Divine Emotions

This article is about the song. For the album, see Divine Emotion.

"Divine Emotions"
Single by Narada Michael Walden
from the album Divine Emotion
B-side	"Tighter"
Released	March 14, 1988
Genre	R&B, funk
Length	5:13 (album version) 4:12 (single mix) 8:48 (12" version) 4:27 (Bright Lights, Big City soundtrack version)
Label	Reprise Records
Songwriters	Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen
Producer	Narada Michael Walden

"Divine Emotions" is a 1988 single by Narada Michael Walden, from the album Divine Emotion. A successful producer, Walden billed himself as Narada for his later music releases. After producing acts like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston in the mid-1980s, Walden released "Divine Emotions," in 1988. The single went to number one on the Billboard dance club play chart for one week.^[1] Although the single did not chart on the Hot 100, it peaked at number twenty-one on the soul singles chart.^[2] Overseas, "Divine Emotions", was a top-ten hit in the UK, peaking at number 8, in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the Flanders region of Belgium.

Critical reception

A review in pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Divine Emotions" an "appealing pop/disco in a festive production".^[3]

Use in media

The song was featured in the 1988 film, Bright Lights, Big City and on the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City. The instrumental for the song was used as the original theme to the Canadian dance music show Electric Circus

Personnel

• Narada Michael Walden: lead vocals, songwriter, producer, arranger, Simmons drums
• Jeffrey Cohen: songwriter
• David Sancious: Fairlight keyboards
• Walter "Baby Love" Afanasieff: Roland Juno keyboards
• Robert "Bongo Bob" Smith: drum sampling, percussion programming
• Randy "The King" Jackson: Spector bass guitar
• Corrado Rustici: Jackson MIDI guitar solo
• Marc Russo: saxophone
• Claytoven Richardson: background vocals

Track listings

• 7": Reprise (US)/ 9 27967-7

1. "Divine Emotions (Single Mix)" - 4:12 ^
2. "Tighter" - 5:08

• 12": Reprise (US)/ 0-20874

1. "Divine Emotions (Remix)" - 8:48 ^
2. "Divine Emotions (Dub Mix)" - 7:45
3. "Divine Emotions (Single Mix)" - 4:12 ^
4. "Tighter" - 5:08

• 3 Inch CD Single: Reprise (Europe)/ 920 955-2, W 7967 CD

1. "Divine Emotions (Remix)" - 8:48 ^
2. "Divine Emotions (Single Mix)"- 4:12 ^
3. "Tighter" - 5:08

^Remix by Shep Pettibone

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1988) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 31 Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[6] 10 Ireland (IRMA)[7] 15 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[8] 11 Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[9] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 8 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 21 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[14] 1 West Germany (GfK)[15] 35

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 66 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 47 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 90

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 274.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 606.
3. "Previews – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 19. 7 May 1988. p. 19. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 November 2025 – via World Radio History.
4. "Narada – Divine Emotions" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 22. 28 May 1988. p. 24-25. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 November 2025 – via World Radio History.
6. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 24. 11 June 1988. p. 25. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 November 2025 – via World Radio History.
7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Divine Emotions". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
8. "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 23. 4 June 1988. p. 5.
9. "Radio Luxembourg Singles". umdmusic.com. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
11. "Narada – Divine Emotions" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
12. "Narada Michael Walden: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
13. "Narada Michael Walden Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
14. "Narada Michael Walden Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Narada – Divine Emotions" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
16. "Jaaroverzichten 1988". Ultratop. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
17. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
18. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved August 16, 2021.