Right Here (SWV song)

"Right Here" is the debut single by the American R&B girl group SWV. It was released on August 20, 1992 as the lead single from their debut album It's About Time (1992), and charted on the Billboard charts as a double-A-side with "Downtown". A remixed version, referred to as "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)" and based around a sample of Michael Jackson's 1982 song "Human Nature", became a number-one R&B single, selling 500,000 copies and earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.[3][4] According to Billboard, in 1993, the song spent 22 weeks on the US Hot 100 (18 of which were also spent in the Mainstream Top 40) and from 1993-94 it spent 34 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, making it one of the most successful R&B songs of 1993.[5]

"Right Here"
Single by SWV
from the album It's About Time
ReleasedAugust 20, 1992 (1992-08-20)
Recorded1992
GenreR&B, new jack swing[1]
Length4:36
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Brian Alexander Morgan
Producer(s)Brian Alexander Morgan
SWV singles chronology
"Right Here"
(1992)		 "I'm So into You"
(1992)
"Right Here (Human Nature Remix)"
Single by SWV
from the album It's About Time and Free Willy: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side"Downtown"
ReleasedJuly 9, 1993 (1993-07-09)[2]
Recorded1993
GenreR&B, new jack swing, hip hop soul
Length3:47
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Teddy Riley
SWV singles chronology
"Downtown"
(1993)		 "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)"
(1993)		 "You're Always On My Mind"
(1993)
Music video
"Right Here (Human Nature Remix)" on YouTube

The group revealed in a 2014 interview that they initially did not like Teddy Riley's “Human Nature” remix because they felt it was too boring and would not be a hit.[6]

In 2003, Q Magazine ranked the Human Nature Remix of the song at number 651 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever"[7] and in 2017, Billboard named it number 17 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[8]

Original and remixed song

The original version of "Right Here" was released in the third quarter of 1992. It peaked at number 13 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. Tamara "Taj" Johnson wrote and performed the bridge to the original song, which would result in her first (of many) co-writing credits on SWV songs.

The "Human Nature" remix done by Allen "Allstar" Gordon [9]( and credited to Teddy Riley) samples Michael Jackson's 1982 hit "Human Nature". One of their best known hits, it spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, as well as three weeks atop the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. It became one of the longest running number-one R&B singles of 1993. It also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, held from the top spot by Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover." It also reached the top ten in Europe, including the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number three in September 1993.[10]

"Right Here [Human Nature Remix]" appears on the soundtrack and in the film Free Willy. The first verse of the Human Nature remix varies slightly from the original version, and the rapped bridge is omitted. The remix also features a young Pharrell Williams chanting "S...The double...The U...The V!" during the song. This became a common "call" during the group's concerts.

"Right Here [Human Nature Remix]" was later remixed again for SWV's EP The Remixes as a more obvious mash-up with the song's sample, "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson, whose vocals are featured in the remixed duet. The "Human Nature" remix has also been sampled by the late rapper 2Pac on the track "Thug Nature" from Too Gangsta for Radio (2001). R&B singer Chris Brown's song "She Ain't You" (2011) samples Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" and a portion of SWV's remixed version. Human Nature was also sampled by Nas in the hit song "It Ain't Hard To Tell" on his debut album Illmatic.[11][12]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard commented that the original version has a "rigid funk/R&B beat-bottom" that "marks an intriguing contrast to loose, personality-driven vocals" by Cheryl Gamble, and noted that she is further supported by "En Vogue-style backing vocals and a sassy rap break" by Tamara Johnson.[13] Complex described the Human Nature Remix as "pure genius."[14] Smash Hits gave the remix 4 out of 5, adding that "Michael Jackson's Human Nature is the perfect vehicle for their high harmonies and they have turned his old choirboy rendition into something with much more sass and soul. It's a welcome revival of a good tune. And they've done it even better than Michael did!"[15] Charles Aaron from Spin noted the 1993 remix as a "total radio swoon and uncanny appropriation that lets you enjoy Michael Jackson in a way not heard since, say, "O.P.P." Thank Teddy Riley for the remix, but this female trio relaxes, croons, and converses so lovely, you gotta feel suave."[16]

Impact and legacy

In 2003, Q Magazine ranked the Human Nature Remix of the song at number 651 in their list of the 1001 Best Songs Ever.[17] In 2012, Complex placed it at number 27 in their ranking of The Best 90s R&B Songs.[18] In 2017, Billboard named it number 17 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[8] Same year, Spin ranked the song at number 20 in their list of The 30 Best ’90s R&B Songs.[19]

Music videos

Both versions of "Right Here" have music videos. The video to the original song begins with Coko discussing a man she likes to Taj and Lelee. It features the singers having flashbacks to boys they liked as young girls, then is brought to the present day with the women and their boyfriends. In between, the girls goof off together in a large, mirrored room. "Right Here" was the first of their videos to showcase the group's dancing skills.

