Sight for Sore Eyes

Last updated

"Sight for Sore Eyes"
SFSE.jpg
Single by M People
from the album Bizarre Fruit
Released7 November 1994 (1994-11-07) [1]
Recorded1994
Genre House
Length3:57
Label Deconstruction
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) M People
M People singles chronology
"Renaissance"
(1994)		"Sight for Sore Eyes"
(1994)		"Open Your Heart"
(1995)
Music video
"Sight for Sore Eyes" on YouTube

"Sight for Sore Eyes" is the tenth overall single from British band M People from their third album, Bizarre Fruit (1994). Written by bandmembers Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small, and produced by M People, it was released as the album's lead single on 7 November 1994 by Deconstruction. The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the UK Dance Singles Chart, becoming the band's sixth consecutive single to enter the UK top 10. Its music video was directed by Terence Donovan and filmed in London.

Contents

Background

The band had scored four consecutive top-10 singles from the previous album, Elegant Slumming , and toured the UK and Europe twice, but throughout mid-1994, they worked quickly to record new album Bizarre Fruit , for which "Sight for Sore Eyes" was the first single.

Composition

The song was recorded at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London. The song starts with a gospel-esque 'harmonised' warm-up by the backing vocalists accompanied with a building piano with lead vocals by the unmistakable voice of Heather Small. The key refrain #"Ain't love, ain't love, ain't love a surprise"# is bellowed by Heather and then other key elements are introduced, most notably synths and a subtle allegro acenato (quick and accentuated) piano movement during the verses with Small's vocals more prominent than on previous singles. In the chorus breaks, an Italo house style chord progression and sequenced bleeps granuliser synths[ clarification needed ] lead up to the verses. Like "One Night in Heaven", the melody line is guided by the deep Moog bass line, programmed drumming, percussion drumming and layered hi-hat synths and a four-to-the-floor house beat. This is underlined by subtle strings and big chords during the actual choruses. The Italo house style is most punctuated during the middle-eight piano-break.

Chart performance

"Sight for Sore Eyes" became the band's sixth consecutive single to enter the UK top 10. It entered the chart at number eight and following club play and performances on British television, most notably Top of the Pops , saw an increase in sales to then peak in its second week at number six. The single spent three weeks in the top 10 and nine weeks on the chart overall, leaving in early January 1995.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor William Cooper found that the song has a "grandiose gospel-influenced intro before kicking into the funky groove", noting that the melody is similar to Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam". [2] Larry Flick from Billboard felt that it "kicks off the set with a rubbery, houserooted bassline, coated with a rolling piano line that is spiced with a tangy salsa twist. The usually haughty and controlled Small anchors the cut with a performance that pleasantly surprises with its playful tone." [3] Kendall Morgan from Dallas Morning News concluded that "diva Heather Small has quite a voice", and shows it off in "the big ol' gospel sound". [4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Their first new hit single for over a year is in many ways something of a disappointment, albeit one that grows on you gradually." [5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media said it is "instantly-recognisable". [6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding, "This is a sturdy, bass-heavy house workout, with chiming synth strings and typical piano chords. Obviously one for the upper echelons." [7] Johnny Dee from NME felt it "is indictive of the new M People, less immediate than of yore", noting that Small "doesn't belt out the chorus as if she was celebrating world peace but with a confidence that she no longer needs to impress". [8] Another NME editor, Paul Moody, named it "M People's best happy house moment". [9]

A.D. Amorosi from The Philadelphia Inquirer stated, "Like Joan Armatrading with a dab of Sarah Vaughn's sassiness, Small imbues the hookdriven "Sight for Sore Eyes" and "Drive" with a maturity that gives them sultry heft." [10] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update declared it as a "superb bouncily strutting steady loper". [11] A reviewer from Sarasota Herald-Tribune noted that the singer "delivers each song with the sort of soulful confidence that suggests passion without smothering the melody, an approach that underscores the pop appeal of tunes like 'Sight for Sore Eyes'". [12] Wayne Bledsoe from Scripps Howard wrote that the band "add astral production flourishes to the comping keyboard that pushes the tune before detouring into a delightful salsa-style interlude." He complimented Small's "buoyant release of pent-up romance". [13] Pete Stanton from Smash Hits also gave it four out of five, describing it as a "hot funky dance tune". He added, "It's "Moving On Up", it's "One Night in Heaven", it's everything they've done before. Wow!" [14]

Airplay

"Sight for Sore Eyes" was serviced to radio five weeks before its commercial release on 1 October. The single was added to radio playlists quickly, with most airplay coming from stations in the Capital Radio group, Galaxy and BBC Radio 1, who all placed the song on their A-List or as Single of the Week. By the end of its first week of airplay, the single had become the highest new entry being played 539 times on UK radio, placing it at number 45.

