Living in Danger explained

Living in Danger
Cover:Ace of Base - Living in Danger.jpg
Caption:Single cover
Type:single
Artist:Ace of Base
Album:Happy Nation (U.S. Version)/The Sign
Released:4 October 1994
Recorded:Mid-1993
Genre:
Length:
  • 3:10 (Single Version)
  • 3:39 (Album Version)
Label:
Producer:
  • Tommy Ekman
  • Per Adebratt
Prev Title:Don't Turn Around
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Lucky Love
Next Year:1995

"Living in Danger" is a song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released in October 1994 by Arista and Mega as the seventh and final single from the group's debut album, Happy Nation (U.S. version) and fourth single from their American debut release, The Sign (1993).[1] Written by bandmembers Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, the single peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in December 1994. On the US Cash Box Top 100, it peaked at number ten. The single later reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1995. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley and filmed in Stockholm, Sweden. Ace of Base performed the song on the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin, Germany in 1994. Q Magazine included "Living in Danger" in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.[2]

In interviews, Berggren has said the song "is about living on your own" and advising listeners, "Don't trust [people] too much... you'll do better on your own." In contrast, Jenny Berggren has described it as being about social pressure to engage in dangerous behaviors like smoking and drinking.[3]

Chart performance

"Living in Danger" was a sizeable hit on the charts on several continents, although it didn't reach the same level of success as "The Sign" and "Don't Turn Around". In Europe, the song entered the top 20 in Austria (19), Ireland (12), Scotland (19) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single peaked at number 18 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on January 8, 1995.[4] But on the UK Dance Chart, it was a bigger hit, reaching number 11. Additionally, "Living in Danger" was a top 30 hit in Belgium (30), Germany (23), the Netherlands (23), Sweden (28) and Switzerland (26), and a top 40 hit in France (36) and Iceland (32), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it charted at number 34. On MTV's European Top 20, the song reached number six. Outside Europe, the song entered the top 10 in Canada, peaking at number seven on the RPM Top Singles chart and within the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100. And it also hit number-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number ten on the Cash Box Top 100.

Critical reception

In an retrospective review, Annie Zaleski from The A.V. Club noted that the song take influence from "easygoing reggae".[5] Upon the single release, Larry Flick from Billboard stated that the Swedish pop phenomenon "shows no sign of loosening its hypnotic hold over top 40 programmers and pop-minded consumers." He added that the song "sticks pretty close to the formula of previous hits: Galloping pop/reggae beats are covered with fluttering synths, a contagious hook, and somewhat disconnected vocal."[6] British columnist James Masterton felt that "Living in Danger" "is typical Ace Of Base, pop-driven dub-reggae yet with a somehow dark, almost gothic feel."[7] John Kilgo from The Network Forty constated that "already stamped as "The Artists of '94", the Swedish quartet strikes again. Showcasing their trademark groove, this number will soar to the top of the charts."[8] Pop Rescue viewed it as "catchy" in their review of Happy Nation, adding that "vocally, it's probably the best track so far".[9]

Live performances

Ace of Base performed "Living in Danger" on the first MTV Europe Music Awards held in Germany in 1994. They performed in the front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. The band was also nominated for Best Cover with their previous hit-single "Don't Turn Around" this year.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Living in Danger" was directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley and shot in Kungsträdgårdens tunnelbana, an underground metro station in Stockholm, Sweden in September 1994.[10] It was A-listed on France's MCM in December 1994[11] and later published on Ace of Base's official YouTube channel in 2015. The video had generated more than 27 million views as of August 2023.[12] Broadley had previously directed the videos for "All That She Wants", "Happy Nation" and "Don't Turn Around".

The video of "Living in Danger" opens with the four members of Ace of Base, each of them following one of four people into the underground metro. These are a priest, a war veteran, a female worker of the station and a woman with paranoia. The worker sits in the ticket booth watching the busy people passing by, as if no one really noticed her. On the metro carriage, the paranoid woman looks at the war veteran (who is seen, in flashbacks, during the war being blessed by the priest, who is actually on the same carriage) by the mirror. Then she runs off the train as soon as it reaches the station, scared. In her haste, she falls over behind the ticket office. The station worker helps her up and offers her some coffee. When both men leave the train, the veteran recognizes the priest and the two begin talking, cheerfully. At the end of the video, Joker and Buddha leave the metro station together. Linn and Jenny are standing together on the metro.

One of the people used a Game Boy in the video.

