Uptight (Shara Nelson song)

Last updated
"Uptight"
Shara Nelson - Uptight.jpeg
Single by Shara Nelson
from the album What Silence Knows
Released31 January 1994 (1994-01-31) [1]
Length5:04
Label Cooltempo
Songwriter(s) Attrell Cordes, Shara Nelson
Producer(s) Michael Peden
Shara Nelson singles chronology
"Inside Out"
(1993)
"Uptight"
(1994)
"Nobody"
(1994)
Audio sample

"Uptight" is a song by English singer and songwriter Shara Nelson, released by Cooltempo in January 1994 as the fourth single from her first solo album, What Silence Knows (1993). Co-written by Nelson, the song was a top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.

Contents

Critical reception

Terry Staunton from NME wrote, "This isn't quite up to that mark [as "Down That Road" and "One Goodbye in Ten"], but it's still a glorious record, reminiscent of Motown in the good old days." [2] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin noted the song's "insecurity" in his review of the What Silence Knows album. [3]

Track listings

  1. "Uptight" (Uno Perfecto Edit) - 4:30
  2. "Uptight" (Uno Perfecto Mix) - 7:05
  3. "Uptight" (Dirty Lowdown Vocal Mix) - 5:30
  4. "What Silence Knows" (Unreleased Version) - 7:52
  1. "Uptight" (Uno Perfecto Edit) - 4:32
  2. "Uptight" (Dirty Lowdown Dub) - 5:29
  3. "Uptight" (Uno Perfecto Mix) - 7:06

Charts

Chart (1994)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [4] 217
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [5] 52
UK Singles (OCC) [6] 19
UK Dance ( Music Week ) [7] 12
UK Club Chart ( Music Week ) [8] 23

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls & Boys (Blur song)</span> 1994 single by Blur

"Girls & Boys" is a song by the English rock band Blur, released in March 1994 as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Parklife (1994). Charting at number five on the UK Singles Chart, "Girls & Boys" was Blur's first top 5 hit and their most successful single until "Country House" reached number one the following year. The single surpassed their previous commercial peak "There's No Other Way" by three spots on the UK Singles Chart, and saw the group achieve greater worldwide success. In the US, the track reached number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, becoming the band's second single to hit the chart after "There's No Other Way". It also reached number four on the Billboard Modern Rock songs chart.

Shara Nelson is an English singer and songwriter. She worked with Massive Attack in the early 1990s, and as a solo artist had five UK top 40 hit singles. Her 1993 debut album, What Silence Knows, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safe from Harm (song)</span> 1991 single by Massive Attack

"Safe from Harm" is the third single and opening track from Blue Lines, the 1991 debut album from British trip hop collective Massive Attack, with vocals by Shara Nelson and Robert Del Naja. The bass, guitar, and drums are sampled from the song "Stratus" by Billy Cobham, from his album Spectrum. Additional drums are sampled from "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic. Other samples come from Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", and some of the background vocals are based on Johnny "Guitar" Watson's 1961 song Looking Back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can You Forgive Her? (song)</span> 1993 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Can You Forgive Her?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). The lyrics describe in the second person a young man's humiliation when his girlfriend accuses him of still being in love with a childhood friend; the woman is "not prepared to share you with a memory", and is "going to go and get herself a real man instead". The title of the song derives from the Anthony Trollope novel of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing</span> 1993 single by Pet Shop Boys

"I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). The song describes a person normally hesitant to unwind and show his feelings, who—because of some event in his life—suddenly becomes willing to loosen up. It was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November 1993 by Parlophone as the album's third single, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, where it was released in January 1994, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yesterday, When I Was Mad</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Yesterday, When I Was Mad" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the fifth and final single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993), on 29 August 1994. The single peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song was remixed by Jam & Spoon for its single release, among other things removing a compression effect applied to Neil Tennant's voice during the verses. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. One of the B-sides is a cover of the Noël Coward song "If Love Were All".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberation (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Liberation" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). It peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the lowest-charting single from Very in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. The single's B-side, "Decadence", featuring Pat O'Brien was on the Further Listening: 1992–1994 re-release of Very, and the B-sides compilation Alternative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save Our Love</span> 1994 single by Eternal

"Save Our Love" is a song by British R&B girl group Eternal. It was released in January 1994 as the second single from their debut album, Always & Forever (1993). The single entered at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart on 15 January, climbing to its peak of number eight the following week, and remained in the UK top 75 for seven weeks. On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it was even more successful, reaching number six. A music video was filmed for the song in December 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Numb (Portishead song)</span> 1994 single by Portishead

"Numb" is a song by English trip hop group Portishead, released on 13 June 1994 as the lead single from their debut album, Dummy (1994). NME magazine ranked it at number 43 on their list of the "Best Albums and Tracks of 1994".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Walked Love</span> 1994 single by Exposé

"In Walked Love" is a song by the American girl group Exposé. Written by Diane Warren and produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, the song can be found on the group's 1992 album Exposé, their third studio album. Lead vocals on the pop ballad were performed by Ann Curless. The song features Al Pitrelli as guest guitarist. In 1996, British singer Louise covered the song and reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart with her rendition.

