My First Night with You explained

My First Night with You
Cover:My_First_Night_With_You_Mya.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Mýa
Album:Mýa
Released:February 16, 1999
Studio:Silent Sounds Studios
Length:5:38 (album version)
Label:Interscope
Prev Title:Somebody Like Me
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:The Best of Me
Next Year:2000

"My First Night with You" is a song written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Diane Warren. It was originally recorded by Canadian singer Deborah Cox for her self-titled debut studio album (1995). In 1998, American singer Mýa covered the song for her self-titled debut studio album, serving as the album's third and final single. The album version was produced by Daryl Simmons, allowing Mýa to put her own spin on the record, while the Ric Wake pop-produced version was marketed at pop and adult contemporary radio. The lyrics of the ballad speak of a non-sexual experience with a man.[1]

The song received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, some of whom were divided over Mýa's vocal performance. "My First Night with You" peaked at number 28 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song's accompanying music video was directed by G. Thomas Ferguson and University Music CEO Haqq Islam and features appearances by actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and rapper Saafir who portray Mýa's father and boyfriend, respectively.

Composition

"My First Night with You" was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Diane Warren. The song was originally produced by Edmonds and recorded by Canadian singer Deborah Cox for her self-titled debut studio album, released by Arista Records in 1995.[2] In 1998, American singer Mýa covered it for her self-titled debut, with producer Daryl Simmons replacing Edmonds.

The song is in the key of ab major, while its tempo is set at a moderate slow beat at 80 beats per minute in common time. Harrison's vocal range span from an Eb3 to Eb5.[3] The lyrics of "My First Night with You" are composed in the traditional verse-chorus form. Mýa opens the song with the first verse, followed by the chorus leading her into the second verse. The song continues to the bridge, chorus, then fades out until its run time.[3]

Critical reception

In its 1999 review, Billboard magazine gave the song a positive review, writing, "It's hard to go wrong at pop radio these days with either Diane Warren or Babyface on your side, and here the two ably join forces for a gentle love ballad about that unforgettable first night together [...] Mya's voice is not the most robust around and this song perhaps makes that clearer than before but "My First Night With You" totally works that Backstreet Boys-ballad vibe that's so hot right now. For that reason and in light of the song's universal lyric about the first touch of love, it's quite likely that the song could continue this budding artist's hot streak, even crossing her over to AC."[4] Ayana D. Bird from Vibe called "My First Night with You" a "beautifully arranged Babyface-penned tune [that] is perfect by her sweet (but never fragile) soprano, reminiscent of Faith's."[5] In a retrospective review of parent album Mýa, her colleague Preezy Brown described the song as "an impassioned ballad."[6]

Accolades

YearCeremonyAwardResultRef.
1999Washington Area Music AwardsSong of the Year[7]
Video of the Year

Chart performance

"My First Night with You" was released as the third single from Mýa in 1999. In the United States, it debuted at number ninety on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated week of March 20, 1999.[8] It ascended from 90 to 66 in its second week in the issue dated week of March 27, 1999.[9] The song reached its peak at number twenty-eight in the issue dated week of April 17, 1999 ascending 46–28.[10] It spent a total of 14 consecutive weeks on the chart and Mýa's second single with a short life span on the Hot 100 behind "Fallen" (2003) with 12 consecutive weeks. It performed equally on the Hot R&B Singles chart. The song made its debut at number eighty-nine in the week of March 13, 1999.[11] It rose from 85 to 35 in its second week on the chart, in the week of March 20, 1999.[12] It spent 19 consecutive weeks on the chart. "My First Night with You" reached its peak at number twenty-eight in the week of April 17, 1999. It became Mýa's third consecutive Top 40 (solo), fifth overall hit on both charts.

Music video

A music video for "My First Night with You" was directed by G. Thomas Ferguson and University Music CEO Haqq Islam and produced by Geronimo Film Productions.[13] It was filmed in March 1999 and includes appearances by actors Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Kathleen Bradley, who portray Mýa's parents, as well as rapper Saafir.[14] In the video, Mýa tries to convince her father that her date is a good guy before they head out for a big night on the town. The whirlwind evening concludes with Mýa and her beau falling asleep on a beach.[14]

Track listings

Notes

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of Mýa.[15]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 100

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
United StatesFebruary 16, 1999Rhythmic contemporary radioInterscope[17]
April 13, 1999CD single[18]

Notes and References

  1. Anita M.. Samuels. Billboard. 'Messages' Mark Mya's Debut. April 11, 1998. April 7, 2022.
  2. Deborah Cox. Deborah Cox. 1995. Arista Records. booklet.
  3. Web site: Mya - My First Night with You Music (Digital Download). 2018-10-28. Music Notes. 15 December 1999.
  4. Web site: Single Review. 2009-04-06 . Google Books. 20 February 1999. Two mixes are offered on the promo single, a glistening pop video version, produced by Ric Wake and a more R&B oriented album version from Darryl Simmons.
  5. Web site: Ayana D.. Bird . Vibe. Revolutions. April 20, 2018. April 7, 2022.
  6. Web site: Preezy. Brown. Vibe. 20 Years Later: Mya's Self-Titled Debut Album, Ranked. April 20, 2018. April 7, 2022.
  7. Web site: 1999 Wammies. https://web.archive.org/web/20170126144937/http://wamadc.com/wama/wammies/wbal99.html. dead. 2017-01-26. 2010-10-31. Washington Area Music Association.
  8. Hot 100 Week of March 20, 1999. 2012-04-03. Billboard.
  9. Hot 100 Week of March 27, 1999. 2012-04-03. Billboard.
  10. Hot 100 Week of April 17, 1999. 2012-04-03. Billboard.
  11. Hot R&B Singles Week of March 13, 1999. 2012-04-03. Billboard.
  12. Hot R&B Singles Week of March 20, 1999. 2012-04-03. Billboard.
  13. Web site: My First Night With You (1999) by Mya. April 7, 2022. IMDb.
  14. Web site: Mya Explains Waking Up In Time For New Video. March 19, 1999. April 7, 2022. MTV News. https://web.archive.org/web/20230818054724/https://www.mtv.com/news/ct4ojm/mya-explains-waking-up-in-time-for-new-video. dead. August 18, 2023.
  15. Mýa. Mýa. 1998. University Music Entertainment, Interscope Records. booklet.
  16. 1999 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213235823/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/. dead. February 13, 2018.
  17. Web site: CHR/Rhythmic. American Radio History. February 12, 1999. May 15, 2020.
  18. Web site: My First Night With You. . April 13, 1999 . August 2, 2018.