Track listings

  1. "Living In Danger" (Old School Mix) — 4:55
  2. "Living In Danger" (For The Big Clubs Mix) — 10:15
  3. "Living In Danger" (D-House Mix Long Version) — 10:03
  4. "Living In Danger" (New Buddha Version) — 3:35
  1. "Living In Danger" (Single Edit) — 3:10
  2. "Living In Danger" (Old School Mix) (Short Version) — 3:39
  3. "Living In Danger" (D-House Mix) (Long Version) — 10:03
  4. "Living In Danger" (New Buddha Version) — 3:36
  5. "Living In Danger" (For The Big Clubs Mix) — 10:15
  1. "Living in Danger" (Radio Edit) — 3:10
  2. "Living in Danger" (Old School Mix Short Version) — 3:39
  3. "Living in Danger" (D-House Mix Long Version) — 10:03
  4. "Living in Danger" (New Buddha Version) — 3:35
  5. "Living in Danger" (For The Big Clubs Mix) — 10:15
  1. "Living in Danger" (Radio Remix) — 3:10
  2. "Living in Danger" (Album Version) — 3:19
  3. "Living in Danger" (Old School Mix) — 4:56
  4. "Living in Danger" (D-House Mix) — 10:08
  5. "Living in Danger" (Principle Mix) — 8:50
  6. "Living in Danger" (Buddha Version) — 3:35

Personnel

Release history

RegionDateLabel
United States4 October 1994Arista
Europe31 October 1994Mega / PolyGram
Japan16 December 1994[13] Arista
United Kingdom2 January 1995[14] London

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994–1995)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 103
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 34
Europe (MTV European Top 20) http://www.charts-surfer.de/musiksuche.php6
Europe (European AC Radio)[17] 14
Europe (European Dance Radio)[18] 5
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] 32
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 12
Scotland (OCC)[21] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 18
UK Dance (OCC)[23] 11
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[24] 33
UK Airplay (Media Monitor)[25] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 20
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)1
US Top 40 Mainstream (Billboard)7
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)26
US Cash Box Top 100[27] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[28] 52
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 225

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ace of Base Happy Nation. AllMusic. 2017-07-26.
  2. Web site: Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003).
  3. Ace of Base . 1994 . The Sign: The Home Video . videotape . 2021-03-25 . 19:18 . At time . 6 West Home Video.
  4. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 08 January 1995 - 14 January 1995. Official Charts Company. 2020-09-16.
  5. Web site: Zaleski, Annie. Good timing turned Ace Of Base's The Sign into the luckiest hit of the '90s. The A.V. Club. 2018-02-19. 2020-04-06. Annie Zaleski.
  6. Single Reviews. Larry. Flick. Billboard. 1994-10-15. 2018-01-23. Larry Flick.
  7. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending January 14th 1995. Chart Watch UK. 1995-01-08. 2021-09-15. James Masterton.
  8. Mainstream: Music Meeting. John. Kilgo. The Network Forty. 1994-09-30. 20. 2018-02-21.
  9. Web site: Review: "Happy Nation" by Ace Of Base (CD, 1993). Pop Rescue. 2014-10-22. 2020-03-22.
  10. http://www.saguaro.se/aceofbase.shtml Ace of Base gallery
  11. Station Reports > MCM/Paris. Music & Media. 1994-12-17. 34. 2022-12-28.
  12. Web site: Ace of Base - Living in Danger (Official Music Video). YouTube. 2015-01-15. 2020-12-28.
  13. Web site: リビング・イン・デンジャー エイス・オブ・ベイス. Living in Danger Ace of Base. Oricon. ja. 19 September 2023.
  14. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. 24 December 1994.
  15. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 24 May 2016. Imgur.com. 2016-05-24.
  16. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 3. 13. 21 January 1995. 19 May 2020.
  17. Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25. Music & Media. 28 January 1995. 25. 28 May 2023.
  18. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 28 January 1995. 25. 28 September 2022.
  19. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 27.10.1994 - 02.11.1994. Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. 2018-02-01.
  20. Web site: The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Living in Danger' (from irishcharts.ie). Imgur.com. 2016-05-24.
  21. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (08 January 1995-14 January 1995). officialcharts.com. 2018-02-07.
  22. Web site: Official Charts > Ace of Base. The Official UK Charts Company. 2016-05-24.
  23. Web site: Official UK Dance Singles Chart (08 January 1995-14 January 1995). officialcharts.com. 2018-02-09.
  24. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1994-11-12. 6. 2023-05-20.
  25. Web site: Oops, there was an error! | Haven.
  26. Allmusic. Ace of Base | Billboard Singles.
  27. Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. 1994-11-05. 19 February 2018.
  28. RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 19 May 2020.
  29. Web site: Jaarlijsten 1994. nl. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. 29 November 2019.