The single subsequently climbed from 45 to 31 to 19 to nine in the week before its commercial release. The song then peaked at number three at airplay for two weeks and stayed in the top 10 for another three weeks. It then took another ten weeks to leave the Airplay Top 75, and was still being played when its successor "Open Your Heart" was released to radio. This had only happened once before with "One Night in Heaven" and "Moving on Up" and would happen again with future singles "Just for You" and "Fantasy Island".

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song features the four main members of the band performing the song throughout, with Andy Gangadeen on drums, Paul Johnson and Lynieve Austin on backing vocals. Within the studio, there are two main colour themes, red and blue. The opening shot features empty cars leaned up against each other and twelve people dressed in dark mechanic overalls with their backs facing the camera all dancing against the cars in the background. Heather is then shown dancing happily, surrounded by Mike Pickering on guitar, Paul Heard on first and second keyboard and Shovell on bongos.

To incorporate the overall metal theme of the new album, there are cutaways of sparks flying as metalwork is carried out, with mechanics and close-ups of booted-feet dancing to the music. The video was filmed entirely in a North London studio by British photographer and film director Terence Donovan, and filmed in one day on 29 September 1994. Donovan had taken several promotional photos of the band for merchandise and tours between 1994–1996 and was considered[ by whom? ] a very good friend of the band. They dedicated their next album Fresco (1997) to him following his untimely death.

Live performances

"Sight for Sore Eyes" has become one of the band's fan favourites, alongside "One Night in Heaven", "Moving on Up" and "Search for the Hero". During the Bizarre Fruit and Bizarre Fruit II tours as well as T in the Park in 1995, the song was played with additional percussion obligato by Shovell in the middle-eight break to add to the Italo house style. Some additional rhythm guitar and saxophone ad-libs are also played throughout.

Remixes and B-side

At the time of release only one remix of the single was readily available by the Hed Boys and their 'Post Op' Mix. The E-Smoove Mix became a significant dance club hit but was not made available for general issue until it featured on CD2 of successor single "Open Your Heart" nearly three months later. The B-side is album track "Sugartown", a funk soul song.

Track listings

  1. "Sight for Sore Eyes" (Radio Mix) – 3:56
  2. "Sugartown" – 4:35
  1. "Sight for Sore Eyes" (Master Mix) – 6:12
  2. "Sugartown" – 4:35
  3. "Sight for Sore Eyes" (Hed Boys Post-Op Mix) – 10:11
  1. "Sight for Sore Eyes" (Radio Mix) – 3:56
  2. "Sight for Sore Eyes" (Master Mix) – 6:12
  3. "Sight for Sore Eyes" (Hed Boys Post-Op Mix) – 10:11
  4. "Sugartown" – 4:35

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M People</span> English house music band

M People is an English dance music band that formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is taken from the first letter of the first name of band member Mike Pickering, who formed the group. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked them as the 83rd most successful dance act of all time. As of 2021, M People have sold over 11 million records worldwide

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back for Good (song)</span> 1995 single by Take That

"Back for Good" is a song by English band Take That from their third studio album, Nobody Else (1995). Released on March 27, 1995 by RCA and Arista, it was written by lead singer Gary Barlow, who also co-produced it with Chris Porter. The song topped the UK Singles Chart whilst also charting at number one in 31 countries, as well as reaching the top 10 in many others. Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton directed the song's music video. At the 1996 Brit Awards, "Back for Good" won the Brit Award for British Single of the Year. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked the song at number 910 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" and in a UK poll in 2012, it was voted number 11 on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite Number One Single.

