1991 single by Shanice
"
I Love Your Smile
" is a song by American singer-songwriter
Shanice
, released in October 1991 by
Motown
as the lead single from her second studio album,
Inner Child
(1991). The song was produced by
Narada Michael Walden
, and the radio version removes the rap
bridge
from the album version. It features a saxophone solo by
Branford Marsalis
as well as laughter from
Janet Jackson
and
Rene Elizondo Jr.
near the end of the song. To date, "I Love Your Smile" is Shanice's best known and most successful hit.
[1]
It peaked at number two on the US
Billboard
Hot 100
on February 1, 1992, and it topped the
Billboard
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
chart for 4 weeks in December 1991 and January 1992. In Europe, "I Love Your Smile" peaked at number two on the
UK Singles Chart
after being remixed by
Driza Bone
and reached the top of the
Dutch Top 40
in the Netherlands. In 1992, it was nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
. Shanice performed the song as the first musical guest on
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
on May 25, 1992.
[2]
A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring Shanice in a studio having pictures taken by a photographer. The video was made available on Shanice's official
YouTube
channel on May 12, 2023.
Critical reception
[
edit
]
AllMusic
editor Tim Griggs named "I Love Your Smile" a "standout" from
Inner Child
.
[3]
J.D. Considine
from
The Baltimore Sun
felt that here,
Narada Michael Walden
"gets a knock-out performance" from Shanice. He added that her "sunny delivery, backed by a breezy,
Euro-pop
arrangement and a rock-steady appearance by saxophonist
Branford Marsalis
, makes this the kind of tune you wouldn't expect from anyone still in
Clearasil
's primary target group."
[4]
Larry Flick
from
Billboard
described it as a "slinky
R&B
tune", remarking that
Shanice
's "matured voice sounds like a cross between
Chaka Khan
and
Janet Jackson
, sprawling out comfortably over a subtle and percussive groove that is framed with warm sax lines."
[5]
DeVaney and Clark from
Cashbox
stated, "Compared to her previous projects, you can clearly tell that Wilson has matured both musically and vocally to take this project to its limits."
[6]
Martin Johnson from
Chicago Reader
declared it "an ideal guilty pleasure".
[7]
A reviewer from
Ealing Leader
found that "this little bundle of dynamite shows great promise with a warm debut single."
[8]
Swedish
Expressen
noted its "whispering happy
jingle
".
[9]
Dave Sholin from the
Gavin Report
wrote, "Only in her teens, Shanice Wilson is anything but a newcomer, having arrived on the scene in the late eighties and scoring instant airplay. But this should be the effort that really sparks her career."
[10]
Lakeland Ledger
described her voice as "playful and spunky".
[11]
Alan Jones from
Music Week
'
s
RM
Dance Update declared it as "a likeable and highly commercial
pop/dance
workout, [and] it will doubtless be a hit on both sides of the
Atlantic
."
[12]
Another
RM
editor,
James Hamilton
, called it a "delightful breathily gurgling, humming, whistling, tinkling and (Branford Marsalis's
jazz
sax) tooting jiggly jogging cheerful swayer".
[13]
A reviewer from
People Magazine
stated that it "has risen to the top of the
R&B charts
on its jaunty, literally bells-and-whistles riff, its jazzy a cappella refrain and a walloping beat."
[14]
Michael Eric Dyson
from
Rolling Stone
viewed it as "a sparkling midtempo confession of love" framed by Marsalis' sax.
[15]
Mark Frith
from
Smash Hits
praised it as an "infectious
swingbeat
tune", giving it four out of five.
[16]
Jonathan Bernstein from
Spin
felt that Shanice "brought sheer, unalloyed joy to the charts and our hearts with her "I Love Your Smile". Exuberance isn't a feature of too many records these days?maybe some
Helmet
, the early stuff?but this singer sounded giddy with delight on her hit."
[17]
Impact and legacy
[
edit
]
NME
ranked "I Love Your Smile" number 50 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1992.
[18]
Freaky Trigger
ranked it number 34 in its list of "Top 100 Songs of All Time" in 2005.
[
citation needed
]
Robert Dimery featured it in his 2015 book,
1,001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, and 10,001 You Must Download
,
[
citation needed
]
while Bruce Pollock featured it in his 2005 book,
The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000
.
[
citation needed
]
Polish
Porcys
ranked "I Love Your Smile" number 46 in their list of "100 Singles 1990?1999" in 2012, writing, "The career of the singer did not flourish somehow stunning, but this one song, this one "
turutututururu
" is immortal. This sweet chorus has probably one of the most naturally catchy melodies of all time."
