Salva Mea (song)

Not to be confused with Salva Mea (Laurent Wéry song).

"Salva Mea"
UK CD 1
Single by Faithless
from the album Reverence
Released24 July 1995 (1995-07-24)
Length10:47
LabelCheeky
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rollo
Faithless singles chronology
"Salva Mea"
(1995) 		"Insomnia"
(1995)
"Insomnia"
(1996)
"Salva Mea"
(1996)
"Reverence"
(1997)
Music video
"Salva Mea" on YouTube
Alternative covers
UK CD 2
Alternative cover
European cover

"Salva Mea" (faux Latin for "save me") is a song by British electronic band Faithless, written by members Rollo, Sister Bliss, and Maxi Jazz. The female vocals on all versions are performed by Rollo's sister Dido. "Salva Mea" was released in 1995 as the group's first single and became a hit on the UK Dance Singles Chart; following a re-release in 1996, it peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The single topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart twice—during its first chart run in 1996 and again in 1997 when the track was remixed and reissued.[1]

Critical reception

In a retrospective review of the Reverence album, Justin Chadwick from Albumism commented, "While “Insomnia” is phenomenal, it was primarily the epic grandeur and sinister soundscape of “Salva Mea” that blew me away and made me fall madly in love with Faithless’ transcendent sound. Among the group’s myriad standout songs, it’s still my most beloved."[2] Upon the 1995 release, Alan Jones from Music Week called it "the piece de résistance" of the album, noting that "the severely under-rated single" marked Rollo as "the Jim Steinman of dance music."[3] In 1996, a reviewer from the magazine rated it three out of five, adding that "this pizzicato synth-driven floorfiller, with its distinctive changes in tempo and vocals, should emulate their recent number three hit Insomnia."[4] Jones said, "Finally, the inevitable has happened and Faithless's finest recording Salva Mea is back with even more new mixes. As far over the top as Rollo & Sister Bliss have ever got, it's an epic tune and every inch a Top 10 hit."[5]

Music video

A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Lindy Heymann.[6]

Track listings

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 24 July 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Cheeky [28]
United Kingdom (re-release) 9 December 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 [29]
30 December 1996 12-inch vinyl [30]

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 95.
  2. ^ Chadwick, Justin (7 April 2016). "Faithless' Debut Album 'Reverence' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (9 March 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 30 November 1996. p. 20. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ Jones, Alan (23 November 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Lindy Heymann". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3364." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 43. 26 October 1996. p. 17.
  12. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea" (in French). Les classement single.
  13. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  14. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 199 Vikuna 5.12. – 11.12. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 6 December 1996. p. 24. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Salva Mea". Irish Singles Chart.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Faithless" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  17. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea". Top 40 Singles.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  20. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea". Singles Top 100.
  21. ^ "Faithless – Salva Mea". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  24. ^ "Faithless Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  27. ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year 96" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 11 January 1997. p. 8. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  28. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 July 1995. p. 31.
  29. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 7 December 1996. p. 41.
  30. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 28 December 1996. p. 19.