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Reminisce (song)

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"Reminisce"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album What's the 411?
B-side"Leave a Message"
ReleasedOctober 13, 1992 (1992-10-13)
Genre
Length5:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Dave "Jam" Hall
  • Puffy (co.)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Real Love"
(1992)
"Reminisce"
(1992)
"Sweet Thing"
(1992)
Music video
"Reminisce" on YouTube

"Reminisce" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige from her debut album, What's the 411? (1992). It was co-written by Kenny Greene and Dave "Jam" Hall, who also produced it. Described as a new jack swing song inspired by 1970s soul music,[1][2] it contains a sample of "Stop, Look, Listen" (1989) by American rapper MC Lyte. The single was released in October 1992 by Uptown and MCA, peaking at number fifty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A more uptempo and hip hop-inspired remix of the song, featuring duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, later appeared on Blige's 1993 remix album of the same name.[3] The accompanying music video for "Reminisce" was directed by Marcus Raboy.

Critical reception

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In a retrospective review, Daryl McIntosh from Albumism said that the song followed what seemed to be Combs' formula for the Yonkers, "by revolving around another '80s hip-hop sample, this time from Audio Two's close associate and femcee rhyme titan MC Lyte's "Stop, Look, and Listen".[4] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan described it as "a slick, Whitney-esque R&B track that gives Blige a chance to prove she can sing just as well as rap."[5] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton commented, "All of a sudden soul is making a comeback, helped in part perhaps by a new show on Radio 1 on Wednesday nights devoted to the music. "Reminisce" thus becomes another in a long line of New Jack Swing tracks to chart in this region although none have gone on to major success."[6] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song four out of five.[7] The RM Dance Update complimented it as "superb".[8] An editor from The Observer remarked that it hinted at "the loss and melancholy behind much of hip hop's aggression".[9] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin praised its "irresistible bounce".[10]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American film and music video director Marcus Raboy.[11] It opens with Mary J. Blige struggling to sleep in a bed during a storm. She later performs in the doorway of a large room with gray walls. Throughout the video, a man sometimes appears. "Reminisce" was later made available by Vevo on YouTube in 2009, and had generated more than 7.3 million views as of January 2023.[12]

Tracklisting

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Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the What's the 411? liner notes.[23]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Myrie, Russell (2006-06-21). "Mary J Blige, Wembley Arena, London". The Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  2. ^ MASSIMO, Rick (2006-05-21). "Geiger, Blige highlights at KISS concert". The Providence Journal. A. H. Belo. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ Bogdanov, Woodstra & Erlewine 2002, p. 109
  4. ^ McIntosh, Daryl (2017-07-28). "Mary J. Blige's Debut Album 'What's the 411?' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  5. ^ Millan, Mark (2010-07-05). "What's The 411? – Mary J. Blige". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  6. ^ Masterton, James (1993-02-21). "Week Ending February 27th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  7. ^ Beevers, Andy (1993-02-06). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  8. ^ "&" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1993-03-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  9. ^ "Mary J Blige, Rose Hall, New York 16 October". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. 2005-11-20. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  10. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (February 1995). "Spins". Spin. p. 76. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  11. ^ "Mary J. Blige: Reminisce". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  12. ^ "Mary J. Blige - Reminisce (Official Video)". YouTube. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  13. ^ Reminisce (US Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTCS-54526.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Reminisce (US 7" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTS7-54526.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Reminisce (US Cassette Maxi single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTM 54525.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Reminisce (US CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPTDM-54525.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Reminisce (US 12" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. UPT12 54525.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Reminisce (European CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCD 30278.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Reminisce (U.K. Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSC 1731.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Reminisce (U.K. CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSTD 1731.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Reminisce (U.K. 12" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCST 1731.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Reminisce (Remix) (U.K. 12" single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSX 1731.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Blige, Mary J. (1992). What's the 411? (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records.
  24. ^ "Mary J. Blige ARIA Chart History complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  25. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 9. 1993-02-27. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  26. ^ "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  27. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 1993-03-13. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  28. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1993-02-27. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  29. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  30. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  31. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  32. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  33. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-03-31.

Notes

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