Say What You Want Explained

Say What You Want
Cover:Texas SWYW cover.png
Type:single
Artist:Texas
Album:White on Blonde
B-Side:
  • "Cold Day Dream"
  • "Tear It Up"
Length:3:53
Label:Mercury
Producer:Texas
Prev Title:Fade Away
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Halo
Next Year:1997

"Say What You Want" is a song by Scottish rock band Texas, written by band members Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri. It was the first single to be released from the group's fourth studio album, White on Blonde (1997), and released via the bands record label Mercury Records.[1]

A commercial success for the band, it has featured on all the bands compilation albums ― The Greatest Hits (2000),[2] (2004),[3] Say What You Want: The Collection (2012),[4] Texas 25 (2015)[5] and The Very Best of 1989–2023 (2023).[6] [7]

Release

Released in January 1997 by Mercury, it is the band's biggest hit commercially, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. As of March 2023, the single is certified platinum in the United Kingdom for sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units. The accompanying music video released to promote the single shows lead singer Sharleen Spiteri in a futuristic room.

In 1998, Texas collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man and RZA to remix the song as "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)". This version features Method Man and RZA on vocals and was released as a single in March 1998, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in Iceland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Both version of the song are included on Texas's 2000 compilation album The Greatest Hits.

Critical reception

Quentin Harrison from Albumism wrote in his retrospective review of the album, that "the bulk of White on Blonde examines the high and lows of modern love as best heard on its lead single 'Say What You Want'."[8] Andy Gill from The Independent opined that it crosses a lyric line from "Sexual Healing" with a guitar line from "Tired of Being Alone" "without quite emulating either."[9] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times felt it "has a bit of Marvin Gaye going on."[10] Catherine Eade from Music Week noted the "easy-on-the-ear nature" of the song, "with its Marvin Gaye-influenced chorus".[11] David Sinclair from The Times complimented it as "charming".[12]

Track listings

  1. "Say What You Want" – 3:53
  2. "Cold Day Dream" – 4:01
  3. "Tear It Up" – 3:23
  4. "Say What You Want" (Boilerhouse remix) – 4:19
  1. "Say What You Want" – 3:53
  2. "Say What You Want" (Rae & Christian mix) – 4:50
  3. "Good Advice" – 4:50
  4. "Say What You Want" (Rae & Christian instrumental mix) – 4:50
  1. "Say What You Want" – 3:53
  2. "Cold Day Dream" – 4:01

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet.[17]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 20
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] 17
Spain (AFYVE)[20] 3
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 23
US CHR/Pop Top 50 (Radio & Records)[22] 41

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 98
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 49

"Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)"

Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)
Cover:SayWhatYouWantAllDayEveryDay.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Texas featuring the Wu-Tang Clan
A-Side:Insane
B-Side:Polo Mint City
Length:4:06
Label:Mercury
Producer:RZA
Chronology:Texas
Prev Title:Put Your Arms Around Me
Prev Year:1997
Title2:Insane
Next Title:In Our Lifetime
Next Year:1999

The song was remixed as "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)", featuring Method Man and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, and re-released as a double A-side with "Insane" on 9 March 1998. This version was also a success, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and reaching number three in New Zealand, becoming the band's highest-charting hit in the latter country. A second music video was created, showing Spiteri in a park.

Regarding this version, Spiteri said in Q magazine, "They're the biggest guys I've ever seen in my life. They're like basketball players. I'd just recorded a vocal, and Chef Raekwon's like, 'Yo! Who's that singing?' And RZA goes, 'It's Girlie' – 'cos they called me Girlie. And Raekwon goes, 'Man, you black!' And I laughed so loud. Method Man's a pussycat."[26]

Track listings

  1. "Insane" – 4:45
  2. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" – 4:06
  3. "Polo Mint City" (full version) – 2:50
  4. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (Trailermen mix) – 8:38
  1. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (extended version) – 5:02
  2. "Insane" (The Second Scroll) – 6:33
  3. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (RZA instrumental) – 5:13
  4. "Insane" (The Second Scroll dub) – 6:35
  1. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" – 4:06
  2. "Insane" – 4:45
  1. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" – 4:06
  2. "Insane" (The Second Scroll) – 6:33

