"I Need to Know" | ||||
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Single by Marc Anthony | ||||
from the album Marc Anthony | ||||
Released | August 16, 1999 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:47 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Marc Anthony singles chronology | ||||
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"I Need to Know" is a song by American singer Marc Anthony for his eponymous fourth studio album. It was released as the lead single from the album on August 16, 1999. Written and produced by Anthony and Cory Rooney, "I Need to Know" is a song about a man who longs to know how a woman feels about him. The song blends the musical styles of several genres, including R&B and Latin music; the instruments used include synthesized violin and piano sounds, timbales and congas. Anthony recorded a Spanish-language version of the song, translated by Angie Chirino and Robert Blades, titled "Dímelo".
Upon its release, "I Need to Know" received mostly positive reviews from music critics and was praised for its production and choice of musical styles. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2000. The Spanish-language version of the song won the Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year in the same year. Both versions of the song won an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award in the pop category. Commercially, the song charted in the top five in Canada and the United States. It was certified gold in Australia and the US "Dímelo" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart in the US The music video for the song, directed by Paula Walker, was filmed in Los Angeles.
In 2007, American Idol runner-up contestant Blake Lewis performed a cover of "I Need to Know" as part of the Latin round during the show's sixth season. His performance was praised by the judges; Simon Cowell called it the best presentation of the night. However, Lewis's performance received a mixed response from critics; some praised the choice of song while some criticized Lewis's vocal delivery. Lewis recorded the song for his eponymous EP, which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
News that Marc Anthony was recording an English-language album began in 1996 when RMM executive Ralph Mercado mentioned the possibility following a joint-venture between RMM (Anthony's former record label) and MCA Records. [1] Anthony said that he would not record in English until he felt he was ready to do so. [2] After the release of his third studio album Contra la Corriente in 1997, disputes over business practices arose between him and Mercado. Anthony suspected that he was not receiving full payment from his record label for his recordings. [3] Mercado would not allow Anthony to leave the record label because his contract committed Anthony to record four more albums for RMM. [4]
Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola had approached Anthony to sign a contract with the company to record an album in English during the peak period of Latin artists crossing over the Anglophone market. [5] Nonetheless, his contract with RMM denied Anthony the right to perform in Spanish for Columbia Records. [6] This resulted in a lawsuit against Mercado because Anthony did not want to work under him anymore. [3] As part of the settlement, RMM Records retained the rights to his earlier albums and to release a greatest hits collection from them while Anthony no longer had any obligations to RMM. [7]
After being signed to Columbia Records, Mottola hired Cory Rooney, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Walter Afanasieff to produce Anthony's next album. [5] Anthony co-wrote most of tracks on it with them. He described it as his most personal album to date and rebuffed the idea of being another Latin artist to cross over to the Anglophone market because he had already recorded an English-language album titled When the Night is Over (1991). [8] "I Need to Know" was released in the United States on August 16, 1999, as the album's lead single. [9]
"I Need to Know" was written and produced by Anthony and Rooney. The song is about a man who longs for a woman's attention and wants to know how she feels about him. [10] The song opens with a synthesized violin and piano riff, which is immediately followed by a mid-tempo beat. [11] [12] It fuses the sound of contemporary R&B and incorporates Latin percussion instruments the timbales, congas, and the trumpet. [11] [13] "I Need to Know" was translated into Spanish by Angie Chirino and Robert Blades; Anthony recorded it and titled it "Dímelo". [14]
In his review of the album Marc Anthony, Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called "I Need to Know" a "catchy, mid-tempo single" and said that the music was "gently danceable". [15] Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine praised the track as "[a]bsolutely smashing", commended the production and musical style of the record and said that Anthony "remains true to his salsa roots with a sexy, swaying cha-cha number". [11] Barry Walters from Entertainment Weekly gave the song a B+ rating, and said the music "flaunts—rather than disguises—its mambo moves" and called it "radical pop waiting to happen." [16] While reviewing songs that were nominated for Record of the Year at the 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, an editor for the Los Angeles Times said the track "is the aural scrapbook of an American artist with Latino roots who found the ideal middle ground to satisfy both Anglo and Latino fans". [13] Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel was more critical of the song, describing it as "hooky but disposable", and he criticized the chorus as "so over-produced". Although Gettelman was more favorable towards "Dímelo", he said the drums in the production are "still annoying as all get-out". [12]
