The Promise of a New Day


"The Promise of a New Day" is the second single from American artist Paula Abdul's album Spellbound. The song was written by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith. The single was released to radio while the hit "Rush Rush" was still at the top of radio airplay and the pop charts. It is an upbeat pop and dance-pop song that lyrically finds the singer feeling optimistic about a relationship as well as the lives of future generations.

Chart performance

"The Promise of a New Day" debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the week ending July 20, 1991, claiming the spot of Hot Shot Debut. The following week, the single climbed to number 26, with this week claiming the Greatest Airplay Gainer. The song reaches No. 1 on the chart on September 14, 1991 and ended the reign of Bryan Adams' long-running No. 1 hit, "Everything I Do." The following week, it fell to No. 5, and departed the Top 40 only four weeks later. It was Abdul's sixth chart-topping single, and her last No. 1 single to date.

Music video

The video, directed by Big TV! was shot during the week of July 8, 1991. Filming took place in two different locations with backgrounds for the video being shot in Hawaii, with Abdul and her backup dancers being filmed separately on a sound stage and later composited through blue screen. Abdul was unable to attend filming in Hawaii due to prior commitments.
When released, the video garnered controversy due to its post-work, which was edited and elongated in order to make Abdul appear thinner and taller than she actually was. For this, Abdul was criticized and ridiculed in the media and the video would end up becoming parodied. Most notoriously, on the sketch show In Living Color, where a music video was shot for the show titled "Promise of a Thin Me" with Kelly Coffield as Abdul. The television show ridiculed Abdul for her weak singing voice, her then-recent lip syncing allegation, her weight gain, and the stretched appearance of her music video.

Track listings and formats

US Promo 5" CD
  1. The Promise Of A New Day - 7" Edit
  2. The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast 7"
  3. The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast 12"
  4. The Promise Of A New Day - Extended Club Version
  5. The Promise Of A New Day - West Coast Dub
UK 12" Record
  1. The Promise of a New Day - West Coast 12"
  2. The Promise of a New Day - Album Version
  3. The Promise of a New Day - Extended Club Version
US Cassette
  1. The Promise of a New Day - 7" Edit
  2. The Promise of a New Day - 12" Mix/West Coast 12"

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Cover versions

The song was covered by American indie band Mirror Ball Associates for the album Covers Vol. 1, which features Paul Durham on vocals.