"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot"
Single by Sting
from the album Mercury Falling
Released13 February 1996
StudioLake House (Wiltshire)
GenreAdult contemporary[1]
Length6:43
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Sting
Producer(s)
Sting singles chronology
"This Cowboy Song"
(1995) 		"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot"
(1996) 		"You Still Touch Me"
(1996)
Music video
"Sting - Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" on YouTube

"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" is a song by the English musician Sting. It was released as the lead single from his fifth solo studio album Mercury Falling on 13 February 1996. The soul-influenced track was inspired by a friend suffering from AIDS, and the impact such an event can have on one's outlook on life.[2]

"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" reached the top 20 in Sting's native UK.[3] The song was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards.[4]

Background

"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" was inspired by a friend of Sting's who was suffering from AIDS. Sting described it as a "song about death, or dealing with death in a way that offers some sort of hope".[2]

Musically, the song was influenced by Stax artists such as Otis Redding; Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin were also listed as significant influences.[5] Fitting in with this theme, Sting brought in the Memphis Horns to play on the track.[5]

"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" became a top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at number 15.[3] The single was less successful in the US, reaching number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it did better on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, peaking at number 3.[6] It found its greatest success in Canada, where it entered the top 10, reaching number 7.[6]

Track listing

All tracks written by Sting, except "Someone to Watch Over Me" written by George and Ira Gershwin.

Standard CD single

  1. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (Edit) – 4:31
  2. "Englishman in New York" – 4:27
  3. "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – 6:05
  4. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (LP Version) – 6:41

CD maxi–single (US and Japan)

  1. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (LP Version) – 6:41
  2. "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – 6:05
  3. "Someone to Watch Over Me" – 4:00
  4. "Englishman in New York" – 4:27

Remixes by A & G Division

  1. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Classic Edit) – 4:38
  2. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Full Testament Mix) – 12:32
  3. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Great Divide Mix) – 7:40
  4. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Great Divide Dub) – 12:29

Charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 65
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 7
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 58
Italy (FIMI)[10] 20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 43
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 86
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] 3

References

  1. ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Q – Sting Interview". sting.com. May 1996. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Sting Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  4. ^ Kot, Greg (8 January 1997). "Pumpkins a Smash with 7 Grammy Nominations". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Mercury Falling Tour Programme". sting.com. 1996. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Sting Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. ^ "Sting Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  10. ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot". Top Digital Download.
  11. ^ "Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. ^ "Sting: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "Sting Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
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