Guaranteed (Level 42 song)

"Guaranteed"
"Guaranteed"
Single by Level 42
from the album Guaranteed
Released	August 1991
Genre	Jazz-funk
Length	4:51 (album version); 3:57 (7" version); 6:46 (The New Avengers mix); 6:29 (Wheel Spin Warrior mix);
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Mike Lindup; Mark King; Gary Husband; Wally Badarou;
Producer(s)	Level 42; Wally Badarou;
Level 42 singles chronology
Music video
	"Guaranteed" on YouTube

"Guaranteed" is a song by English jazz-funk band Level 42. It was released in August 1991 by RCA Records as part of the band's album Guaranteed (1991). This was the band's first single of the 1990s, following their previous single, "Take Care of Yourself," released two years earlier.

Background

The song was written by Mark King, Mike Lindup, Gary Husband, and Wally Badarou, who was also the producer and a secondary composer and musician for the group. The guitar parts were performed by Allan Holdsworth, the band's guitarist at the time. Mark King provided lead vocals on the verses, with a duet featuring Mike Lindup’s falsetto on the chorus. The song follows a similar structure to "Two Hearts Collide," released in 1988 on the album Staring at the Sun.

Music video

This song has two different music videos, both directed by "The Mill." Each version features the band performing the song in two distinct settings: the first version is set outdoors in the mountains, while the second takes place in a white room. The second version also includes some scenes from the first. Both versions feature Jakko Jakszyk on guitar, as guitarist Allan Holdsworth left the group after the album was completed.

Reception

It was the most successful track from the Guaranteed album, reaching the top 20 in the UK and achieving chart success in Europe as well.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[2]	20
Germany (GfK)^[3]	51
Ireland (IRMA)^[4]	25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[5]	13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[6]	20
UK Singles (OCC)^[7]	17

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[8]	59

References

^ "The Great Rock Discography". p. 481.
^ "Level 42 – Guaranteed" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "Level 42 – Guaranteed" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guaranteed". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "Level 42 – Guaranteed" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 1991-12-21. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-02-24.

[1] "The Great Rock Discography". p. 481.

[sc_Flanders_Level_42-2] "Level 42 – Guaranteed" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[sc_Germany_Level_42-3] "Level 42 – Guaranteed" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[sc_Ireland2_Level_42-4] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guaranteed". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[sc_Dutch40_-5] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[sc_Dutch100_Level_42-6] "Level 42 – Guaranteed" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[sc_UK_-7] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[8] "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 1991-12-21. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-02-24.

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