In 2000, "I Need to Know" was nominated Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, [17] but lost to English musician Sting's song "Brand New Day". [18] In the same year, "Dímelo" received two nominations at the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and won the award for Song of the Year. [19] [20] At the 12th Lo Nuestro Awards in 2000, "Dímelo" was nominated in the category for Pop Song of the Year, [21] but lost to "Livin' la Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin. [22] Anthony and Rooney received an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Pop Award for the commercial success of the song in 2001 and 2002. [23] [24] "Dímelo" was also awarded in the Pop field at the 2001 ASCAP Latin Awards. [25] "I Need to Know" was included on Anthony's greatest hits album Sigo Siendo Yo: Grandes Exitos (2006). [26] [27]
In the United States, the song debuted at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week of September 11, 1999. [28] In its fourth week on the chart, it rose to number 10. [29] It peaked at number three on the week of November 27, 1999, and remained in that position for two weeks. [30] It also peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, [31] number seven on the Adult Top 40, number one on the Maxi-Singles Sales chart, [32] and number five on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. [33] "I Need to Know" ranked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart in 2000. [34] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. [35]
"Dímelo" became a success on the Latin record charts in the United States, where it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart—making it Anthony's third number one song on the chart. [36] It was the eighth best-performing Latin single of 2000 in the United States. [37]
In Canada, "I Need to Know" peaked at number five on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and at number 11 on the Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. [38] [39] In Europe, the song peaked at number eight in Finland [40] and at number 11 in Norway. [41] In Austria and Switzerland it peaked at number 16. [42] [43] In Oceania, it peaked at number 20 in Australia and in New Zealand. [44] [45] It was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. [46]
Marc Anthony first performed "I Need to Know" live on Good Morning America on July 23, 1999. [47] He also performed the song—together with "That's Okay"—on Saturday Night Live . [48] He also sang it at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards show; Tom Moon, editor of The Philadelphiafdance bl Inquirer , called his performance a "sedate reading". [49] In 2009, Anthony performed "I need to Know" during the "Fiesta Latina" event at the South Lawn in Washington, D.C. Chris Richards of The Washington Post said that the audience, which was "flat-footed" during Anthony's previous performances, "was now on its feet". [50] Anthony performed both "I Need to Know" and "Dímelo" on the promotion tour for the album, with the latter song serving as an encore. [51] He performed the song at Madison Square Garden as an encore; this performance was included on the video set The Concert from Madison Square Garden. [52] The song was included on set lists for his Marc Anthony 2002 Tour, [53] Nada Personal Tour, [54] El Cantante Tour, [55] Iconos World Tour, [56] and the Vivir Mi Vida World Tour. [57] "Dímelo" served as the main theme for the Colombian telenovela La Baby Sister . [58] Anthony performed "I Need to Know" live at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2016 along with "Tu Amor Me Hace Bien" and "Vivir Mi Vida" where he was honored Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy. [59] Puerto Rican artist Draco Rosa covered the song live at the Person of the Year gala. [60]
The accompanying music video for "I Need to Know" was directed by Paula Walker and was filmed in Los Angeles, California. [61] [62] In the video, Anthony is seen performing the song along with five female dancers in front of an audience at a crowded club. Scenes of him performing the song next to a window and under a staircase to his love interest are interspersed throughout the video. [61]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I Need to Know" | 3:47 |
2. | "Dímelo" | 3:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I Need to Know" (radio edit) | 3:17 |
2. | "I Need to Know" (Joey Musaphia 7-inch radio edit) | 3:50 |
3. | "I Need to Know" (Amen Club Mix) | 6:36 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I Need to Know" | 3:48 |
2. | "You Sang to Me" | 5:25 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I Need to Know" (Pablo Flores Miami Mix) | 10:50 |
2. | "I Need to Know" (Track Masters Remix) | 3:58 |
3. | "I Need to Know" (Pablo's Miami Mix Radio Edit) | 4:15 |
4. | "I Need to Know" (Pablo's Club-Dub) | 8:05 |
5. | "I Need to Know" (album version) | 3:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I Need to Know" | 3:48 |
2. | "I Need to Know" (Track Masters Remix) | 3:32 |
3. | "I Need to Know" (Pablo's Miami Mix Radio Edit) | 4:15 |
