"Mr. Vain" | ||||
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Single by Culture Beat | ||||
from the album Serenity | ||||
Released | 16 April 1993 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Dance Pool | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Torsten Fenslau | |||
Culture Beat singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Mr. Vain" is a song by German musical group Culture Beat, released in April 1993 by Dance Pool as the lead single from the group's second studio album, Serenity (1993). The song was written by Steven Levis, Nosie Katzmann and Jay Supreme, and produced by Torsten Fenslau. Tania Evans is the lead vocalist and Supreme is the rapper. The female part of the lyrics describes the narcissist title character Mr. Vain, while the rap embodies his selfish desires. [3]
"Mr. Vain" achieved success worldwide, reaching the number-one position in at least 19 countries, [4] including 9, 7 and 6 weeks at number one in Germany, Denmark and Finland. In the United States, it peaked at number 15 on the Cash Box Top 100, number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. In 1994, the song earned an award at the German Echo Award, in the category for "Best International Dance Single" [5] and an award in the category for "Best Hi-NRG 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US. [6] Its accompanying music video was directed by Matt Broadley and received heavy airplay on music television channels such as MTV Europe. [7]
German DJ and producer Torsten Fenslau and his friend Jens Zimmerman formed Culture Beat in Frankfurt in 1989. [8] They took the name from the idea of trying to mix high culture and music, [8] and had their first hit same year, entitled "Der Erdbeermund" ("Strawberry Lips"), which meshed house sounds with the poetry of 15th century French writer François Villon. With the success of songs like "Rhythm Is a Dancer" by German group Snap! in 1992, which several critics later would compare "Mr. Vain" to, [3] [2] the formula for what would be known as 90s Eurodance was now beginning to establish. Fenslau wanted to develop the group further [9] and American rapper Jay Supreme and British singer Tania Evans were recruited to front a new single and album. Supreme had moved to Germany after being in the US Army, while Evans had been working as backing singer for Neneh Cherry. [8] The lyrics to "Mr. Vain" were written by German musician and songwriter Nosie Katzmann with Supreme and Steven Lewis, and the single was released on April 16, 1993.
AllMusic editor William Cooper called "Mr. Vain" an "engaging house tune". He compared it to Snap!'s "Rhythm Is a Dancer" and Real McCoy's "Another Night" with its "instantly memorable keyboard hook". [2] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "chirpy rave/NRG track", stating that "if its European chart success is a fair indicator", then the song "will be all the rage within minutes." [10] Nicole Leedham from The Canberra Times noted Culture Beat's "combination of soul, insightful lyrics and dance floor-friendly music". [11] Student newspaper Columbia Daily Spectator stated that "near-indiscernible rapping over a pulsing techno beat and an unforgettable synth line" make it "the quintessential '90s dance track." [12]
Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger wrote that "Mr. Vain" "heads straight for the dark heart of the club, sketching a dancefloor predator who – like Eezer Goode [ sic ] – is as much metaphor as character. For drugs, lust, loss of control – who knows? The lyrics' almost-there English works to the song's benefit – there's an awkward poetry to "Call him Mr Raider, call him Mr Wrong" – and for once the obligatory rap isn't an embarrassment, with Jay Supreme's gloating, bassy flow reminding me of knowingly devilish Chicago house classics like "Your Only Friend". "Mr Vain" is the hustling flipside to "All That She Wants", and almost as good a pop record." [13] John Patrick from Lake District News stated, "The beat is a dream to any dance and the words become so familiar, you can sing along with the chorus on cue." [14]
In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "Stand by for the dance hit of the summer." He added that "although in actual fact as one of the best European dance records of the year so far it would probably have been a major hit anyway." [15] Simon Price from Melody Maker viewed it as an "audacious rewrite" of "Rhythm Is a Dancer", and categorized it as "house music. Not rave, not techno, but good ol' rump-pumping Hi-NRG house." He also remarked, "When Evans purrs, "I know what I want, and I want it NOWWW", empires crumble." [16] Diana Valois from The Morning Call noted its formula of "staccato beats, deep bass lines, and nervous and tinny keyboard riffs." She added, "Balancing the somber vocals of Jay Supreme is the optimistic soulfulness of a cheery Tania Evans". [17]
Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called "Mr. Vain" a "snappy and poppy dance groove". [18] Alan Jones from Music Week declared the song as "maddeningly commercial but lyrically nonsensical", [19] and with "hugely commercial hooks". [20] Jim Farber from New York Daily News described it as "propulsive", with "snappy electronic rhythms and trendy rap break". He commented, "Musically, the song strongly recalls Snap!'s smash "Rhythm Is a Dancer", but its clash of two voices offers a fresh twist. One voice (provided by R&B singer Tania Evans) mockingly describes the ace narcissist "Mr. Vain", while a second (from a rapper named Jay Supreme) embodies the title character's selfish desire – it's a winkling comment on self-absorption on a track made for the indulgent world of dance clubs." [3] In a 2014 retrospective review, Pop Rescue praised it as "fantastically catchy". [21]
