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Mr. Loverman

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This article is about the song by Shabba Ranks. For the novel written by Bernardine Evaristo, see Mr Loverman.

"Mr. Loverman"
Single by Shabba Ranks
from the album Rough & Ready Vol. 1 and Deep Cover (soundtrack)
Released1991[citation needed]
Genre
Length3:36
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
  • Shabba Ranks
  • Mikey Bennett
  • Hopeton Lindo
Producer(s)
  • Clifton Dillon
  • Mikey Bennett
Shabba Ranks singles chronology
"Love Punaany Bad"
(1991) 		"Mr. Loverman"
(1991) 		"Slow And Sexy"
(1991)
Music video
"Mr. Loverman" on YouTube
Shabba Ranks singles chronology
"I Was a King"
(1991) 		"Mr. Loverman"
(1991) 		"Housecall"
(1991)

"Mr. Loverman" is a song by Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks, released in 1992 and 1993 as a single by Epic Records.[1] It reached number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart, as well as becoming a top-20 hit in France, Germany and Ireland. The song was written by Ranks, Mikey Bennett and Hopeton Lindon.[2][3] The music video for the song was directed by Fab 5 Freddy. Spex included "Mr. Loverman" in their "The Best Singles of the Century" list in 1999,[4] and Q Magazine featured it in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.[5]

Origin of song

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The song first appeared as "Champion Lover" by Deborahe Glasgow. Ranks then versioned "Champion Lover" under the new title "Mr. Lover Man", with Deborahe Glasgow the featured female lead. This version appeared on his Rappin' with the Ladies album in 1988. Glasgow's illness and subsequent early death led to the song being re-recorded for release as a single, this time with Chevelle Franklyn as the featured singer.

The version featuring Chevelle Franklyn was originally released in 1992 with the David Morales remix promoted as the main version, when it charted in a modest position on the UK Singles Chart, but after being re-released in 1993, when dancehall music was starting to enjoy mainstream popularity, the track rose to number three on the UK Singles Chart and remains his biggest hit single to date.

This track also features the first time he used his trademark cry "Shabba!", using the sampled vocals of Maxi Priest from the track "Housecall" on Ranks' 1991 album As Raw As Ever.

Critical reception

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AllMusic editor Ron Wynn stated that the artist "kept the slack dancehall", noting his "thick, patois-laced delivery" on the song, that "basically defined" the album.[6] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun commented, "Although "Mr. Loverman" starts off with a drumbeat and backing vocals that would seem at home on any rap album, Shabba's thick accent and sing-song delivery couldn't have come from anywhere but the dancehall scene. It isn't just the way his deep, rough-edged voice booms in hypnotic repetition, either. Most of Shabba's effectiveness stems from his ability to fuse each rhyme into a near-perfect blend of sound and rhythm; drop the rhythm track, and his performances would still be as danceable and addictive."[7]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "the Shabba Ranks success story will have yet another glowing chapter added once radio programmers get their hands on this deliciously sexy R&B/dancehall gem. A languid, shuffling groove is enhanced by easygoing toasting and sultry femme backing vocals. Yummmm."[8] John Martinucci from the Gavin Report felt the song "has hit written all over it".[9] In his UK chart commentary, James Masterton declared it "a strong contender for No. 1", and "a far cry from the days when he was merely the added novelty on Scritti Politti's version of the Beatles' "She's a Woman" which represented his first ever chart appearance in this country."[10] A reviewer from Music & Media said that the "top man in the ranks of raggamuffin artists knows the tricks to break a relatively unknown musical genre. He keeps it simple and accessible with a very high sing-along factor."[11] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described the song as a "huskily ragga rapped swayer."[12]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American visual artist, filmmaker, and hip hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy.[13]

Track listings

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Charts

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[edit]

The song was used briefly in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.[38] It was also featured in the soundtrack of 1992's motion-picture Deep Cover. The song was parodied in an episode of In Living Color titled "Mr. Ugly Man", where it was performed by actor/comedian Marlon Wayans.[39] English football club Birmingham City used to sing this song about their striker Peter Lovenkrands until his retirement in November 2014. The British TV show Total Wipeout used the song for a contestant named Shabba.[40]

Samples and covers

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The drum pattern was sampled by Alanis Morissette on "You Learn" from her multiplatinum album Jagged Little Pill (1995).[41]

References

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  1. ^ "25 R&B Dancehall & Reggae Fusion Songs To Turn You On – Page 3 of 25". 1 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Answers – The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com.
  3. ^ AllMusic Guide
  4. ^ "Die besten Singles aller Zeiten at home.rhein-zeitung.de". Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  6. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Shabba Ranks – Rough & Ready, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  7. ^ Considine, J.D. (1992). "Reggae and rap meet at dancehall". The Baltimore Sun. – via Toronto Star. (23 August 1992).
  8. ^ Flick, Larry (9 May 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  9. ^ Martinucci, John (8 May 1992). "Urban: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 42. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. ^ Masterton, James (14 March 1993). "Week Ending March 20th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  11. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 36. 5 September 1992. p. 11. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  12. ^ Hamilton, James (1 August 1992). "DJ Directory: Out On Monday" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Shabba Ranks: Mr. Loverman". IMDb. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 29 June 1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Shabba Ranks ARIA Chart history (complete to 2024)". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  16. ^ "Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 36. 5 September 1992. p. 21. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  19. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 41. 10 October 1992. p. 36. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Shabba Ranks" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ^ "Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ^ "Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  25. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 August 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Shabba Ranks Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Shabba Ranks Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Shabba Ranks Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  29. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  31. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mr. Loverman". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  33. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 24 April 1993. p. 16. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 March 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  36. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  38. ^ will smith – shaba, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 13 March 2021
  39. ^ Mr. Ugly Man (Shabba), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 13 March 2021
  40. ^ Total Wipeout – Series 4 Episode 1, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 13 March 2021
  41. ^ You Learn, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 31 October 2021
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