"You Gotta Be"
Original CD single cover
Single by Des'ree
from the album I Ain't Movin'
B-side
  • "Sun of 79"
  • "Warm Hands, Cold Heart"
Released28 March 1994 (1994-03-28)
Genre
Length4:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Des'ree
  • Ashley Ingram
Producer(s)Ashley Ingram
Des'ree singles chronology
"Delicate"
(1993)		 "You Gotta Be"
(1994)		 "I Ain't Movin'"
(1994)
"Little Child"
(1994)
"You Gotta Be"
(1995)
"Kissing You"
(1998)
"God Only Knows"
(1998)
"You Gotta Be"
(1999)
"Ain't No Sunshine"
(1999)
Music video
"You Gotta Be" on YouTube

"You Gotta Be" is an R&B/soul song by British singer and songwriter Des'ree, written by her with Ashley Ingram, who produced the song. It is the third track on the singer's second album, I Ain't Movin' (1994), and the opening track on the US release of that album. The song was released as a single in March 1994 by Sony Soho Square, 550 and Epic, becoming a top-40 hit in several countries, and a top-10 hit in the United States and Australia. Its music video was directed by Paul Boyd. By 13 June 1998, the single had sold 358,000 copies in United States, and it has received sales certifications in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

The song was used in several television advertisements over the following years, and a 1999 remix used in a Ford Focus advert became a top-10 hit in Des'ree's native UK and a number-one hit in Spain. Q Magazine included "You Gotta Be" on their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.[1]

Background

Described by Stuart Elliott in The New York Times as "an infectiously sunny tune about the affirmative powers of self-confidence,"[2] "You Gotta Be" according to Des'ree is, like all the songs on its parent album, "about having the inner strength to figure out who you are" with "You Gotta Be" specifically being "born out of me stopping myself and thinking every day how you gotta be something. You have to be cool and calm in [one] situation, and then you have to be bold and strong in another situation."[3] Des'ree drew inspiration for "You Gotta Be" from the Shakti Gawain book Creative Visualization which had abetted the singer's recovery from a painful romantic break-up; "I've always been blindly optimistic, and that [book] helped me rise from my melancholia," explains Des'ree who it is said "swears by daily affirmations."[4]

Release

"You Gotta Be" was released several times in the United Kingdom: first on 28 March 1994,[5] then on 27 February 1995 after it had become a US top-10 hit,[6] and again on 22 March 1999 in a remixed version because of its use in the 1999 Ford Focus advertising campaign and following the success of Des'ree's previous singles "Life" and "What's Your Sign?".[7][8] The latter release of "You Gotta Be" charted in its highest position out of all three releases in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 10. This version, entitled the "1999 Mix" was added to a re-issue of her third studio album Supernatural. The original release first charted in September 1994 in the United States and slowly climbed the charts peaking at No. 5 in March 1995, and staying 44 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The remixed version of the song was a number-one hit in Spain for two weeks in February and March 1999.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Tom Demalon described "You Gotta Be" as "uplifting", noting that it "best exemplified Des'ree's smooth blend of Pop-R&B music and power-of-positive thinking lyrical style."[9] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the "adventurous artist" is pulling out an "percussive mover." He explained further, "Des'ree has a deep alto range and a compelling style that renders anything she sings a sophisticated musical gift. At a time when jockin' a new-jill-swing position is the name of the R&B radio game, single has an iffy future. Justice prevailing, though, programmers with minds of their own (and a modicum of good taste) will give this one a fair shot. Otherwise, punters should take this information and go find the album on their own. It's well worth the effort."[10] Michele Romero from Entertainment Weekly declared the song as "deliciously hypnotic", adding that it "sounds like a mini-motivational seminar".[4] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report stated, "On her own this time around, she delivers a mid-tempo gem about being one's own person. The lyrics are positive and hopeful—perfect for summertime."[11]

Mike Wass from Idolator wrote, "A relentlessly upbeat self-help anthem with a mantra-like chorus, the track was a much-needed ray of light at the height of grunge, and can still be heard in lifts and doctor’s waiting rooms today."[12] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "The more I listen to this the more I am convinced it is a simple rewrite of her first hit "Feel So High"."[13] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "In her only two-year absence a whole new generation of soul dames have taken over her position of most promising newcomer. Gabrielle's "Dreams" must have been model for this reply."[14] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "Folksily soulful in its original version, a remix adds a slow, muscular bass and other elements that leave it sounding like a suave second cousin to the Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets"."[15] John Kilgo from The Network Forty called it a "superb" track.[16] Dele Fadele from NME viewed it as a "vaguely pleasant rehash" of "Feel So High", "complete with words of advice and a well-streamlined and tasteful dance backing."[17] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In found that it is "heeding parental wisdom".[18] Troy J. Augusto from Variety remarked its "fresh, infectious groove".[19]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Paul Boyd; it was filmed in colour, but this was removed during post-production. It was nominated in the category of "Best Female Video" at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards,[20] but lost to Madonna's "Take a Bow".[21]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Platinum 600,000‡
United States — 358,000[64]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Media appearances

In April 1994, it was used by Sky Movies, for their summer preview commercial. In March 1995, ABC began airing an ad campaign for Good Morning America, aimed at attracting a younger demographic and also boosting male viewership, in which Des'ree's "You Gotta Be" played under scenes of "Americans immersed in morning rituals: commuters rushing, a young man shaving, school-bound children" intercut with shots of the Good Morning America hosts.[2]

Also in 1995, the song and music video were parodied by Ellen Cleghorne (playing O. J. Simpson's first wife Marguerite Whitley but visually resembling Des'ree) during a Season 20 episode of Saturday Night Live. While Luscious Jackson were the musical guests that episode, Des'ree herself performed both the song and "Feel So High" as the musical guest two episodes later. The song was also used for Ford's Focus commercial between 1998 and 1999.

