"A Song of Joy" ("Himno a la alegría") is the title of a popular rock song by the Spanish singer and actor Miguel Ríos. It is set to the tune of the Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, as arranged by Waldo de los Ríos, who specialized in arranging classical music to contemporary rhythms.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications) The same melody is used in the well-known Christian hymn, "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee."
The single was enormously popular in many countries in 1970 (see 1970 in music), reaching number 1 on music charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the Easy Listening chart in the United States. On the U.S. pop chart, the song peaked at number 14 and was the only Top 40 hit for Ríos. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 16 on the British pop chart.Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 12 August 2009. In Germany, the song is the most successful pop hymn ever. The single sold over four million copies worldwide.
The song was used for hymns and anthems. It is most popularly used for the anthem of Teleton (Chile) and its other telethons.
Chart history
Weekly charts Chart (1969–70)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)1Austriahttps://www.austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Miguel+Rios&titel=A+Song+Of+Joy&cat=s1Canada RPM Top Singles1Germany 1Indonesia (Aktuil)2New Zealand (Listener)Flavour of New Zealand, September 21, 19705South Africa (Springbok)3Switzerland 1UK16US Cash Box Top 1009
Year-end charts Chart (1970)RankAustralia17Canada33SwitzerlandSwiss Year-End Charts, 19701US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)122US Billboard Easy Listening16
See also List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s List of RPM number-one singles of 1970 List of number-one hits of 1970 and 1971 (Germany) List of number-one hits of 1970 (Switzerland) List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1970 (U.S.) List of best-selling Latin singles
References
External links European 7" single release info Discogs