"Mr. Vain" first experienced success in Germany, topping the German Singles Chart for nine consecutive weeks from June to August 1993, [22] before spreading to other European countries. The song spent 33 weeks within the German Top 100. It also topped the charts of Austria (1 week), [23] Belgium (4 weeks), [24] Denmark (7 weeks), [25] Finland (6 weeks), [26] Ireland (5 weeks), [27] Italy (2 weeks), [28] the Netherlands (2 weeks), [29] Norway (2 weeks), [30] Switzerland (4 weeks), [31] and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, the song hit the top spot during its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart, on 22 August 1993, [32] after entering the chart at number 24. It was the first single to top the chart that was not released on 7-inch vinyl, [33] [34] spending four weeks at the top and 15 weeks inside the UK Top 100. It sold more than 442,000 copies in the UK, [35] and also topped the Music Week Dance Singles chart as well as reaching number five on the UK Airplay chart. [36] [37] Additionally, "Mr. Vain" peaked at number two in Sweden for 4 weeks, behind UB40's "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" and 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up", and was a top-3 hit in France, Iceland and Spain. [38] [39] [40] The song debuted on the Eurochart Hot 100 at number 65 on 5 June, [41] after charting in Germany. It peaked at number one thirteen weeks later, on 28 August, and stayed at the top position for six consecutive weeks, [42] before Haddaway's "Life" took over the top position at the chart.
Outside Europe, "Mr. Vain" peaked at number one in Australia (1 week), [43] on the RPM Dance chart in Canada for ten weeks, [44] and in Zimbabwe (1 week). [45] In the United States, the single reached number 15 on the Cash Box Top 100 [46] and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Mr. Vain" also peaked at number two for two weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. [47] It charted also in Asia, peaking at number ten on the Japanese Oricon chart. [48]
The song also earned a gold record in Austria (25,000), the Netherlands (50,000), Sweden (25,000), Switzerland (25,000) and the UK (400,000), while it received a silver record in France (125,000). It was also awarded a 3× gold record in Germany, with a sale of 750,000 units, and a platinum record in Australia (70,000) and Norway.
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley. [49] It features Evans and Supreme at a baroque house party populated by a mélange of powdered dandies and silver-vested ravers. [50] The video begins with Supreme in black-and-white, looking at himself in a mirror, putting on a ring. As he looks into the mirror again, he sees the cracks in his face. He then attends the house party. Now in colours, people are dancing at the party and Evans sits in the corner of the room, seeing Supreme peeking by the curtain. He walks towards her and offers her his hand. She leaves, with him following her. Meanwhile, an epic arrangement of fruit is served at the party and it devolves into an hedonistic orgy of juice. [50] As the video ends, after being followed through the hallway and up a dark staircase, Evans finds a hand-mirror lying on a nightstand and puts it up to Supreme's face. In black-and-white, his face becomes cracked and chipped again. [51] The last shot depicts a white rocking horse rocking alone in a room littered with leaves. The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in July 1993. [7] Broadley would also be directing the videos for Culture Beat's next singles, "Anything" and "World in Your Hands".
In 1994, the German Echo Award honored the song with an award in the category for "Best International Dance Single", [5] and it also received an award in the category for "Best Hi-NRG 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US. [6] Same year, Peter Paphides and Simon Price of Melody Maker praised songs such as "Rhythm Is a Dancer", "What Is Love" and "Mr. Vain" as modern classics, "butt-shaking Wagnerian disco monsters. Or, as someone else who knew a thing or two put it: Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat." [52] In 2005, Freaky Trigger ranked "Mr. Vain" number 78 in their list of "Top 100 Songs of All Time". [53] In 2012, The Guardian featured it in their "Sounds of Germany: A History of German Pop in 10 Songs", writing, "Culture Beat's glorious "Mr Vain", with its rollicking beat, diva vocals and stilted rapping, comes as close as anything to summarising the spirit of the genre." [54] Same year, Australian music channel Max included "Mr. Vain" in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time". [55] In their "The ABC in Eurodance" in 2016, Finnish broadcaster Yle noted, "If someone could look up "The archetypal Eurodance hit song" in an Encyclopedia there would probably be a link to an audio file for "Mr Vain" - a song that more than anyone else came to define the 90's dance music." [56] In 2017, BuzzFeed ranked it number 17 in their "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s" list. [57] In 2024, MTV 90s ranked "Mr. Vain" number four in their list of "Top 50 Rhythms of Eurodance". [58] [59]
Weekly chartsOriginal version1 Mr. Vain Remix! (Japanese mini album) 2 Remix "Mr. Vain Recall" version
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [98] [ page needed ] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [99] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [100] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [101] | Silver | 125,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [102] | 2× Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [103] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [104] | Platinum | |
Sweden (GLF) [105] | Gold | 25,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [106] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [107] | Gold | 400,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [108] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Europe | 16 April 1993 |
| Dance Pool | [22] |
United Kingdom | 26 July 1993 |
| Epic | [109] |
Japan | 21 October 1993 | CD | [110] | |
30 June 1994 | Remix CD | [111] |
One of the song's original writers, Nosie Katzmann, recorded a new country version of the song.