[19]
Track listings
[
edit
]
- "I Love Your Smile" (radio version) ? 3:46
- "I Love Your Smile" (instrumental) ? 4:14
- 7-inch single?Driza Bone remix
- "I Love Your Smile" (Driza Bone single remix) ? 3:50
- "I Love Your Smile" (original version) ? 3:46
|
- "I Love Your Smile" (radio version) ? 3:46
- "I Love Your Smile" (extended version) ? 4:14
- "I Love Your Smile" (instrumental) ? 4:14
- "I Love Your Smile" (
Driza Bone
single remix)
- "I Love Your Smile" (Driza Bone club mix)
- "I Love Your Smile" (Driza Bone dub mix)
- "I Love Your Smile" (original single version)
|
Personnel
[
edit
]
- All vocals and rap by Shanice Wilson
- Drums and programming by
Narada Michael Walden
- Keyboards, drum programming, programming and synthesized bass by
Louis Biancaniello
- Saxophone solo by
Branford Marsalis
- Background vocals by Alyssa Lala, Crystal Wilson, David A. Miguel, Jack McAdoo, David Lee, Diamond D, Eric Daniels, Jarvis La Rue Baker, Kathy Horton, Label Atkinson, Lisa Walden, Mike Mani
Charts
[
edit
]
Weekly charts
[
edit
]
|
Year-end charts
[
edit
]
|
Release history
[
edit
]
Cover versions
[
edit
]
- Shirley Kwan
covered the song in Cantonese in 1992 for her album "製造迷夢".
- Dutch R&B group duo
R'n'G
covered the song in 1998 for a tribute album "Hands on Motown".
- Tiffany Evans
covered the song in 2004 for her self-titled first EP.
- Kaori Kobayashi
covered the song in 2005 for her debut album
Solar, Kaori's Collection
.
- Talib Kweli
referenced the song in his song "Hot Thing" from his 2007 album,
Eardrum
.
- Jakob Elvstrøm covered the song in 2009 for his album "SaxClub vol.1".
- The song was sampled by Zimbabwean artist Rockford Josphat 'Roki' in his track "Zuva neZuva" which featured SK and Pauline.
- Japanese jazz singer meg covered the song in 2015 on her album "
meglution".
- Goblin Cock
covered the song in 2018 for the album "Roses on the Piano"
- Sections of the song were interpolated in
Chris Brown
's 2019 single "
Undecided
".
- The song was sampled by UK artist
HRVY
for his 2021 single "
Runaway with it
".
- The song was sampled by British pop group
Jamiroquai
in the 1993 song "
Too Young to Die
", with interpolated chorus.
- The song was sampled by Serbian pop-dance group
Moby Dick
in the 1995 song "Ne reci mi", with interpolated intro.
- The global pop group,
Now United
covered the song in 2023.
- Ron Keeman
covered the song in 2023 for Antonio Chimienti of Mediterranean Records.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Shanice ? Discography"
. rnbhaven.com. Archived from
the original
on December 10, 2007
. Retrieved
March 24,
2018
.
- ^
"New Tonight Show's First Guest Leaks Out"
.
WHUR
. January 27, 2014
. Retrieved
April 18,
2018
.
- ^
Griggs, Tim.
"Shanice ? Inner Child"
.
AllMusic
. Retrieved
February 17,
2020
.
- ^
Considine, J.D.
(1992). "Shanice ?
Inner Child
".
The Baltimore Sun
? via
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. (February 14, 1992).
- ^
Flick, Larry
(October 19, 1991).
"Single Reviews"
(PDF)
.
Billboard
. p. 77
. Retrieved
February 13,
2020
.
- ^
DeVaney, Bryan; Clark, Randy (October 26, 1991).
"News & Reviews: Singles"
(PDF)
.
Cashbox
. p. 5
. Retrieved
October 31,
2020
.
- ^
Johnson, Martin (September 22, 1994).
"Shallow Youth"
.
Chicago Reader
. Retrieved
February 4,
2023
.
- ^
"Shanice ? I Love Your Smile".
Ealing Leader
. December 13, 1991. page 16.
- ^
Expressen
. February 14, 1992.
- ^
Sholin, Dave (November 8, 1991).
"Gavin Picks > Singles"
(PDF)
.
Gavin Report
. No. 1881. p. 56
. Retrieved
April 17,
2018
.
- ^
"New Pop Albums: Shanice Wilson "Inner Child"
"
.
Lakeland Ledger
. January 4, 1992
. Retrieved
March 15,
2020
.
- ^
Jones, Alan (October 26, 1991).
"Chart News"
(PDF)
.
Music Week
, in
Record Mirror
(Dance Update Supplemental Insert)
. p. 1
. Retrieved
October 4,
2020
.
- ^
Hamilton, James
(February 15, 1992).
"DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl"
(PDF)
.
