Forget Me Nots Explained

Forget Me Nots
Cover:Forget Me Nots single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Patrice Rushen
Album:Straight from the Heart
B-Side:"(She Will) Take You Down to Love" (U.S.)[1]
Released:April 2, 1982
Recorded:1982
Length:
  • 4:05 (Single Version)
  • 3:58 (UK Edit)
  • 4:10 (Video Version)
  • 4:42 (Album Version)
  • 7:11 (Special Dance Mix)
Label:Elektra
Producer:Patrice Rushen
Prev Title:Never Gonna Give You Up
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Breakout!
Next Year:1982

"Forget Me Nots" is a 1982 song by the American R&B musician Patrice Rushen. It appears on her seventh album, Straight from the Heart. It has been sampled and interpolated in several songs, including "Men in Black" (1997) by Will Smith and "Fastlove" (1996) by George Michael.

Background

The bassline is particularly recognizable, and was performed on the record by session bass player Freddie Washington. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Los Angeles session player and recording artist Gerald Albright, who also appears in the music video of the song.

The lyrics are from the point of view of one professing her longing for a rekindling with an ex-lover. In one part of the music video, the girlfriend of the ex turns her attention to another man. As the singer reunites with the ex, they vacate the premises, leaving the now-ex-girlfriend forlorn. She ruminates on the romance's end and sends the lover forget-me-nots, a flower that since medieval times has been given and worn to symbolize enduring love despite absence or separation.

Critical reception

Brandon Ousley from Albumism wrote in his review of Straight from the Heart,

Chart performance

The song peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as # 22 on the Cash Box Top 100.[2] [3] It peaked at #4 on the R&B and #2 on the Dance Billboard charts.

Around the world, the song was also popular. It peaked at No. 19 on the Irish Singles Chart[4] and #8 on the United Kingdom singles chart.[5]

Charts

Chart (1982–83)Peak
position
Australia (KMR Singles Chart)[6] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 24
New Zealand (RIANZ)[9] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 8
US Billboard Hot 100 [11] 23
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs4
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play2
US Cash Box Top 100 [12] 22

Impact and legacy

The single's success culminated in Rushen's scoring her first nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1983 Grammy Awards. VH1 listed "Forget Me Nots" at number 34 on its 100 Greatest Dance Songs special in 2000 and ranked the song number 85 on its 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s special in 2009.[13]

Cover versions and sampling

The song has been covered directly by several artists.

The song has been sampled frequently, these include:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots. .
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955-2010. 2011. Joel Whitburn. Record Research.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Joel Whitburn. 2014. Record Research.
  4. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know . Irishcharts.ie . July 12, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125210/http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement . July 21, 2011 .
  5. Web site: forget+me+nots | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . July 12, 2015.
  6. Web site: Steffen . Hung . Australian charts portal . australian-charts.com . January 10, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080527184204/http://australian-charts.com/ . May 27, 2008 .
  7. Web site: Jaclyn. Ward. The Irish Charts - All there is to know . Irishcharts.ie . October 1, 1962 . January 10, 2012.
  8. Web site: Steffen . Hung . Dutch charts portal . dutchcharts.nl . January 10, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140328195045/http://dutchcharts.nl//jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2013&cat=s . March 28, 2014 .
  9. Web site: Steffen . Hung . New Zealand charts portal . charts.nz . January 10, 2012 .
  10. Web site: The Official Charts Company - Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen Search . May 2, 2014. The Official Charts Company.
  11. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955-2010. 2011. Joel Whitburn. Record Research.
  12. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Joel Whitburn. 2014. Record Research.
  13. Web site: 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628182745/https://www.vh1.com/news/58qjan/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s. live. June 28, 2022. Ali. Rahsheeda. May 2, 2013. VH1. October 8, 2018.
  14. Web site: Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen Songfacts . Songfacts.com . July 12, 2015.
  15. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=25882 Smoke 'n' Mirrors
  16. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r845840|pure_url=yes}} Smoke 'N Mirrors overview]. Allmusic.com.
  17. Web site: BBC - Top of the Pops - Features - Will Smith Samples! . August 18, 2023 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  18. Web site: Backdoor Man MP3 . December 20, 2023 . pandora.nla.gov.au . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701225634/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/10296/20010907-0000/www.dot.net.au/_galconv/back%20door%20man.mp3 . 2019-07-01 . bot: unknown .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Forget Me Nots".

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