Whenever I Say Your Name
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Whenever I Say Your Name" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Sting and Mary J. Blige | ||||
| from the album Sacred Love and Love & Life | ||||
| Released | November 10, 2003[1] | |||
| Length | 5:25 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter | Sting | |||
| Producers |
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| Sting singles chronology | ||||
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| Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Whenever I Say Your Name" on YouTube | ||||
"Whenever I Say Your Name" is a duet recorded by English musician Sting and American singer Mary J. Blige, for Sting's seventh studio album Sacred Love (2003). It was written and produced by Sting, and co-produced by Mark "Kipper" Eldridge. Although not originally included on Blige's sixth studio album Love & Life (2003), the track was subsequently added to its international reissue.
"Whenever I Say Your Name" was released as the second single from Sacred Love, and the fourth single from Love & Life, on 8 December 2003, by A&M Records. It peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart, marking Sting's lowest-peaking single since "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" (1988), and Blige's lowest-peaking single ever. Despite its commercial underperformance, the song won Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards (2004).
"Whenever I Say Your Name" was written and produced by Sting for his seventh studio album Sacred Love (2003).[2] Production was helmed by Sting and Mark "Kipper" Eldridge.[2] The singer felt inspired to work with Blige ever since they performed together on the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2003, he told LAUNCHcast: "I was totally blown away by her passionate, open singing [...] I had decided on that night that I'd love to write a song for her one day, and I came up with this idea of "Whenever I Say Your Name" – that's perfect for her, you know? It's very romantic. It also has a kind of religious component – you know, she's very churchy in the way she sings."[3]
Critical reception
Alan Light from The Los Angeles Times described "Whenever I Say Your Name" as "a knockout duet,"[3] while Entertainment Weekly's Tom Sinclair called it a "erotically charged duet" and further wrote: "[Sting] unites the secular and the sacred with the phrase "Whenever I say your name, I’m already praying"."[4] Riff Magazine's Alexander Baechle found that "Blige oozes exuberance on "Whenever I Say Your Name." Both Blige and Sting take the opportunity to play to their strengths. Sting begins the tune with a characteristically moody, subtle verse. Imperceptibly, the song morphs into a borderline funk romp, pushing Blige’s power vocals to the fore."[5]
Music video
A music video for "Whenever I Say Your Name" was directed by frequent Sting collaborator Jim Gable.[6]
Track listings
All tracks written by Sting.[7]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whenever I Say Your Name" (radio version) |
| 4:03 |
| 2. | "Whenever I Say Your Name" (Will.I.Am remix featuring The Black Eyed Peas) | 4:03 | |
| 3. | "Whenever I Say Your Name" (Salaam's Groove mix) |
| 4:48 |
| 4. | "Whenever I Say Your Name" (Billy Mann mix) |
| 3:53 |
Notes
- ^[a] denotes remix producer
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sacred Love.[2]
- Mary J. Blige – vocals
- Kipper – producer
- Simon Osborn – engineer
- Sting – producer, vocals, writer
