Whenever You're Near Me

Last updated
"Whenever You're Near Me"
Whenever You're Near Me (Ace of Base album cover).jpg
Single by Ace of Base
from the album Cruel Summer
B-side "He Decides"
Released6 October 1998
Genre Pop
Length3:32
Label Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Ole Evenrude
Ace of Base singles chronology
"Cruel Summer"
(1998)
"Whenever You're Near Me"
(1998)
"Travel to Romantis"
(1998)

"Whenever You're Near Me" is the second single from Swedish group Ace of Base's third American record, Cruel Summer . The original version of the song, "Life Is a Flower", was a huge hit in Europe and Japan. The lyrics were rewritten by song composer Mike Chapman, and the song was released to radio stations in North and South America on October 6, 1998. This version peaked at number 76 in the United States and number 51 in Canada; it was the band's last charting hit in both countries.

Contents

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the song "shows Ace Of Base revisiting the more familiar pop/reggae sound that made the group a top 40 favorite." He noted that the track "builds upon a bankable sound rather than mimicking it. The song has a decidedly more complex arrangement, which is rife with sunny Caribbean percussion and a sweet smattering of acoustic guitar/synth interplay." He also added that Jenny's and Linn's vocals are "notably more restrained here than on past singles, which allows the melody and chorus to work their contagious magic without vocal overkill. Downright irresistible, this cute single should saturate airwaves within seconds." [1] Gary Shipes from The Stuart News noted in his review, that "Whenever You're Near Me" and "Adventures in Paradise" are pristine pop productions worthy of ABBA and Trevor Horn's '80s confections for Buggles, Dollar and Frankie Goes to Hollywood." [2]

Track listing

CD singles

  1. Whenever You're Near Me
  2. He Decides (Fisher Version aka American Album Version)

CD Maxi

  1. Whenever You're Near Me (Album Version)
  2. Whenever You're Near Me (Strobe's Radio Mix)
  3. Whenever You're Near Me (Strobe's Lollipop Mix)
  4. Whenever You're Near Me (Nikolas & Sibley Dance Radio Edit)
  5. Whenever You're Near Me (Nikolas & Sibley Dance Mix)
  6. Whenever You're Near Me (Strobe's Subway Mix)

Official versions/remixes

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [3] 51
US Billboard Hot 100 [4] 76
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [5] 12

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)</span> 1983 single by Bananarama

"Cruel Summer" is a song by English girl group Bananarama. It was written by Bananarama and Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, and produced by Jolley and Swain. Released in 1983, it was initially a stand-alone single but was subsequently included on their self-titled second album a year later. The song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart in 1983, and after its inclusion in the 1984 film The Karate Kid, it reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Cruel Summer</i> (Ace of Base album) 1998 studio album by Ace of Base

Cruel Summer is a 1998 album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base, released as the band's third album in North America on 14 July 1998 and in Japan on 25 August 1998 by Arista Records. Flowers was the group's third album worldwide, but Arista Records decided to release a different version of the album in North America, Japan, and Latin America, retitled Cruel Summer. This version of the album featured the new track "Everytime It Rains" and many new versions of songs that were first featured on Flowers. As executive producer, Clive Davis enlisted collaborators including production team Cutfather & Joe and songwriter Billy Steinberg. While primarily a pop album, Cruel Summer explores the genres of euro disco, Motown, and dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovesong (The Cure song)</span> 1989 single by the Cure

"Lovesong" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as the third single from their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989), on 21 August 1989. The song saw considerable success in the United States, where it reached the number-two position in October 1989 and became the band's only top-10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the single charted at number 18, and it peaked within the top 20 in Canada and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Still Believe (Brenda K. Starr song)</span> 1988 single by Brenda K. Starr

