One recurring element in Promenade is water, mentioned in one way or another in the songs "Bath", "A Seafood Song", "Geronimo", "The Summerhouse", "Neptune's Daughter" and "Tonight We Fly". The North Sea, itself, even plays a part in the album: producer Darren Allison made field recordings at North Blyth and Druridge Bay on the Northumberland Coast, which can be heard at the beginning of "Bath" and again in "Neptune's Daughter". [2] A Secret History... The Best of the Divine Comedy". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 14 November 2020. Another recurring element is gods from Greek and Roman mythology: specifically, Aphrodite ("Bath"), Mercury ("Going Downhill Fast") and Neptune ("Neptune's Daughter"). Promenade is the third album by Northern Irish group The Divine Comedy. It is a concept album, telling the story of two lovers who spend an entire day together, eating and drinking, visiting a bookstore and a movie theater, and riding a Ferris wheel. Europop' is laced with not entirely bitter irony, a Casio-driven ode to the pros and cons of Smash Hits stardom which has already gatecrashed into the indie top 10 and, with a bit more promotional zeal, could do the same in the grown-ups chart.

Thematically, the album may be best summed up by the quotation from John Dryden’s Imitation of Horace with which Hannon closes the album:A Secret History... The Best of the Divine Comedy" (PDF). Music & Media . Retrieved 14 November 2020. A Drinking Song - We return to the house, and our couple have now moved from the food to the drink, and a lot of it too. A companion piece to "A Seafood Song" in lyrical terms, musically this is very much a sea shanty with Michael Nyman invading the middle eight. Absurdly infectious, and the sort of drinking song only an Irishman could write; soused in literary references (Chaucer, Wilfred Owen etc.) and never once hinting at lager.

Tonight We Fly - A Nyman-inflected gallop of a song, and a lot of people's favourite in the Hannon Canon. They have a point; it's supremely addictive, beautifully sung and instrumented, and gloriously touching. Finally, our couple fly over the world, one presumes metaphorically, looking down on everyone and everything, pondering where they've been and what they've learned. One hopes this is a metaphor for the final consummation of their relationship (if it was required), because if not there's been a LOT of foreplay in the last 11 songs..... The CD release consists of 2 discs: the original remastered album, with a second CD of b-sides, demos and alternate versions lovingly curated by Neil Hannon, much of which has never been heard before. The CD comes with a booklet of photos, credits and extensive liner notes written by Neil covering the context and inspiration behind the album and its songs. The Melody Maker said "’Promenade’ is music hall, cool French films, late nights in a bygone city, sea-shanties swelled by alcohol.. ‘Promenade’ walks the path of indulgence with bravado and a mischievous grin. A stolen masterpiece." Reviewing for Select, Stuart Maconie said "’Promenade’ is a masterpiece. If you do one brave and imaginative thing this month, be on the side of the angels and buy this record."The reissued albums have been remastered from the original tapes at Abbey Road Studios by mastering engineer Frank Arkwright. Overseeing the audio throughout the campaign is engineer/mixer/producer Guy Massey (who did The Beatles stereo remasters, no less). The songs that are sincere, such as the domestic drama “Norman and Norma,” and the brokenhearted lover’s lament, “A Feather in Your Cap” are surprisingly so, so much so that I waited for a punchline that never quite came. In the case of the former, I’m actually happy that Norman and Norma—who we’ve seen raise their children and fall into romantic complacency—find their bliss in battle reenactments. “I’m a Stranger Here,” a simple piano-based melodic operetta, punctuated by sweetly swirling strings, about a time traveler trying to navigate his new surroundings, plays similarly. A sweet plea for assistance as he realizes the life and home he knows is gone, he sings, “If you ask where I come from, I’ll say ‘the past’ and wander on” - PASTE

I've Been to a Marvelous Party", on the various artists Noël Coward tribute album Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward (1998)We'd love you to share your 'Promenade' memories and any band memorabilia from this period. Remember to use #TheDivineComedy30 when you post.

The sample at the beginning of "The Booklovers" features Audrey Hepburn from the 1957 film Funny Face.Geronimo - Outside, it's raining, and our protagonists beat a hasty retreat to "a place he knows". Quite an urgent piano song, as the frisson between the couple briefly threatens to truncate an album into an EP. But the tale must remain chaste for now, and the ditty is soon over. Charmed Life – The Best of the Divine Comedy". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 14 February 2022. Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 11 February 2022". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 11 February 2022. Victory for the Comic Muse peaked at No. 47 in October 2020 when re-issued on their own label Divine Comedy