"Be My Lover" | ||||
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Single by La Bouche | ||||
from the album Sweet Dreams | ||||
B-side | "Do You Still Need Me" | |||
Released | 8 March 1995 | |||
Recorded | September 1994 | |||
Genre | Eurodance [1] | |||
Length |
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Songwriter(s) |
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La Bouche singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Be My Lover" on YouTube |
"Be My Lover" is a song recorded by German Eurodance group La Bouche and released in March 1995 by Arista and RCA Records as the second single from their debut album, Sweet Dreams (1995). The song was written by group members Melanie Thornton and Lane McCray with Uli Brenner and Gerd Amir Saraf, who co-produced it with Frank Farian. It remains their most successful song, alongside "Sweet Dreams", and was a worldwide hit. In Europe, it was a number-one hit in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, and Sweden, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the US, the single reached numbers five and six on the Cash Box Top 100 and Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for two weeks in December 1995. To date, it has sold six million copies worldwide. Two different music videos were produced to promote the single. "Be My Lover" earned La Bouche the 1996 Echo Music Prize in Germany in the category for Best Dance Single as well as the ASCAP Award in the US for the Most Played Song in America. It was dubbed into many megamix tracks and has had several remix versions.
In 2000, when Melanie Thornton left the group to start with her solo career, La Bouche released a new version of "Be My Lover" with vocals by Natascha Wright, who replaced Thornton as the female singer of the group.
American rapper Lane McCray met American singer Melanie Thornton in Saarbrücken, Germany while he was on active duty in the US Air Force. Thornton had moved from the US to Germany, where she performed as guest vocalist on dance-pop recordings. [2] They went together in a band called Groovin' Affairs and were discovered by German record producer Frank Farian, the mastermind and voice behind the duo Milli Vanilli and prior Boney M. Then they founded the Eurodance duo La Bouche. McCray and Thornton wrote "Be My Lover" together and started recording in the spring of 1994. Because of McCray's duty in the US Air Force, La Bouche's success faced one minor challenge. [3] But the duo went on becoming one of the most popular Eurodance acts of the mid-90s.
""Be My Lover" no one liked. I kept trying to find words for the "la da da dee" part of the song. We couldn't find any words so we just left it in the song."
—Lane McCray talking to Jerry Nunn about the song. [4]
McCray told in a 2016 interview about how they came up with the name of the song, "We were at a gig in Germany, and in between sets she [Thornton] says to me, drying herself off with a towel, "So, how so you feel about mixing business with pleasure?" I responded that it was my experience that it doesn't usually work. I had dated a young lady who performed on the tour, and when she was mad at me she'd bring that on to the stage. But, then again, never say never. We continued doing the shows, and when we got into the studio, she said something like with all the time we had spent together, I should know if I wanted to be her lover. My response was that I heard what she was saying, but I needed to know more about her. Well, that's where that song came from." [5]
La Bouche's Melanie Thornton and Lane McCray co-wrote the song with Uli Brenner and Gerd Amir Saraf. It is written in the key of C♯ minor [6] and follows a tempo of 134 beats per minute. "Be My Lover" follows a basic chord progression of C♯m–A–B, and the vocals span from G♯3 to F♯5. [7] The la-da-di-da-dah hook of the song, came from being unable to create the right lyrics to fill that portion of the music. So Thornton and McCray ad-libbed that portion, and decided to keep it like that. [5]
"Be My Lover" topped both the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart, and reached the top 10 of the US Cash Box Top 100 and the US Billboard's Hot 100. It also peaked at number-one in Germany, Hungary, [8] the Czech Republic, [8] Mexico, [8] Romania, [8] and Sweden. On the Music & Media Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number-one on 27 May 1995. Additionally, it peaked at the number two position in Australia, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway. "Be My Lover" was a top-10 hit in at least 16 countries, like Belgium (6), Brazil, [8] Denmark (9), France (7), Greece, [8] Ireland (8), Spain (6), and Switzerland (5). In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart on 25 February 1996, [9] while reaching number 20 on the UK Dance Chart. The single also reached number two on the UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart by Music Week . [10]
"Be My Lover" has sold six million copies worldwide to date. It earned a gold record in Austria (25,000), France (250,000), Germany (250,000), Norway and the US (500,000), a silver record in the UK (200,000), and a platinum record in Australia (70,000). La Bouche won the 1996 Echo Music Prize in Germany for Best Dance Single with "Be My Lover", and the ASCAP Award in the US for the Most Played Song in America. The song was also nominated for Best Dance Video at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards while La Bouche was nominated in the category for Best Dance at the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards.