The music video directed by Lionel C. Martin to the remixed version begins with SWV riding horses and fishing on an island's coast, and are shown performing with a band. An alternate version of the "Human Nature Remix" video features scenes from Free Willy along with clips of Michael Jackson performing during his 1992 Dangerous Tour.

The "Human Nature" remix is the more recognized version of the single, and is the one that is usually performed at SWV concerts. However, the original version (complete with the rapped bridge) is occasionally performed instead.

Personnel

Original album version
  • Brian Alexander Morgan: songwriter, producer, keyboards, drum programming, programming, mixing engineer
  • Tamara Johnson: rap
  • Larry Funk, Pat Green, Nat Foster: recording engineers
  • Roey Shamir, Hal Belknap: mixing engineers

Remix

Official versions
  1. "Right Here" 7" Radio Edit – 3:49
  2. "Right Here" 7" Radio Edit With Rap – 4:24
  3. "Right Here" 12" Power Mix – 5:54
  4. "Right Here" Back To Nature Remix – 4:47*
  5. "Right Here" Demolition 12" Mix – 5:00*
  6. "Right Here" Demolition Dub Mix – 5:38*
  7. "Right Here" Demolition Bonus Beats – 1:47*
  8. "Right Here" Extended Radio Version – 4:43
  9. "Right Here" Funkyman 7" Mix – 4:02
  10. "Right Here" Funkyman 12" Mix – 5:18
  11. "Right Here" Funkyman Scratch Mix – 5:00
  12. "Right Here" Funkyman Bonus Beats Instrumental – 2:30
  13. "Right Here" G-Man 12" Mix – 6:47
  14. "Right Here" G-Man Radio Mix – 4:16
  15. "Right Here" Heavenly Mix – 4:56
  16. "Right Here" Human Nature Extended Remix – 5:37*
  17. "Right Here" Human Nature Radio Remix – 3:46*
  18. "Right Here" Instrumental – 5:05
  19. "Right Here" Original LP Version – 4:37
  20. "Right Here" Quiet Storm Mix – 4:11*
  21. "Right Here" Sahpreem's Funk Rap Show Mix – 3:18
  22. "Right Here" Smooth Bam Jam Mix – 5:02
  23. "Right Here" UK Back To Black Mix – 4:21
  24. "Right Here" Vibe Mix – 4:19
  25. "Right Here" Wicked Mix – 5:45*

(*) Versions include vocals from Michael Jackson

Charts

Original version
Chart (1992–1993) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 92
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 16

Remix

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[2] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References
  1. Greene, Andy (February 20, 2014). "The WTF Comeback of SWV". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  2. "American single certifications – S.W.V. – Right Here". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  3. "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. BPI Communications. 106 (3): 73. January 15, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. "American certifications – S.W.V. – Right Here (Human Nature)/Downtown". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. https://www.billboard.com/music/swv/chart-history/
  6. "SWV Reveals Which One of their Hits They Didn't Like on Sway in the Morning". video interview. youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  7. "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  8. "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iBs_GIKtOM&t=1m35s
  10. Official Charts Company
  11. http://www.drfunkenberry.com/2011/05/02/video-premiere-chris-brown-she-aint-you-dedicated-to-michael-jackson/
  12. http://blogs.centrictv.com/music/soulsessions/tag/human-nature/
  13. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. October 3, 1992. p. 72. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  14. "The Best 90s R&B Songs". Complex. October 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  15. "new singles". Smash Hits (August 4, 1993, page 51). Retrieved May 16, 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  16. Aaron, Charles (Oct 1993). "Singles Review". Spin: 108. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  17. "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  18. "The Best 90s R&B Songs". Complex. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  19. "The 30 Best '90s R&B Songs". Spin. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  20. "SWV Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  21. "SWV Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  22. "Australian-charts.com – SWV – Right Here". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  23. "Ultratop.be – SWV – Right Here" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  24. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2263." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  25. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2301." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  26. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media.
  27. "Lescharts.com – SWV – Right Here" (in French). Les classement single.
  28. "Offiziellecharts.de – SWV – Right Here". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  29. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.08.1993 – 18.08.1993)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  30. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Right Here". Irish Singles Chart.
  31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – SWV" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  32. "Dutchcharts.nl – SWV – Right Here" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. "Charts.nz – SWV – Right Here". Top 40 Singles.
  34. "Swedishcharts.com – SWV – Right Here". Singles Top 100.
  35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  36. "SWV Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  37. "SWV Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  39. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  40. "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  41. "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  42. "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
  43. "1993: Year-End USA Charts (Singles)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-06-06. (archived by Top40Charts.com)
  44. "1993 Top R&B Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  45. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia’s Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 273.
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