"It Should Have Been Me" is a 1963 song written by William "Mickey" Stevenson and Norman Whitfield for Kim Weston.[1] It has been performed by Yvonne Fair, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Adeva among others. Knight's version peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968[2] and number 33 in Canada.[3] Fair had her only hit single with her recording of the song in 1976, reaching number 5 in the UK,[4] number 85 in the US[5] and number 10 in Australia.[6]
The song begins:
"I saw my love walking down the aisle
And as he passed me by, he turned to me and gave me a smile"
This version was used in The Vicar of Dibley 2006 episode "The Handsome Stranger",[7] with Dawn French miming the singing.
| It Should Have Been Me | |
| Cover: | It_Should_Have_Been_Me.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Adeva |
| Album: | Love & Lust |
| Released: | 1991 |
| Genre: |
|
| Length: | 3:22 |
| Label: | Capitol Records |
| Producer: | Smack |
| Prev Title: | Ring My Bell |
| Prev Year: | 1991 |
| Next Title: | Don't Let It Show on Your Face |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
In 1991, American dance music artist Adeva had the first of two number ones on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with her version of "It Should Have Been Me".[8] The song was released as the second single from her second album, Love & Lust (1991). In Europe, it peaked at number 48 in the UK and number four on the European Dance Radio Chart.
The song received favorable reviews from music critics. Alex Henderson from AllMusic stated that Adeva interprets the Gladys Knight & the Pips hit "with equally impressive results."[9] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Dance chanteuse previews her sophomore effort, Love & Lust, with an attitudinal houser. Highly stylized, assertive vocals are countered by a physical bass line and a rousing gospel-spiced undercurrent. Demands immediate club approval—not to mention attention at crossover and urban radio."[10] Andrew Smith from Melody Maker complimented it as a "joyously stomping" disco/garage tune, "well worth the price of a 45."[11] Ian McCann from NME wrote, "There's an epic cover of an old soul hit: instead of "Respect", this time Yvonne Fair's terrible "It Should've Been Me" gets the treatment, and what a treatment it is: Adeva slits open the tune and takes all the mawkishness out of it. Given a cooler mix it should—ironically—be a massive Italian-styled hit."[12]
A: "It Should've Been Me" — 3:22
AA: "It Should've Been Me" (Touchdown Edit) — 4:18
A: "It Should've Been Me" (Touchdown Mix) — 6:09
AA1: "It Should've Been Me" (Classic Club Mix) — 6:59
AA2: "It Should've Been Me" (Def Club Mix)
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 83 |
| Europe (European Dance Radio)[13] | 4 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 1 |