Music Week
, in
Record Mirror
(Dance Update Supplemental Insert)
. p. 7
. Retrieved
October 2,
2020
.
- ^
"Picks and Pans Review: Inner Child"
.
People
. February 10, 1992. Archived from
the original
on July 4, 2020
. Retrieved
March 10,
2020
.
- ^
Dyson, Michael Eric
(March 19, 1992). "Recordings".
Rolling Stone
. Issue 626.
- ^
Frith, Mark
(February 19, 1992).
"New Singles"
.
Smash Hits
. p. 54
. Retrieved
October 6,
2020
.
- ^
Bernstein, Jonathan (December 1992).
"The Year In Pop"
.
Spin
. p. 42
. Retrieved
January 25,
2023
.
- ^
"NME Singles of the Year"
.
NME
. December 19, 1992. p. 21
. Retrieved
March 29,
2023
.
- ^
"100 Singli 1990?1999"
.
Porcys
(in Polish). August 20, 2012
. Retrieved
April 2,
2020
.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
.
ARIA Top 50 Singles
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
(in German).
O3 Austria Top 40
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop 50
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Top RPM Singles: Issue 2078
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- ^
Lwin, Nanda. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide (2000).
- ^
"Top 10 Sales in Europe"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 9, no. 11. March 14, 1992. p. 22
. Retrieved
January 30,
2020
.
- ^
"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 9, no. 11. March 14, 1992. p. 23
. Retrieved
January 30,
2020
.
- ^
"European Dance Radio"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 9, no. 9. February 29, 1992. p. 37
. Retrieved
October 23,
2021
.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
(in French).
Les classement single
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
(in German).
GfK Entertainment charts
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
The Irish Charts ? Search Results ? I Love Your Smile"
.
Irish Singles Chart
. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- ^
"Classifiche"
.
Musica e Dischi
(in Italian)
. Retrieved
May 31,
2022
.
Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Shanice".
- ^
"
Nederlandse Top 40 ? week 1, 1992
" (in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40
. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
(in Dutch).
Single Top 100
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
.
Top 40 Singles
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
.
VG-lista
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005).
Solo exitos: ano a ano, 1959?2002
(1st ed.). Spain: Fundacion Autor-SGAE.
ISBN
84-8048-639-2
.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
.
Singles Top 100
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"
Shanice ? I Love Your Smile"
.
Swiss Singles Chart
. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^
"Top 60 Dance Singles"
(PDF)
.
Music Week
. November 30, 1991. p. 22
. Retrieved
September 28,
2020
.
- ^
"Top 60 Dance Singles"
(PDF)
.
Music Week
. February 29, 1992. p. 22
. Retrieved
September 29,
2020
.
- ^
"Shanice Chart History (Hot 100)"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on October 15, 2017
. Retrieved
April 20,
2023
.
- ^
"Shanice Chart History (Adult Contemporary)"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on March 24, 2019
. Retrieved
April 20,
2023
.
- ^
"Shanice Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on March 23, 2019
. Retrieved
April 20,
2023
.
- ^
* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C.
Zimbabwe: singles chart book
. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^
Ryan, Gavin (2011).
Australia's Music Charts 1988?2010
. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^
"Jaaroverzichten 1992"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop
. Retrieved
January 26,
2019
.
- ^
"1992 Year-End Sales Charts"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17
. Retrieved
January 30,
2020
.
- ^
"1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 20
. Retrieved
February 25,
2024
.
- ^
"Top 100 Singles ? Jahrescharts 1992"
(in German).
GfK Entertainment
. Retrieved
January 26,
2019
.
- ^
"Single top 100 over 1992"
(PDF)
(in Dutch). Top40
. Retrieved
April 14,
2010
.
- ^
"Jaaroverzichten ? Single 1992"
(in Dutch).
MegaCharts
. Retrieved
January 26,
2019
.
- ^
"Swiss Year-End Charts 1992"
(in German)
. Retrieved
January 30,
2020
.
- ^
"Year End Charts: Top Singles".
Music Week
. January 16, 1993. p. 8.
- ^
"Billboard Top 100 ? 1992"
. Archived from
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on July 8, 2009
. Retrieved
July 30,
2010
.
- ^
"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ? Year-End 1992"
.
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. Retrieved
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2021
.
- ^
"New Releases: Singles".
Music Week
. November 9, 1991. p. 21.
- ^
"New Releases: Singles".
Music Week
. November 16, 1991. p. 21.
- ^
"New Releases: Singles".
Music Week
. February 8, 1992. p. 17.
- ^
"アイ?ラブ?ユア?スマイル | シャニ?ス"
[I Love Your Smile | Shanice] (in Japanese).
Oricon
. Retrieved
September 12,
2023
.
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Singles
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