Culture Beat is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Torsten Fenslau. The act has gone through a number of lineup changes over the years; they achieved the most success whilst fronted by singer Tania Evans and rapper Jay Supreme. Their 1993 single "Mr. Vain" was a number-one hit in eleven European countries, and the act claims to have sold more than 10 million records worldwide.
"No Limit" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance group 2 Unlimited, released in January 1993 by Byte, ZYX and PWL. It was their fifth single in total and the first to be released from their second album, No Limits! (1993). Co-written by the group's Ray Slijngaard and Anita Dels, the song became one of their most commercially successful singles, especially in Europe, reaching the number-one spot in 35 countries and the top 10 in several others. Like previous releases, the UK version of the single removed all of the raps from Slijngaard, leaving just Dels' vocals. One word from the rap was kept, the word 'Techno' which was looped and repeated during the middle of the song, turning the line into "Techno! Techno! Techno! Techno!" and giving the song an extra vocal hook. Its accompanying music video was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones and received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.
"The Sign" is a song by Swedish group Ace of Base from their first North American studio album, The Sign (1993), and their re-released debut studio album, Happy Nation (1992), titled Happy Nation . The song was released by Arista and Mega as a single in Europe on 1 November 1993 and the US on 14 December 1993. It was written by band member Jonas Berggren, who also produced the song with Denniz Pop and Douglas Carr. "The Sign" is a techno-reggae, Europop, and pop ballad with lyrics describing a couple contemplating the state of their relationship.
"I'm Every Woman" is a song by American singer Chaka Khan, released in September 1978 by Warner Bros. as her debut solo single from her first album, Chaka (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album, Masterjam, was released in late 1979.
"What Is Love" is a song by Trinidadian-German singer Haddaway, released as his debut single from his debut album, The Album (1993). The song, both written and produced by Dee Dee Halligan and Karin Hartmann-Eisenblätter, was released by Coconut Records in January 1993. It was a hit across Europe, becoming a number-one single in at least 13 countries and reaching number two in Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Outside Europe, the single peaked at number 11 in the United States, number 12 in Australia, number 17 in Canada, and number 48 in New Zealand.
"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.
"All That She Wants" is a song by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released in Scandinavia in August 1992 by Mega Records as the second single from the group's first studio album, Happy Nation (1992), and in the following year, it was released as the first single from the 1993 album The Sign in North America. Produced by Denniz Pop with group members Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, the drum beat was inspired by the Kayo song "Another Mother". Berggren and Ekberg also wrote the lyrics.
"Tribal Dance" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released in April 1993 by Byte, Zyx and PWL from the band's second album, No Limits! (1993). The UK release omits the main rap but leaves in more vocals from band member Ray Slijngaard than any of their previous releases. The single experienced chart success in several countries, topping the charts in Finland, Israel, Portugal and Spain. In North America, the song reached number one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart, while peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The single's music video was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones and filmed in London, depicting the band performing in a jungle setting.
Serenity is the second studio album by German Eurodance band Culture Beat, released in 1993. It includes the single "Mr. Vain", which topped the charts across Europe and Australia.
"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.
"Moving On Up" is the seventh overall single from British band M People, and the second single from their second album, Elegant Slumming (1993). Written by band members Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and produced by M People, it was released on 13 September 1993 by Deconstruction. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart and was the biggest selling M People single. It also became a top-40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. The accompanying music video for the song sees the band performing in a club.
