Reminisce (song)
| "Reminisce" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
| from the album What's the 411? | ||||
| B-side | "Leave a Message" | |||
| Released | October 13, 1992 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:24 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Reminisce" on YouTube | ||||
"Reminisce" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige from her debut album, What's the 411? (1992). It was co-written by Kenny Greene and Dave "Jam" Hall, who also produced it. Described as a new jack swing song inspired by 1970s soul music,[1][2] it contains a sample of "Stop, Look, Listen" (1989) by American rapper MC Lyte. The single was released in October 1992 by Uptown and MCA, peaking at number fifty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A more uptempo and hip hop-inspired remix of the song, featuring duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, later appeared on Blige's 1993 remix album of the same name.[3] The accompanying music video for "Reminisce" was directed by Marcus Raboy.
Critical reception
[edit]In a retrospective review, Daryl McIntosh from Albumism said that the song followed what seemed to be Combs' formula for the Yonkers, "by revolving around another '80s hip-hop sample, this time from Audio Two's close associate and femcee rhyme titan MC Lyte's "Stop, Look, and Listen".[4] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan described it as "a slick, Whitney-esque R&B track that gives Blige a chance to prove she can sing just as well as rap."[5] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton commented, "All of a sudden soul is making a comeback, helped in part perhaps by a new show on Radio 1 on Wednesday nights devoted to the music. "Reminisce" thus becomes another in a long line of New Jack Swing tracks to chart in this region although none have gone on to major success."[6] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song four out of five.[7] The RM Dance Update complimented it as "superb".[8] An editor from The Observer remarked that it hinted at "the loss and melancholy behind much of hip hop's aggression".[9] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin praised its "irresistible bounce".[10]
Music video
[edit]A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American film and music video director Marcus Raboy.[11] It opens with Mary J. Blige struggling to sleep in a bed during a storm. She later performs in the doorway of a large room with gray walls. Throughout the video, a man sometimes appears. "Reminisce" was later made available by Vevo on YouTube in 2009, and had generated more than 7.3 million views as of January 2023.[12]
Tracklisting
[edit]
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Credits and personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the What's the 411? liner notes.[23]
- Sean "Puffy" Combs – executive producer, co-producer
- Charlie Davis – executive producer
- Dave "Jam" Hall – producer
- Kurt Woodley – executive producer
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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References
[edit]- ^ Myrie, Russell (2006-06-21). "Mary J Blige, Wembley Arena, London". The Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- ^ MASSIMO, Rick (2006-05-21). "Geiger, Blige highlights at KISS concert". The Providence Journal. A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Bogdanov, Woodstra & Erlewine 2002, p. 109
- ^ McIntosh, Daryl (2017-07-28). "Mary J. Blige's Debut Album 'What's the 411?' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ Millan, Mark (2010-07-05). "What's The 411? – Mary J. Blige". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
- ^ Masterton, James (1993-02-21). "Week Ending February 27th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
- ^ Beevers, Andy (1993-02-06). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
- ^ "&" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1993-03-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ "Mary J Blige, Rose Hall, New York 16 October". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. 2005-11-20. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (February 1995). "Spins". Spin. p. 76. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige: Reminisce". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige - Reminisce (Official Video)". YouTube. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
- ^ Reminisce (US Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTCS-54526.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (US 7" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTS7-54526.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (US Cassette Maxi single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTM 54525.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (US CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTDM-54525.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (US 12" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPT12 54525.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (European CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCD 30278.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (U.K. Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSC 1731.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (U.K. CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSTD 1731.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (U.K. 12" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCST 1731.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reminisce (Remix) (U.K. 12" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSX 1731.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Blige, Mary J. (1992). What's the 411? (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige ARIA Chart History complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
- ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 9. 1993-02-27. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 1993-03-13. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1993-02-27. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
Notes
[edit]- Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0-87930-653-X.
