Promises (Def Leppard song)

"Promises"
"Promises"
Single by Def Leppard
from the album Euphoria
B-side	"Back in Your Face"
Released	24 May 1999
Length	3:58
Label	Mercury; Bludgeon Riffola;
Songwriters	Phil Collen; Robert John "Mutt" Lange;
Producers	Pete Woodroffe; Def Leppard;
Def Leppard singles chronology
Part two artwork
	Part two of the UK "Promises" / "Back in Your Face" set
Music video
	"Promises" on YouTube

"Promises" is a song by English rock band Def Leppard from their seventh studio album, Euphoria (1999). It was released as a single in the United States in May 1999 and reached number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Two months later, the single was released in the United Kingdom and peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart. "Promises" is a staple of the band's live performances. Due to its popularity among fans, Def Leppard has performed the song over five hundred times as of December 2022, making it one of the group's top 25 most played pieces.^[1]

Overview

The song was also featured on the second disc of their compilation Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection, released in 2005. A live version is featured on their live album Viva! Hysteria, released in October 2013. In addition to the CD versions of the single, a 7-inch was released for jukeboxes with "Pour Some Sugar on Me" as the B-side. It would be the final Def Leppard single released on the 7-inch format until 2018. It is also one of the few songs from that period of their career that has been performed live on successive tours other than the one directly supporting its parent album.

Reception

AllMusic wrote: ""Promises" is Def Leppard at its best: infectious melodies and childishly poignant lyrics."^[2]

Track listings

UK CD1

"Promises"
"Back in Your Face"
Album snippets
"Promises" (video)

UK CD2

"Back in Your Face"
"Promises"
"Worlds Collide"

US CD single

"Promises"
"Paper Sun"

UK 7-inch single

"Promises"
"Pour Some Sugar on Me"

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Promises"
Chart (1999)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[3]	18
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[4]	2
Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)^[5]	43
UK Singles (Official Charts)^[6]	41
UK Rock & Metal (Official Charts)^[7]	1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)^[8]	2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[9]	1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[10]	38

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Promises"
Chart (1999)	Position
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[11]	4
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[12]	17

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Promises"
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	24 May 1999	Mainstream rock active rock radio	Mercury Bludgeon Riffola	^[13]^[14]^[15]
United Kingdom	12 July 1999	CD cassette	Mercury Bludgeon Riffola	^[16]

Other versions

In 2018, singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson included his cover of "Promises" on Pyromattia. The album is composed entirely of Def Leppard covers and features songs from High 'N' Dry, Pyromania, Hysteria, and Euphoria.^[17]

References

^ "Def Leppard Statistics - Songs Played Total". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
^ Weber, Barry. "Promises Review by Barry Weber". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 8373". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 September 2020. ^{[dead link]}
^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 8179". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2026. ^{[dead link]}
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 18/7/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart on 18/7/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 18/7/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved 27 January 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. YE-90.
^ Flick, Larry (15 May 1999). "Def Leppard Delivers 'Euphoria'". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 20. p. 14. ...including the first single, 'Promises,' which is due May 24.
^ Maxwell, Cyndee (21 May 1999). "Big Rock Is Back, Baby". Radio & Records. No. 1300. p. 86. Lo/Jack unleashed two Def Leppard tracks that would ship simultaneously, 'Promises' and 'Paper Sun' (May 24).
^ "Adds for May 24 & 25". Gavin Report. No. 2256. 21 May 1999. p. 31.
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 July, 1999: Singles". Music Week. 10 July 1999. p. 23.
^ Reesman, Bryan. "Matt Nathanson Channels His Inner-Def Leppard Fanboy for 'Pyromattia' EP: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved 8 June 2018.

[Set-1] "Def Leppard Statistics - Songs Played Total". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

[AllMusic-2] Weber, Barry. "Promises Review by Barry Weber". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2026.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-3] "Top RPM Singles: Image 8373". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 September 2020. ^{[dead link]}

[sc_Canadarock_-4] "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 8179". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2026. ^{[dead link]}

[sc_Scotland_-5] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 18/7/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

[sc_UK_-6] "Official Singles Chart on 18/7/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

[sc_UKrock_-7] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 18/7/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

[sc_Billboardbubbling100_Def_Leppard-8] "Def Leppard Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2023.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Def_Leppard-9] "Def Leppard Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Def_Leppard-10] "Def Leppard Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2023.

[11] "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved 27 January 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[12] "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. YE-90.

[13] Flick, Larry (15 May 1999). "Def Leppard Delivers 'Euphoria'". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 20. p. 14. ...including the first single, 'Promises,' which is due May 24.

[14] Maxwell, Cyndee (21 May 1999). "Big Rock Is Back, Baby". Radio & Records. No. 1300. p. 86. Lo/Jack unleashed two Def Leppard tracks that would ship simultaneously, 'Promises' and 'Paper Sun' (May 24).

[15] "Adds for May 24 & 25". Gavin Report. No. 2256. 21 May 1999. p. 31.

[16] "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 July, 1999: Singles". Music Week. 10 July 1999. p. 23.

[billboardpryomattia-17] Reesman, Bryan. "Matt Nathanson Channels His Inner-Def Leppard Fanboy for 'Pyromattia' EP: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved 8 June 2018.

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v t e Def Leppard
Rick Savage Joe Elliott Rick Allen Phil Collen Vivian Campbell Pete Willis Steve Clark
Studio albums	On Through the Night High 'n' Dry Pyromania Hysteria Adrenalize Slang Euphoria X Yeah! Songs from the Sparkle Lounge Def Leppard Diamond Star Halos
Live albums	Mirror Ball – Live & More Viva! Hysteria And There Will Be a Next Time... Live from Detroit
Compilations	Retro Active Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980–1995) Best of Def Leppard Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection The Story So Far – The Best Of The Early Years 79–81 Drastic Symphonies
EPs	The Def Leppard E.P.
Singles	"Wasted" "Hello America" "Let It Go" "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" "Photograph" "Rock of Ages" "Foolin'" "Too Late for Love" "Animal" "Women" "Pour Some Sugar on Me" "Hysteria" "Armageddon It" "Love Bites" "Rocket" "Let's Get Rocked" "Make Love Like a Man" "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" "Heaven Is" "Tonight" "Two Steps Behind" "Miss You in a Heartbeat" "Action" "When Love & Hate Collide" "Slang" "Work It Out" "All I Want Is Everything" "Breathe a Sigh" "Promises" "Now" "Long, Long Way to Go" "No Matter What" "Rock On" "20th Century Boy" "Undefeated"
Videography	Historia Live: In the Round, in Your Face Visualize Rock of Ages: The DVD Collection Mirror Ball – Live & More Viva! Hysteria And There Will Be a Next Time... Live from Detroit
Concert tours	Adrenalize World Tour Slang World Tour Viva! Hysteria Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour World Tour 2015 Def Leppard & Journey 2018 Tour The Stadium Tour The World Tour
Related	Discography Members Songs Awards and nominations Cybernauts Man Raze Down 'n' Outz Gogmagog Jeff Rich Frank Noon
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Promises (Def Leppard song)

Promises (Def Leppard song)

Promises (Def Leppard song)

Overview

Reception

Track listings

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Other versions

References

History

History

Promises (Def Leppard song)

Promises (Def Leppard song)

Promises (Def Leppard song)

Overview

Reception

Track listings

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Other versions

References