| Revision as of 17:17, 6 February 2024 editThis Name Isn't Available (talk | contribs)15 edits Distinguished between this song and a Weird Al song← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 20:41, 20 November 2024 edit undoGreenC bot (talk | contribs)Bots2,547,813 edits Reformat 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 | ||
| (12 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
| | recorded = April–June 1979 | | recorded = April–June 1979 | ||
| | studio = Alpha Studios, ] | | studio = Alpha Studios, ] | ||
| | genre = {{hlist|]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://diffuser.fm/prince-i-wanna-be-your-lover/ | title=Prince Gets an Unlikely Disco Smash with 'I Wanna Be Your Lover': 365 Prince Songs in a Year }}</ref>|]<ref name="AM">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r15799|tab=review|label="''Prince'' > Review" |first=Stephen Thomas |lastErlewine |access-date=15 September 2011}}</ref> |
| genre = {{hlist|]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://diffuser.fm/prince-i-wanna-be-your-lover/ | title=Prince Gets an Unlikely Disco Smash with 'I Wanna Be Your Lover': 365 Prince Songs in a Year }}</ref>|]<ref name="AM">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r15799|tab=review|label="''Prince'' > Review" |first=Stephen Thomas |lastErlewine |access-date=15 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Breithaupt 2000">{{cite book|title= Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s|first1=Don|last1=Breithaupt|first2= Jeff|last2= Breithaupt|date= July 17, 2000|chapter= | ||
| The Clinton Administration: Funk|page= 131|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-312-19821-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kh04AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT95}}</ref> |]<ref>{{cite web|last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s |website= ] |date= August 22, 2016 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9935-the-200-best-songs-of-the-1970s/?page=7|quote= ...a Hail Mary that not only put Prince on the pop map, but let him start redrawing it.|accessdate= October 13, 2022}}</ref>|]<ref name="Number Ones 2022">{{cite book|last= Breihan|first= Tom|chapter= Prince - "When Doves Cry|date= November 15, 2022|title= The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music|publisher=]|location= New York|page= 161}}</ref>|]<ref name="Molanphy 2017">{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/hit_parade/2017/10/how_tom_petty_and_prince_led_parallel_careers.html|title= Le Petty Prince Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=October 30, 2017|access-date=July 9, 2023}}</ref>|]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=All 85 Prince singles, ranked 4 u from worst 2 best |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-04-21/every-prince-single-ranked |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>}} | |||
| | length = 2:57 (7" Edit)<br/>5:47 (12" Album Version) | | length = 2:57 (7" Edit)<br/>5:47 (12" Album Version) | ||
| | label = ] | | label = ] | ||
| Line 29: | Line 30: | ||
| | misc = | | misc = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''I Wanna Be Your Lover'''" is a song by American recording artist ]. It was released on August 24, 1979, as the ] from his |
"'''I Wanna Be Your Lover'''" is a song by American recording artist ]. It was released on August 24, 1979, as the ] from his ].<ref>{{Citation |title=I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/i-wanna-be-your-lover-mt0000773755 |access-date=2023-10-25 |language=en}}</ref> The song was Prince's first major hit single in the United States, reaching number 11 on the ] on January 26, 1980, holding the number 11 position for two weeks, and peaking at number one on the ] chart for two weeks.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=471}}</ref> | ||
| ==Composition== | ==Composition== | ||
| "I Wanna Be Your Lover" was written after Warner Bros. requested a follow-up to Prince's debut album '']'', which had underperformed commercially. In response, Prince recorded "I Wanna Be Your Lover." Musically, it is a funk song sung exclusively in falsetto, detailing Prince's love for a woman and how he would treat her better than the men she is with, and frustration that she thinks of him as "a child". The single edit stops after 2:57, but the album version goes off on a jam of keyboards and synthesizers, including a ], played by Prince. It was later revealed that the song concerned a crush Prince had at the time on pianist and singer ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=37588 |title=I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince Songfacts |website=Songfacts.com |access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> | "I Wanna Be Your Lover" was written after Warner Bros. requested a follow-up to Prince's debut album '']'', which had underperformed commercially. In response, Prince recorded "I Wanna Be Your Lover." Musically, it is a funk song sung exclusively in falsetto, detailing Prince's love for a woman and how he would treat her better than the men she is with, and frustration that she thinks of him as "a child". | ||
| The single edit stops after 2:57, but the album version goes off on a jam of keyboards and synthesizers, including a ], played by Prince. | |||
| It was later revealed that the song concerned a crush Prince had at the time on pianist and singer ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=37588 |title=I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince Songfacts |website=Songfacts.com |access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> | |||
| ==Promotion== | ==Promotion== | ||
