Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)

"Read My Lips" is a song written and performed by Scottish singer-songwriter Jimmy Somerville (formerly of the bands Bronski Beat and The Communards) from his 1989 début solo album Read My Lips. The song discusses the need for increased funding to fight HIV/AIDS.

"Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)"
Single by Jimmy Somerville
from the album Read My Lips
Released1989
GenrePop, synthpop
LabelLondon Recordings
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Somerville
Producer(s)Pascal Gabriel
Jimmy Somerville singles chronology
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
(1990)
"Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)"
(1989)
"To Love Somebody"
(1990)

Released in 1990 as Somerville's third solo single from the album Read My Lips, the song didn't chart as well as the previous single, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", a cover of the Sylvester original, which hit number 5 earlier the same year. However, it did chart inside the Top 40, peaking at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart, and was featured on Now That's What I Call Music! volume 17.[1]

Critical reception

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David Giles, reviewer for Music Week magazine, deemed "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)" was "a better bet for a single" than "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", adding that the song has "lots of airy keyboard sounds drifting around and generally detracting from the dynamic Hi-NRG pulse of the original", but concluded that he has "still hit material though".[2] Tim Jeffery of Record Mirror stated it has "a subtle melody with right-on lyrics... Quite rousing in an offbeat way, but somehow it just doesn't quite hit the mark".[3]

Track listing

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12" Vinyl Single - London Recordings (UK Release)
  1. "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)"
  2. "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)"
  3. "Strangers "

Charts

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 38
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[5] 20
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 64
France (SNEP)[7] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 26
UK Dance (Music Week)[10] 31
West Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 57

References

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  1. ^ "Now 17". Now That's What I Call Music!. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ Giles, David (17 March 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 25. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  3. ^ Jeffery, Tim (10 March 1990). "Singles reviewed by Tim Jeffery" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 30 October 2023 – via World Radio History.
  4. ^ Belgium – Ultratop 50 – "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)"
  5. ^ European Airplay Top 50
  6. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 7 April 1990. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Somerville – Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know - Read My Lips". IRMA. 21 November 2020.
  9. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Read My Lips by Jimmy Somerville Search". The Official Charts Company. 19 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 31 March 1990. p. 14. Retrieved 6 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "Jimmy Somerville – Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 1 July 2023.