The Millennium Prayer

"The Millennium Prayer" is a song recorded by English singer Cliff Richard, in which the words of the Lord's Prayer are set to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne". It was released in November 1999 as a charity single in the lead-up to the new millennium, hence the name. The single became a surprise hit reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, number two in Australia and New Zealand, number three in Ireland, and the top 20 in a number of European countries.^[2][3]

"The Millennium Prayer"
Single by Cliff Richard
B-side	"Two Worlds"
Released	15 November 1999
Recorded	August 1999
Studio	Skratch Studio/Surrey & Whitfield Street Studios/London
Genre	Pop
Length	4:41
Label	Papillon
Songwriter(s)	Paul Field Stephen Deal Cliff Richard Nigel Wright Robert Burns Jesus Dave Arch Anne Skates^[1]
Producer(s)	Nigel Wright
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"The Miracle" (1999) "The Millennium Prayer" (1999) "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (2001)

Background

The original adaption of "The Lord's Prayer" to "Auld Lang Syne" (a contrafactum) was created by composer Paul Field and writer Stephen Deal as the finale to the Christian musical Hopes & Dreams (a Share Jesus International production). It is the only single that credits Jesus as a lyricist.^[4] The original recording of the song, also sung by Richard, featured on the musical's soundtrack album Hopes & Dreams: A New Musical For A New Millennium released in January 1999.^[5][6][2] Paul Field had also told Richard of his wife's suggestion, "that it would make a great Christmas single for Cliff." Richard took up the suggestion and recorded a new version for release as a single in the lead up to Christmas, with Field hearing of the recording from Richard after it had been recorded.^[7]

Release and live performances

Richard's record label, EMI, declined to release it amid concerns about its commercial potential, so Richard approached the independent record label Papillon Records for the release, with the proceeds going to the charity Children's Promise.^[2]

Richard performed the song exclusively on the TV programme An Audience with... Cliff Richard before a music video had been made for it. Richard asked, during breaks, for a room with a camera and green screen; he would then record all of the footage of him to be used in the video for "The Millennium Prayer" in less than an hour.^{[citation needed]}

The song was beaten to the British Christmas number-one single for 1999 by Westlife, having been number one for the three preceding weeks. It was also Richard's 14th UK No. 1 hit, his 112th hit overall, the third highest-selling single of his career. The song reached No. 2 in a poll of all-time worst singles in 2003 run by Channel 4.^[8] The song won the Ivor Novello Award for the best selling single of 1999.^[9] Richard released the single with a neutral view, stating it was a way in which people could unite, regardless of their belief system or religion they adhere to.^{[citation needed]}

The version Richard released as a single was not taken from any album, however the following year the song was included on Richard's compilation album The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits and in 2003 on his album Cliff at Christmas.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[10] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11] 18 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[12] 5 Germany (Official German Charts)^[13] 23 Ireland (IRMA)^[14] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[15] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[17] 2 Scotland (OCC)^[18] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[19] 19 UK Singles (OCC)^[3] 1 UK Indie (OCC)^[20] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Australia (ARIA)^[21] 23 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[22] 3 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)^[23] 2× Platinum 140,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)^[24] 2× Platinum 20,000^* United Kingdom (BPI)^[25] Platinum 600,000^^ ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer Credits". Discogs. Zink Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
2. Burden, Ralph. "Cliff Richard - The Miracle of the Millennium Prayer". reallifestories.org. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
4. Bullock, Daryl (2005). The World's Worst Records: Volume One: An Arcade of Audio Atrocity. Bristol Green Publishing. p. 245. ISBN 9781482624465.
5. Ian C. Bradley (2005). You've Got to Have a Dream: The Message of the Musical. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 6–. ISBN 978-0-664-22854-5.
6. Davis, Paul. "Hopes & Dreams: A New Musical For A New Millennium". crossrhythms.co.uk. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
7. Cummings, Tony. "Paul Field: Field Of Dreams". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
8. "All-Time Top 100 Worst Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
9. "The 45th Ivor Novello Awards 25 May 2000 (Best Selling UK Single)". theivors.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
10. "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
11. "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
13. "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Millennium Prayer". Irish Singles Chart.
15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 52, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
16. "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
17. "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Top 40 Singles.
18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
19. "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Swiss Singles Chart.
20. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
21. "1999 Annual Singles Chart - Australia". www.ariacharts.com.au. ARIA. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
22. (PDF). OCC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
23. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
24. "New Zealand single certifications – Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Recorded Music NZ.
25. "British single certifications – Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Millennium Prayer in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.