4. | "I Need to Know" (D'Ambrosio Club Mix Radio Edit) | 3:51 |
Credits are adapted from the Marc Anthony liner notes. [65]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
All-time charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [46] | Gold | 35,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [35] | Gold | 600,000 [99] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | August 16, 1999 | Columbia | [100] [101] | |
7-inch vinyl | [9] | |||
August 17, 1999 | [101] [102] | |||
Belgium | October 25, 1999 | CD | [103] | |
Japan | October 27, 1999 | SME | [104] | |
United Kingdom | November 1, 1999 |
| Columbia | [105] |
"I Need to Know" | |
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Song by Blake Lewis | |
from the album Blake Lewis | |
Released | 2007 |
Recorded | 2007 |
Genre | Latin |
Length | 2:29 |
Label | 19 |
Songwriter(s) |
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On the sixth season of American Idol , Blake Lewis performed a cover of "I Need to Know" on April 10, 2007, as part of the program's Latin-themed round. [106] Anthony's then-wife Jennifer Lopez was the guest mentor for the contestants. [107] Lewis's cover of the song was well received by the judges— Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. [106] However, it received mixed reactions from critics. Joey Guerra of Today called Lewis's choice wise and said Blake "seems like an actual artist". [106] Craig Berman from Houston Chronicle wrote a positive review; he said that the risks Lewis took with his vocals "paid off with the best effort of the night". [107] Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly questioned Cowell's comment that Lewis's was the best performance of the night. Slezak wrote that Anthony's cover sounded almost exactly the same as Anthony's original recording. [108] Ann Powers from the Los Angeles Times said that Lewis "perspired and wiggled creepily" in contrast to Anthony's confident performances. [109] Jim Cantiello of MTV wrote that Lewis "finishes each line with an affected orgasmic sigh" and that his performance was "icky". [110]
The studio version of the song was later included on Lewis's eponymous debut EP as part of the American Idol compilation series. [111] His version peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. [112]
Ricky Martin is the fifth studio album and first English album by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on May 11, 1999, by Columbia Records. Following the release of four Spanish-language albums, and the huge success of his fourth studio album, Vuelve (1998), Martin announced the recording of his first English language album. He worked with producers KC Porter, Robi Rosa, and Desmond Child to create the album. Musically, Ricky Martin consists of dance-pop tracks, power ballads, mid-tempo pop songs, and rock numbers. After the album's release, Martin embarked on the worldwide Livin' la Vida Loca Tour, which was the highest-grossing tour of 2000 by a Latin artist.
Marco Antonio Muñiz, known professionally as Marc Anthony, is an American singer and songwriter. He is the top selling salsa artist of all time. A four-time Grammy Award, eight-time Latin Grammy Award and twenty-nine-time Lo Nuestro Awards winner, he has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide.
"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" is a song by American recording artist and actress Whitney Houston, featured on the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on November 6, 1995, by Arista Records. The song was written and produced by Babyface. A mid-tempo R&B and soul ballad, composed in the key of D-flat major, the song's lyrics speak about growing up and learning to let go. The song garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom noted Houston's vocal maturity in the song.
"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin for his fifth studio album and English-language debut, Ricky Martin (1999). The song was written by Draco Rosa and Desmond Child, while the production was handled by the latter. It was released to radio stations by Columbia Records as the lead single from the album on March 27, 1999. A Latin pop and dance song with elements of salsa, surf, and ska, it is about an irresistible, particularly sinister, wild woman who lives on the edge, seducing others into her crazy world. The song received acclaim from music critics, who complimented its lyrics and danceable rhythm. It was ranked as the best 1990s pop song by Elle, and was listed among the Best Latin Songs of All Time by Billboard.
"Change the World" is a song written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy, and Wayne Kirkpatrick and recorded by country music artist Wynonna Judd. A later version was recorded by English singer Eric Clapton for the soundtrack of the 1996 film Phenomenon. Clapton's version was produced by R&B record producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
Amarte Es un Placer is the thirteenth studio album by Mexican singer Luis Miguel. It was released by WEA Latina on 13 September 1999. Produced by Miguel, it is a pop album with R&B and jazz influences. Miguel was more involved with the songwriting on this record than on earlier albums and was assisted by composers including Arturo Pérez, Armando Manzanero, and Juan Carlos Calderón. Despite the popularity of his contemporaries Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias who crossed over to the English-language market, Miguel preferred to sing and record in Spanish at the time.