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet.[17]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[31] 34
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[32] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[33] 82
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 23
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 43
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 129

Release history

RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom"Say What You Want"Mercury[38]
United States[39]
14–Contemporary hit radio[40]
College radio
United Kingdom"Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" / "Insane"[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Say What You Want . Amazon UK . Mercury . 24 March 2024.
  2. Web site: The Greatest Hits . Amazon UK . Mercury Records . 24 March 2024 . 2004.
  3. Web site: I Don't Want a Lover: The Collection - Texas Album AllM . AllMusic . 24 March 2024 . en.
  4. Web site: Say What You Want - The Collection . Amazon UK . Spectrum . 24 March 2024.
  5. Web site: Texas 25 . Amazon UK . Play it Again Sam . 24 March 2024 . 2015.
  6. Web site: Gotto . Connor . Texas announce The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023 greatest hits album . RETROPOP . 24 March 2024 . 25 April 2023.
  7. Web site: Texas - The Very Best Of - 1989 - 2023. Texas. . Texas Official Store . 24 March 2024.
  8. Web site: Texas' 'White on Blonde' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective. Harrison. Quentin. Albumism. 1 February 2022. 3 February 2022.
  9. Gill, Andy (31 January 1997). "Pop Albums". The Independent.
  10. Courtney, Kevin (21 February 1997). "Rock". Irish Times.
  11. Catherine. Eade. Track of the Week – Texas: Say What You Want. Music Week. 22 February 1997. 20. 10 May 2022.
  12. Sinclair, David (8 February 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
  13. Say What You Want. Texas. 1997. UK & Australian CD1 disc notes. Mercury Records. MERCD 480, 578 921-2.
  14. Say What You Want. Texas. 1997. UK & Australian CD2 disc notes. Mercury Records. MERDD 480, 578 923-2.
  15. Say What You Want. Texas. 1997. UK cassette single sleeve. Mercury Records. MERMC 480, 578 920-4.
  16. Say What You Want. Texas. 1997. European CD single disc notes. Mercury Records. INT 578 920-2.
  17. The Greatest Hits. The Greatest Hits (Texas album). Texas. 2000. UK CD album booklet. Mercury Records. 548 264-2.
  18. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 5. 15. 1 February 1997. 25 January 2020.
  19. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 209 Vikuna 20.2. '97 – 26.2. '97). DV. is. 16. 21 February 1997. 11 July 2018.
  20. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  21. Adult Pop Airplay. Billboard. 29 November 1997. subscription. 23 January 2024.
  22. R&R Top 20. Radio & Records. 1221. 40. 31 October 1997. 17 May 2020.
  23. 1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997. Music & Media. 14. 52. 7. 27 December 1997. 20 December 2019.
  24. Top 100 Singles 1997. Music Week. 27. 17 January 1998.
  25. Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998. Airplay Monitor. 6. 52. 55. 25 December 1998.
  26. Andrew. Collins. Andrew Collins (broadcaster). Their year: Texas. Q #137. February 1998. 93.
  27. Insane / Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day). Texas. 1998. UK CD1 liner notes. Mercury Records. MERCD 499, 568 597-2.
  28. Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) / Insane. Texas. 1998. UK CD2 liner notes. Mercury Records. MERDD 499, 568 599-2.
  29. Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) / Insane. Texas. 1998. UK cassette single sleeve. Mercury Records. MERMC 499, 568 596-4.
  30. Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day). Texas. 1998. European CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 568 596-2.
  31. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 15. 13. 13. 28 March 1998. 25 January 2020.
  32. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.3 – 12.3. 1998). DV. is. 26. 6 March 1998. 3 October 2019.
  33. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98. DV. is. 34. 2 January 1999. 8 February 2020.
  34. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1998. Dutch Top 40. 10 March 2020.
  35. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998. MegaCharts. nl. 12 April 2018.
  36. Web site: End of Year Charts 1998. Recorded Music NZ. 8 February 2020.
  37. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604184020/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201998.html. 4 June 2015. 1 May 2019.
  38. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 28 December 1996. 7 June 2021.
  39. Texas Finds International Hit in 'White'. Reece. Doug. Billboard. 109. 27. 12. 5 July 1997.
  40. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1205. 42. 11 July 1997.
  41. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 35. 7 March 1998. 4 July 2021.

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