So Natural (song) explained

So Natural
Cover:So Natural Lisa Stansfield single.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Lisa Stansfield
Album:So Natural
Released:[1]
Genre:
Label:Arista
Producer:Ian Devaney
Prev Title:In All the Right Places
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Little Bit of Heaven
Next Year:1993

"So Natural" is a song by British singer, songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield from her third album, So Natural (1993). It was released as the first proper single in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1993 by Arista Records. The song was written by Stansfield and her husband Ian Devaney, and produced by Devaney. It received remixes by Roger Sanchez, DJ Duro, Frankie Foncett and Vassal Benford. The single peaked at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart. Its music video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

In 2003, the song was included on . In 2014, the remixes of "So Natural" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of So Natural (also on The Collection 1989–2003).[2]

Chart performance

"So Natural" was a notable hit on the charts in Europe, entering the top 20 in the UK. The song peaked at number 15 in its first week on the UK Singles Chart on 17 October 1993.[3] It stayed at that position for two weeks, before dropping to number 31 and then leaving the UK Top 40. "So Natural" also peaked at numbers seven and 20 on the Music Week Dance Singles and Airplay charts, and was a top-20 hit in both Italy (25) and Spain (25). Additionally, the single entered the top 40 in Iceland (36), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 38 in November same year. It also was a top-70 hit in Germany, while outside Europe, it charted in Australia, peaking within the top 70 also there (69).

Critical reception

Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard complimented the song as "quite nice".[4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated, "It's her tenth Top 20 hit in all and a natural Top Tenner for next week I would say."[5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that "what Marvin requested, Lisa delivers. She seduces the lyrics in an almost underplayed way, only to see the slow rhythm teasingly broken by a vintage Barry White bridge."[6] In a separate review, they also described it as "sophisticated" and "sensual".[7] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, praising it as "another slow sophisticated track [that] provides a warm showcase for the exceptional Stansfield voice".[8] R.S. Murthi from New Straits Times felt that the singer-songwriter "acquits herself with style and grace" on tunes like "So Natural".[9]

Retrospective response

Retrospectively, Quentin Harrison from Albumism stated that the song "emphasizes Stansfield’s rich, honeyed tone; the plush arrangement recalls the pinnacle of early-to-mid ‘70s soul."[10] In an 2015 review, Pop Rescue noted that "her breathy, soulful vocals, usher in this gentle ballad", and declared it as "a perfect showcase of her rich vocals".[11]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "So Natural" was directed by German feature film director and producer Marcus Nispel. It was later made available on Stansfield's official YouTube channel in 2009.[12]

Track listings

  1. "So Natural" (original version) – 4:42
  2. "So Natural" (Be Boy mix) – 5:18
  3. "So Natural" (Erotic Jeep Ride) – 5:17
  4. "So Natural" (No Preservatives mix) – 7:30
  5. "So Natural" (DJ Duro's hip hop mix) – 5:27
  6. "So Natural" (U.S. remix) – 5:25
  1. "So Natural" (original version) – 4:42
  2. "So Natural" (Roger's club mix) – 5:41
  1. "So Natural" (original version) – 4:42
  2. "So Natural" (Be Boy mix) – 5:18
  3. "So Natural" (DJ Duro's hip hop mix) – 5:27
  1. "So Natural" (original version) – 4:42
  2. "So Natural" (U.S. remix) – 5:25

Charts

Chart performance for "So Natural"!Chart (1993)!Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 69
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 38
Europe (European Hit Radio)[15] 14
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 67
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[17] 36
Italy (Musica e dischi)[18] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[19] 6
Spain Radio (PROMUSICAE)[20] 25
UK Airplay (Music Week)[21] 20
UK Dance (Music Week)[22] 7
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[23] 21

Notes and References

  1. Single Releases. Music Week. 27. 9 October 1993.
  2. Web site: Lisa Stansfield – The Collection: tracklists. lisa-stansfield.com. 2 October 2014. 6 March 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141027202405/http://lisa-stansfield.com/lisa-stansfield-the-collection-tracklists/. 27 October 2014.
    - Web site: Exclusive: First pictures takes you inside the reissues 'The Collection 1989–2003'. lisastansfield.net. 16 October 2014. 6 March 2015.
  3. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 75 17 October 1993 - 23 October 1993. Official Charts Company. 20 March 2023.
  4. Larry . Flick . Dance Trax: Face It: Cheeks Is Back, And She's 'So In Love' . . 6 November 1993 . 38 . 8 October 2020 . Larry Flick.
  5. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending October 23rd 1993. Chart Watch UK. 17 October 1993. 12 September 2021. James Masterton.
  6. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 10. 41. 9 October 1993. 10. 23 April 2018.
  7. Lisa Stansfield Sings R&B So Naturally. Music & Media. 10. 46. 13 November 1993. 9. 1 March 2020.
  8. Alan . Jones . Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles . . 9 October 1993 . 18 . 3 April 2021 .
  9. Sermon of soul from Rev Green. R.S.. Murthi. New Straits Times. 22 December 1993. 28. 11 March 2020.
  10. Web site: Quentin . Harrison . Lisa Stansfield's 'So Natural' Turns 25: An Anniversary Retrospective . Albumism . 6 November 2018 . 3 April 2020 .
  11. Web site: Review: "So Natural" by Lisa Stansfield (CD, 1993). Pop Rescue. 9 February 2015. 28 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Lisa Stansfield - So Natural (Jazz Version). YouTube. 15 November 2009. 12 September 2021.
  13. 265.
  14. Web site: Hits of the World. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 20 May 2015.
  15. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 10. 47. 20 November 1993. 28. 10 April 2024.
  16. Web site: Lisa Stansfield - So Natural. de. GfK Entertainment. 20 May 2015.
  17. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (02.12.1993-08.12.1993). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. 4 February 2018. is.
  18. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e Dischi. it. 2 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Lisa Stansfield".
  19. Web site: Lisa Stansfield - So Natural. nl. top40.nl. 14 January 2020.
  20. Book: Fernando Salaverri. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  21. The Airplay Chart. Music Week. 6 November 1993. 28. 2 May 2024.
  22. Dance Singles . . 23 October 1993 . 22 . 9 April 2021.
  23. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 9 October 1993. 4. 11 May 2023.