Closer than Close (Rosie Gaines song)

"Closer Than Close" is a 1997 song by American musician Rosie Gaines, a former singer in Prince & The New Power Generation. To date, it is her most successful song and peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US.

"Closer Than Close"
Single by Rosie Gaines
from the album Closer Than Close
Released1997
Genre
Length3:44
LabelBigbang Records
Songwriter(s)
  • Dana Bailey
  • Francis Jules
  • Rosie Gaines
Producer(s)Mentor
Rosie Gaines singles chronology
"I Want U"
(1995)		 "Closer Than Close"
(1997)		 "I Surrender"
(1997)
Music video
"Closer Than Close" on YouTube

Background and release

After her solo debut in 1985, recording/performing with The Curtis Ohlson Band from 1987 to 1989 and doing other projects, singer Rosie Gaines joined Prince & The New Power Generation. She continued afterwards as a solo artist and session singer.

In 1995, Gaines released the album, Closer than Close. The album's title track was remixed and released as a single in 1997. "Closer Than Close" was highly successful in the United Kingdom, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 14 in June 1997. It also peaked at number 11 in Ireland, number 23 in Iceland and number 36 in New Zealand. The song was produced by DJ Hippie Torrales and Mark Mendoza and has sold over 8 million units worldwide.[2] "Closer Than Close" went on to become a huge club favorite and earned Gaines a MOBO Award for Best International Single at the ’97 Awards show beating off the likes of P Diddy, previously known as Puff Daddy, R. Kelly and Tina Moore. A music video was made to accompany the song. It features Gaines performing the song in a club.

Critical reception

Daily Record wrote, "Forgettable funk song from former Prince sidekick Rosie, who is now setting out to become a star in her own right."[3]

Impact and legacy

The Daily Telegraph ranked "Closer Than Close" at number 38 in their Top 50 Dance Songs list in 2015.[4]

In 2017, Dave Fawbert from ShortList described the song as a "eternal banger".[5]

In 2019, Mixmag listed the track in their two lists, 20 best diva house tracks[6] and 40 best UK garage tracks released from 1995 to 2005. They wrote:

This is one of the most memorable vocal dance tracks out there, impressing with its bouncy style and smile-evoking vigour. The way Gaines sings “closer than you ever can imagine uuuuus” is just so saucy, and primed for a catchy sing-a-long. It became a smash hit on the UK dance & underground charts when the remix was released, catapulting garage house to the mainstream. This track has longevity in clubs and is still routinely played in living room afters across the country as the sun’s coming through the curtains.[7]

Track listing
UK, 12" single (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Closer Than Close" (Mentor Remake) 
2."Closer Than Close" (Tuff Jam's Unda Vybe) 
3."Closer Than Close" (Frankie's Climatic Revelation) 
Europe, CD maxi (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Closer Than Close" (Mentor Original Radio Edit)3:44
2."Closer Than Close" (Mentor Remake Radio Edit)3:51
Europe, CD maxi (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Closer Than Close" (Mentor Original Radio Edit)3:44
2."Closer Than Close" (Frankie's Classic Radio Edit)4:08
3."Closer Than Close" (Mentor Remake)6:39
4."Closer Than Close" (Mentor Club Mix)7:28
5."Closer Than Close" (Tuff Jam's "Even Closer" Mix)6:59
6."Closer Than Close" (Frankie's Classic Club Mix)10:20

Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 14
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] 23
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart) 11
New Zealand (RIANZ)[10] 36
Scotland (Official Charts Company) 12
Sweden (Swedish Singles Chart)[11] 53
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 4
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[13] 1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[14] 6

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 220. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. "Hippie Torrales Biography". residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  3. "Charts Slot". Daily Record. 1997-06-06. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  4. "Top 50 dance songs". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  5. Fawbert, Dave (2017-11-17). "Old Music Friday: reviewing all the tunes released 20 years ago today". ShortList. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  6. "20 best diva house tracks". Mixmag. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  7. "40 of the best UK garage tracks released from 1995 to 2005". Mixmag. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  8. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media.
  9. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (14.08.1997-21.08.1997)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  10. "ROSIE GAINES - CLOSER THAN CLOSE (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  11. "ROSIE GAINES - CLOSER THAN CLOSE (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  12. "Closer Than Close". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  13. "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (01 June 1997-07 June 1997)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  14. "Rosie Gaines - Chart history". billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
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