What's in a Word

"What's in a Word"
Single by The Christians
from the album Happy in Hell
B-side"Happy in Hell"
Released1992
Length4:57
LabelIsland
SongwriterHenry Priestman
Producers
  • Martyn Phillips
  • The Christians
The Christians singles chronology
"Greenbank Drive"
(1990)		 "What's in a Word"
(1992)		 "Father"
(1992)

"What's in a Word" is a song by English band the Christians. Written by Henry Priestman, it was their lead single from their third studio album Happy in Hell, and was released in August 1992. It reached the top 20 in Italy and France, spending 19 weeks in the top 50 of the latter country. In addition, it was a top-40 hit in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and a top-60 hit in Germany.

Track listings

  1. "What's in a Word" – 4:57
  2. "Happy in Hell" – 4:27
  1. "What's in a Word" (7" version) – 4:57
  2. "Happy in Hell" – 5:08
  3. "You Never Know" – 5:26
  4. "What's in a Word" (full length version) – 6:52

Charts

Weekly chart performance
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 193
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 62
Europe (European AC Radio) 3
Europe (European Hit Radio) 4
France (SNEP)17
Germany (GfK)60
Italy (Musica e dischi) 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)38
UK Singles (Official Charts)33

References

  1. ↑ "Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 8 March 1993". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 39. 26 September 1992. p. 19. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 1 December 2025 – via World Radio History.
  3. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 46. 14 November 1992. p. 24. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 1 December 2025 – via World Radio History.
  4. ↑ "EHRTOP40 – Week 41/92" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 41. 10 October 1992. p. 42. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 1 December 2025 – via World Radio History.
  5. ↑ "The Christians – What's in a Word" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Classifiche" (in Italian). Musica e dischi. Retrieved 1 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "The Christians".
  8. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Christians" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Christians – What's in a Word" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "The Christians Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 December 2025.