Broken Land

"Broken Land"
Single by The Adventures
from the album The Sea of Love
B-side"Don't Stand on Me"
Released14 March 1988
Length5:03 (LP Version)
4:07 (Single Edit)
LabelElektra
SongwriterPat Gribben
ProducerGarry Bell
The Adventures singles chronology
"Two Rivers"
(1985)		 "Broken Land"
(1988)		 "Drowning in the Sea of Love"
(1988)

"Broken Land" is a song by Northern Irish band the Adventures, released in 1988 as the first single from their second album The Sea of Love. It was their biggest hit in the UK, spending 10 weeks on the chart, and reached the top ten in Ireland.

Written by guitarist Pat Gribben, "Broken Land" peaked at No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also the band's first song to reach the US Billboard Hot 100. A music video was created for the song, which was directed by Mary Lambert. "Broken Land" references experiences of the Troubles.

Critical reception

Reviewing the single, Billboard wrote that the song consists of the band "sing[ing] hopefully about its native land of Ireland in a sweet pop setting." Cashbox thought that "Broken Land" had a "more tuneful" sound than U2 and that it "builds to a terrific chorus that's hooky and memorable." Music & Media characterised it as rather pompous, guitar -driven pop/rock. Predictable, but one that somehow stays in your mind."

Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 45
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media) 68
European Airplay (Music & Media) 18
Irish Singles Chart 8
Italian Singles Chart 25
UK Singles (Official Charts)20
US Billboard Hot 100 95
US Billboard Album Rock Charts 39
US Cash Box Top 100 83

Music 4 Ukraine version

In 2022, a cover version was released as a charity single titled "Heal This Broken Land". This version of "Broken Land" features Mark Shaw of Then Jerico, Nick Heyward, T'Pau's Carol Decker, the Christians, Nathan Moore of Brother Beyond and Doctor and the Medics. On 30 October 2022, the single, credited to Music 4 Ukraine, had reached number 1 on The Heritage Chart, as seen on Talking Pictures TV.

References

  1. ↑ Strickland, Andy (5 March 1988). "Index: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 10. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ↑ The Belfast Telegraph
  3. ↑ Ellis, Michael (30 April 1988). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. p. 65. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "New Videoclips" (PDF). Billboard. 21 May 1988. p. 56. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 2 April 1988. p. 69. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cashbox. 2 April 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Previews | Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 7 May 2026. p. 19. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "australian-charts.com > The Adventures - Broken Land (song)". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
  9. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 22. 28 May 1988. p. 24. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 19. 7 May 1988. p. 23. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 15/5/1988 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of May 7, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Album Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. 7 May 1988. p. 15. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. 14 May 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  15. ↑ http://www.thenjerico.com/?p=1491
  16. ↑ "Week 119 30 October 2022". Heritage Chart. Retrieved 2026-10-29.
  17. ↑ https://www.heritagechart.co.uk