"Right Here, Right Now" is a song by British alternative rock band Jesus Jones from their second studio album, Doubt (1991). It was released as the album's second single on 24 September 1990, by Food, EMI and SBK Records. Although it spent only nine nonconsecutive weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 31, it became a top-10 hit in the United States; it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1991. The single sold over one million copies, won a BMI Award, and was the most-played song on college radio in 1991.1993 jesusjonesarchive.info

Content The song was inspired by the Revolutions of 1989 in Europe, particularly Perestroika in the Soviet Union.Jesus Jones Archive Mike Edwards has said that some of the lyrics were influenced by the band's experiences playing in Romania in February 1990 shortly after the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu. The lyrics were also inspired by the 1987 Prince song "Sign o' the Times" and a 1989 cover version of it by Simple Minds, which the members of Jesus Jones had first heard during television coverage of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Edwards' original demo for "Right Here, Right Now" featured samples of the Prince song, as well as guitar solos by Jimi Hendrix, but producer Martyn Phillips removed both elements from the song before the band recorded it.

The official video for the song shows the band performing on stage mixed with images from contemporary political events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, news footage of the collapse of the Soviet Union and speeches by American and Soviet leaders.

Reception The song was number 14 on a list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs by the National Review in June 2006. The list's author John J. Miller explained, "The words are vague, but they’re also about the fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War."Miller, John J. "Rockin’ the Right," National Review, June 5, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2023.

Credits Produced by Martyn Phillips Recorded at Matrix Studios and Ezee Studios in London Engineer Darren Allison

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990–1991)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100) 87UK Airplay (Music Week) 13US Billboard Hot 100 2US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 7US Dance Club Play (Billboard) 29US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) 1US Cash Box Top 100 1

Year-end charts Chart (1991)PositionUS Billboard Hot 100 17US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 25US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) 5US Cash Box Top 100 27

Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom24 September 1990Australia21 January 1991Japan30 January 1991Mini-CDUnited Kingdom (re-release)8 July 1991Australia22 July 1991CD

Covers A cover version was recorded by New Zealand band the Feelers and released as a single in 2010 and on the album Hope Nature Forgives. It was chosen as the anthem to the 2011 Rugby World Cup advertising campaign.

See also Number one modern rock hits of 1991

References