# The Sign (Ace of Base album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | link |
| Robert Christgau | |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| People | (favorable) |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10 |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
The Sign is a 1993 album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base, released as the band's debut album in North America and some Latin American countries by Arista Records. The Sign contains songs from Ace of Base's debut album, Happy Nation (1992) and the new songs "Don't Turn Around", "The Sign", and "Living in Danger" as well as revised versions of "Voulez-Vous Danser" and "Waiting for Magic".
The Sign is listed among the Top 100 Best-selling Albums of All Time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales in excess of 21 million copies. The album itself earned Arista Records 42 million USD, and was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 1995 Grammy Awards. The Sign was ranked top three on the Billboard 200 chart for 26 consecutive weeks. The album, and the single of the same name, are the only single or album by a Swedish act to rank number one on Billboard's annual overall Year-End lists.

## Background

The album was intended to be released in the US on 26 October 1993 as Happy Nation. However, their label, Arista Records, delayed the album in order for the band to add two radio-friendly singles. The two additional tracks were: "The Sign" and "Living in Danger". The album was eventually released on 23 November 1993. To coincide with the release of The Sign, Happy Nation was re-released in Europe, Mexico, and Australia as Happy Nation (U.S. Version). These releases featured the new tracks and revised versions included on The Sign, as well the new track "Hear Me Calling" and a remix of "Happy Nation".

## Commercial performance

The Sign is listed among the Top 100 Best-selling Albums of All Time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales in excess of 21 million copies. The album itself earned Arista Records 42 million USD, and was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 1995 Grammy Awards. The Sign was ranked top three on the Billboard 200 chart for 26 consecutive weeks. In Canada, the album was number one for 13 weeks. The album, and the single of the same name, are the only single or album by a Swedish act to rank number one on Billboard's annual overall Year-End lists.

## Track listing

Notes
* signifies rap lyrics
* signifies pre-production

## Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for The Sign :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Argentina | — | 300,000 |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | Gold | 200,000 |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Diamond | 1,000,000$^^$ |
| Chile | — | 60,000 |
| Japan | — | 800,000 |
| Mexico | — | 300,000 |
| South Korea | — | 500,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | 9× Platinum | 10,000,000 |
| Summaries |||
| Scandinavia | — | 900,000 |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||

## Video album

Some songs from the album were also released as an Ace of Base video collection released in the summer of 1994 on VHS video in North America. Laserdisc editions appeared in Japan as well.

### Contents

* "All That She Wants"
* "The Sign"
* "Don't Turn Around" Studio Documentary
* "Don't Turn Around"
* "Living in Danger" Studio Documentary
* "Happy Nation"
* "Wheel of Fortune"