Burning The Ground Exclusive
Today’s Pride Month feature turns the volume all the way up with one of the most flamboyant, theatrical, and gloriously over-the-top dance anthems of the early ’90s—”Crucified” by Army of Lovers. Released in 1991, this iconic track is pure high-camp Eurodance bliss, complete with operatic vocals, pulsing beats, religious imagery, and tongue-in-cheek decadence. It’s not just a song—it’s a spectacle.
Led by the charismatic Alexander Bard, Army of Lovers brought androgyny, queer expression, and maximalist fashion to the pop stage at a time when very few acts dared to. “Crucified” became their breakthrough single, topping charts across Europe and becoming a beloved club staple in the U.S., particularly within LGBTQ+ circles. The track hit #6 on the U.S. Billboard Dance chart and has since become a cult classic.
With lyrics like “I’m crucified, crucified like my savior / Saintlike behavior, a lifetime I prayed,” the song blends religious melodrama with self-aware sensuality. It’s part satire, part celebration—winking at the sacred and profane with the same fierce energy. Its mix of Eurodisco, house, and choral elements creates something that feels both nostalgic and ahead of its time.
“Crucified” is Pride in sonic form: bold, unapologetic, theatrical, and impossible to ignore. It’s a song that demands you live out loud and without shame, even when the world tries to put you in a box.
💃 Whether you’re twirling in a club, voguing in your living room, or just need a reminder of how fabulous self-expression can be, this one is for you.
🎧 From Sweden with love, glitter, and subversion—Army of Lovers gave us an anthem that still feels like a revelation.
Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈
SIDE A:
Crucified (The Nuzak Remix) 8:04
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Nuzak
SIDE B:
Crucified (Yherushalaim Dub) 7:42
Remix, Producer [Additional] – Nuzak
Crucified (Radio Edit) 3:32
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Crucified | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play | #6 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Ton Son Ton – SONL-17, Ton Son Ton – SONL 17
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1991
Genre: Electronic
Style: Euro House, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Backing Vocals – Erika Essen-Möller, Jean-Paul Wall, Katarina Wilczewski, Malin Bäckström, Rickard Evenlind*
- Bass – La Camilla
- Co-producer, Engineer – Per Adebratt
- Computer – Alexander Bard
- Executive-Producer – Ole Hakansson*
- Film Director [Video Clip Directed By] – Fredrik Boklund, Martin Persson
- Hair, Make-Up – Jean-Pierre Barda
- Keyboards, Programmed By – Anders Wollbeck
- Lead Vocals, Drums – Jean-Pierre Barda
- Photography By – Carl-Johan Paulin
- Producer – Alexander Bard, Anders Wollbeck
- Promotion [Promotion Supervisor] – Jonas Holst
- Sleeve, Design – Marie S-Wollbeck*
- Stylist – Camilla Thulin
- Vocals – Alexander Bard, Jean-Pierre Barda, La Camilla
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Dear Paul!! You got me and Karen celebrating this record on your site!!! When this record first came out, I was obsessed with techno music coming out from overseas record companies. Techno was wild, different, and was pure adrenalin. At first, it was quite instrumental with samples thrown in. Bands were soon writing songs with lyrics and this track bowled us over. At first listen, I was a bit concerned that it may have been a bit scandalous or irreverent, but soon after I found the record to be outrageously campy fun! I was all in for the theatricality of… Read more »
Jeff (and Karen!) — your comment is a whole revival, and I absolutely loved reading every word of it! What a joy to hear about your memories surrounding this track—that is exactly the kind of energy “Crucified” radiates: communal, outrageous, and completely liberating. That night in D.C. sounds incredible—dancing among friends with the A.I.D.S. quilt still on your hearts and “Crucified” blasting through the speakers? That’s the kind of emotional contrast Army of Lovers thrived on: joy in the face of pain, freedom through fabulousness. And yes, that cheeky irreverence! Camp as confession. Disco as salvation! Thank you both for… Read more »
I really liked this song back in the day…during the techno years. I gotta say, the male singer in this photo link looks EXACTLY like the character George from The Wedding Singer. 🙂 Thanks Paul!! https://www.discogs.com/artist/67498-Army-Of-Lovers/image/SW1hZ2U6NTI5ODg5NzY=
You’re welcome, Fred. That character was played by transgender actress Alexis Arquette, who died in 2016.
Yes…I was just saying they looked very much alike (granted one was a character in a movie). 🙂
Wow, I haven’t heard this one in a very long time. Nice to give it a revisit, because beyond the camp it really is a solid pop song. A.O.L. arrived around the time Erasure did that ABBA ep, and this really sounds like a continuation of the ABBA sound, if ABBA and Erasure were put in a blender, this having that “Lay all your Love on Me” sound. The video itself is ridiculously camp, with a “gay blade” version of Prince in there, ha ha. Watching it now, I have to wonder if Army of Lovers offered some inspiration to… Read more »
Thank you so much! I love how you put it—ABBA and Erasure in a blender is exactly the vibe Army of Lovers served with “Crucified.” That same unapologetic melodic grandeur, dripping with drama and glitter, but with an even more over-the-top twist. It really is a solid pop song underneath all the theatrical flair, and that’s what makes it endure. The “gay blade” Prince reference made me laugh out loud—so spot on! And you’re not the first to draw comparisons between A.O.L.’s aesthetic and more modern fantasy visuals like The Magicians. Their influence sneaks into so many unexpected corners. I’m… Read more »
I adore this track! It is a great addition to your Pride playlist this year and gets me signing out loud every time.
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled this one hit the spot—it’s definitely one of those tracks that demands to be sung out loud at full volume (preferably with dramatic hand gestures!). So glad it’s found a place on your Pride playlist too—more anthems coming your way! 🌈🪩🎤