"I Still Believe" is a song written and composed by Antonina Armato and Giuseppe Cantarelli, and originally recorded by pop singer Brenda K. Starr for her eponymous second studio album, Brenda K. Starr (1987). It is a ballad in which the singer is confident she and her former boyfriend will be together again one day. It is Starr's biggest hit in the United States, reaching the top-twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 and being considered her signature song. "I Still Believe" was covered by American singer Mariah Carey, a former backup singer for Starr before she achieved success, for her #1's album in 1998 and released as a single in 1999. It was also recorded by Cantopop singer Sandy Lam in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Push It (Salt-n-Pepa song)</span> 1987 song by Salt-n-Pepa

"Push It" is a song by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa. It was released as the B-side of the "Tramp" single in 1987, and as its own single in 1988. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1988 and, after initially peaking at number 41 in the UK, it re-entered the charts after the group performed the track at Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday concert, eventually peaking at number two that summer. The song has also been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song is ranked number 446 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was ranked number nine on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enjoy the Silence</span> 1990 single by Depeche Mode

"Enjoy the Silence" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. Recorded in 1989, it was released as the second single from their seventh studio album, Violator (1990), on 5 February 1990. The single is Gold certificated in the US and Germany. The song won Best British Single at the 1991 Brit Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Bless the Child (Shania Twain song)</span> 1996 single by Shania Twain

"God Bless the Child" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country music artist Shania Twain. It was released in October 1996 as the eighth and final single from her second studio album The Woman in Me (1995). The song was written by Twain and an extended version co-written by Mutt Lange. The song became Twain's first single off The Woman in Me to not hit the top 40 at country radio. The original album version is more a poem than a song, done completely a cappella. For radio airplay, the song had to be expanded lyrically and musically. It was included on Twain's Come on Over Tour usually accompanied by a local choir, and on Australian and Asian tour editions of the Come On Over album. All singles sales from the United States were donated to Second Harvest/Kids Cafe, and from Canada to Breakfast for Learning. Twain performed the song at the 1996 Country Music Association Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Sex You Up</span> 1991 single by Color Me Badd

"I Wanna Sex You Up" is a song by American R&B group Color Me Badd, released in March 1991 as the lead single from their debut album, C.M.B. (1991). The song was produced by Dr. Freeze and was also featured on the soundtrack to the 1991 film New Jack City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missing (Everything but the Girl song)</span> 1994 single by Everything but the Girl

"Missing" is a song by English musical duo Everything but the Girl, taken from their eighth studio album, Amplified Heart (1994). It was written by the two band members, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, and was produced by Watt and John Coxon. It was taken as the second single off the album on 8 August 1994 by Atlantic Records and Blanco Y Negro Records. It initially did not achieve much success until it was remixed by Todd Terry and re-released in 1995, resulting in worldwide success, peaking at or near the top of the charts in many countries. The release of the remixed version of "Missing" gave an indication of the band's future experimentation with more electronic dance music on subsequent albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlfriend/Boyfriend</span> 1999 single by Blackstreet and Janet Jackson featuring Ja Rule and Eve

"Girlfriend/Boyfriend" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet. It was released in May 1999 as the second and final single from their third album Finally. Janet Jackson is also featured in the song as well as rappers Ja Rule and Eve. The song is co-written by R&B singer and Ja Rule's former associate Cynthia "Lil' Mo" Loving. It was a minor hit in the United States and achieved moderate success in some other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Belong to You (Toni Braxton song)</span> 1994 single by Toni Braxton

"I Belong to You" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Vassal Benford and Ronald Spearman for her eponymous debut studio album (1993), while production was helmed by the former. The song was released as the album's fifth and final single on June 10, 1994 by LaFace and Arista Records, a double A side along with "How Many Ways." While there was no accompanying music video for "I Belong to You", the song garnered Braxton a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. It peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 21, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me</span> 1989 single by Paula Abdul

