Biography

"Phorever People"
"Phorever People"
Single by the Shamen
from the album Boss Drum
B-side	"Hyperreal Orbit"
Released	7 December 1992
Genre	Techno; trance; house;
Length	4:45
Label	One Little Indian
Songwriter(s)	Colin Angus; Richard West;
Producer(s)	The Shamen
The Shamen singles chronology
Music video
	"Phorever People" on YouTube

"Phorever People" is a song by Scottish electronic dance music band the Shamen. It features vocals by singer Jhelisa Anderson and was released in December 1992 by One Little Indian as a single from their fifth album, Boss Drum (1992). The single topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and was another hit for the group in the UK, going to number five on the UK Singles Chart. It also became a top-10 hit in Denmark and Ireland, while reaching the top 20 in Austria, Finland, France and Sweden. A music video, directed by British director Richard Heslop, was made to accompany the song.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "an exercise in chart-smart techno, trance, and house vibes."^[2] In their review of Boss Drum, Melody Maker concluded that "Phorever People" "would make an ideal next single", remarking that it's "actually sharper single material" than the "awful" "Ebeneezer Goode".^[3] Melody Maker editor Jennifer Nine commented, "I expect this record will serve as an excellent background for Club 18-30 disco nights and aerobics classes the world over. And the lovely Jhelisa Anderson (ex-Soul Family Sensation) is possessed of a voice of beauty."^[4]

Track listings

CD maxi, Germany and UK

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters East of the Nile Mix) — 6:35
"Phorever People" (Tee's Flying Dub) — 8:41
"Phorever People" (D's Mellow Dub) — 4:52
"Phorever People" (Mk Mix) — 7:44
"Phorever People" (Kevin Sauderson Technological Dub) — 4:55
"Phorever People" (Shamen Dub) — 3:56

CD maxi, Germany and Denmark

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters Heavenly Edit) — 3:47
"Phorever People" (Shamen Mix) — 4:55
"Phorever People" (Shamen Dub) — 3:56
"Phorever People" (Beatmasters Heavenly Mix) — 6:05

CD single

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters East of the Nile Mix) — 6:35
"Phorever People" (Tee's Flying Dub) — 8:41
"Phorever People" (D's Flying Dub) — 4:52
"Phorever People" (Mk Mix) — 7:44

7-inch and cassette single

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters Heavenly Edit)
"Phorever People" (Shamen Mix)
"Phorever People" (Shamen Dub)
"Hyperreal Orbit"

12-inch maxi, Denmark and UK

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters East Of The Nile Mix)
"Phorever People" (Tee's Flying Dub)
"Phorever People" (D's Mellow Dub)
"Phorever People" (MK Mix)
"Phorever People" (Kevin Saunderson Technological Dub)

12-inch maxi, France

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters Heavenly Mix) — 6:05
"Phorever People" (Shamen Mix) — 5:52
"Phorever People" (Beatmasters East Of The Nile Mix) — 6:05
"Phorever People" (Shamen Dub) — 3:53

12-inch maxi, Italy

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters East Of The Nile Mix)
"Phorever People" (Tee's Flying Dub)
"Phorever People" (D's Mellow Dub)
"Phorever People" (MK Mix)
"Phorever People" (Kevin Saunderson Technological Dub)
"Phorever People" (Shamen Dub)

2 x 12-inch maxi

"Phorever People" (Beatmasters Heavenly Mix)
"Phorever People" (Beatmasters East Of The Nile Mix)
"Phorever People" (Shamen Dub)
"Phorever People" (D's Pat Mix)
"Phorever People" (Tommy D's Swing Dub)
"Phorever People" (Tommy D's Joy Making Dub)
"Phorever People" (Tee's Flying Dub)
"Phorever People" (Todd's Urban Club)
"Phorever People" (Todd's Instrumental)
"Phorever People" (Mk Mix)
"Phorever People" (Kevin Saundersons Technological Dub)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Phorever People"
Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	63
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[6]	17
Denmark (IFPI)^[7]	10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[8]	16
Europe (European Dance Radio)^[9]	6
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[10]	21
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[11]	14
France (SNEP)^[12]	12
Germany (Official German Charts)^[13]	31
Ireland (IRMA)^[14]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[15]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16]	47
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[17]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[18]	5
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[19]	4
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)^[20]	1
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)^[21] with "Boss Drum"	5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Phorever People"
Chart (1993)	Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[22]	98

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Phorever People"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[23]	Silver	200,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Shamen'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
^ Flick, Larry (20 March 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
^ Push (12 September 1992). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 43. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ Nine, Jennifer (12 December 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 250.
^ "Shamen – Phorever People" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 3. 16 January 1993. p. 15.
^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 11. 13 March 1993. p. 10. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 5. 30 January 1993. p. 46. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "Shamen – Phorever People" (in French). Les classement single.
^ "Shamen – Phorever People" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Phorever People". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
^ "Shamen – Phorever People" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
^ "Shamen – Phorever People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Shamen – Phorever People". Singles Top 100.
^ "Shamen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 9 January 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 19 June 1993. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 5 June 1993. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
^ "British single certifications – Shamen – Phorever People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 September 2022.

[1] "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Shamen'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2016.

[2] Flick, Larry (20 March 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved 26 October 2020.

[3] Push (12 September 1992). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 43. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[4] Nine, Jennifer (12 December 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 29 March 2023.

[ryan-5] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 250.

[sc_Austria_Shamen-6] "Shamen – Phorever People" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[7] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 27 March 2018.

[8] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 3. 16 January 1993. p. 15.

[9] "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 11. 13 March 1993. p. 10. Retrieved 3 November 2021.

[10] "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 5. 30 January 1993. p. 46. Retrieved 6 April 2024.

[Book-11] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[sc_France_Shamen-12] "Shamen – Phorever People" (in French). Les classement single.

[sc_Germany_Shamen-13] "Shamen – Phorever People" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

[sc_Ireland2_Shamen-14] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Phorever People". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2010.

[15] "Shamen – Phorever People" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 January 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_Shamen-16] "Shamen – Phorever People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_Sweden_Shamen-17] "Shamen – Phorever People". Singles Top 100.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Shamen-18] "Shamen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 January 2016.

[19] "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 9 January 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

[20] "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 19 June 1993. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

[21] "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 5 June 1993. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

[22] "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2019.

[United_KingdomShamenPhorever_PeoplesingleCertRef-23] "British single certifications – Shamen – Phorever People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 September 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

The Shamen
Colin Angus Bob Breeks Gavin Knight Derek McKenzie Keith McKenzie Allison Morrison Richard Sharpe Will Sinnott Peter Stephenson Richard West (Mr C) Plavka Victoria Wilson-James
Albums	Drop (1987) In Gorbachev We Trust (1989) Phorward (1989) En-Tact (1990) Boss Drum (1992) Different Drum (1994) Axis Mutatis / Arbor Bona Arbor Mala (1995) Hempton Manor (1996) UV (1998)
Singles	"Knature of a Girl" (1987) "Transcendental" (1988) "Jesus Loves Amerika" (1988) "Hyperreal" (1991) "Move Any Mountain" (1991) "LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)" (1992) "Ebeneezer Goode" (1992) "Phorever People" (1992) "Destination Eschaton" (1995)
Related articles	Discography