| Prince promoted the song by lip-syncing it with his band on '']'' and '']'', where he gave host ] an awkward interview, answering his questions with one-word answers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/this-performance-by-a-21-year-old-prince-proves-he-was-1683260364|title=This Performance By A 21-Year-Old Prince Proves He Was Never Not Sexy|last=Howard|first=Greg|date=2 February 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-08}}</ref> Prince claimed to be 19 but was 21 at the time.<ref>Thorne, Matt. , Faber and Faber Ltd, London, UK. October, 2012, {{ISBN|9780571273263}}</ref> Clark later said, "That was one of the most difficult interviews I've ever conducted, and I've done 10,000 musician interviews."<ref>Bream, Jon. StarTribune, Minneapolis, MN, May 3, 2013. Retrieved on December 18, 2015.</ref> | Prince promoted the song by lip-syncing it with his band on '']'' and '']'', where he gave host ] an awkward interview, answering his questions with one-word answers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/this-performance-by-a-21-year-old-prince-proves-he-was-1683260364|title=This Performance By A 21-Year-Old Prince Proves He Was Never Not Sexy|last=Howard|first=Greg|date=2 February 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-08}}</ref> Prince claimed to be 19 but was 21 at the time.<ref>Thorne, Matt. , Faber and Faber Ltd, London, UK. October, 2012, {{ISBN|9780571273263}}</ref> Clark later said, "That was one of the most difficult interviews I've ever conducted, and I've done 10,000 musician interviews."<ref>Bream, Jon. StarTribune, Minneapolis, MN, May 3, 2013. Retrieved on December 18, 2015.</ref> | ||
| The song was also Prince's debut single released in the UK; it was not a hit, only reaching No. 41 on the ] and when Prince tried to promote it with shows in London, he was forced to cancel due to poor attendance. |
The song was also Prince's debut single released in the UK; it was not a hit, only reaching No. 41 on the ] and when Prince tried to promote it with shows in London, he was forced to cancel due to poor attendance. | ||
| The song additionally reached No. 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and No. 2 in New Zealand. | The song additionally reached No. 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and No. 2 in New Zealand. | ||
| Line 112: | Line 117: | ||
| ==Certifications== | ==Certifications== | ||
| {{Certification Table Top}} | {{Certification Table Top}} | ||
| {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Prince|title=I Wanna Be Your Lover|award=Gold| |
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Prince|title=I Wanna Be Your Lover|award=Gold|id=1980-06-13|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1979}} | ||
| {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Prince|title=I Wanna Be Your Lover|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=18665-1115-1|access-date=January 20, 2023}} | {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Prince|title=I Wanna Be Your Lover|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=18665-1115-1|access-date=January 20, 2023}} | ||
| {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Prince|title=I Wanna Be Your Lover|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=1980}} | {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Prince|title=I Wanna Be Your Lover|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=1980}} | ||
| {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}} | {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}} | ||
| ==Cover versions== | |||
| {{unreferenced section|date=April 2018}} | |||
| *In 1991, hip hop artist ] sampled this song in his single "Are U Wid It?". | |||
| *In 1994, ] covered the song, which was entitled "Wanna Be Your Lover". It peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart. | |||
| *In 2009, ] did a cover of the song in a RollingStone.com exclusive video. | |||
| *] also covered the track, changing the opening line to "I've got plenty of money..." | |||
| *] covered the song on her 1985 album ''Arrival''. | |||
| *Rapper ] added his own verse to the song, dubbing the resulting song "Your Favorite". | |||
| * In 2010, Japanese pop band ] released a cover version. | |||
| *In 2011, ] released a cover of the song on her '']'' | |||
| *In 2011, Guga Neiva released a cover as lead single on debut album, ''17''. | |||
| *In 2011, ] put out a version that sounds like it was recorded lower and slower and then sped up to achieve a falsetto effect on the lead vocal. | |||
| *In 2012, the song was performed as part of a ] medley on the reality singing contest ] by the judges (], ], ] and ]), with ] performing his solo part on this song. | |||
| *Singer ] has performed "I Wanna Be Your Lover" numerous times in her live shows, later stating in an interview that she felt the song was "incredible." A video of her performance was posted on her official ] channel, but was later taken down for copyright reasons, which has happened numerous times with videos featuring ]'s compositions. | |||
| *In 2013 on the ], pop rock band ] performed the song regularly as a part of their set. | |||
| *In 2023, British singer ] covered the song in collaboration with Mark Knight and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmcworld.net/reviews/mark-knight-sgt-slick-beverley-knight-i-wanna-be-your-lover-fools-paradise-records/|title= Mark Knight, Sgt Slick, Beverly Knight on Fools Paradise Records |website=DMC World|date=28 July 2023|access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Latest revision as of 20:41, 20 November 2024
For the song by the Italian disco band, see La Bionda. For the song by the Spice Girls, see Wannabe. Not to be confused with Wanna B Ur Lover, the "Weird Al" Yankovic song. 1979 single by Prince| "I Wanna Be Your Lover" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 U.S. 7-inch vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Prince | ||||
| from the album Prince | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | August 24, 1979 | |||
| Recorded | April–June 1979 | |||
| Studio | Alpha Studios, Burbank, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:57 (7" Edit) 5:47 (12" Album Version) | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Prince | |||
| Producer(s) | Prince | |||
| Prince singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" is a song by American recording artist Prince. It was released on August 24, 1979, as the lead single from his self-titled second album. The song was Prince's first major hit single in the United States, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 26, 1980, holding the number 11 position for two weeks, and peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for two weeks.
