Whenever I Say Your Name
Encyclopedia
"Whenever I Say Your Name" is a 2003 duet between British singer-songwriter
Sting and American R&B singer Mary J. Blige
. The song is the second single from Sting's studio album Sacred Love
. It was not originally included on Mary J. Blige
's sixth studio album Love & Life
but was later added to the album's international re-release.
The single was the third and final non-US single from Love & Life
. The track was released in late 2003, only peaking at #60 in the UK, meaning that the song became Sting's lowest charting single since "They Dance Alone" reached #94 in 1988. It also became Mary J. Blige's smallest hit there since the first release of "Real Love" in 1992. http://www.polyhex.com/music/chartruns/chartruns.php Despite the song's lack of commercial success, it did win the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
for music released in 2003.
The song is arguably one of the most complex works Sting has authored. It is composed in F-sharp minor, using half diminished chords right from the first verse.
The Chorus section quotes exactly the harmonic progression in the first five measures of J. S. Bach's Little Prelude in C major, BWV 924, beginning with the marked ascending circle of fifths sequence. The quotation is likely on purpose, since the change to a descending third sequence in bars 4-5 of the Bach prelude is also quoted in the Sting version. In terms of chord structure, no Sting song comes closer to Classical Music than "Whenever I say your name".
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Sting and American R&B singer Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
. The song is the second single from Sting's studio album Sacred Love
Sacred Love
Sacred Love is the seventh studio album by Sting. The album was released on 30 September 2003. The album featured smoother, R&B-style beats and experiments collaborating with hip-hop artist Mary J. Blige and sitar player Anoushka Shankar...
. It was not originally included on Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
's sixth studio album Love & Life
Love & Life (Mary J. Blige album)
Love & Life is the sixth studio album by American singer Mary J. Blige, released in the United States on August 26, 2003 on Geffen Records. The album was primarily produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs, who executive produced her first two albums. Additional production came from Dr...
but was later added to the album's international re-release.
The single was the third and final non-US single from Love & Life
Love & Life (Mary J. Blige album)
Love & Life is the sixth studio album by American singer Mary J. Blige, released in the United States on August 26, 2003 on Geffen Records. The album was primarily produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs, who executive produced her first two albums. Additional production came from Dr...
. The track was released in late 2003, only peaking at #60 in the UK, meaning that the song became Sting's lowest charting single since "They Dance Alone" reached #94 in 1988. It also became Mary J. Blige's smallest hit there since the first release of "Real Love" in 1992. http://www.polyhex.com/music/chartruns/chartruns.php Despite the song's lack of commercial success, it did win the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
for music released in 2003.
The song is arguably one of the most complex works Sting has authored. It is composed in F-sharp minor, using half diminished chords right from the first verse.
The Chorus section quotes exactly the harmonic progression in the first five measures of J. S. Bach's Little Prelude in C major, BWV 924, beginning with the marked ascending circle of fifths sequence. The quotation is likely on purpose, since the change to a descending third sequence in bars 4-5 of the Bach prelude is also quoted in the Sting version. In terms of chord structure, no Sting song comes closer to Classical Music than "Whenever I say your name".
Track listings
- "Whenever I Say Your Name" (Album Version)
- "Whenever I Say Your Name" (will.i.amWill.i.amWilliam James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
RemixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
featuring The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
) - "Whenever I Say Your Name" (Salaam Remi Groove Mix)
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 77 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 60 |