<i>What Silence Knows</i> 1993 studio album by Shara Nelson

What Silence Knows is the debut solo album by English singer Shara Nelson, released in September 1993 on Cooltempo Records. It includes five singles which reached the UK Singles Chart: "Down That Road", "One Goodbye in Ten", "Inside Out", "Uptight" and "Nobody". The album peaked at No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Down That Road (Shara Nelson song)</span> 1993 single by Shara Nelson

"Down That Road" is a song by British singer-songwriter Shara Nelson, released July 1993 on Cooltempo Records as the debut single from her first solo album, What Silence Knows (1993). It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart, reached number one on the European Dance Radio Chart, and became a top-20 hit on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Goodbye in Ten</span> 1993 single by Shara Nelson

"One Goodbye in Ten" is a song by British singer-songwriter Shara Nelson, released in September 1993 by Cooltempo as the second single from the singer's first solo album, What Silence Knows (1993). Written by her with British band Saint Etienne, the song received critical acclaim and peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, it was a top-30 hit in Austria and a top-50 hit in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inside Out (Shara Nelson song)</span> 1993 single by Shara Nelson

"Inside Out" is a song by British singer and songwriter Shara Nelson, released in November 1993 on Cooltempo Records as the third single from her first solo album, What Silence Knows (1993). In August 1994, it was re-released as part of a remix single with "Down That Road". A music video was produced to promote the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobody (Shara Nelson song)</span> 1994 single by Shara Nelson

"Nobody" is a song by British singer-songwriter Shara Nelson, released in May 1994 as the fifth single from her first solo album, What Silence Knows (1993), through Cooltempo Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rough with the Smooth</span> 1995 single by Shara Nelson

"Rough with the Smooth" is a song by British singer-songwriter Shara Nelson, released in September 1995 as the first single from her second solo album, Friendly Fire (1995). The song peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Fell (So You Could Catch Me)</span> 1996 single by Shara Nelson

"I Fell " is a song by British singer Shara Nelson, released as a second single from her second solo album, Friendly Fire in 1996 on Cooltempo Records as a two CD set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Deeper Love</span> 1991 single by Clivillés & Cole

"A Deeper Love" is a song written by American producers Robert Clivillés and David Cole, and performed by them as Clivillés & Cole featuring vocals by Deborah Cooper and Paul Pesco. The song was the duo's fifth number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. On other US charts, "A Deeper Love" peaked at number 83 on the soul singles chart and number 44 on the pop chart. Overseas, especially in Europe the single charted higher, going to number 15 in the UK and number eight on the Dutch Top 40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U R the Best Thing</span> 1992 single by D:Ream

"U R the Best Thing" is the debut single of Northern Irish musical group D:Ream, included on their first album, D:Ream On Volume 1 (1993). Originally a club hit released in 1992, the song has been remixed and re-released twice: in 1993 and in 1994. The 1994 version, also known as the Perfecto mix, was most successful peaking at number three in Scotland, number four on the UK Singles Chart and number six in Ireland. It also peaked at number 13 on the Eurochart Hot 100. The 1993 version reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US. There were made three different music videos to promote the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apparently Nothin'</span> 1991 single by Young Disciples

"Apparently Nothin" is a song by British/American acid jazz band Young Disciples. It features singer Carleen Anderson, who also co-wrote it and was released in 1991 by Talkin' Loud as the second single from the band's only album, Road to Freedom (1991). The song samples "Here I Am Baby" by the Marvelettes and is inspired by the Gulf War. It peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, but on the UK Dance Singles Chart, it was a even more successful, peaking at number two. Additionally, it was a top 20 hit in Luxembourg and a top 40 hit in the Netherlands. The band performed the song in the British music chart television programme Top of the Pops. It remains their biggest hit and is now widely considered as a classic of its genre.

References

  1. "Single Releases". Music Week . 29 January 1994. p. 25.
  2. Staunton, Terry (29 January 1994). "Singles". NME . p. 47. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  3. Bernstein, Jonathan (July 1994). "Spins". Spin . p. 70. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  4. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 17 February 2016" . Retrieved 17 February 2016 via Imgur.
  5. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . 26 February 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. "Official Charts > Shara Nelson". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  7. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 12 February 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. "The RM Club Chart 31.1.94" (PDF). Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 29 January 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 27 September 2022.