"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" is a song by the English musician Sting, released on 19 February 1996, by A&M Records, as the lead single from his fifth solo studio album, Mercury Falling (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. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" reached the top 20 in Sting's native UK. The song was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards.
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".
Musically, the song was influenced by Stax artists such as Otis Redding; Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin were also listed as significant influences. Fitting in with this theme, Sting brought in the Memphis Horns to play on the track.
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" became a top 20 sales hit in the UK, peaking at number 15, and was a bigger airplay hit, topping Music & Medias UK airplay chart and making the top five of Music Weeks listing. Radio stations such as BRMB had picked up the song before its official release as a single, achieving over 620 plays across the country around this time. It was initially added to the playlists of 20 radio stations across the country and increased to 92 two weeks later. By the time "Let You Soul Be Your Pilot" had exited the sales top 40, the song had reached 877 plays over the span of one week.
The single further bolstered by the release of a dance mix, which was carried predominantly by more contemporary radio stations. Paul Williams of Music Week commented that the dance mix "made him appeal to people who wouldn't necessarily go out and buy a Sting record."
In the US, most of its success was concetrated to adult alternative radio, reaching number three on Billboards Triple-A chart while only getting to 86 on the main Hot 100. It was also a top ten hit in Canada, reaching number seven on RPMs Hit Tracks chart.
Track listings
All tracks were written by Sting, except "Someone to Watch Over Me", written by George and Ira Gershwin.
Standard CD single
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (Edit) – 4:31 "Englishman in New York" – 4:27 "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – 6:05 "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (LP Version) – 6:41
CD maxi–single (US and Japan)
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (LP Version) – 6:41 "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – 6:05 "Someone to Watch Over Me" – 4:00 "Englishman in New York" – 4:27
Remixes by A & G Division
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Classic Edit) – 4:38 "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Full Testament Mix) – 12:32 "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Great Divide Mix) – 7:40 "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (A & G Great Divide Dub) – 12:29
Charts
Weekly charts + Chart (1996) PeakpositionBenelux Airplay (Music & Media) 5Estonia (Eesti Top 20)10Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)61Europe Airplay (European Hit Radio)1Europe Top 25 (Music & Media)1Europe (Music & Media) 1Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)14Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista)2France Airplay (Music & Media)5 Airplay (Music & Media)1Italy (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Sting".17Italy Airplay (Music & Media)4Poland Airplay (Music & Media)1Scandinavia Airplay (Music & Media)4Spain Airplay (Music & Media)6UK Airplay (Music Week)4UK Club (Record Mirror)10
Year-end charts + Chart (1996) PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)55
Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) United States13 February 1996Contemporary hit radioA&MUnited Kingdom19 February 1996Japan26 February 1996
References