<i>Bizarre Fruit</i> 1994 studio album by M People

Bizarre Fruit is the third album by British dance band M People. It was released on 14 November 1994 and charted and peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, spending one year on the chart before an expanded version of the album, Bizarre Fruit II, was released a year later. In 1996 it was announced that Bizarre Fruit had reached 1.1 million copies sold worldwide. The albums Bizarre Fruit and Bizarre Fruit II were certified 5× platinum in the UK for sales of 1.5 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itchycoo Park</span> 1967 single by Small Faces

"Itchycoo Park" is a song by English rock band Small Faces, written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane. Largely written by Lane, it was among a number of pop songs of the era to make use of flanging, an effect involving, at that time, electro-mechanical processes. The song was not included on any of their UK albums, but was however featured on the North American release There Are But Four Small Faces (1968).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Only Takes a Minute</span> 1975 single by Tavares

"It Only Takes a Minute" is a 1975 song by American soul/R&B group Tavares, released as the first single from their third album, In the City (1975). The song was the group's only top-10 pop hit in the United States, peaking at number 10, and their second number one song on the American soul charts. On the US Disco chart, "It Only Takes a Minute" spent five weeks at number two and was the first of four entries on the chart. The song was subsequently covered by Jonathan King performing as 100 Ton and a Feather in 1976 and by boy band Take That in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai song)</span> 1994 single by Jamiroquai

"Space Cowboy" is the international lead single from British funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai's second studio album, The Return of the Space Cowboy (1994). Released on 26 September 1994 by Sony Soho Square, the single peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number six in Italy, and number three in Iceland. In the United States, it gave the band their first number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In June 2006, it re-entered the UK Dance Chart at number one. Its music video was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton. The single contains remixes by David Morales, which further put the single in club circulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Night in Heaven</span> 1993 single by M People

"One Night in Heaven" is a song by British band M People, released as their sixth overall single and the first single from their second album, Elegant Slumming (1993). Written by band members Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and produced by the band, the song was released on 14 June 1993 by Deconstruction Records. It was successful in Europe, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart. In Iceland, it reached number five, while peaking at number 26 on the Eurochart Hot 100. Its accompanying music video was filmed in Barcelona, Sitges and Montserrat in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Search for the Hero</span> 1995 single by M People

"Search for the Hero" is a song by British dance music band M People, released in June 1995 by Sony BMG and RCA as the third single (remixed) from their third album, Bizarre Fruit (1994). The song was written by bandmembers Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and produced by the band. It peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, number 13 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number three on the UK R&B Singles Chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Amos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unbreakable (Westlife song)</span> 2002 single by Westlife

"Unbreakable" is a song performed by Irish boy band Westlife, taken from his first greatest hits album, Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Volume 1 (2002). It was released on 16 September 2002 by RCA Records and Syco Music as the lead single from the album's. The song was written by Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid, and produced by Steve Mac. It was composed in the traditional verse–chorus form in G major, with the group's vocals ranging from the chords of D4 to C♯6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord</span> 1978 single by Boney M.

"Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" is a 1978 Christmas single by Boney M., a cover of Harry Belafonte's 1956 hit "Mary's Boy Child", put in medley with the new song "Oh My Lord".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Look Any Further</span> 1984 single by Dennis Edwards

"Don't Look Any Further" is a song by American singer Dennis Edwards featuring American singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett, released in April 1984 by Motown from the singer's debut album by the same name (1984). The song is written by Franne Golde, Dennis Lambert and Duane Hitchings, while Lambert produced it. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Black Singles chart and No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love & Devotion</span> 1995 single by Real McCoy

"Love & Devotion" is a song by the German Eurodance/pop music project Real McCoy. Originally an album track featured on their second album, Space Invaders (1994), it was later released in Europe in 1995 as a Real McCoy single. For unknown reasons, it was not released in the US by Arista. It was produced in Germany by music producers Juergen Wind and Frank Hassas (Quickmix) under the producer team name Freshline. The single peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Finland, Lithuania and Scotland, and reached number 11 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaissance (song)</span> 1994 single by M People

"Renaissance" is a song by British electronic group M People, released on 28 February 1994 as the fourth and final single from their second album, Elegant Slumming (1994). In Australia, it was released as the third single from the album. It was written by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard and produced by M People. The song peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart following the band's first win for Best British Dance Act at the 1994 BRIT Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open Your Heart (M People song)</span> 1995 single by M People

