Sweet Sounds of Heaven

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven"
Single by the Rolling Stones featuring Lady Gaga
from the album Hackney Diamonds
Released	28 September 2023 (2023-09-28)
Genre	Rock[1] blues[2] soul[3] gospel[4]
Length	7:22 5:06 (edit)
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Mick Jagger Keith Richards
Producer(s)	Andrew Watt
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"Angry" (2023) "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" (2023) "Mess It Up" (2023)
Lady Gaga singles chronology
"Bloody Mary" (2022) "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" (2023) "Die with a Smile" (2024)

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones, featuring American singer Lady Gaga. It was released on 28 September 2023 as the second single from their studio album Hackney Diamonds (2023).

Release

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was teased by the band via an Instagram post on 25 September 2023, which played a short snippet of the track and revealed its release date.^[5] A lyric video for the radio edit of the track was uploaded to the Rolling Stones' official YouTube channel on the day of its release, and an interview with the band's frontman Mick Jagger was uploaded to the Apple Music YouTube channel as well.^[6][7] On December 8, a live version of the song was released, recorded at the Racket in New York.^[8]

Critical reception

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was critically acclaimed. The Telegraph rated it five out of five stars, stating that the band is in "exultant form" and calling the track "a thrilling, uplifting proto-gospel song that belongs in the very highest echelons of the Stones' starry catalogue".^[9] Consequence described the "anthemic, surprisingly emotional cut" as "one of the best late-stage songs the Stones have to offer", with the vocal interplay between Jagger and Gaga "[making] the extended track feel like it breezes by in an instant".^[10]

American Songwriter praised the "truly epic" track as "[proof] that rock and roll and soul music can live harmoniously", while Rolling Stone further described it as a "free-flowing soul journey" with a "gospel vibe".^[11][4]

RTÉ deemed the track the highlight of the album, stating "this is the Stones in excelsis, a cosmic mountain range of a gospel song featuring perhaps Lady Gaga's finest-ever vocals and astounding keys and piano playing from the band's old touring partner Stevie Wonder".^[12] The New York Times listed "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" as the fifth best song released in 2023, stating that "the song climbs to a big, gospelly finish, with Jagger and Gaga goading each other to belt more."^[13]

Live performance

The Stones performed the song live with Gaga for the first time as part of their set at the Racket club in New York on October 19, 2023. Gaga joined the band on stage wearing a shimmering black and red bodysuit before engaging in a "heavenly screaming match" with Jagger during the song.^[14] The audio of the performance was later released on digital and streaming services on December 8.^[15]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" Chart (2023) Peak position Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[16] 19 Croatia (HRT)[17] 20 Germany (GfK)[18] 84 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[19] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 42 Netherlands (Tipparade)[21] 18 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 23 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 72 UK Singles Sales (OCC)[24] 2 UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[25] 15 US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[26] 29 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 45

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" Chart (2023) Position UK Vinyl Singles (OCC)[28] 20

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Version(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	28 September 2023	Digital download streaming	Edit original	Polydor	[4]
Italy		Radio airplay	Original	Capitol	[29]
Various	13 October 2023	10-inch vinyl CD		Polydor	[30] [31]
Japan	24 November 2023	SHM-CD	Original edit		[32] [33]
Various	8 December 2023	Digital download streaming	Live at Racket, NYC		[34]

References

1. Potton, Ed (29 September 2023). "The Rolling Stones: Sweet Sounds of Heaven review — a jam session for the gods". The Times. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
2. Kaufman, Gil (28 September 2023). "Hear Lady Gaga Go to Church on Rolling Stones' Gospel Blues 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven'". Billboard. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
3. "Rolling Stones Enlist Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder For 'Sweet Sounds Of Heaven'". uDiscoverMusic.com. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
4. Grow, Kory (28 September 2023). "Hear the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Lady Gaga Summon 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
5. Aniftos, Rania (25 September 2023). "Rolling Stones Reveal Release Date for 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven' With Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
6. The Rolling Stones | Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (Edit) | Feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder | Lyric Video, 28 September 2023, retrieved 30 September 2023
7. Mick Jagger: The Rolling Stones "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"', Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder | Apple Music, 28 September 2023, retrieved 30 September 2023
8. "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (feat. Lady Gaga) - Live at Racket, NYC". Spotify. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
9. McCormick, Neil (28 September 2023). "The Rolling Stones, Sweet Sound of Heaven, review: Jagger and Gaga on astonishing, exultant form". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
10. Krueger, Jonah (29 September 2023). "The Rolling Stones' "Sweet Sounds of Heaven": Review". Consequence. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
11. Houghton, Cillea (28 September 2023). "The Rolling Stones Drop Epic "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
12. Corr, Alan (7 October 2023). "Review: The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds". RTE. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
13. Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsay (6 December 2023). "Best Songs of 2023". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
14. Curto, Justin (20 October 2023). "Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger Had a Heavenly Screaming Match". Vulture. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
15. "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (Live at Racket, NYC) - Single - Album by The Rolling Stones & Lady Gaga - Apple Music". music.apple.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
16. "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
17. "Airplay Radio Chart Top40 – 44. tjedan (30.10.2023.)". HRT. 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
18. "The Rolling Stones feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder – Sweet Sounds of Heaven" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
19. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of October 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
20. "The Rolling Stones feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder – Sweet Sounds of Heaven" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
21. "Tipparade-lijst van week 43, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
22. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
23. "The Rolling Stones feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder – Sweet Sounds of Heaven". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
24. "Official Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
25. "Official Singles Downloads Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
26. "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
27. "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
28. Ainsley, Helen (4 January 2024). "The Official best-selling vinyl albums and singles of 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
29. "EarOne | Radio Date, le novità musicali della settimana" (Press release) (in Italian). EarOne. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
30. "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven - The Rolling Stones". therollingstonesshop.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
31. "Sweet Sounds of Heaven CD Single - The Rolling Stones". therollingstonesshop.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
32. "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven [SHM-CD] [Japan Bonus Track]". CDJapan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
33. "スウィート・サウンズ・オブ・ヘヴン [SHM-CD]". Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
34. "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (Live at Racket, NYC) - Single - Album by The Rolling Stones & Lady Gaga - Apple Music". music.apple.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.