Love Me In a Special Way
Encyclopedia
"Love Me in a Special Way" is a song written and produced by El DeBarge
and recorded by R&B family group DeBarge
, released on the Gordy
label. It was the second single from their third studio album In a Special Way
.
, the song was written, composed, arranged and produced by lead singer El DeBarge
, who mixed his tenor vocal with his high falsetto notes. The song is mostly memorable for El's piano playing and its catchy chorus and for a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder
, a fellow Motown recording artist.
The single reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100
and number 11 on the R&B singles chart and increased the group's fan base as the group emerged as superstars that year. The single would later be covered by IMx
, Tamia
, and Kim Burrell
, and would be sampled by rapper AZ
on a similarly titled single, which featured sampled recordings of El's chorus line from the song.
El DeBarge
Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
and recorded by R&B family group DeBarge
DeBarge
DeBarge was a sibling music group of American origin whose repertoire included R&B, soul, funk, and later gospel. Active as a professional recording group from 1979 and 1989, the group was one of the few recording acts to bring success to the Motown label during the 1980s.-Background:Hailing from...
, released on the Gordy
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
label. It was the second single from their third studio album In a Special Way
In a Special Way
In a Special Way is the third studio album released by family singing group DeBarge released on the Gordy label on September of 1983.-Reception:...
.
Overview
Released as the second single off the group's third album, In a Special WayIn a Special Way
In a Special Way is the third studio album released by family singing group DeBarge released on the Gordy label on September of 1983.-Reception:...
, the song was written, composed, arranged and produced by lead singer El DeBarge
El DeBarge
Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
, who mixed his tenor vocal with his high falsetto notes. The song is mostly memorable for El's piano playing and its catchy chorus and for a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, a fellow Motown recording artist.
The single reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number 11 on the R&B singles chart and increased the group's fan base as the group emerged as superstars that year. The single would later be covered by IMx
IMx
IMx , are an American R&B group, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston , Jerome "Romeo" Jones , and Kelton "LDB" Kessee , all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed...
, Tamia
Tamia
Tamia Hill , and known professionally as Tamia, is a four-time Grammy-nominated Canadian R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, model, entrepreneur and philanthropist, as well as an occasional actress.She is best known for her 2000 hit "Stranger In My House" and Fabolous' 2003...
, and Kim Burrell
Kim Burrell
Kimberly Burrell is an American gospel singer from Houston, Texas. She calls her musical style jazz gospel. Though she is comparatively new to the gospel music industry, having only performed since 1989, she has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the genre, often named as "this...
, and would be sampled by rapper AZ
AZ (rapper)
Anthony Cruz , better known as AZ is a Grammy-nominated American rapper of Dominican & African American descent. He is known for being a long time and frequent rhyme partner of Nas, and also a member of hip-hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature.In a countdown of the 10...
on a similarly titled single, which featured sampled recordings of El's chorus line from the song.
Charts
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
45 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs | 11 |
Personnel
- Lead vocals and piano/keyboards: El DeBargeEl DeBargeEldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
- Background vocals by DeBarge
- Instrumentation by assorted musicians
- Guest instrumentation/harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
solo: Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...