Ring My Bell (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince song)

Last updated
"Ring My Bell"
Ring My Bell.jpg
Single by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
from the album Homebase
ReleasedSeptember 13, 1991
Recorded1991
Genre
Length4:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince singles chronology
"Summertime"
(1991)
"Ring My Bell"
(1991)
"The Things That U Do"
(1992)

"Ring My Bell" is the second single released from American hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's fourth studio album, Homebase (1991). The song sampled and shared the same name as Anita Ward's 1979 hit, "Ring My Bell", though the original lyrics were replaced by those written by the Fresh Prince (Will Smith). Nevertheless, The song's original writer, Fredrick Knight was sole writer who received writing credits. The song appears on Smith's series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the closing credits from "The Mother of All Battles" off the season 2 episode.

Contents

"Ring My Bell" was the follow-up to the duo's smash hit, "Summertime", which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though not as successful as "Summertime", "Ring My Bell" also became a top-40 hit, peaking at No. 20 on the Hot 100 and receiving a gold certification from the RIAA on November 26, 1991 for sales of 500,000 copies. [1]

Critical reception

Stephen Dalton from NME referred to "Ring My Bell" as a "chatalong disco cover" and named it as one of the best songs on Homebase (alongside previous single "Summertime") in an otherwise negative review of the album. [2]

Single track listing

A-Side

  1. "Ring My Bell" (Mr. Lee's 12" Mix) - 5:27
  2. "Ring My Bell" (Hula And Fingers Club Mix) - 5:56
  3. "Ring My Bell" (DJ Jazzy Jeff's Street Mix) - 5:00

B-Side

  1. "Ring My Bell" (Instravibe) - 5:56
  2. "Ring My Bell" (DJ Jazzy Jeff's Street Instrumental) - 5:00

Charts

Chart (1991–1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [3] 58
Europe (European Dance Radio) [4] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [5] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [6] 29
UK Singles (OCC) [7] 53
US Billboard Hot 100 [8] 20
US Hot R&B Singles ( Billboard ) [9] 22

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [10] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince | Awards". AllMusic .
  2. Dalton, Stephen (1991-09-21). "Long Play". NME . p. 36. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  3. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  4. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media . 1991-12-07. p. 32. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  5. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Ring My Bell". Top 40 Singles.
  6. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Ring My Bell". Swiss Singles Chart.
  7. "Official Charts > Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince". The Official UK Charts Company . Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 244.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 161.
  10. "American single certifications – DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince – Ring My Bell". Recording Industry Association of America.