Wikipedia

If You Love Me (Brownstone song)

"If You Love Me" is a song by American R&B group Brownstone, released on October 24, 1994, by MJJ Music and Epic Records. It is the second single from their debut album, From the Bottom Up (1995). The song was written by Gordon Chambers, Nichole Gilbert, and Dave Hall, and features a sample from "Spellbound" (1990) by American rapper K-Solo.[2] "If You Love Me" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1996 but lost to "Creep" by TLC.

"If You Love Me"
Single by Brownstone
from the album From the Bottom Up
ReleasedOctober 24, 1994
Genre
Length5:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dave "Jam" Hall
Brownstone singles chronology
"Pass the Lovin'"
(1994) 		"If You Love Me"
(1994) 		"Grapevyne"
(1995)
Music video
"If You Love Me" on YouTube

"If You Love Me" peaked at number eight on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart as well as number two on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It topped the New Zealand Singles Chart for five weeks and reached the top 20 in Australia, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The music video for the Remix features rapper Craig Mack. In 2015, Canadian rapper Tory Lanez sampled the song for his hit single "Say It". Billboard named the song number 84 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[3]

Critical reception

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Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian complimented the song's "memorable chorus".[4] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel noted its "mellow seduction".[5] Geoffrey Himes from The Washington Post declared the song as "a firm demand for commitment from a lover." He explained, "It begins with Gilbert and her two partners, Charmayne "Maxee" Maxwell and Monica "Mimi" Doby, singing slow, swooning harmonies over producer Dave Hall's piano. Having established the romantic mood, Gilbert lays down her conditions to a catchy melodic chant and the beat of an insistent drum machine: "If you want my heart/ Then it's time that you start/ To act like you're mine/ In the light and the dark." It's a great single, and it sets the pattern for an album that celebrates the intoxication of romance but demands respect as well."[6]

Track listings

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Personnel

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  • Produced by Dave "Jam" Hall for Untouchables Entertainment, Inc.
  • Additional production and remixes by
    • The Characters: Troy Taylor & Charles Farrar for Character Music Corporation
    • Uno Clio

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[46] Gold 500,000^

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

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 24, 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[citation needed]
United Kingdom March 20, 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD1
  • cassette
 [47]
March 27, 1995 CD2 [48]

References

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  1. ^ Billboard Staff (July 10, 2017). "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2024. Harnessing the strut of New Jack Swing with an emotive edge, Brownstone's "If You Love Me" reigns as a sidepiece anthem...
  2. ^ From the Bottom Up (booklet). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 477362 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (April 28, 1995). "Music: Your essential guide to the new CDs - Pop". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Campbell, Chuck (January 27, 1995). "Brownstone Effort Muddied By Producers". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  6. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (April 16, 1995). "Rock-Solid Debut for Brownstone". The Washington Post. p. G11.
  7. ^ If You Love Me (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 49K 77733.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ If You Love Me (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 49 77733.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ If You Love Me (US cassette single sleeve). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 34T 77732.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ If You Love Me (UK cassette single sleeve). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 661413 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ If You Love Me (European CD single liner notes). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. EPC 661165 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ If You Love Me (US maxi-cassette single sleeve). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 49T 77733.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ If You Love Me (UK CD1 liner notes). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 661413 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ If You Love Me (UK CD2 liner notes). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 661413 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ If You Love Me (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Brownstone. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1994. 661279 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Brownstone – If You Love Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  17. ^ "Hits of the World: Canada" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 21. May 27, 1995. p. 48. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9071." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6895." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 17. April 29, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. May 6, 1995. p. 22. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Brownstone – If You Love Me" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If You Love Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  25. ^ "Brownstone – If You Love Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  26. ^ "Brownstone – If You Love Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  29. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  30. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  31. ^ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). April 15, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  32. ^ "Brownstone Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  33. ^ "Brownstone Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  34. ^ "Brownstone Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  35. ^ "Brownstone Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  36. ^ "Brownstone Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  37. ^ "Brownstone Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  38. ^ a b "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA). Retrieved July 19, 2017 – via Imgur.
  39. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1995" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  40. ^ "End of Year Charts 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  41. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. January 13, 1996. p. 9.
  42. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  43. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-38.
  44. ^ "The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Top Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 3, no. 51. December 15, 1995. p. 9.
  45. ^ "British single certifications – Brownstone – If You Love Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  46. ^ "American single certifications – Brownstone – If You Love Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  47. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 18, 1995. p. 35.
  48. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 25, 1995. p. 35.
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