Otra Nota is the debut album by American singer Marc Anthony that was released on January 26, 1993, by RMM Records. Produced by Sergio George, it was the first album by Anthony to record in salsa after starting his career as a freestyle musician. Recording of the album began after Anthony asked RMM president Ralph Mercado to record Juan Gabriel's "Hasta Que Te Conocí" in salsa after hearing it on the radio during a taxi ride. Recorded on a low budget, the album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Tropical Albums chart and reached No. 30 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
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Contra la Corriente is the third studio album released by American singer Marc Anthony on October 21, 1997, by RMM Records. The album was produced by Puerto Rican musician Angel "Cucco" Peña, with most of the songs written by Panamanian composer Omar Alfanno. The album was well received by critics who praised the vocals of Anthony as well as the songs. The album produced six singles, four of which peaked on the top ten on the Hot Latin Tracks chart. Promoted by a sold-out concert in Madison Square Garden, Contra la Corriente became the first salsa album to reach number one on the Top Latin Albums chart and to chart on the Billboard 200.
"She's All I Ever Had" is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin for his fifth studio album and English-language debut, Ricky Martin (1999). The song was written by Jon Secada, Robi Rosa, and George Noriega, while the production was handled by Secada, Walter Afanasieff, and Noriega, with co-production from Rosa. It was released by Columbia Records as the second single from the album on June 15, 1999. A slow-tempo pop and rock ballad, it is a romantic love song, narrating the story of a man who misses his woman, while continuing to live and breathe for her. The song received widely positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the production and Martin's vocals. It was ranked as the third-best song from the Latin explosion of 1999 by Latina.
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"Da la Vuelta" is a song written by Emilio Estefan and Kike Santander and performed by American singer Marc Anthony. Produced by Anthony, Estefan, and Ángel "Cucco" Peña, it is a salsa track which deals with the singer letting go of his former lover. It is one of the three Spanish-language songs to be included on Anthony's 1999 self-titled album and was released as a promotional single in the same year.
Dicen Que Soy is the third studio album by Puerto Rican recording artist La India released on September 20, 1994, by RMM Records. The album was produced by American musician Sergio George, who chose the songs for India to record with an emphasis on feminism to suit with her voice. The production mixes salsa music with other rhythms such as funk and timba. Five singles were released from the record with "Nunca Voy a Olvidarte" and "Ese Hombre" topping the Billboard Tropical Songs chart.
"Y Hubo Alguien" is a song by American singer Marc Anthony from his third studio album, Contra la Corriente (1997). The song was written by Omar Alfanno, with record production being handled by Ángel "Cucco" Peña. It was released as the first promotional single from the album in 1997. A salsa song which combines elements of R&B, it describes a man who has found love again after his former lover left him. The song was inspired by a fight Alfanno had with his partner and pitched the song to RMM, but was turned down. Anthony offered to record the track after Alfanno presented it to him.
"Hasta Que Te Conocí" is a song by Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. It was released in 1986 as the third single from his studio album Pensamientos. Written and produced by Gabriel, the song's lyrics focus on a protagonist learning the meaning of suffering after meeting a lover who mistreats him. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Latin Song chart. A live version of the song was included on his album En el Palacio de Bellas Artes (1990) which peaked at number ten on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
"O Tú o Ninguna" is a song written by Juan Carlos Calderón and produced and performed by Mexican singer Luis Miguel. The song is a bolero in which the protagonist cannot envision his life without anyone else besides his love interest. It was released as the second single from the album Amarte Es un Placer on 6 September 1999. The track topped the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart; and reached the top-five in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama.
"Te Conozco Bien" is a song by American singer Marc Anthony from his second studio album, Todo a Su Tiempo (1995). The song was written by Omar Alfanno, with production being handled by Marc Anthony and Sergio George. It was released as the first promotional single from the album on May 30, 1995. A salsa song, it sees the singer express certainty that someone is regretful. The song was awarded the Billboard Latin Music Award in 1996 for "Hot Latin Track of the Year" in the Tropical/Salsa field and was nominated for the Tropical Song of the Year award at the 8th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards in the same year. It was a recipient of the ASCAP Latin Award in 1996. Commercially, the song peaked at number seven on the Hot Latin Songs chart and number one on the Tropical Airplay chart in the United States. It was the best-performing song of 1995 on the latter chart. The song was covered by Puerto Rican singer Ángel López as a ballad on his studio album Historias de Amor (2010).
"Contra la Corriente" is a song by American singer Marc Anthony from his third studio album of the same name (1997). It was released in 1998 by RMM and served as the album's fifth single. The song was written by Omar Alfanno, with co-production handled by Ángel "Cucco" Peña and Anthony. "Contra la Corriente" is a salsa song, that lyrically recalls a "good love from the past."