Uptight (Shara Nelson song)

Last updated
"Uptight"
Shara Nelson - Uptight.jpeg
Single by Shara Nelson
from the album What Silence Knows
B-side "What Silence Knows"
Released31 January 1994 (1994-01-31)
Length5:04
Label Cooltempo
Songwriters
Producer Michael Peden
Shara Nelson singles chronology
"Inside Out"
(1993)		"Uptight"
(1994)		"Nobody"
(1994)
Audio sample

"Uptight" is a song by English singer-songwriter Shara Nelson, released in January 1994 by Cooltempo Records as the fourth single from her first solo album, What Silence Knows (1993). Co-written by Nelson with Attrell Cordes, the song was produced by Michael Peden and became a top-20 hit in the UK, peaking at numbers 19 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was directed by American director Kevin Bray. [1]

Contents

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song a score of four out of five and named it Pick of the Week, saying, "It's a perky uptempo song, with a funky, shuffling Motown-esque beat, and great pop potential." He added that Nelson "is certain of another Top 40 hit". [2] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "It's hard to keep your cool with this funky groover, with Miss Nelson wrapping her vocals around the staccato sung chorus." [3] 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." [4] Andy Beevers from the Record Mirror Dance Update noted Nelson's "atmospheric vocal", [5] while James Hamilton named it a "plaintive jiggly roller" in his weekly dance column. [6] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin noted the song's "insecurity". [7]

Music video

The music video for "Uptight" was directed by American director Kevin Bray and produced by Lisa Bonahan for DNA. It was released on 7 February 1994 and features Nelson tramping the chilly streets of New York City accompanied by a cast of locals. [8]

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

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom31 January 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Cooltempo [15]
Australia18 April 1994
  • CD
  • cassette
 [16]

References

  1. ↑ "Music Video: Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard . 15 January 1994. p. 31. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  2. ↑ Jones, Alan (29 January 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week . p. 16. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 5. 29 January 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Staunton, Terry (29 January 1994). "Singles". NME . p. 47. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Beevers, Andy (22 January 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, James (19 February 1994). "DJ directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan (July 1994). "Spins". Spin . p. 70. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Promos In Production" (PDF). Music Week . 29 January 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 9. 26 February 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Official Charts > Shara Nelson". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . 26 February 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 12 February 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "1994 – Singles". Hit Music . 7 January 1995. p. 31.
  15. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week . 29 January 1994. p. 25.
  16. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 18/04/94: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 218. 17 April 1994. p. 20.
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