"Right Here"
Single by SWV
from the album It's About Time
ReleasedAugust 20, 1992 (1992-08-20)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:38 (album version)
  • 3:47 (single version)
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
A-side"Downtown"
ReleasedJuly 9, 1993 (1993-07-09)[3]
Genre
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

"Right Here" is the debut single of American R&B girl group SWV, released on August 20, 1992, as the lead single from their debut album, It's About Time (1992). A remixed version, referred to as "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)" and based around a feature of Michael Jackson's 1982 song "Human Nature", was released in July 1993, and charted on the US Billboard charts as a double-A-side with "Downtown". This version became a number-one R&B single, selling 1,000,000 copies and earning a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In 2003, Q Magazine ranked the Human Nature Remix of the song at number 651 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever"[4] and in 2017, Billboard named it number 17 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[5]

Original and remixed song

The original version of "Right Here" was released in August 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[6] (and credited to Teddy Riley) samples Michael Jackson's 1982 hit "Human Nature". 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.[7] The remix 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." It also reached the top ten in Europe, including the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number three in September 1993.[8]

"Right Here (Human Nature Remix)" appears on the soundtrack and in the film Free Willy (1993). 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..., Double, U... To 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 (1994).[9][10]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard felt that the original version of "Right Here" has a "rigid funk/R&B beat-bottom" that "marks an intriguing contrast to loose, personality-driven vocals" by Cheryl Gamble, and remarked that she is further supported by "En Vogue-style backing vocals and a sassy rap break" by Tamara Johnson.[11] An editor from Complex described the Human Nature Remix as "pure genius."[12] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting that "this widely-bootlegged melding of a track" is released with Michael Jackson's blessing. He added, "The samples of his emoting transforms what was a fairly ordinary track into a genuine chart contender. The girls warble effectively and pleasingly, and can only benefit from the association."[13]

Mark Kinchen for the RM Dance Update wrote, "This is one of the best female vocal tracks I have heard for a long time — mostly because of the trio's unique vocal style. Producer Brian Alexander Morgan outdid himself on this."[14] Tony Cross from Smash Hits gave the remix four out of five, stating that 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".[5] That 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 wildlife scenes from Free Willy along with clips of Michael Jackson from his 1992 Dangerous World 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

Charts

Original version

Chart (1992–1993) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 92
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 16
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[22] 12

Remix

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[1] Platinum 1,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[3]
with "Downtown" 		Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States Original version August 20, 1992
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 RCA [1]
Human Nature remix with "Downtown" July 9, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [3]
United Kingdom Human Nature remix August 16, 1993 [53]
Japan October 21, 1993 Mini-CD [54]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "American single certifications – SWV – Right Here". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ Greene, Andy (February 20, 2014). "The WTF Comeback of SWV". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "American single certifications – SWV – Right Here (Human Nature)/Downtown". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  5. 1 2 "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "#SWV Producer Brian Alexander Morgan Says #TeddyRiley Did Not Produce the "Right Here" Remix.#Verzuz". YouTube.
  7. ↑ "SWV Reveals Which One of their Hits They Didn't Like on Sway in the Morning". video interview. youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  8. ↑ Official Charts Company
  9. ↑ "Video Premiere: Chris Brown "She Ain't You" Dedicated to Michael Jackson". May 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ "BET Her".
  11. ↑ Flick, Larry (October 3, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 72. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  12. ↑ "The Best 90s R&B Songs". Complex. October 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ Jones, Alan (August 7, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  14. ↑ Kinchen, Mark (January 23, 1993). "Hot Vinyl Buzzing" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  15. ↑ Cross, Tony (August 4, 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  16. ↑ Aaron, Charles (October 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. 1 2 "SWV Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  21. 1 2 "SWV Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "SWV Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  23. ↑ "SWV – Right Here". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ↑ "SWV – Right Here" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  25. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2263." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  26. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2301." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  27. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. September 18, 1993. p. 12. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  28. ↑ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. September 11, 1993. p. 19. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  29. ↑ "SWV – Right Here" (in French). Les classement single.
  30. ↑ "SWV – Right Here" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  31. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.08.1993 – 18.08.1993)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 12, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  32. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Right Here". Irish Singles Chart.
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – SWV" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  34. ↑ "SWV – Right Here" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  35. ↑ "SWV – Right Here". Top 40 Singles.
  36. ↑ "SWV – Right Here". Singles Top 100.
  37. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 28, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  39. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 21, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  40. ↑ "SWV Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  41. ↑ "SWV Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  42. ↑ "SWV Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  43. ↑
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  44. ↑ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1993. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  46. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
  48. ↑ "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). December 25, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  50. ↑ "1993 Top R&B Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  51. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 273.
  52. ↑ "British single certifications – SWV – Right Here". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. August 14, 1993. p. 23.
  54. ↑ "ライト・ヒア | SWV" [Right Here | SWV] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
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