On Bended Knee
Encyclopedia
"On Bended Knee" is a 1994 number-one hit single by Boyz II Men
for the Motown label.
Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
, the single is notable for having replaced the previous Boyz II Men single, "I'll Make Love to You
", as the top song on the Billboard Hot 100
in the United States
. This was the first time that an act had replaced itself at number one since the Beatles
' heyday, when "I Want to Hold Your Hand
", "She Loves You
", and "Can't Buy Me Love
" monopolized the top of the chart for a total of twelve weeks. On Bended Knee stayed at number one for a total of six weeks.
The song also reached #1 on the Hot 100 Airplay
and #2 on the Hot Singles Sales on December 3, 1994.
US Vinyl, 12", Promo
France Vinyl, 12", Promo
Germany Single
Europe Maxi-CD
, Renée Jones
, Lark Voorhies
, and Victoria Rowell
. The video begins with Wanya's girlfriend (Voorhies) in the car with him, accusing him of looking at another woman at the grocery store, and she gets out of the car, leaving Wanya alone. He eventually finds her sitting on bleachers where they make up. Shawn meets a girl (Fields) with a dog at the park and falls in love with her after just meeting her. Michael gets into a fight with his girlfriend (Jones) on his birthday and he's shown alone, drawing a picture of her, but then she comes back to him. Nathan is shown concentrating more on writing music than spending time with his girlfriend (Rowell), which frustrates her so she writes a break-up note on his mirror and leaves him, but she eventually returns to him. The band appears singing on the subway and in the rain.
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
for the Motown label.
Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, the single is notable for having replaced the previous Boyz II Men single, "I'll Make Love to You
I'll Make Love to You
"I'll Make Love to You" is a 1994 number-one hit single by R&B group Boyz II Men for the Motown label. The song, which was written by Babyface, was the lead single from their second album II. It was at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks, from August 27 to November 26, 1994...
", as the top song 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This was the first time that an act had replaced itself at number one since the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' heyday, when "I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment....
", "She Loves You
She Loves You
"She Loves You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney based on an idea by McCartney, originally recorded by The Beatles for release as a single in 1963. The single set and surpassed several records in the United Kingdom charts, and set a record in the United States by being one of the...
", and "Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love
"Can't Buy Me Love" is a song composed by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on the A-side of their sixth British single, "Can't Buy Me Love"/"You Can't Do That".-Interpretation:...
" monopolized the top of the chart for a total of twelve weeks. On Bended Knee stayed at number one for a total of six weeks.
The song also reached #1 on the Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Airplay
The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard...
and #2 on the Hot Singles Sales on December 3, 1994.
Track listing
US Maxi-CD- On Bended Knee (Human Rhythm Remix) 5:29
- On Bended Knee (Swingamix) 5:26
- On Bended Knee (LP Version) 5:29
- On Bended Knee (Human Rhythm Remix Instrumental) 5:29
- I'll Make Love To You (Remix - Sexy Version) 4:33
US Vinyl, 12", Promo
- A1On Bended Knee (Human Rhythm Remix Edit) 4:18
- A2 On Bended Knee (Human Rhythm Remix) 5:28
- A3 On Bended Knee (Swingamix) 5:26
- B1 On Bended Knee (Swingamix Edit) 4:24
- B2 On Bended Knee (LP Version) 5:29
- B3 On Bended Knee (Human Rhythm Remix Instrumental) 5:29
- B4 On Bended Knee (A Capella) 5:05
France Vinyl, 12", Promo
- A On Bended Knee (Album Version) 5:29
- B1 On Bended Knee (Radio Edit) 4:33
- B2 Thank You (Untouchable Mix) 5:48
Germany Single
- On Bended Knee (Radio Edit) 4:33
- End Of The Road (Pop Edit) 3:39
Europe Maxi-CD
- On Bended Knee (Radio Edit) 4:33
- On Bended Knee (LP Version) 5:29
- End Of The Road (Pop Edit) 3:39
- Final Del Camino (End Of The Road, Spanish Version) 5:50
Music video
The music video featured the band members and their break up and eventual reconciliation with four famous actresses: Kim FieldsKim Fields
Kim Victoria Fields is an American actress and television director. She is known for her roles as Tootie Ramsey on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life, and as Regine Hunter on the Fox sitcom Living Single...
, Renée Jones
Renée Jones
Renée Jones is an American dramatic actress. Jones is best known for playing Lexie Carver on NBC's long running dramatic series Days of our Lives, a role she originated in 1993...
, Lark Voorhies
Lark Voorhies
Lark Voorhies is an American actress who rose to fame playing Lisa Turtle in Saved by the Bell, for which she was nominated for the Young Artist Award four times, winning in 1990 and 1993. She also portrayed the role as a regular on Good Morning, Miss Bliss.-Acting career:Voorhies made her acting...
, and Victoria Rowell
Victoria Rowell
Victoria "Vicki" Lynn Rowell is an American actress and dancer. She is best known for her portrayal of ballerina-turned-model Drucilla Winters on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless, and medical examiner/pathologist Dr. Amanda Bentley on the CBS drama Diagnosis: Murder...
. The video begins with Wanya's girlfriend (Voorhies) in the car with him, accusing him of looking at another woman at the grocery store, and she gets out of the car, leaving Wanya alone. He eventually finds her sitting on bleachers where they make up. Shawn meets a girl (Fields) with a dog at the park and falls in love with her after just meeting her. Michael gets into a fight with his girlfriend (Jones) on his birthday and he's shown alone, drawing a picture of her, but then she comes back to him. Nathan is shown concentrating more on writing music than spending time with his girlfriend (Rowell), which frustrates her so she writes a break-up note on his mirror and leaves him, but she eventually returns to him. The band appears singing on the subway and in the rain.
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 21 |
| French Singles Chart | 34 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
20 |
| UK R&B Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
1 |
| US 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... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
2 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
8 |
| US Billboard Eurochart Hot 100 | 55 |
| End of year chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
End of decade charts
| Chart (1990–1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |