What I Do Best (song)

Last updated

"What I Do Best"
Robin S.-What I Do Best.jpg
Single by Robin S.
from the album Show Me Love
B-side "Show Me Love" (remix)
ReleasedNovember 22, 1993 (1993-11-22) [1]
Genre
Length4:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Nick Martinelli
Robin S. singles chronology
"Luv 4 Luv"
(1993)
"What I Do Best"
(1993)
"I Want to Thank You"
(1994)

"What I Do Best" is a song by American singer Robin S., released in November 1993 as the third single from her debut album, Show Me Love (1993). It is written by Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy, and produced by Nick Martinelli. A moderate hit in Europe, it reached the top 30 in the Netherlands, peaking at number 21. Additionally, it was a top 40 hit in Belgium and a top 50 hit in the UK. The single release featured remixes of "Show Me Love".

Contents

Critical reception

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun complimented the "luscious balladry" of "What I Do Best". [2] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "A wise single choice after the disappointing response to the "Show Me Love" sound-alike, "Love 4 Love". Robin gets a nice chance to showcase her delicious alto range on this sweeping pop/R&B ballad." He added that producer Nick Martinelli has constructed a track "that swirls and builds to an appropriately dramatic climax. Should easily pump new blood into Robin's noteworthy debut album on the pop tip, while forging a promising relationship at urban level." [3] M.R. Martinez from Cashbox stated, "It's all about the voice. The girl can find a way to play with a lyric." [4]

Rod Edwards from the Gavin Report felt the singer "shows off her versatility on this heartwarming ballad", and added that the slow tempo "provides the perfect setting for this declaration of love, and will win the approval of even Robin's club-based audiences. This one is appropriate for that special candlelight dinner you've been planning." [5] A reviewer from Music & Media wrote, "The club mix represents a sound which has now become widely accepted, far beyond the clubs, and it translates easily to radio. The original mix is a slow, warm and soulful track demonstrating the singer's versatility. Two nice mixes which are basically two different songs." [6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, stating that "serene and assured, Robin S. puts her all into a powerful, sweet ballad that is guaranteed to follow in the Top 20 footsteps of "Show Me Love" and "Luv 4 Luv"." [7]

Track listings

  1. "What I Do Best" (radio mix) – 4:27
  2. "What I Do Best" (Work mix) – 6:07
  3. "Show Me Love" (Stone's club mix) – 7:50
  4. "Show Me Love" (Kerri's Madhouse mix) – 6:12
  1. "What I Do Best" (radio mix) – 4:21
  2. "What I Do Best" (Work mix) – 6:00
  1. "What I Do Best" (radio mix) – 4:21
  2. "What I Do Best" (Work mix) – 6:02
  3. "Show Me Love" (Stone club mix) – 7:42
  4. "Show Me Love" (Kerri's Madhouse mix) – 6:12

Charts

Chart (1993–1994)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [8] 36
Europe (European Dance Radio) [9] 7
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [10] 26
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [11] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [12] 23
UK Singles (OCC) [13] 43
UK Club Chart ( Music Week ) [14] 46

Related Research Articles

Robin Stone is an American singer and songwriter, who scored success in the 1990s with such house music singles as "Show Me Love" and "Luv 4 Luv". She has had three number ones on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Takes Time</span> 1990 single by Mariah Carey

"Love Takes Time" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey for her eponymous debut studio album (1990). Written by Carey and Ben Margulies, while produced by Walter Afanasieff, the song was released as the second single from the album on August 22, 1990, by Columbia Records. An adult contemporary-influenced ballad, the song follows its protagonist lamenting the loss of a lover and confesses that "love takes time" to heal and that her feelings for her ex-lover remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Annie Lennox song)</span> 1992 single by Annie Lennox

"Why" is the debut solo single of Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox, released on 16 March 1992. It was taken from her debut solo album, Diva (1992), and reached number five in the United Kingdom. In the United States, "Why" peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was also a big hit internationally, reaching number one in Italy and peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, Canada, Ireland and five other countries. Its music video was directed by Sophie Muller. Stereogum ranked "Why" number one in their list of the 10 best Annie Lennox songs in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Name Is Not Susan</span> 1991 single by Whitney Houston

