Road to Joy (Peter Gabriel song)

"Road to Joy" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in June 2023 as the sixth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. The track is one of the last tracks to emerge for the album, it had originally been conceived around 2000's OVO called "Pukka", albeit sounding very different to the final rendition of the track. The track was produced by Gabriel and English musician Brian Eno, and features Tony Levin on bass, Manu Katché on drums, John Metcalfe on string arrangements, and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The single features the artwork "Middle Finger in Pink" by Ai Weiwei. Gabriel traveled to Cambridge to meet with Ai, who was unfamiliar with Gabriel's work. After a follow-up visit in London was successful, Ai Weiwei agreed to collaborate with Gabriel. Ai then sent three designs for Gabriel to choose from, all of which centered around "a middle finger raised against authority". "'I'm a big fan of Ai Weiwei, both as an artist, as a designer and as a human rights campaigner. He's an incredibly brave man and regularly risks the wrath of the Chinese government. But his work is exceptional, often political and quite extraordinary.'"The track has been described as being more fun and upbeat than the rest of the record, Gabriel stated about the track's more upbeat nature that "the excitement and energy in the song was something that I was getting off on. I felt we didn't have enough of that for this record."

Personnel

 * Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, synths, manipulated charango
 * David Rhodes – guitars, backing vocals
 * Don-E – bass synth
 * Tony Levin – basses
 * Manu Katché – drums
 * Josh Shpak – trumpet
 * Brian Eno – rhythm programming and progressing, manipulated guitar and ukulele
 * Hans-Martin Buff – additional percussion and synths
 * Ron Aslan – additional synths
 * Orchestra
 * Orchestral arrangement: John Metcalfe
 * Violins: Everton Nelson, Ian Humphries, Louisa Fuller, Charles Mutter, Cathy Thompson, Natalia Bonner, Richard George, Marianne Haynes, Martin Burgess, Clare Hayes, Debbie Widdup, Odile Ollagnon
 * Violas: Bruce White, Fiona Bonds, Peter Lale, Rachel Roberts
 * Cellos: Ian Burdge, Chris Worsey, Caroline Dale, William Schofield, Tony Woollard, Chris Allan
 * Double bass: Chris Laurence, Stacy Watton, Lucy Shaw
 * Orchestra conductor: John Metcalfe
 * Orchestra leader: Everton Nelson
 * Sheet music supervisor: Dave Foster
 * Orchestra contractor: Lucy Whalley and Susie Gillis

Choir

Soweto Gospel Choir


 * Soprano: Linda Sambo, Nobuhle Dhlamini, Phello Jiyane, Victoria Sithole
 * Alto Maserame Ndindwa, Phumla Nkhumeleni, Zanele Ngwenya, Duduzile Ngomane
 * Tenor: George Kaudi, Vusimuzi Shabalala, Xolani Ntombela, Victor Makhathini
 * Bass: Thabang Mkhwanazi, Goodwill Modawu, Warren Mahlangu, Fanizile Nzuza
 * Musical director / vocal arranger: Bongani "Honey" Ncube