsteen Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved June 17 2017 Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved December 16 2022 Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band Chart History Adult Contemporary Billboard Retrieved December 16 2022 Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved December 16 2022 Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band Chart History Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved December 16 2022 U S Cash Box Charts PDF popmusichistory Retrieved December 16 2022 ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1994 ARIA Retrieved April 7 2020 Jahreshitparade Singles 1994 in German Retrieved April 7 2020 Jaaroverzichten 1994 in Dutch Ultratop Retrieved April 7 2020 RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved July 17 2018 RPM Top 100 AC tracks of 1994 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved July 17 2018 1994 in Review Sales Charts PDF Music amp Media December 24 1994 p 24 Retrieved February 1 2020 Tops de L annee Top Singles 1994 in French SNEP Retrieved February 15 2021 Top 100 Single Jahrescharts 1994 in German GfK Entertainment Retrieved February 2 2020 Arslistinn 1994 Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic January 2 1995 p 16 Retrieved May 30 2020 Single top 100 over 1994 PDF in Dutch Top40 Retrieved April 17 2010 Jaaroverzichten Single 1994 in Dutch MegaCharts Retrieved April 7 2020 End of Year Charts 1994 Recorded Music NZ Retrieved February 1 2020 Arslista Singlar 1994 in Swedish Sverigetopplistan Retrieved April 7 2020 Swiss Year End Charts 1994 in German Retrieved April 7 2020 Top 100 Singles 1994 Music Week January 14 1995 p 9 Billboard Top 100 1994 Archived from the original on March 1 2009 Retrieved August 27 2010 1994 The Year in Music Billboard Vol 106 no 52 December 24 1994 p YE 68 Retrieved August 23 2021 Lwin Nanda Top 100 singles of the 1990s Jam Archived from the original on August 29 2000 Retrieved March 26 2022 ARIA Charts Accreditations 2023 Singles PDF Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved November 6 2023 Austrian single certifications Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in German IFPI Austria Retrieved April 7 2020 Notas Musicais Jornal do Commercio in Portuguese July 17 1994 Retrieved August 8 2023 Danish single certifications IFPI Danmark Retrieved October 21 2020 French single certifications Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in French Syndicat National de l Edition Phonographique Retrieved April 7 2020 Spahr Wolfganf September 17 1994 Movie Soundtracks Start Moving Units In Germany PDF Billboard p 55 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved December 7 2023 Gold Platin Datenbank Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in German Bundesverband Musikindustrie Italian single certifications Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia in Italian Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana Retrieved April 7 2020 Select 1994 in the Anno drop down menu Select Streets of Philadelphia in the Filtra field Select Singoli under Sezione IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993 2011 in Norwegian IFPI Norway Retrieved April 7 2020 British single certifications Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia British Phonographic Industry Retrieved February 15 2021 a b American single certifications Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved May 25 2022 Single Releases Music Week March 5 1994 p 21 Streets of Philadelphia Bruce Springsteen Song Info AllMusic Retrieved January 2 2022 Musica co za Archived February 22 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 4 February 2014 El disc Ccma com Retrieved January 2 2022 Edna Gundersen Bruce Springsteen honored at star studded MusiCares Usatoday com Retrieved January 2 2022 External links editBrucebase history of song Streets of Philadelphia review at Allmusic Information on the Streets of Philadelphia single at Allmusic Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Streets of Philadelphia amp oldid 1194231687, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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