An editor from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution declared the song as a "high-energy hit". [11] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun described it as "searing". [12] Larry Flick from Billboard viewed it as "tirelessly giddy". [13] Michael Saunders from Boston Globe praised it as a "glorious" and "twinkly" cut. [14] Gil L. Robertson IV from Cash Box named "Be My Lover" a "standout track" from Sweet Dreams . [15] Beth D'Addono from Delaware County Daily Times commented, "La da da dee da da da dah... Then that infectious disco beat kicks in, and "Be My Lover" blares from the car radio, takes over the dance floor, reverberates through the health club, inspiring step classes to even greater heights." [16] Lynn Dean Ford from Indianapolis Star compared the song to Snap! and Real McCoy, with "their relentless energy steeped in tension and computerization." [17] Connie Johnson from Los Angeles Times wrote, "Sounding like a black ABBA crossed with the C+C Music Factory, Melanie Thornton and Lane McCray invest attitude into such tracks as 'Be My Lover', but you’d have to be a die-hard Euro-dance fan to appreciate it." [1] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel commented, "How does La Bouche's Top 10 hit [...] distinguish itself from the scores of other similar dance songs to be Flavor of the Month? It must be the opening la-da-da-di-da-da-da-da of vocalist Melanie Thornton (who then goes on a spree of la's, da's and di's). Otherwise it's an ordinary, albeit invigorating, dance track." [18] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated that it "could well turn out to be one of the pop smashes of the year. Right from the 'La Da Da De Dah' introduction and hook this is one Euro-hit that has 'floor-filler' written all over it. Top 10 within a fortnight, just watch." [19]
Paul Mathur from Melody Maker wrote, "They do a kind of Snap mangué thing which deeply excites both me and Simon Price. And it's the best bit of handbag until the soon-to-be-re-released "Keep Warm" by Jinny." [20] Another Melody Maker editor, Taylor Parkes, noted that "demand for "Be My Lover" from returning holidaymakers is so colossal that, by time you read this, it'll have cannoned deep into the UK charts." He also called it "a beautifully quick, cheap thrill. Commerce in motion! Surrender to it!" [21] A reviewer from Music Week gave "Be My Lover" three out of five, adding further that "this fairly standard piece of Europop is unlikely to top labelmates Real McCoy in the UK." [22] The magazine's Alan Jones praised its "accomplished diva vocals" and "acute commercial nature". [23] Jim Farber from New York Daily News deemed it as a "Euro-disco plea", that "sounds so freakishly retro." [24] People Magazine wrote that the song "underscore buoyant vocals with dark minor-key arrangements". [25] Richmond Times-Dispatch's reviewer said, "I am insanely jealous of the lead female vocal, Melanie Thornton. She has a wonderful, flexible voice." [26] The Tampa Tribune stated that her vocals "are a little better than those of the average disco songstress." [27] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as an "infectiously 'la de dah'-ed German smash by a Frankfurt based US duo in the usual Euro style". [28]
Two different music videos were made for this song, a European version and an American version.