"(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" is a song recorded by American singer Paula Abdul for her debut album Forever Your Girl (1988). Written and produced solely by producer Oliver Leiber, the song was originally released in its remix form as the second single from the album on August 2, 1988, by Virgin to minor success in the States. Following the breakthrough success of her next three singles, the song was re-released on September 15, 1989, under its original version to commercial success, becoming Abdul's fourth consecutive top three entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and to date, tying with "Straight Up" as her longest charting performance on the chart. The song, however, did not replicate the same success in the UK where it managed to peak at number seventy-four on the UK Singles Chart, thus becoming her lowest charting single in the region to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up</span> Song written, produced and recorded by Barry White

"Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" is a song written, produced and recorded by American singer and songwriter Barry White for his second album, Stone Gon' (1973). In June 1973, it was released as the first single in the United States and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It became a gold record. In Europe, it was issued in early 1974 and peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (2008 Ace of Base album) 2008 greatest hits album by Ace of Base

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by Swedish group Ace of Base. It is their second compilation with this title, the first being Arista's 2000 US release Greatest Hits (2000). It was released under Playground Music on 14 November 2008, and is the last album to be released under the original contract of five original albums. The compilation was released in multiple formats, including a single disc edition and a 2-CD+DVD compilation which includes 16 of their hits, 13 previously released remixes, and 17 music videos. The set also includes four newly recorded remakes of hit songs. Beside previously unreleased songs included on the 2015 compilation album Hidden Gems, this is the last Ace of Base album to date with new material to feature vocalist Jenny Berggren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance with Me (112 song)</span> 2001 single by 112

"Dance with Me" is the third and final single released from 112's 2001 album, Part III. It features Slim on lead vocals. The released version features rap artist Beanie Sigel and is featured on the Bad Boy album We Invented the Remix. The song peaked at number 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a platinum-selling hit in Australia and Belgium in 2002, reaching number two in Australia, number one in Flanders, and number nine in Wallonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strobe (instrumental)</span> 2009 single by Deadmau5

"Strobe" is an instrumental by Canadian electronic music producer Deadmau5. It was released as the sixth and final single from his fourth studio album For Lack of a Better Name on 3 September 2009. It charted at numbers 128 and 13 on the UK Singles Chart and UK Dance Chart in the United Kingdom. The track featured on Deadmau5's greatest hits album, 5 Years of Mau5; a live version was featured on the iTunes version of Album Title Goes Here; and an orchestral version was featured on Where's the Drop?.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep Givin' Me Your Love</span> 1994 single by CeCe Peniston

"Keep Givin' Me Your Love" is a 1994 song by American singer CeCe Peniston, originally from her second studio album, Thought 'Ya Knew. While in the US, it was issued as the fifth single release in 1995, in the UK the song was released as the second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance & Shout / Hope</span> 2000 single by Shaggy

"Dance & Shout" / "Hope" is the fourth and final official single from Shaggy's multi-platinum studio album Hot Shot, released on 19 November 2001. The single was made up of two tracks that had previously been released as singles in exclusive territories. "Dance & Shout" samples "Shake Your Body " by The Jacksons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always You (Jennifer Paige song)</span> 1999 single by Jennifer Paige

"Always You" is a pop song recorded by American singer Jennifer Paige. It was released in July 1999 as the third single released from her debut studio album Jennifer Paige. The song was written by Andy Goldmark and J.D. Martin. For this single, Always You was remixed by Groove Brothers. The B-side is replayed by Mick Guzauski. "Always You" reached number six on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just Keep Me Moving</span> 1993 single performed by k.d. lang

"Just Keep Me Moving" is a 1993 song by Canadian singer and songwriter k.d. lang, co-written with Ben Mink. It was featured in the film Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, as well as the soundtrack album. The single reached number six on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and number seven on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart. In Europe, it peaked at number 59 on the UK Singles Chart, but was more successful on the UK Dance Singles Chart, peaking at number 35. A music video was produced to promote the single.

References

  1. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . 26 September 1998. p. 23. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. Shipes, Gary (7 August 1998). "MAKING A CASE FOR ACE OF BASE; UN-APEELING 'AVENGERS'". The Stuart News . Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7466." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  4. "Ace of Base Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  5. "Dance Singles Sales Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved 31 August 2019.