"My Name Is Not Susan" is a song by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released as the fourth single from her third album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990). The song was released on June 24, 1991, by Arista Records. It was produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, and written by Eric Foster White. The song is an uptempo new jack swing number in which Houston harshly tells off a lover who has mistakenly called her by his ex-girlfriend's name "Susan". She lets him know that if he cannot get over Susan, then their relationship is over. A remix featuring British rapper Monie Love was also released, becoming one of the first times a pop/R&B artist had included a rapper in a remix, following Janet Jackson's "Alright", which remix featured Heavy D the year previous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Words (Bee Gees song)</span> 1968 song by the Bee Gees

Words is a song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The song reached No. 1 in Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees song)</span> 1977 single by Bee Gees

"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop ballad written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and released as a single in September of that year. It was ultimately used as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It was a number-three hit in the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 on 25 December 1977 and stayed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks. It spent six weeks atop the US adult contemporary chart. It is listed at No. 27 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. Alongside "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever", it is one of the group's three tracks on the list. The song was covered by Take That for their 1996 Greatest Hits album, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.

<i>High Energy</i> (The Supremes album) 1976 studio album by the Supremes

High Energy is the twenty-eighth studio album by American girl group the Supremes, released in 1976 on the Motown label. The album is the first to feature Susaye Greene; former member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove; and is notable for featuring the last Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 pop hit for the group, "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking". Of their 1970s releases, High Energy is the second-highest charting album on the US Billboard 200, the first being Right On (1970). In Canada, High Energy is the highest-charting Supremes album since TCB (1968).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonely Days</span> 1970 single by Bee Gees

"Lonely Days" is a ballad written and performed by the Bee Gees. It appeared on their album 2 Years On, and was released as a single, becoming their first Top Five hit in the US, peaking at number three in the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one in the Cashbox and Record World charts. Barry Gibb later re-recorded the song with country quartet Little Big Town for his 2021 album Greenfields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Can Move Mountains</span> 1992 single by Celine Dion

"Love Can Move Mountains" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, recorded for her second English-language studio album, Celine Dion (1992). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Ric Wake, it was released as the fourth single in October 1992. It is an up-tempo pop song drawing influence from gospel and dance music, and its lyrics detail the abilities that love has as an emotion. "Love Can Move Mountains" was later included on Dion's greatest hits albums, All the Way... A Decade of Song in 1999 and My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Woman</span> 1991 single by Lisa Stansfield

"All Woman" is a song recorded by British singer, songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield for her second album, Real Love (1991). It was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and produced by Devaney and Morris. It was released as the second single on 9 December 1991 in the United Kingdom and in early 1992 in the rest of the world. The Nick Brandt-directed music video was also released. The song reached number twenty in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number fifty-six on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number twenty-one on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart. The single's B-side included previously unreleased track, "Everything Will Get Better." The latter was remixed by Danny Tenaglia and reached number thirty-six on the Hot Dance Club Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Tell Me That You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Diana Ross

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 20, 1991 as the lead single from her nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). The song was released on the Motown label in the United States and by EMI Records in the United Kingdom. It was written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Peter Asher. A sentimental ballad, it became the album's biggest hit, peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Ross considers it one of her signature songs and it was subsequently covered by various artists. The UK release of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" included her 1985 hit "Chain Reaction".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Love (Robin S. song)</span> 1990 single by Robin S.

"Show Me Love" is a song officially credited as being performed by American singer Robin S. and written by Allen George and Fred McFarlane, originally released in 1990 by Champion Records in the United Kingdom. In 1992, it was remixed by Swedish house music production duo StoneBridge and Nick Nice, and re-released in many European countries as well as the United States and Japan. It became one of the most well known house anthems in the United Kingdom, and Robin's biggest hit to date. It helped to make house more mainstream. In 1993, it was included on Robin S.'s debut album of the same name. Confusion arose with the 1997 hit "Show Me Love" by Swedish singer Robyn, due to their homonymous names and identical titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Wanna Fight</span> 1993 single by Tina Turner