Composition
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" was written after Warner Bros. requested a follow-up to Prince's debut album For You, which had underperformed commercially. In response, Prince recorded "I Wanna Be Your Lover." Musically, it is a funk song sung exclusively in falsetto, detailing Prince's love for a woman and how he would treat her better than the men she is with, and frustration that she thinks of him as "a child".
The single edit stops after 2:57, but the album version goes off on a jam of keyboards and synthesizers, including a Polymoog, played by Prince.
It was later revealed that the song concerned a crush Prince had at the time on pianist and singer Patrice Rushen.
Promotion
Prince promoted the song by lip-syncing it with his band on The Midnight Special and American Bandstand, where he gave host Dick Clark an awkward interview, answering his questions with one-word answers. Prince claimed to be 19 but was 21 at the time. Clark later said, "That was one of the most difficult interviews I've ever conducted, and I've done 10,000 musician interviews."
The song was also Prince's debut single released in the UK; it was not a hit, only reaching No. 41 on the UK Singles Chart and when Prince tried to promote it with shows in London, he was forced to cancel due to poor attendance.
The song additionally reached No. 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and No. 2 in New Zealand.
Prince included a sample of this song in the opening of his 1992 hit single "My Name Is Prince".
Music video
There are two versions of the music video of the hit single. The main version has Prince in an unbuttoned leopard shirt and jeans singing alone in a black background with only a mic, notably with straight/wavy hair and a departure from his afro from a year before. Various shots show him playing the instruments by himself.
The other version, which has not aired and was not featured on The Hits Collection compilation shows Prince and his band members performing the song in a painted room. The video was pulled due to skimpy clothing and a sexually suggestive theme (Prince was clad in blue stockings and a tan shirt).
Track listings
- 7" single
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "My Love Is Forever" – 4:08
- 7" single (UK)
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "Just as Long as We're Together" (edit) – 3:25
- 7" single (DEU)
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" – 3:49
- 12" single (UK)
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" – 5:47
- B. "Just as Long as We're Together" – 6:24
- 12" promo
- A. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (edit) – 2:57
- B. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" – 5:57
Personnel
Information taken from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud.
- Prince – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, clavinet, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, Oberheim 4-Voice, Polymoog, Minimoog, ARP String Ensemble, bass guitar, drums
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 3 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 41 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 11 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) | 1 |
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France (SNEP) | 25 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1980) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 95 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold | 10,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 1,000,000 |
|
Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
References
- "Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover".
- "Prince Gets an Unlikely Disco Smash with 'I Wanna Be Your Lover': 365 Prince Songs in a Year".
- "Prince > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (July 17, 2000). "The Clinton Administration: Funk". Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3.
- Pitchfork Staff (August 22, 2016). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
...a Hail Mary that not only put Prince on the pop map, but let him start redrawing it.
- Breihan, Tom (November 15, 2022). "Prince - "When Doves Cry". The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. New York: Hachette Book Group. p. 161.
- Molanphy, Chris (October 30, 2017). "Le Petty Prince Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
- "All 85 Prince singles, ranked 4 u from worst 2 best". Los Angeles Times. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince - Track Info | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-10-25
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 471.
- "I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- Howard, Greg (2 February 2015). "This Performance By A 21-Year-Old Prince Proves He Was Never Not Sexy". Retrieved 2016-07-08.
- Thorne, Matt. Prince, Faber and Faber Ltd, London, UK. October, 2012, ISBN 9780571273263
- Bream, Jon. "Clark long remembered his tough interview with a quiet Prince," StarTribune, Minneapolis, MN, May 3, 2013. Retrieved on December 18, 2015.
- Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
- "Prince". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
- "Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Prince Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- "Prince Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- "Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- "New Zealand single certifications – Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- "British single certifications – Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- "American single certifications – Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover". Recording Industry Association of America.