Wheel of fortune
Single
“Wheel of Fortune” is the debut single from the first album, Happy Nation (1992). Despite initially struggling to gain traction on Danish radio, the song was re-promoted for a third time and ultimately entered the official Danish singles chart upon its physical release on 29 June 1992.
The Wheel of Fortune is a Reggae-Flavoured dance-pop hit
Ace of Base and their first single, "Wheel of Fortune", in 1992. This track was written by Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg and recorded at Studio Decibel in Stockholm, Sweden. The song has a reggae-flavoured dance-pop sound and was produced on a budget of SEK 30,000. Despite its creation in 1992, the song didn't enter the charts until it was re-released several times.
The success of this track
In Denmark, the track entered the charts at number six and later peaked at number two. It also succeeded in several countries, including Norway, Israel, and the Netherlands, reaching number one.
It was also a top 10 hit in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland and reached the top 20 in Finland, Iceland, and Ireland. On the Euro chart Hot 100, it peaked at number five. In Germany, the song earned a gold record with the sale of 250,000 singles.
A low-budget video that succeeded
The original version of the music video was directed by Viking Nielson and featured all four original members of Ace of Base. Ulf Ekberg revealed in a 2018 interview that the band had only $1000 to shoot the video.
The 2009 re-recording of the song did not have a music video, but a promo video was published on the band's official website. The video consisted of live footage from their Redefined tour and video footage from a photoshoot.
The original release of this track was released with the following track listing:
- (7" Mix) — 3:42
- (12" Mix) — 5:27
- (Club Mix) — 4:39
- "My Mind" (Dance Mix) — 4:19
A delayed but expected hit
This track may not have gained much popularity initially, but after several re-releases, it became a hit for Ace of Base. It's a Reggae-flavoured dance-pop song that has reached high positions on various charts worldwide.
FAQ
- Who wrote "Wheel of Fortune"?
Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg of Ace of Base wrote the track.
- When was "Wheel of Fortune" first released?
This was released in 1992 as the first single from Ace of Base's debut album, Happy Nation.
- What is the 2009 re-recording of "Wheel of Fortune"?
The 2009 re-recording of this track is a single released by the band as a trio, and it features live footage from their Redefined tour.
- In which countries did "Wheel of Fortune" reach number one?
"Wheel of Fortune" reached the number one spot in Norway.