Pray (Take That song)

"Pray" is a song by English boy band Take That. Written by Gary Barlow, it was released on 5 July 1993 as the second single from their second studio album, Everything Changes (1993). It is the first of twelve singles by the band to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart, staying at number one for four weeks, and starting a streak of four consecutive number one singles. The song has received a Gold sales status certification and sold over 410,000 copies in the UK, won Best British Single and Best British Video at the 1994 BRIT Awards, and was the finale of Take That's Beautiful World Tour (2007).

Music video

The video was directed by Gregg Masuak and shot in Acapulco, Mexico. The clip features the band members in the exotic location singing and dancing. The band members are paired with a goddess of the four elements, taking on a different form with each – Air (Mark Owen), Fire (Jason Orange), Earth (Robbie Williams) and Water (Howard Donald) – with the exception of Gary Barlow who is represented in a neutral black and white context. In Barlow's autobiography, he stated that after the disappointment of where "I Found Heaven" was filmed, the band were a lot happier about the location for this video.

Pray (Justin Bieber song)

"Pray" is a song performed by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber. The song was written by Bieber along with Omar Martinez and Adam Messinger and Nasri of The Messengers, with the latter duo producing the track. The song is taken as a single in several European countries from his first compilation album, My Worlds: The Collection. In the United States and Canada, the song is included on My Worlds Acoustic. According to Bieber, he was inspired by Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" (1988) when writing the song. The song is a contemporary Christian song, while deriving from pop and R&B influences, and using a world music backdrop. It primarily features acoustic instruments, however does make small usages of electronic sounds.

"Pray" received generally positive reviews, with critics appreciating the message portrayed in the song. It reached the lower half on the singles charts in Germany and Austria, and charted in several regions where it was not released as a single such as the United States and Australia. The song's music video premiered on Facebook on December 11, 2010. The video, which also has religious undertones, features clips of places affected by natural disasters, sick children, possessed homes, and more, which are intercut with Bieber performing. Bieber debuted and performed the song on the American Music Awards, accompanied by a full choir.

Pray (Tomoko Kawase song)

"Pray" is the third single released by Tomoko Kawase under the name Tommy heavenly⁶, and the second single released for the Heavy Starry Heavenly album. Two versions were offered, included a version with an alternative cover, stickers, and DVD. "Pray" was used as the first opening for the Gintama anime series. "Pray" peaked at #10 on the Oricon singles chart.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Tomoko Kawase, all music composed by Chiffon Brownie.

Music Video

A music video was released for Pray featuring Tomoko Kawase as a samurai.

Merchandise

In July 2011, Tomoko Kawase released various memorabelia items on her official site inspired by the Pray music video through Lightvan Company, including a kimono style robe and plush toy.

References

External links

Wish (manga)

Wish (Japanese: ウィッシュ, Hepburn: Wisshu) is a Japanese shōjo manga series created by Clamp. It is published in English by Tokyopop. The American translation was imported to Australia by Madman Entertainment.

Plot

While walking home from work one day, a doctor named Shuichiro notices an angel, Kohaku, stuck on a tree while being attacked by a crow. He rescues Kohaku and, in return, Kohaku offers to grant him a wish. However, Shuichiro does not WANT one. His life is OK, his work is going well, he has no money problems and he believes in fulfilling his own dreams! What can an angel do? Kohaku decides that the best thing to do is hang around and help him till he does think of a wish they can grant.

During their stay, the angel Hisui, and two demons, Koryuu and Kokuyo, also begin living in the house, along with the Koryuu's servants Ruri and Hari. Kokuyo is the son of Satan and is in love with Hisui, who is one of the four Angel Masters controlling the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water; with wind being her element. Kokuyo admits that he made love to Hisui and that is how they ended up together. This relationship, however, is forbidden in both Heaven and Hell, so the two sought refuge on Earth. Kohaku originally came to Earth to find Hisui, who had been a mentor and parental figure to them. In spite his new housemates, Shuichiro remains as stoic as ever. Although he persists in not making a wish, without realizing it, he grows attached to Kohaku.

Wish (Joshua Redman album)

Wish is a 1993 album by jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman.

Background

Joshua Redman said that "one of the reasons I wanted to work with these guys — aside from the obvious fact that they're masters — is because they're master storytellers." He said he was pleased with it because "it has a definite collective identity, a real organic unity."

Reception

The AllMusic review by Alex Henderson notes that although the album could have easily been avant-garde (due to Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins having been part of Ornette Coleman's quartet), it is actually a "mostly inside post-bop date". He also praises Redman's "ability to provide jazz interpretations of rock and R&B songs", saying that "in Redman's hands, Stevie Wonder's "Make Sure You're Sure" becomes a haunting jazz-noir statement, while Eric Clapton's ballad "Tears in Heaven" is changed from moving pop/rock to moving pop-jazz", noting that the latter could be called "smooth jazz with substance."

It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.

Wish (Nine Inch Nails song)

"Wish" is a song from industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails' Broken EP. The track features a drumming work performed by Martin Atkins.

"Wish" was remixed twice for the companion disc to the EP, Fixed, as "Wish (Remix)" and "Fist Fuck". Both remixes were performed by J. G. Thirlwell.

"Wish" won the Best Metal Performance in the 1993 Grammy Awards. Referencing a lyric from the song, Reznor later joked that his epitaph should read: "REZNOR: Died. Said 'fist fuck' and won a Grammy."

Music video

The music video for "Wish" was directed by Peter Christopherson, who also directed the music video for "March of the Pigs" and Broken's eponymous film. The video shows Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor on vocals, Chris Vrenna on drums, Richard Patrick on guitar and James Woolley on keyboards) playing inside high, caged walls while hordes of angry men assault the exterior of the cage. The band is eventually accosted: Woolley is lifted off his feet by a suspended man, Vrenna is lifted off by a crane hook and Patrick is grabbed through the sides of the cage. The video ends with a brief scene of men breaking open the gate of the cage and storming into the cage with bats and clubs. MTV felt that the ending scene was too violent and alternate footage was used for network airplay.