Cloud Number Nine

For other uses, see Cloud Nine (disambiguation).

"Cloud Number Nine"
Single by Bryan Adams
from the album On a Day Like Today
ReleasedMay 3, 1999 (1999-05-03)[1]
GenreSoft rock[2]
Length
  • 3:46 (album)
  • 4:12 (remix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Bryan Adams singles chronology
"When You're Gone"
(1998) 		"Cloud Number Nine"
(1999) 		"The Best of Me"
(1999)

"Cloud Number Nine" (sometimes spelled as "Cloud #9" or "Cloud Number 9") is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. It was released on May 3, 1999, as the third single from his eighth studio album, On a Day Like Today (1998). The single version is notable for being one of the few remixes Bryan Adams released with British musician Chicane. "Cloud Number Nine" reached number six on the UK Singles Chart, number seven in Canada, and number 13 in Austria.

Versions

Album version

The song was first released on Adams' 1998 album On a Day Like Today, and is the only release where it appears in its original form. It was produced by Bob Rock and mixed by Adams' longtime collaborator, Bob Clearmountain.

Demo version

A demo version of the song appears on the CD single "The Best of Me", released in November 1999, following the chart run of the Chicane Mix. It features a prominent beat throughout the recording, provided by co-writer Max Martin. He used a similar beat on his early productions for Britney Spears. Also, the released demo version had a longer first verse than the one ending up on the album and all other subsequent versions. According to co-writer Gretchen Peters, who wrote most of the song's lyrics, it was Adams' decision to scrap the lines.

Chicane mix

It was remixed by British electronic artist Chicane, with synthesizers added, as well as a drum sample from Gota Yashiki's "Groove Activator". It was released as a single in May 1999 in Europe. The single reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart, and became a top 10 hit in Ibiza. Chicane said upon its release in 1999, he'd turned down a previous offer of remixing a Bryan Adams single, due to a lack of time. Chicane later worked with Adams on the songs "Don't Give Up", "East Side Story", and "She's Got a Way".

Chicane's mix of the song was featured on Bryan Adams' compilation album The Best of Me, however simply titled "Cloud Number Nine". It appeared again on his 2005 Anthology album, this time correctly titled as "Cloud Number Nine (Chicane Mix)". The Chicane Mix has become the standard live version for Adams. In 2000, Chicane joined Adams onstage to perform this song and "Don't Give Up", as can be seen on the DVD Live At Slane Castle.

Bascombe Mix

Among the versions considered for a radio edit of "Cloud Number Nine", was a remix made by Dave Bascombe. The Bascombe Mix eventually ended up on the second CD of the UK single and hasn't appeared anywhere else since its release.

Live versions

Adams performed "Cloud Number Nine" live in a three piece setting during his extensive world tour, starting in 1999, with a stage set and costume designs mimicking the music video to the song. Live recordings of the song ended up on several CD and DVD releases in the next few years. Most versions are based on the Chicane Mix, at one time even performing it with Chicane himself. The song was performed during most subsequent tours, although most commonly with a full band setting.

Music video

The music video made for this single, features mainly the color white. Adams is dressed in all white, in a white room with an Asian woman who is body painted all white. Various images and things that are white are featured in the video such as milk, white paint, eggs, a dove, and a white dog. The video contains several elements seen in Adams' previous music video, "When You're Gone" - most notably the tape recorder and the apples. While being reviewed on the Saturday morning show Live & Kicking on BBC 1, dance producer Norman Cook commented: "The most positive thing I can say about it, is that it's very white."

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 3 May, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. May 1, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "200 Greatest Soft Rock Songs". entertainment.expertscolumn.com.
  3. ^ Cloud #9 (UK CD1 liner notes). Bryan Adams. Mercury Records, A&M Records. 1999. 582 849-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Cloud #9 (UK CD2 liner notes). Bryan Adams. Mercury Records, A&M Records. 1999. 582 847-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Cloud #9 (European CD single liner notes). Bryan Adams. A&M Records. 1999. 582 844-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Cloud #9 (Australian CD single liner notes). Bryan Adams. A&M Records. 1999. 582 845-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "Bryan Adams – Cloud %239" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. ^ "Bryan Adams – Cloud %239" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8387." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8387." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  12. ^ "Hitparada radia – 34/1999" (in Czech). IFPI CR. Archived from the original on August 29, 1999. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 21. May 22, 1999. p. 19. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Bryan Adams – Cloud #9" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  15. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 28. July 10, 1999. p. 13. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Íslenski Listinn (3.6–10.6. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 4, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cloud %239". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  18. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 27, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Bryan Adams – Cloud %239" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  21. ^ "Bryan Adams – Cloud %239". Singles Top 100.
  22. ^ "Bryan Adams – Cloud %239". Swiss Singles Chart.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  24. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  25. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  26. ^ "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Bryan Adams – Cloud Number 9". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2023.