"I Don't Wanna Fight" is a song by American singer and actress Tina Turner. The track was written by British singer Lulu, her brother Billy Lawrie, and Steve DuBerry. The song was first offered to singer Sade, who sent it on to Turner. Turner recorded it in 1993 as part of the soundtrack for her autobiographical film, What's Love Got to Do with It. Lulu's version appears as a B-side to her 1993 single "How 'Bout Us" as well as on the 2003 album The Greatest Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Down with the Clique</span> 1995 single by Aaliyah

"Down with the Clique" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her debut studio album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994). It was written and produced by R. Kelly. The song was released as the fourth single from Age Ain't Nothing but a Number exclusively in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1995, by Blackground Records and Jive Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Love (Robyn song)</span> 1997 single by Robyn

"Show Me Love" is a song by Swedish singer and songwriter Robyn. It was first released in Sweden in 1997 as a single from the international edition of her debut studio album, Robyn Is Here (1995). The song is her fourth Swedish, third UK, and second US single. The song is sometimes confused with Robin S.'s 1993 single "Show Me Love" because of identical song titles and similar first names; however, the two songs are not related.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven's What I Feel</span> 1998 single by Gloria Estefan

"Heaven's What I Feel" is a 1998 song by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, gloria! on May 5, 1998 by Epic Records. The song was written by Kike Santander originally for Celine Dion. It was produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr. and Santander. The song is an up-tempo dance-pop, house and dance song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love No Limit</span> 1993 single by Mary J. Blige

"Love No Limit" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was co-written by Kenny Greene and Dave "Jam" Hall for her debut album, What's the 411? (1992), while production was overseen by Hall. Released as the album's fourth and final single, the song became a top five hit, reaching number-five on the US R&B singles chart, and peaked at number forty-four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Hall has stated in interviews, that he wanted to give the song an urban, hip-hop feel to a much more jazzy sound, when it was created.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Destiny (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1992 single by Lionel Richie

"My Destiny" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie. It was released in 1992 as the second single from his first compilation album, Back to Front (1992), by Motown Records. It was written by Richie and produced by himself and Stewart Levine. The song achieved some success, and it even topped the Dutch Single Top 100 and peaked at number two in the Dutch Top 40. It also appeared on Richie's best of albums Truly: The Love Songs and The Definitive Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luv 4 Luv</span> 1993 single by Robin S.

"Luv 4 Luv" is a song by American singer Robin S., released in July 1993 as the second single from her debut album, Show Me Love (1993). It was written by Allen George and Fred McFarlane and was Robin S.'s second number one on the US dance chart, where it spent one week at the top, and a total of eleven weeks on the chart. On other US charts, the song went to number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 52 on the soul singles chart. Overseas, "Luv 4 Luv" reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 24 in Ireland. A black-and-white music video was produced to accompany the song. It sees Robin S. performing the song in a self-service laundry. "Luv 4 Luv" was re-released in the UK in 2003 but only lasted one week on the chart, peaking at number 78.

<i>Show Me Love</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Robin S.

Show Me Love is the debut album by American singer Robin S., released on June 21, 1993. It includes the single "Show Me Love" which reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 6 in the UK Singles Chart and the top 10 of many other charts around the world. Further singles that were released from the album are "Luv 4 Luv", which reached No. 53 in the US and No. 11 in the UK, "What I Do Best", "I Want to Thank You" and "Back It Up".

References

  1. "Single Releases". Music Week . November 20, 1993. p. 23.
  2. Considine, J.D. (July 23, 1993). "Stage-show 'Tommy' diminished by larger scale". The Baltimore Sun .
  3. Flick, Larry (November 27, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 99. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  4. Martinez, M.R. (July 17, 1993). "Urban: Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox . p. 15. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  5. Edwards, Rod (November 5, 1993). "Urban: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report . p. 17. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  6. "New Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media . January 15, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  7. Jones, Alan (November 13, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 16. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. "Robin S. – What I Do Best" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  9. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . February 5, 1994. p. 28. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  10. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 Vikan 24.02–02.03". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 24, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robin S." (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  12. "Robin S. – What I Do Best" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  14. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). November 20, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved May 12, 2023.