Mr. Mister - Broken Wings
"Broken Wings" is a song recorded by American pop rock band Mr. Mister.
It was released in September 1985 as the lead single from their second album Welcome to the Real World.
The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1985, where it remained for two weeks.
It was released as the band was just about to embark on a U.S. tour opening for Tina Turner.
The song peaked at number four in the United Kingdom, the highest chart position the group ever achieved in Britain.
The song was co-written with lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by a book called "Broken Wings" written by Kahlil Gibran.
The song is a mix of synth, digitally delayed guitar, bass and drums. The song's hissing intro was an effect created by the sound of crash cymbal played in reverse.
Although sometimes called a "soft tune" the innovative track was sampled by Tupac Shakur.
Music video
The music video for "Broken Wings" was directed by Oley Sassone and filmed in black & white.
It features lead vocalist/bassist Richard Page driving through the desert in a classic Ford Thunderbird, the first allusion to birds. There is a scene where Page is sitting in a church when a Harris's Hawk flies in through the window and lands next to him on the pew and they exchange a gaze.
The full band is also featured in performance scenes. Also appearing in the video are an unknown man and woman dancing tango. They are only shown from the waist down. At the end of the video Page is seen next to the Thunderbird with the vehicle's hood open, symbolizing broken wings.
Notable covers
In 1986, it was covered by Rodney Franklin on his album "It Takes Two".
In 1992, Prince's ex-wife Mayte covered the song, with backing vocals by her older sister Janíce García.
In 1992, short-lived British duo Network released a cover which reached No.46 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1995, it was covered by John Tesh on his CD "Sax By the Fire".
In 1998, it was covered by C-Block on their CD "Keepin' It Real".
In 2001, this song was sampled for a Tupac Shakur song on his posthumous album Until the End of Time, for the title song.
In 2001, it was sampled and performed on the title song of Foxy Brown's Broken Silence album.
In 2001, it was covered by New Zealand singer K'lee.
In 2002, the song was featured in the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on fictional station Emotion 98.3 and in the opening scene of the game.
In 2003, the song was covered by American A Cappella group Naturally 7 on their album "What is it?"
In 2003, it was covered for the video game Karaoke Revolution.
In 2004, Richard Cheese performed this live in Las Vegas on his album I'd Like a Virgin.
In 2005, Rick Springfield sang this song on his "tribute" album The Day After Yesterday as a duet with original vocalist Richard Page.
In 2006, it was covered by Clay Aiken on his CD A Thousand Different Ways.
In 2006, Joe Budden released a freestyle using the beat and chorus from "Broken Wings".
In 2007, it was covered by The Panic Division on their CD "Songs From The Glasshouse".
In 2007, it was covered by Northern Kings on their CD "Reborn".
In 2008, it was covered by Villa Black and appears on the album "Hôtel Costes A Decade by Stéphane Pompougnac".
In 2010, Jason Donovan recorded a cover version of "Broken Wings" for his 80s covers album "Soundtrack of the 80s".
In 2012, it was covered by Roveena on her debut EP "Perfect World" released on Vintage Green Records Label.
In 2013, it was sampled and performed by Canadian R&B singer Danny Fernandes under the title "Fly Again (Broken Wings)".
The song's various instrumental phrases were sampled in the C64 game 21st century remix of Comic Bakery
The lyrics:
Baby, don't understand
Why we can't just hold on to each other's hands?
This time might be the last if fear unless
I make it all too clear I need you so, oh
Take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings
Baby, I think tonight
We can take what was wrong and make it right
Baby, it's all I know that you're half of the flesh
And blood that makes me whole, I need you so.
So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let us in
Yeah, yeah
Let us in
Let us in
Baby, it's all I know that you're half of the flesh
And blood that makes me whole
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings
You got to learn to fly, learn to live
And live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up for us
And let us in
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh
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