You Remind Me Explained

You Remind Me
Cover:	Mary J. Blige - You Remind Me.JPG
Type:	single
Artist:	Mary J. Blige
Album:	What's the 411? Strictly Business
Genre:	R&B^[1] ^[2]
Length:	4:19
Label:	Uptown MCA
Producer:	Dave "Jam" Hall
Prev Title:	I'll Do 4 U
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	Real Love
Next Year:	1992

"You Remind Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It served as Blige's first single from her debut album, What's the 411? (1992). Written by Eric Milteer and produced by Dave "Jam" Hall, it was originally used on the soundtrack of 1991 comedy film Strictly Business. The song marked Blige's first top forty hit, reaching number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart.^[3] The music video was released in 1992. The song also sampled Patrice Rushen’s 1982 song, ‘Remind Me’.

Critical reception

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun complimented the "smooth, soulful balladry" of "You Remind Me".^[4] Havelock Nelson from Entertainment Weekly noted its "cascading, intricately layered mid-tempo beat".^[5] James Hamilton from Music Weeks RM Dance Update described it as a "slinky groin grinder".^[6] Dele Fadele from NME remarked its "massed harmonies, lovely arrangements and subtle hip-hop beats" and "a luxurious, creamy vocal that makes you wonder why record companies don't seek out more black female singers (remember Cherrelle, Candi Staton, et al)."^[7] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote, "Blige's voice swoops and croons wonderfully on her big hit, "You Remind Me". The tune is built around a nice little phrase but wouldn't really go anywhere if it weren't for the funky hip-hop beat."^[8]

Track listings

• US Cassette single^[9]

1. "You Remind Me" (Radio version)  - 4:15
2. "You Remind Me" (Extended instrumental)  - 5:08

• US Cassette maxi-single and CD single^{[10] [11]}

1. "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop)  - 5:56
2. "You Remind Me" (Bentley's)  - 4:43
3. "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio)  - 5:12
4. "You Remind Me" (Jazz mix)  - 5:15

• US 12-inch single^[12]

1. "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop)  - 5:56
2. "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio)  - 5:12
3. "You Remind Me" (Bentley's)  - 4:43

• UK 7-inch single (1992)^[13]

1. "You Remind Me" (Album version)  - 4:15
2. "You Remind Me" (Bentley's)  - 4:43

• UK 12-inch single (1992)^[14]

1. "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop)  - 5:56
2. "Leave a Message" (Album version)  - 3:38
3. "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio)  - 5:12
4. "You Remind Me" (Bentley's)  - 4:43

• UK CD single (1992)^[15]

1. "You Remind Me" (Album version)  - 4:15
2. "You Remind Me" (Bentley's)  - 4:43
3. "Leave a Message" (Album version)  - 3:38
4. "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop)  - 5:56

• UK Cassette single (1993)^[16]

1. "You Remind Me" (Straight to the Heart radio edit)  - 3:19
2. "You Remind Me" (Album version)  - 4:15

• UK CD single  - CD1 (1993)^[17]

1. "You Remind Me" (Straight to the Heart radio edit)  - 3:19
2. "You Remind Me" (Straight to the Heart mix)  - 5:41
3. "You Remind Me" (Album version)  - 4:15
4. "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio)  - 5:12

• UK CD single  - CD2 (1993)^[18]

1. "You Remind Me" (Bentley's)  - 4:43
2. "You Remind Me" (Phat remix)  - 5:37
3. "Love No Limit" (Puff Daddy remix)  - 3:57
4. "Love No Limit" (Bad Boy mix)  - 3:58

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the What's the 411? liner notes.^[19]

• Sean "Puffy" Combs – executive producer
• Dave "Jam" Hall – producer
• Andre Harrell – executive producer
• Eric Milteer – songwriting

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Europe (European Dance Radio)^[20]	24
UK Dance (Music Week)^[21]	14

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	June 23, 1992
United Kingdom	June 1, 1993		MCA	^[23]

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. Book: Harrington, Jim. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Mary J. Blige - "Real Love. Universe. New York. 689.
2. Say My Name, Say My Name Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. June 21, 2021. February 13, 2024.
3. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 65.
4. [J.D. Considine|Considine, J.D.]
5. Havelock . Nelson . Music Review: 'What's the 411?' . . August 7, 1992 . November 11, 2020 .
6. James . Hamilton . Djdirectory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert) . June 5, 1993 . 7 . March 28, 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
7. Dele. Fadele. Singles. NME. July 3, 1993. 18. June 5, 2023. Dele Fadele.
8. Gettelman, Parry (September 25, 1992). "Mary J. Blige". Orlando Sentinel.
9. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. US Cassette single liner notes. Uptown Records. MCACS-54327.
10. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. US Cassette maxi-single liner notes. Uptown Records. UPTM 54447.
11. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. US CD single liner notes. Uptown Records. UPTDM-54447.
12. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. US 12-inch single liner notes. Uptown Records. UPT12 54447.
13. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. UK 7-inch single liner notes. MCA Records. MCS 1683.
14. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. UK 12-inch single liner notes. MCA Records. MCST 1683.
15. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1992. UK CD single liner notes. MCA Records. MCSTD 1683.
16. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1993. UK Cassette single liner notes. MCA Records. MCSC 1770.
17. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1993. UK CD single liner notes. MCA Records. MCSTD 1770.
18. You Remind Me. Mary J. Blige. 1993. UK CD single liner notes. MCA Records. MCSXD 1770.
19. What's the 411? (Liner Notes) . Mary J. Blige. 1992. Mary J.. Blige. Compact Disc . Uptown Records.
20. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. July 10, 1993. 17. November 5, 2021.
21. Top 60 Dance Singles . . June 12, 1993 . 22 . April 9, 2021.
22. R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1992. Billboard. March 31, 2017.
23. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 23. May 29, 1993.