Right Beside You (Sophie B. Hawkins song)

Last updated

"Right Beside You"
SophieB.Hawkins - Right Beside You.jpg
Single by Sophie B. Hawkins
from the album Whaler
B-side "The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty"
ReleasedJuly 25, 1994 (1994-07-25)
Genre
Length4:46
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Stephen Lipson
Sophie B. Hawkins singles chronology
"I Want You"
(1992)		"Right Beside You"
(1994)		"Don't Don't Tell Me No"
(1994)
Music video
"Right Beside You" on YouTube

"Right Beside You" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, released in July 1994, by Columbia Records, as the first single from the singer's second album, Whaler (1994). The song was written by the singer with Rick Chertoff and Stewart Lerman, and produced by Stephen Lipson. It reached number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. In Europe, it became a top-30 hit in several countries, including Switzerland, where it climbed to number eight. The track is Hawkins' highest-charting single in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 13. Its accompanying music video was directed by Albert Watson and filmed in New York, featuring Hawkins on the beach and riding a horse.

Contents

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Matching the wickedly catchy 1992 smash 'Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover' is a daunting task. On this peek into the quirky pop poet's sophomore collection, Whaler , she takes a conscious step into the dance/pop arena by offering a kicky ditty that is not as instantly memorable as her breakthrough hit, but ultimately just as strong and durable." He added, "Hawkins delivers an urgent and breathy vocal that may draw comparisons to Madonna, though her own unique style shines through to smarter ears. The single has two rock-solid mixes that will do the trick in enticing top 40, club, and rhythm-crossover programmers. Sweet." [1] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box named it Pick of the Week, saying, "Slick, danceable track indicates a modest, though thoroughly satisfying, style shift for the lovely Ms. Hawkins who looks to clubs for exposure this time as much as hit radio. Husky and oh-so-seductive vocal delivery makes the difference here, and with nifty remixes offered, looks for almost immediate impact." [3]

Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel felt the single "is her best chance at renewed fame. Although it's a shallow neo-disco song, and she sounds uncomfortably like Debbie Gibson, at least it has a catchy chorus." [2] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Artistically seen, 'Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover' promoted her overnight to a top position deft beside Cyndi Lauper, and there's still no reason to revise our opinion." [4] The reviewer added, "It's only right that the single [...] is exploding on radio". [5] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update also described it as a "Madonna-ish canterer" in his weekly dance column. [6] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin remarked, "You can almost hear the waves crash through the opening techno sea-shanty of 'Right Beside You'." [7] Pete Stanton from Smash Hits wrote, "Nice tune, a bit Madonnarish, good use of a beach in the video (forget the horse next time)." [8]

Music video

The music video for "Right Beside You" was directed by Albert Watson, with Tony Phillips as the director of photography and Craig Fanning as executive producer. [9] Before the shoot, Hawkins was learning horseback riding and one of her managers suggested she ride a horse in the upcoming video. Watson liked the idea and felt the song's sound suited a beach setting for the video. The video was shot on a beach near Sag Harbor, New York, in the summer of 1994 during stormy conditions. [10] "Right Beside You" was later made available on Hawkins official YouTube channel in 2009, having generated more than 11 million views as of May 2025. [11]

Track listings

Charts

Sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom—135,000 [43]

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United KingdomJuly 25, 1994
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia [44]
United StatesJuly 26, 1994 [45]
JapanAugust 25, 1994CD Sony [46]

References

  1. 1 2 Flick, Larry (July 30, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 51. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Campbell, Chuck (July 29, 1994). "Hawkins Has Little Bait For 'Whaler'". Knoxville News Sentinel .
  3. ↑ Augusto, Troy J. (August 6, 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews: Pick of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box . Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 30. July 23, 1994. p. 9. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 32. August 6, 1994. p. 5. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, James (August 6, 1994). "DJ directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  7. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan (September 1994). "Spins". Spin . p. 138. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ Stanton, Pete (November 9, 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits . p. 53. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Music Video: Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 29. July 16, 1994. p. 46. Retrieved January 26, 2022– via World Radio History.
  10. ↑ Sophie B. Hawkins (October 1, 2020). "Sophie B. Hawkins - Fan Q&A - Dominique from Belgium asks about video for 'Right Beside You'" . Retrieved January 27, 2022– via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins - Right Beside You". YouTube. October 25, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ Right Beside You (US CD single liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1994. 44K 77596.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Right Beside You (US cassette single sleeve). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1994. 38T 77537.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Right Beside You (UK cassette single sleeve). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1994. 660691 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Right Beside You (UK CD1 liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1994. 660691 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Right Beside You (UK CD2 liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1994. 660691 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ Right Beside You (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1994. COL 660523 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ Right Beside You (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Sony Records. 1994. SRCS 7456.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins – Right Beside You". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  20. ↑ "Hits of the World: Canada" (PDF). Billboard . December 3, 1994. p. 50. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2620." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 37. September 10, 1994. p. 13. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 40. October 1, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins – Right Beside You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  25. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (08.9.–14.9. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 8, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Regional Airplay: South" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 40. October 1, 1994. p. 23.
  27. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Right Beside You". Irish Singles Chart.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  29. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins – Right Beside You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  30. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins – Right Beside You". Top 40 Singles.
  31. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins – Right Beside You". Singles Top 100.
  33. ↑ "Sophie B. Hawkins – Right Beside You". Swiss Singles Chart.
  34. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. ↑ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . September 17, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  36. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 13, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  38. ↑ "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  39. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM . Retrieved April 8, 2018– via Library and Archives Canada.
  40. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  41. ↑ "1994 In Review, Regional Airplay: South" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 52. December 24, 1994. p. 19.
  42. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. January 14, 1995. p. 9.
  43. ↑ Duffy, Thom (December 24, 1994). "Young U.S. Acts Turn Abroad To Drive Their Careers Home". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. p. 53. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week . July 23, 1994. p. 29.
  45. ↑ "Right Beside You". Amazon. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  46. ↑ "ライト・ビサイド・ユー・リミックス | ソフィー・B.ホーキンス" [Right Beside You Remix | Sophie B. Hawkins] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved January 29, 2024.
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