"Impossible" is a song by German musician Captain Hollywood Project. It was released in October 1993 by labels Blow Up and Intercord as the fourth single from his debut album, Love Is Not Sex (1993), and features vocals by American singer Kim Sanders. The song was co-written by Nosie Katzmann and Tony Dawson-Harrison, and became a notable hit in several countries. But like "All I Want", it achieved moderate success in comparison with the two previous Captain Hollywood Project's singles, "More and More" and "Only with You". A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring Petra Spiegl instead of Sanders.
"Exterminate!" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap! featuring American singer Niki Haris, released in December 1992 by Logic Records as the third single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992), and features vocals by the group's new front woman, Haris, who also is credited for co-writing it. Going for a more trance-like song than its predecessor, "Rhythm Is a Dancer", it is based on the track "Ex-Terminator" and was included in later editions of the album. Released first at the end of 1992, it was a hit in several countries, peaking at number-one in Finland and Spain, and number two in the United Kingdom, where it spent 15 weeks on the charts. The music video for "Exterminate!" was directed by Angel Gracia.
"Life" (known as "Life (Everybody Needs Somebody to Love)" in the US) is a song by Trinidadian-German Eurodance artist Haddaway. Written and produced by Dee Dee Halligan (Tony Hendrik) and Junior Torello (Karin Hartmann-Eisenblätter), the song was released in July 1993 by Coconut Records as the second single from Haddaway's debut album, The Album (1993), and the follow-up to his successful debut single, "What Is Love". The song peaked at number one in Finland, Israel, Spain and Sweden, as well as on the RPM Dance chart and the Eurochart Hot 100, and was a top-10 hit in at least 13 countries. The music video for "Life", partly inspired by the 1927 film Metropolis, was directed by Angel Gracia and filmed in Frankfurt, Germany. By March 1994, the single had sold 1.5 million copies worldwide.
"Got to Get It" is a song by German group Culture Beat from their second studio album, Serenity (1993). The song was written by Nosie Katzmann, Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweier, and produced by Fenslau. The lyrics describes the feeling of not getting over someone you once were in love with, hence the refrain Got to get it, got to get it out of my head. It was released as the second single from the album on 13 September 1993 by German label Dance Pool and was a hit in most European countries, peaking at number-one in both Belgium and Finland. The single was also a top-five hit in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. In the UK, the US and Canada, the song peaked at number one on the dance music charts. Its music video was directed by Martin Person and filmed in Denmark and Portugal, telling the story of two lovers breaking up.
"Anything" is a song recorded by German Eurodance group Culture Beat, released in December 1993 by Dance Pool as the third single from the group's second album, Serenity (1993). Written by Nosie Katzmann with Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweie, the song was very successful on the charts in Europe. It reached the top five in at least nine countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. The song's music video was directed by Matt Broadley and filmed in London.
"World in Your Hands" is a song by German Eurodance group Culture Beat, released in March 1994 by Dance Pool as the fourth single and the last one marketed in almost all countries in Europe from their second album, Serenity (1993). As for other Culture Beat's singles, a CD maxi entirely composed of remixes was added among the available media a short time after. The ballad is written by Nosie Katzmann with Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweie. It was a top-10 hit in Finland and the Netherlands. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 20. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley and filmed in Sweden.
"Strike It Up" is a song by Italian music group Black Box. It was the fifth single from their debut studio album, Dreamland (1990), and was released on 6 February 1991 in many countries worldwide by Polydor and Deconstruction. The single was a success on many charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, where it peaked at number eight. It also topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in June 1991 for one week. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. "Strike It Up" also was a top-10 hit in Denmark, Greece, Ireland, and the Netherlands. And on the Eurochart Hot 100, the track reached number 38. The accompanying music video was directed by Neil Thompson.
"Crying in the Rain" is a song recorded by German Eurodance band Culture Beat, released on 12 February 1996 by Dance Pool as the second single from their third studio album, Inside Out (1995).. It was co-written by band members Tania Evans and Jay Supreme with Doug Laurent and Robert Gerding, and produced by Laurent. The single charted in many countries, reaching its best chart positions in Hungary, Germany and Denmark, where it was a top-10 hit. "Crying in the Rain" also reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. The music video for the song was directed by Oliver Sommer and filmed in Hong Kong, China. A CD maxi-single containing remixes was also released under the name "Crying in the Rain Remixes".
"Joy" is the debut single by British house music studio project Staxx, assembled by producers Simon Thorne and Tom Jones. It was released in 1993 and features British singer Carol Leeming, becoming a number-one hit on both the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number 25. In 1997, the song was re-released in a new remix, reaching number 14 in the UK. The accompanying music video was directed by British director Lindy Heymann, featuring Leeming and two female dancers performing in an empty swimming pool.
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