The Promise of a New Day

"The Promise of a New Day" is the opening track and second single from American artist Paula Abdul's second studio album, Spellbound (1991). The song was written by Paula Abdul, Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith. It became Abdul's sixth and final number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Chart performance
"The Promise of a New Day" debuted at No. 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the week ending July 20, 1991, claiming the spot of Hot Shot Debut. The following week, the single climbed to No. 26, with this week claiming the Greatest Airplay Gainer. The song reached No. 1 on the chart on September 14, 1991, and ended the reign of Bryan Adams' long-running No. 1 hit, "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)". The following week, it fell to No. 5, and departed the top 40 only four weeks later. It was Abdul's sixth chart-topping single, and her last No. 1 single to date.

Music video
The video, directed by Big TV! (Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom) was shot during the week of July 8, 1991. Filming took place in two different locations with backgrounds for the video being shot in Hawaii, with Abdul and her backup dancers being filmed separately on a sound stage and later composited through blue screen. Abdul was unable to attend filming in Hawaii due to prior commitments.

Track listings

 * US 7-inch and cassette single
 * Canadian cassette single
 * Australian 7-inch single
 * Japanese mini-CD single


 * 1) "The Promise of a New Day" (7-inch edit) – 4:13
 * 2) "The Promise of a New Day" (West Coast 12-inch) – 5:35


 * UK 7-inch and cassette single
 * A. "The Promise of a New Day" (7-inch edit) – 4:13
 * B. "The Promise of a New Day" (West Coast 7-inch edit) – 3:55


 * UK and Australian 12-inch single
 * UK CD single


 * 1) "The Promise of a New Day" (7-inch edit) – 4:13
 * 2) "The Promise of a New Day" (West Coast 12-inch) – 5:35
 * 3) "The Promise of a New Day" (extended club version) – 6:50


 * UK limited-edition 12-inch single
 * A1. "The Promise of a New Day" (West Coast 12-inch) – 5:35
 * B1. "The Promise of a New Day" (extended club version) – 6:50
 * B2. "The Promise of a New Day" (album version) – 4:32