"Joy" is the debut single by British

house music House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by Disc jockey, DJs and music producers from Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago' ...

studio project Staxx, assembled by producers Simon Thorne and Tom Jones. It was released in 1993 and features singer

Carol Leeming Staxx of Joy were a British house music studio project assembled by producers Simon Thorne and Tom Jones. In the mid-1990s, they had four top 10 hits on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, two of which reached number 1: "Joy" and "You". ...

, becoming a number-one hit on both the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' Hot Dance Club Play chart and the Canadian ''

RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or with the notation min−1) is a unit of rotational speed or rotational frequency for rotating machines. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 defines a unit of rotation as the dimensionl ...

'' Dance/Urban chart. On the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, it peaked at number 25. Its music video was directed by

Lindy Heymann Lindy Heymann is a British director and assistant director, known for ''Showboy'' (2002), ''The Laughing King'' (2016) and ''Kicks'' (2009). Career She received a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for Best Directorial Debut for her feature ...

Chart performance

"Joy" was a club staple and a notable hit on the charts in several countries, peaking at number-one on both the ''

'' Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US (in February 1994) and the ''

'' Dance/Urban chart in Canada (in May 1994). In Europe, it was a top 20 hit in Denmark (20), and a top 30 hit in Switzerland (30) and the UK. In the latter, it peaked at number 25 in its third week at the

, on October 10, 1993. On the

UK Dance Singles Chart The UK Dance Singles Chart and the UK Dance Albums Chart are music charts compiled in the United Kingdom by the Official Charts Company from sales of songs in the dance music genre (e.g. house, trance, drum and bass, garage, synthpop) in record s ...

, it hit number two. In the Netherlands, "Joy" was a top 40 hit, reaching number 33. On the

Eurochart Hot 100 The European Hot 100 Singles was compiled by '' Billboard'' and ''Music & Media'' magazine from March 1984 until December 2010. The chart was based on national singles sales charts in 17 European countries: Austria, Belgium (two charts separately ...

, it reached its highest position as number 70, while on the

European Dance Radio Chart The European Dance Radio Chart (also known as European Dance Radio Top 25) was a weekly chart compiled by pan-European magazine ''Music & Media''. After dance music had played a more dominant role on the magazine's Eurochart Hot 100 in the beginnin ...

, it peaked at number six. In Australia, it reached number 90. In 1997, the song was released in a new remix, this time reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, number five on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number two on the UK Club Chart.

Critical reception

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the music ...

from ''

'' wrote that "this smokin' anthem is cast in a mold similar to Culture Beat's "

Mr. Vain "Mr. Vain" is a song by German group Culture Beat, released in April 1993 as the lead single from their second studio album, '' Serenity'' (1993). It was written by Steven Levis, Nosie Katzmann and Jay Supreme, and produced by Torsten Fenslau ...

", wrapping a brain-embedding hook around a rapid, percolating beatbase. ..Icing on the cake is

's spirited vocal appearance on several mixes." In the magazine's single review, he also noted that it "has a roaring and frenetic

rave A rave (from the verb: '' to rave'') is a dance party at a warehouse, club, or other public or private venue, typically featuring performances by DJs playing electronic dance music. The style is most associated with the early 1990s dance mus ...

-ish undercurrent", complimenting the singer as "a charming presence, playfully wrapping her feline voice around the song's ear-catching

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

and refrain." Maria Jimenez from ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...

'' remarked that the track "is spreading like musical wildfire."

James Hamilton James Hamilton may refer to: Dukes *James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606–1649), heir to the throne of Scotland * James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658–1712), Scottish nobleman * James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton (1703–1743), S ...

from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

s ''RM'' Dance Update described it as a "typically excellent Carol Leeming wailed and scatted catchy

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

- garage-

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

with so many "joy"-ful influences that it's instantly familiar". Wendi Cermak from ''The Network Forty'' deemed it a "delectable dance tune to liven up your current library of

down-tempo Downtempo (or downbeat) is a broad label for electronic music that features an atmospheric sound and slower beats than would typically be found in dance music. Closely related to ambient music but with greater emphasis on rhythm, the style may ...

jams and

ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

." David Petrilla from ''

The Weekender ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' concluded that "this song deserves all the attention it will get. It's upbeat, happy, well produced and performed. 'Joy' has what it takes to enjoy a long stay in most DJs play stacks. I wouldn't be surprised if it even crosses over to radio, but remember you heard it first on the dance floor!" On the 1997 remix, Flick from ''Billboard'' declared it as a "cute Euro-NRG ditty" and a "wonderfully bright and anthemic jam". He added, "Leeming has a sassy vocal style to offset the oh-so-happy music. She knocks off a few festive vamps and refrains that should stick to the brains of programmers within seconds." Chris Finan from ''Music Weeks ''RM'' Dance Update gave it four out of five, commenting, "Far and away a cracking record in its own right,

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, an ...

relives the moment with some deft reworkings by Grand Larceny and Monde. The best way to update this would have been to stick closely to all the hooks that made it the first time and that's exactly what's been done. Mondo just updates the tune, retaining the complete Carol Leeming vocal and using similar synth hooks over the top. An old favourite that will probably become a new favourite."

Music video

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

was produced to promote the single, directed by British director

. It features singer

and two dancers performing in an empty

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

. The video was later published on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

in 2009.

Track listing

* 12", UK (1993) :A. "Joy" (Love Joy Vocal Mix) :B1. "Joy" (Original Mix) :B2. "Joy" (Love Joy Stringapella) * 12" (Diss-Cuss Remix), Italy (1993) :A1. "Joy" (Diss-Cuss Vox Remix) – 6:40 :A2. "Joy" (Joy Radio Edit) – 3:38 :B1. "Joy" (Original Mix) – 5:52 :B2. "Joy" (Love Joy 12" Vocal Mix) – 6:20 * CD single, UK (1993) #"Joy" (Love Joy Serious Vocal Edit) – 3:37 #"Joy" (Original Edit) – 3:21 #"Joy" (Love Joy Vocal Mix) – 6:24 #"Joy" (Original Mix) – 6:37 #"Joy" (Diss-Cuss Vox Mix) – 6:40 #"Joy" (Stones Club Mix) – 4:55 #"Joy" (Love Joy Dub) – 6:53 * CD maxi, Germany (1993) #"Joy" (Love Joy Serious Vocal Edit) – 3:40 #"Joy" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:22 #"Joy" (Love Joy Serious Vocal Mix) – 6:25 #"Joy" (Stones Club Mix) – 4:53 * 12", UK (1997) :A. "Joy" (Mondo's Pussycat Vocal) :B1. "Joy" (Lovejoy Vocal 12") :B2. "Joy" (Grand Larceny Mix) * CD single, UK (1997) #"Joy" (Mondo's Pussycat Radio Edit) – 3:49 #"Joy" (Lovejoy Vocal Edit) – 3:38 #"Joy" (Mondo's Pussycat Vocal 12") – 7:34 #"Joy" (Lovejoy Vocal 12") – 6:25 #"Joy" (Mondo's Topless Vocal 12") – 6:58 #"Joy" (Grand Larceny Mix) – 8:23

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 1993 songs 1993 debut singles 1997 singles Champion Records singles Music videos directed by Lindy Heymann Staxx songs