"Living in Danger" is a 1994 song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released as the seventh and final single from their debut album, Happy Nation and fourth single from their American debut release The Sign. The single peaked at number 20 on the BillboardHot 100 in the U.S. in 1994. It also topped the American dance chart in December of that year. And at the Cash Box Top 100 it peaked at number 10. Later in 1995, "Living in Danger" reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. Ace of Base performed the song on the first MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin, Germany in 1994. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "Living in Danger" at number 81 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".
Critical reception
Annie Zaleski from The A.V. Club said that the song take influence from "easygoing reggae". Larry Flick from Billboard commented that the Swedish pop phenomenon "shows no sign of loosening its hypnotic hold over top 40 programmers and pop-minded consumers." He added that the song "sticks pretty close to the formula of previous hits: Galloping pop/reggae beats are covered with fluttering synths, a contagious hook, and somewhat disconnected vocal." John Kilgo from The Network Forty wrote that "already stamped as "The Artists of '94," the Swedish quartet strikes again. Showcasing their trademark groove, this number will soar to the top of the charts." Pop Rescue noted the song as "catchy" in their review of Happy Nation, and added that "vocally, it's probably the best track so far".
Ace of Base performed this song on the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards held in Germany in 1994. They performed "Living in Danger" in the front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. They were also nominated for Best Cover with "Don't Turn Around" this year.
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single. The video was directed by Matt Broadley. He also directed the music videos of "All That She Wants", "Happy Nation" and "Don't Turn Around". The video was shot in Kungsträdgårdens tunnelbana, an underground metro station in Stockholmin September 1994. The music video of "Living in Danger" opens with the four members of Ace of Base, each of them following one of four people into the underground metro. These are a priest, a war veteran, a female worker of the station and a woman with paranoia. The worker sits in the ticket booth watching the busy people passing by, as if no one really noticed her. On the metro carriage, the paranoic woman looks at the war veteran by the mirror. Then she runs off the train as soon as it reaches the station, scared. In her haste, she falls over behind the ticket office. The station worker helps her up and offers her some coffee. When both men leave the train, the veteran recognizes the priest and the two begin talking, cheerfully. At the end of the video we see Joker and Buddha leaving the metro station together. Linn and Jenny are standing together on the metro. One of the people used a Game Boy in the video.
