Someday (I'm Coming Back) Explained

Someday (I'm Coming Back)
Cover:Stansfieldsomedayimcomingback.jpeg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Lisa Stansfield
Released:[1]
Genre:
Label:Arista
Producer:
  • Ian Devaney
  • Andy Morris
Prev Title:A Little More Love
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:In All the Right Places
Next Year:1993

"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" is a song recorded by British singer, songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield for the 1992 American romantic thriller film The Bodyguard, starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. It was released as a single from the soundtrack album in the United Kingdom on 7 December 1992 and in other European countries in early 1993 by Arista. "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and produced by Devaney and Morris. An accompanying music video, directed by Marcus Nispel, was also released. The single reached number ten in Portugal and the United Kingdom. "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" was remixed by Absolute and the "Classic" remixes were created by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales.

In 2003, the song was included on Stansfield's compilation, . In 2014, "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" and remixes of the song were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of So Natural (also on The Collection 1989–2003).[2] [3]

Chart performance

"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" was a notable hit on the charts in Europe, entering the top 10 in Portugal and the UK, peaking at number ten in both countries.[4] In the latter, the single peaked on the UK Singles Chart on 27 December 1992.[5] It debuted at number 19 in its first week on the chart, before climbing to number eleven and then peaking at number ten. It spent nine weeks inside the UK Top 100 and also peaked at number fourteen on the UK Music Week Dance Singles chart.[6] Additionally, the single was a top-20 hit in Ireland (16), a top-30 hit in Iceland (29) and the Netherlands (30), while entering the top 40 in Flemish Belgium (39), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number 34 in January 1993.[7] On the Music & Media European Hit Radio chart, it reached number six.[8] Outside Europe, "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" charted in Australia, peaking at number 116 on the ARIA singles chart.[9]

Critical reception

Amy Linden from Entertainment Weekly complimented the song as a "real beauty".[10] Howard Cohen from The Miami Herald wrote that here, Stansfield "glides through a catchy, soulful number".[11] Alan Jones from Music Week felt it's "more uptempo than we've had from her of late, a cheerful uplifting and very commercial cut which draws a polished and soulful vocal performance from her, punctuated by a wailing sax."[12] Stephen Holden from The New York Times called it a "superior piece of pop-disco fluff that Lisa Stansfield infuses with a passionate intensity."[13] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel viewed it as "a disposable dance number from the ordinarily enticing Lisa Stansfield."[14] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update complimented it as "prettily cooed".[15] Arion Berger from Rolling Stone felt that here, Stansfield "holds up a sturdy vocal wall of Jericho".[16] John Mackie from The Vancouver Sun stated that she "adds a little style and a soulful vocal to the gliding dance number".[17]

Retrospective response

In an 2022 retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism wrote, "One of the album’s best tracks that never received its dues, Lisa Stansfield’s “Someday (I’m Coming Back)” was the second single released from the album. Credited as disco/pop, it is much more soulful than this qualifier, with Stansfield dynamically delivering her unique brand of blue-eyed soul with each and every note she masters throughout this beautifully polished and executed song. The saxophone lamenting in and out of the track only adds to its intensity and passion. It’s pure disco soul at its finest."[18] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In (publication) declared it as "a positive tune about supportive romance".[19]

Track listings

  1. "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" – 5:34
  2. "Live Together"/"Young Hearts Run Free" (live) – 7:51
  3. "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (Absolute remix) – 6:24
  4. "Tenderly" (live) – 5:00
  1. "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" – 5:34
  2. "Tenderly" (live) – 5:00
  1. "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" – 5:34
  2. "Tenderly" (live) – 5:00
  3. "Live Together/Young Hearts Run Free" (live) – 7:51

Charts

Chart (1992–1993)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)116
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)34
Europe (European Hit Radio)6
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[20] 29
Portugal (AFP)10
UK Dance (Music Week)14

Notes and References

  1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 25. 5 December 1992.
  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.
  3. Web site: Exclusive: First pictures takes you inside the reissues 'The Collection 1989–2003'. lisastansfield.net. 16 October 2014. 6 March 2015.
  4. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 10. 9. 28. 27 February 1993. 20 March 2018.
  5. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 75 27 December 1992 - 02 January 1993. Official Charts Company. 20 March 2023.
  6. Top 60 Dance Singles . . 19 December 1992 . 22 . 30 September 2020.
  7. European Hot 100 Singles. Billboard. 10. 3. 15. 16 January 1993. 20 May 2015.
  8. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 10. 6. 6 February 1993. 18. 6 April 2024.
  9. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015. 15 September 2015. imgur.com.
  10. Amy. Linden. The Bodyguard (soundtrack). Entertainment Weekly. 1 November 2018.
  11. Cohen, Howard (24 November 1992). "Houston hits overdrive on sound track". p. 7E. The Miami Herald.
  12. Alan . Jones . Mainstream: Singles . . 5 December 1992 . 13 . 2 October 2020.
  13. News: Stephen Holden. Record Brief: The Bodyguard Original Soundtrack Album. The New York Times. 20 December 1992. 23 April 2013.
  14. Gettelman, Parry (4 December 1992). "The Bodyguard Soundtrack". Orlando Sentinel.
  15. James . Hamilton . Record Mirror Dance Update: Djdirectory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 5 June 1993 . 7 . 28 March 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  16. Arion . Berger . The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album . . 14 November 2013 . 28 April 2020 .
  17. Mackie, John (15 January 1993). "AC is current, but needs a jolt". p. C5. The Vancouver Sun.
  18. Web site: ‘The Bodyguard’ Soundtrack Turns 30: Album Anniversary. 14 November 2022. Matthew Hocter. Albumism. 27 February 2023.
  19. Web site: The Bodyguard Soundtrack – Plugged In Online Album Reviews. Waliszewski, Bob. Plugged In (publication). Focus on the Family. 22 March 2020.
  20. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (26.02.1993 – 04.03.1993). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 29. 25 February 1993. 7 March 2018.