| Automatic Lover (Call For Love) | |
| Cover: | Automatic_Lover_(Call_for_Love)_Real_McCoy.jpeg |
| Caption: | Original European cover |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Real McCoy |
| Album: | Another Night |
| Released: | 31 January 1994 |
| Genre: | Eurodance |
| Length: | 3:47 |
| Label: | Hansa |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | Another Night |
| Prev Year: | 1993 |
| Next Title: | Run Away |
| Next Year: | 1994 |
"Automatic Lover (Call for Love)" is a song by German Eurodance/pop music project Real McCoy (also known as M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy), released in January 1994 by Hansa as the second single from their album Another Night (1995), which is the US version of the project's second album, Space Invaders. The song was produced by music producers Juergen Wind (aka J. Wind) and Frank Hassas (aka Quickmix) under the producer team name Freshline, and borrows the melody from Bronski Beat's 1984 song, "Smalltown Boy".[1] It was a top-20 hit in a number of countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. There were made two different music videos for "Automatic Lover (Call for Love)". The European version was directed by Angel in 1994.[2]
Bradley Torreano from AllMusic felt the song was "more club-friendly" and found its audience among the young dance crowds before moving to radio.[3] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Look for this Euro-NRG trio to once again steamroll toward the upper regions of the Hot 100 with this catchy dance/pop ditty. The formula is solidly in place: Throaty Romeo-style male rapping is balanced by charming female vamping during the chorus and underscored with frenetic, butt-shaking beats. The hook is as sticky as they come. A no-brainer hit."[4]
Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Tally up the spins that O-Jay, Patsy and Vanessa have logged in the States since the release of "Another Night" and it's nothing short of staggering. That figure is certain to grow thanks to this high-energy production."[5] Another editor, Annette M. Lai, felt it has "hit potential".[6] Howard Cohen from Herald-Journal described the track as "club-ready".[7] Daisy and Havoc from Music Weeks RM Dance Update declared it as a "amusing piece of pop".[8] Another editor, James Hamilton, called it a "archetypal gruffy muttered and sweetly cooed Euro romp".[9] A reviewer from People Magazine felt that songs like this "pack so many beats into 4 minutes that just listening to them is thoroughly exhausting."[10]
"Automatic Lover" reached number two in Finland and entered the top 20 in Australia (18), Denmark (14), Germany (20), and Sweden (19). In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 58 during its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on 5 November 1995. On the UK Dance Chart, it peaked at number 20, while on the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 44 in March 1994. In Canada, the song reached number nine on the RPM Dance/Urban chart. In the US, "Automatic Lover" charted at number 51 on the Cash Box Top 100 and number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, while on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, the song peaked at number three.
| Chart (1994–1996) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[11] | 18 | |
| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[12] | 9 | |
| Denmark (IFPI)[13] | 14 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] | 44 | |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] | 2 | |
| France (SNEP) | 38 | |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 44 | |
| Scotland (OCC)[16] | 59 | |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 19 | |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 32 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 58 | |
| UK Dance (OCC)[18] | 20 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 52 | |
| US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[20] | 3 | |
| US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[21] | 8 | |
| US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[22] | 35 | |
| US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard)[23] | 24 | |
| US Cash Box Top 100[24] | 51 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 31 January 1994 | Hansa | |||
| United Kingdom | 30 October 1995 | [27] |