"Open Your Heart" is a song by British band M People, released in January 1995 by Deconstruction as the second single from their third album, Bizarre Fruit (1994). The song was written by bandmembers Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and produced by the band. It peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, and was a top 10 hit also in Finland and Scotland. In the US, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The accompanying music video for the song featured the band performing in an elevator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasy Island (M People song)</span> 1997 single by M People

"Fantasy Island" is a song by British band M People, released as the second single from their fourth album, Fresco (1997). It is written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small, and produced by M People. The song was released on 24 November 1997 and peaked at number thirty three on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Rendezvous</span> 1995 single by M People

"Love Rendezvous" is a song by British band M People, released in October 1995 by Deconstruction as the fourth single from their third album, Bizarre Fruit/Bizarre Fruit II (1994). Written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small, and produced by M People, the song was released on 14 October after the band's world tour. It peaked at number thirty two on the UK Singles Chart and number 59 on the Eurochart Hot 100. The music video for the song was directed by Matthew Amos and filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel St</span> 1998 single by M People

"Angel St" is the thirteenth single by British band M People, released on 16 March 1998 by M People Records. It was the third and final single from the band's fourth album, Fresco (1997). The song was written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small and produced by M People and Chris Lord-Alge. It peaked at number eight on UK Singles Chart and number 24 on the Eurochart Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testify (M People song)</span> 1998 single by M People

"Testify" is the eighteenth overall single from British band M People. It is the lead single from their greatest hits albums, The Best of M People and, in North America, Testify. It was written by Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small, and produced by M People. The single was released on 26 October 1998 and peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. It also peaked at number 10 in Scotland and number 66 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in November 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Excited (M People song)</span> 1992 single by M People

"Excited" is a song by the British band M People, released in September 1992 as the fourth and final single from their first album, Northern Soul (1991), though it only appeared on the re-release. The song was written by band members Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the UK Dance Singles Chart. Two different music videos were produced for the single release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automatic Lover (Call for Love)</span> 1994 single by Real McCoy

"Automatic Lover (Call for Love)" is a song by German Eurodance/pop music project Real McCoy (also known as M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy), released in January 1994 by Hansa as the second single from their album Another Night (1995), which is the US version of the project's second album, Space Invaders. The song was produced by music producers Juergen Wind (aka J. Wind) and Frank Hassas (aka Quickmix) under the producer team name Freshline, and borrows the melody from Bronski Beat's 1984 song, "Smalltown Boy". It was a top-20 hit in a number of countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. There were made two different music videos for "Automatic Lover (Call for Love)". The European version was directed by Angel in 1994.

References

  1. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week . 5 November 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Cooper, William. "M People - Bizarre Fruit". AllMusic . Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  3. ↑ Flick, Larry (19 November 1994). "Dance Trax: M People's 3rd deConstruction Set To Bear 'Fruit'" (PDF). Billboard . p. 33. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Morgan, Kendall (23 June 1995). "M People's music is ear candy". p. 14. The Greenville News .
  5. ↑ Masterton, James (13 November 1994). "Week Ending November 19th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 50. 10 December 1994. p. 9. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Jones, Alan (5 November 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 14. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Dee, Johnny (19 November 1994). "Long Play". NME . p. 46. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Moody, Paul (19 August 1995). "Long Play". NME . p. 47. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  10. ↑ Amorosi, A.D. (4 June 1995). "Albums: M People – Bizarre Fruit". p. K10. The Philadelphia Inquirer .
  11. ↑ Hamilton, James (12 November 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Bette's back with a solid, successful effort". Sarasota Herald-Tribune . 21 July 1995. p. 9. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  13. ↑ Bledsoe, Wayne (4 June 1995). "Reviews: M People". p. 3E. Quad-City Times .
  14. ↑ Stanton, Pete (9 November 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits . No. 416. p. 53. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  15. ↑ Belgian peak Archived 9 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Belgian peak Archived 9 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 49. 3 December 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 2. 14 January 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 50. 10 December 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  20. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  21. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.12.1994 - 21.12.1994)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  22. ↑ "M People - Sight For Sore Eyes" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  23. ↑ "M PEOPLE - SIGHT FOR SORE EYES" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (13 November 1994-19 November 1994)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  25. ↑ UK Singles Chart (Retrieved 28 March 2009)
  26. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (13 November 1994 - 19 November 1994)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  27. ↑ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 12 November 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  29. ↑ "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 24 December 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.