The European version was filmed at the beginning of 1995, in the city at night. Melanie Thornton appears as a dominatrix wearing a black outfit. She is driving a van, abducting Lane McCray to an underground club, where several men are being held captive. They are hanging upside down from hooks in the ceiling. Thornton walks around these men while she sings. Suddenly McCray manages to break free and raps toward Thornton. An edited version doesn't show McCray being captured and almost all the scenes with the men being hanging upside down were cut. The uncensored music video was later made available on La Bouche's official YouTube channel in 2016, and had generated more than 211 million views as of late 2024. [29]
The American version was filmed in a recording studio at the beginning of 1996 with Thornton performing the song in front of a microphone. She has braids in her hair and wears a purple dress. McCray, wearing a black leather coat and sunglasses, raps in the control room of the studio, watching Thornton. This version was directed by Andras Mahr [30] and filmed in Broadway Studios, New York City. [31] In the US, it was BET that first played the video of "Be My Lover". [5] This version was made available on YouTube in 2014. [32]
In 2013, Vibe included "Be My Lover" in their list of "30 Dance Tracks from the '90s That Changed the Game". [33] In 2015, it was ranked one of "The 50 Best Pop Singles of 1995" by Idolator . Bianca Gracie declared it as a "blood-pumping" tune "that combined energetic waves of synths with incredibly soulful vocals that kept bodies moving way longer than those endless rounds of Sex On The Beach cocktails ever could!". She added that "Be My Lover" "still provides a sense of euphoric escape that continues to refuel the spirit." [34] In 2016, James Arena, the writer of Stars of '90s Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers called the song "blistering", noting further that it, with "Sweet Dreams", "are widely regarded today as indispensable classics of the decade." [35] In 2017, BuzzFeed ranked "Be My Lover" number six in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". Matt Stopera and Brian Galindo stated that "when you think of a '90s dance artist or group, La Bouche is on that list. A legend." [36] In 2019, Billboard featured it in their list of "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s". [37] In 2024, MTV 90s ranked "Be My Lover" number 11 in their list of "Top 50 Rhythms of Eurodance". [38] [39]
Year | Publisher | Country | Accolade | Rank |
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1996 | Echo Award | Germany | "Best National Dance Single" [40] | 1 |
1996 | ASCAP Award | United States | "Most Played Song in America" | 1 |
1996 | MTV Video Music Awards | United States | Nomination for "Best Dance Video" | |
2012 | Porcys | Poland | "100 Singli 1990-1999" [41] | 70 |
2013 | Vibe | United States | "Before EDM: 30 Dance Tracks from the '90s That Changed the Game" [33] | 16 |
2015 | Idolator | United States | "The 50 Best Pop Singles of 1995" [34] | 30 |
2017 | BuzzFeed | United States | "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s" [36] | 6 |
2019 | Billboard | United States | "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s" [37] | 344 |
2023 | PureWow | United States | "The 53 Best 90s Songs of All Time" [42] | 38 |
2024 | MTV 90s | United Kingdom | "Top 50 Rhythms of Eurodance" [38] [39] | 11 |
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Be My Lover". [43]
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Weekly charts | Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [85] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [90] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [91] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [92] | Silver | 125,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [93] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [94] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [95] | Gold | |
United Kingdom (BPI) [96] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [97] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
The song was played in the 1995 Brazilian soap opera A Próxima Vítima, an episode of the American TV series Beverly Hills 90210 in 1996, the 1997 movie Romy and Michele's High School Reunion , the 1998 movie A Night at the Roxbury , the 1999 movie Earthly Possessions , and in an episode of the sitcom Step by Step . It was also spoofed as "One Zero 001" on a computer-themed episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy and used in Audition Online Dance Battle as a song. It can be vaguely heard in the background in the "World's Greatest Dick" episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun , in the gay bar that Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnston) and Harry Solomon (French Stewart) walk into at the beginning of the episode. It was played during the second episode of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story , as Gianni Versace (Édgar Ramírez) and his boyfriend Antonio D'Amico (Ricky Martin) enter a gay bar. In 2023, "Be My Lover" was used in episode 4 of Swedish TV-series Gaslight which was produced by SVT. The song was also featured in an ad for Downy Unstoppables.
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of rap, techno and Eurodisco. This genre of music is heavily influenced by the use of rich vocals, sometimes with rapped verses. This, combined with cutting-edge synthesizers, strong bass rhythm and melodic hooks, establishes the core foundation of Eurodance music.
La Bouche is a German-American Eurodance duo best known for the hits "Be My Lover", "Sweet Dreams", "You Won't Forget Me" and "S.O.S." La Bouche was founded in 1994 by record producer Frank Farian in Frankfurt am Main. He worked together with techno DJ Ulli Brenner and producer Amir Saraf to produce the music, while American singer Melanie Thornton and American rapper and backup singer Lane McCray fronted the act.
