Close to You (Fun Factory song) explained

Close to You
Cover:Fun_Factory-Close_to_You.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Fun Factory
Album:NonStop
Released:March 1994
Genre:Eurodance
Length:3:36
Label:
  • Scorpio Music
  • 12INC
  • Curb Edel Records
Producer:
  • Bülent Aris
  • Toni Cottura
Prev Title:Groove Me
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Take Your Chance
Next Year:1994

"Close to You" is a song by German Eurodance band Fun Factory, released in March 1994 by various labels as the second single from the band's debut-album, NonStop (1994). The song is written by Bülent Aris, Rainer Kesselbauer and Toni Cottura, while Aris and Cottura produced it. It received positive reviews from music critics, peaking at number-one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart and at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, the single peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. In Europe, it reached number 19 in Germany and number 97 in the UK. Its music video was directed by Swedish director Stefan Berg[1] and filmed at a quarry. It was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in June 1994.[2] "Close to You" uses the same melody as the 1993 hit single "Hold On" by German group Loft.[3]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "taking a cue from Snap, this European-flavored dance anthem mixes soaring vocals with house beats and a snazzy rap. Multiple synthesizer riffs, a booming bass, and an amorous melody should keep the dance floor jumpin'."[4] In 1995, "Close to You" was described as a "slick dance/pop ditty" and a "unabashedly gleeful twirler". Flick complimented the song's "contagious energy" and noted that "by the end of this toe-tapper, you will be singing along with the chorus as if it were second nature-the mark of a real hit."[5]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that "at 120+ bpm, Fun Factory's hard-edged techno experience is among the faster house tracks now storming charts everywhere." They added, "Thanks to a convincing chorus and a strong hook, its quick jump to number 22 in the German sales charts doesn't come as a surprise."[6] Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "Marie-Annette sings, Rod D raps and the hugely commercial chorus surfaces at frequent intervals to reinforce the message that this is yet another continental invader that is bound for UK glory."[7] Stephen Meade from The Network Forty declared it as a "high-energy dance track guaranteed to put a smile on your face."[8] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update called it a "typical girl cooed and guy rapped cheesy German galloper".[9]

Track listing

  1. "Close to You" (Energy Trance Mix) — 8:23
  2. "Close to You" (Trance Radio Cut) — 3:40
  3. "Close to You" (Peace & Positive Mix) — 5:42
  4. "Close to You" (Doug's Club Mix) — 6:04
  5. "Close to You" (Doug's Apple Mix) — 5:06
  1. "Close to You" (Radio Edit) — 3:36
  2. "Close to You" (Close to Ragga Mix - Radio Edit) — 3:50
  1. "Close to You" (Radio Edit) — 3:36
  2. "Close to You" (Trouble Mix) — 4:36
  3. "Close to You" (Close to Ragga Remix) — 4:49
  4. "Fun Factory's Groove" (Instrumental) — 5:34
  1. "Close to You" (Radio Edit) — 3:35
  2. "Close to You" (Trouble Mix) — 4:45
  3. "Close to You" (Close to Ragga Mix) — 4:48
  4. "Fun Factory's Groove" (Instrumental) — 5:33
  5. "Close to You" (Close to Trance Remix) — 5:09

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994–1995)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 171
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)1
Europe (European Dance Radio)[11] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 97
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[13] 59
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 46
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)22
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)14
US Top 40 Mainstream (Billboard)40
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)28

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[15] 50
Europe (European Dance Radio)[16] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 94

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fun Factory - Close To You. YouTube. 19 March 2019.
  2. Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne. Music & Media. 4 June 1994. 21. 19 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Loft Discography. Discogs. 27 January 2020.
  4. Larry. Flick. Single Reviews. Billboard. 10 December 1994. 31 January 2020. Larry Flick.
  5. Larry. Flick. Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy. Billboard. 25 February 1995. 3 February 2020. 59. Larry Flick.
  6. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 25 June 1994. 26 April 2018.
  7. Alan . Jones . Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles . . 30 July 1994 . 16 . 19 April 2021.
  8. Stephen. Meade. Crossover. The Network Forty. 10 February 1995. 26. 2 April 2020.
  9. James . Hamilton . Dj directory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 6 August 1994 . 7 . 20 April 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  10. Web site: Fun Factory chart history, received from ARIA on 5 April 2022. Imgur.com. 18 June 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  11. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 11. 37. 10 September 1994. 22. 27 May 2023.
  12. Web site: Fun Factory full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 19 April 2021.
  13. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 16 July 1994. 4. 17 May 2023.
  14. Web site: Billboard Hot 100™ – Week of June 3, 1995. Billboard. 18 June 2024.
  15. Web site: Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994. RPM. 12 December 2019.
  16. 1994 in Review: European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 11. 52. 8. 24 December 1994. 29 February 2024.
  17. Web site: Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1994. German. GfK Entertainment. 26 November 2019.