This song was featured in the films The Next Karate Kid and The Object of My Affection. It was also used in a special promo for PBS Kids shown every Martin Luther King Jr. Day between 2001 and 2006. A cover of the song was also featured in an episode of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.

After being dropped from Sony in 2004, Des'ree did not allow the use of the song in films, television shows (including Glee[65] and Happy Endings[66]) or commercials. However, upon her return to the music industry in 2019, the song was re-licensed, with the song being used in the film Captain Marvel and the episode of the TV show PEN15, "Dance".

A reworked version of this song was used in the Big Sing 2008. The Big Sing raised money for CLIC Sargent and Marie Curie with hundreds of schools singing this song at the same time across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, breaking the record for "most people simultaneously singing the same song".[67]

In 2019, the song was featured in an episode of the ABC series, Schooled. ABC used the song again in the series finale of Fresh Off the Boat, which aired in February 2020.

In 2021, the song was featured in CW's The Flash, covered by Mel B in an episode of Antena 3's Spanish adaptation of The Masked Singer,[68] and featured in a mashup with Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation in the 2021 adaptation of Cinderella, sung by Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel and the ensemble cast. [69]

In 2022, the song was again covered in The Lake, S1E5. It was sung by Billie, played by Madison Shamoun [70][71]

References

  1. ↑ "Rocklist.net... Q - 1001 Best Ever Songs..." Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 Elliott, Stuart (6 March 1995). "Pop music takes center stage in a 'Good Morning America' campaign to attract younger viewers". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ "Des'ree Movin' on all Fronts". Billboard. 28 January 1995.
  4. 1 2 Romero, Michele (17 February 1995). "Des'ree and her daily affirmations". Entertainment Weekly.
  5. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 26 March 1994. p. 23.
  6. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 25 February 1994. p. 43.
  7. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 March, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. 20 March 1999. p. 27.
  8. ↑ Masterton, James (28 March 1999). "Week Ending April 3rd 1999". Chart Watch UK.
  9. ↑ Demalon, Tom. "Des'ree - I Ain't Movin'". AllMusic.
  10. ↑ Flick, Larry (25 June 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard.
  11. ↑ Sholin, Dave (24 June 1994). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 54.
  12. ↑ Wass, Mike (9 December 2015). "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1995 (Featuring New Interviews With Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Kylie Minogue, Monica, Ace Of Base & More!)". Idolator.
  13. ↑ Masterton, James (10 April 1994). "Week Ending April 16th 1994". Chart Watch UK.
  14. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 March 1994. p. 7.
  15. ↑ Jones, Alan (4 March 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10.
  16. ↑ Kilgo, John (10 February 1995). "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 20.
  17. ↑ Fadele, Dele (2 April 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 43. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  18. ↑ Waliszewski, Bob. "I Ain't Movin'". Plugged In. Focus on the Family.
  19. ↑ Augusto, Troy J. (3 April 1995). "Des'Ree". Variety.
  20. ↑ Moretti, M. Mindy (3 September 1995). "MTV VIDEO AWARDS". The Washington Post.
  21. ↑ "Winners of MTV Video Music Awards". United Press International. 5 September 1995. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023. Female video: Madonna, 'Take a Bow'.
  22. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  23. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2627." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  24. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7965." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  25. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 11. 18 March 1995. p. 27. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 28 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 18. 30 April 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  28. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  30. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Des'ree".
  31. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be". Top 40 Singles.
  33. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  34. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  35. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  36. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  37. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 April 1994. p. 24. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  38. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 12 March 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  39. ↑ "Desree Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  40. ↑ "Desree Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  41. ↑ "Desree Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  42. ↑ "Desree Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  43. ↑ "Desree Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  44. ↑ "Desree Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  45. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be (1999 Mix)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  46. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 15. 10 April 1999. p. 8. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  47. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be (1999 Mix)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  48. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 318 Vikuna 9.4. – 16.4. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  49. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  50. ↑ "Des'ree – You Gotta Be (1999 Mix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  51. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  52. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 11. 13 March 1999. p. 16. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  53. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  54. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  55. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  56. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  57. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  58. ↑ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1995" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  59. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  60. ↑ "1995 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. 23 December 1995. p. YE-80. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  61. ↑ "Tabla 16. CD-Singles Más Vendidos en 1999" [Table 16. Top Selling CD-Singles in 1999] (in Spanish). AFYVE. p. 206. Retrieved 11 November 2021. Click on Música grabada.
  62. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Des'ree – You Gotta Be". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  63. ↑ "British single certifications – Des'ree – You Gotta Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  64. ↑ Sexton, Paul (13 June 1998). "550 Music's Des'ree Gets 'Supernatural' on 3rd Set". Billboard.
  65. ↑ "Populist: Items of interest this week". The Guardian. 27 July 2012.
  66. ↑ "Emmy Watch: Casey Wilson talks the most fun she had last season on 'Happy Endings'". Entertainment Weekly.
  67. ↑ Harding, Eleanor (2 January 2009). "Local kids sing with Des'ree to break record". Sutton & Croydon Guardian.
  68. ↑ "Medusa se pone sentimental en 'Mask Singer' con 'You Gotta Be'". Antena 3. 31 May 2021.
  69. ↑
  70. ↑ "Madison Shamoun's 'You Gotta Be' Cover from Amazon's 'The Lake' Released". Film Music Reporter. 17 June 2022.
  71. ↑ "Madison Shamoun - Biography". IMDb. 17 June 2022.
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