Melanie Janene Thornton was an American pop and dance music singer. She was the lead singer of the Eurodance group La Bouche from 1994 to 2000, alongside American rapper and backing vocalist Lane McCray. Their two most successful singles, "Sweet Dreams" and "Be My Lover", were released in 1994 and 1995 respectively. After leaving the group, Thornton began a solo career and found success primarily in European countries before her death in 2001. Her solo songs include "Love How You Love Me", "Heartbeat", "Makin' Oooh Oooh " and "Wonderful Dream ".
"Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" is a song by American musician Scatman John. It was released in November 1994 as his debut single, and was later re-released in July 1995 for his second album, Scatman's World (1995). The song is described as "a blend of jazz scatting, rap, and house beats". It reached number-one on the charts in at least ten countries and also won the March 1996 Echo Award in Germany for the best Rock/Pop single. The music video for the song was directed by Kerstin Mueller and received heavy rotation on music channels.
"Sweet Dreams (Ola Ola E)" is a song recorded by German Eurodance duo La Bouche. It was originally released in April 1994 by RCA Records as the lead single from the duo's debut album of the same name (1995). In North America, the song was released in November 1995. It was written by Melanie Thornton with Robert Haynes and Mehmet Sönmez, and produced by Frank Farian, Ulli Brenner and Gerd Amir Saraf.
"Another Night" is a song by German Eurodance and pop music project Real McCoy. The single is featured on their hit album Another Night (1995), which was the American release of the project's second album, Space Invaders. The song was written and produced in Germany by Juergen Wind and Frank Hassas (Quickmix) in 1993 under the producer team name Freshline. It was released in Europe on 12 July 1993 by Hansa Records and two music videos were produced, directed by Nigel Dick and Angel Garcia.
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"Rhythm Is a Dancer" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!, released in March 1992 by Arista and Logic as the second single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992). It features vocals by American singer Thea Austin. The song is written by Benito Benites, John "Virgo" Garrett III and Austin, and produced by Benites and Garrett III. It was an international success, topping the charts in France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The single also reached the top-five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It spent six weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, becoming the second biggest-selling single of 1992. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and filmed in Florida, the US.
Lane McCray is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and artist best known for fronting the Eurodance group La Bouche.
"I Love to Love" is a song recorded by German Eurodance group La Bouche, released in November 1995 as the fourth and last single of their debut album, Sweet Dreams (1995). The song achieved a minor success in comparison with "Be My Lover" and "Sweet Dreams", but made it to number five in Hungary and number six in Australia. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 37 in February 1996. In Canada, "I Love to Love" peaked at number two on the RPM Dance/Urban chart. The CD maxi's cover features also the title of the fourth track, a cover of Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots", another song taken from the same album. "I Love to Love" earned a gold record in Australia, with a sale of 35,000 singles.
"Fallin' In Love" is a song by American music trio Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. It was written by band member Dan Hamilton and featured on the trio's third studio album by the same name (1975).
"You Won't Forget Me" is a song recorded by German Eurodance group La Bouche, released on 29 September 1997 as the lead single from their second album, A Moment of Love in most of the world, and second single from S.O.S., the US version of the album. It achieved a minor success in comparison with their 1995 hit, "Be My Lover", peaking at number 18 in Finland, number 24 in Sweden, number 28 in France and number 29 in Germany. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 70. In the US, it peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was also their last single on that chart.
"Be My Lover" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for the deluxe edition of her third studio album, Party Never Ends (2013). It was released on 26 July 2013 through Roton. The track was written by Uli Brenner, Lane McCray, Gerd Amir Saraf and Melanie Thornton, with production handled by Afrojack and METI. Musically, "Be My Lover" encompasses dubstep, electro dance, club and house genres, sampling the 1995 song of the same name by La Bouche, for which Brenner, McCray, Saraf and Thornton received writing credits.
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"Bolingo (Love Is in the Air)" is a song recorded by German Eurodance group La Bouche, released in October 1996 by various labels as a single. It achieved moderate success on the charts in Europe, entering the top 20 in Austria (19), Denmark (19), Finland (15) and Switzerland (15). On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 47 in December 1996. Its music video was shot in Ibiza, Spain.
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