Whenever You Need Somebody (song)
"Whenever You Need Somebody" is a song written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, which became successful for two of their artists, namely O'Chi Brown and Rick Astley.
O'Chi Brown version
"Whenever You Need Somebody" | ||||
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Single by O'Chi Brown | ||||
from the album O'Chi | ||||
Released | November 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 3:26 | |||
Label | Magnetic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
O'Chi Brown singles chronology | ||||
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"Whenever You Need Somebody" was originally written for British singer
The single was later released in 1986 in the US, where it became a number one hit on the dance charts. It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, however, due to a lack of available stock in record stores.[2] According to Brown, "They didn't have the physical disc, they'd run out of the physical discs."[2]
The song was later included in Brown's studio album O'Chi, released in 1986. When the song was covered by Rick Astley in 1987, Magnet reissued the single in 12" format with new mixes in late 1987.
Charts
Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
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UK Singles (OCC )
|
97 |
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) | 1 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 88 |
Rick Astley version
"Whenever You Need Somebody" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Rick Astley | ||||
from the album Whenever You Need Somebody | ||||
Released | 19 October 1987 | (UK)|||
Recorded | 1987 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 3:26 (radio edit) | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Rick Astley singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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In 1987,
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Number One | [5] |
Richard James and Jenny Jay of Number One praised "Whenever You Need Somebody" as being "a very good song", stating that "it's very commercial and [Astley's] voice is just brillant", and considered SAW "a right set of genuises".[5] Jerry Smith of British magazine Music Week described the song an "uninspired, high energy dance track", but predicted its success on the charts.[6] In a review published in Smash Hits, Robert Smith of the Cure stated he did not really like Astley's "weird" voice, defavorably compared him to Mel and Kim he considered "a million times more attractive and funny", and considered the song "incredibly bland", after having underlined the song's making process by SAW he found "surreal".[7] Discussing Astley's success with the track she'd originated, Brown complimented the singer on his voice and praised the chart performance of his cover, but noted, "I like mine better, what can I tell you? Rick's got a great voice, but I just felt that the song suited a woman, and I felt it suited my voice. I'm not going to say mine was better, but I liked mine more."[2]
Chart performance
Astley's version of "Whenever You Need Somebody" was a major hit on the charts, being a top five hit in almost all the countries where it was released. In the UK, it started at number 11 on 31 October 1987, then climbed to number three, a position it hold for non consecutive three weeks, and stayed on the chart for 12 weeks.
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" – 3:26
- "Just Good Friends" – 3:45
- 7" single – picture disc
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" – 3:26
- "Just Good Friends" – 3:45
- 12" maxi
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Lonely Hearts mix) – 7:34
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (instrumental) – 3:50
- "Just Good Friends" – 3:45
- 12" / cassette single
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" – 7:52
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (instrumental) – 4:38
- "Just Good Friends" – 3:40
- 12" promo
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Lonely Hearts mix) – 7:34
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (7" version) – 3:27
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (remix) – 7:57
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (remix dub) – 4:39
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 8: It's A Man's Man's Man's World to Whenever You Need Somebody on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 12: Tell Me Tomorrow to New York Afternoon on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 29: Learning To Live (Without Your Love) to Turn It Up on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Brungardt, Leah (12 November 2019). "An Interview with 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Singer Rick Astley on His Iconic Hit Song, His Newest Album and Much More!". All Access Music. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ .
- ^ Smith, Jerry (31 October 1987). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 21 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 49. Amsterdam. 12 December 1987. p. 16. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ Musica e Dischi(in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Rick Astley".
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whenever You Need Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Les classement single. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Rick Astley Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 November 1987. p. 30. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Single top 100 over 1987" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ^ The Complete Book Of British Charts by Warwick/Kutner/Brown
- ^ "Top 50 Singles 1988". Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 November 2021.