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Apparently Nothin'
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Apparently Nothin'
| cover = Young_Disciples-Apparently_Nothin'.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Young Disciples
| album = Road to Freedom
| released = 1991
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Acid jazz
*funk
*soul
| length = 3:57
| label = *Talkin' Loud
| writer = *Carleen Anderson
*Marco Nelson
| producer = *Demus
*Young Disciples
| prev_title = Get Yourself Together
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Get Yourself Together (reissue)
| next_year = 1991
| misc =
}}
"'Apparently Nothin'" is a 1991 song by British/American acid jazz band Young Disciples. It features singer Carleen Anderson, who also co-wrote it and was released as the second single from their only album, 'Road to Freedom' (1991). The song remains their biggest hit, and is widely considered as a classic of its genre. It peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, but on the UK Dance Singles Chart, it was a even more successful, peaking at number two. Additionally, it was a top 20 hit in Luxembourg and a top 40 hit in the Netherlands. In 1999, a new version was released with Anderson and British acid jazz and funk group The Brand New Heavies, peaking at number 32 in the UK.
Critical reception
American magazine 'Billboard' deemed the song "wildly contagious". Larry Flick wrote, "Here we have a downtempo jam, fueled with a chunky swing beat (are those real drums we hear ?!) and snakey guitar work. Would slip snugly into sets that include Deee-Lite and Soul II Soul." He added that Anderson injects a "gospel-like fervor into the tune's wildly infectious hook". 'Daily Mirror' said that she make tracks like "Apparently Nothin'" "hard to forget"."ROAD TO FREEDOM: YOUNG DISCIPLES". 'Daily Mirror'. 23 August 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2020. 'The Independent' described it as "era-defining", indicating that the singer "became one of the most recognisable voices of the soul, jazz-funk movement" of the time, and that the emergence of the band along with acts Soul II Soul, Omar, Incognito, D'Influence and Galliano "was as groundbreaking an era as black British music has ever known." A reviewer from 'Knight Ridder' stated that it is "destined to be a club hit", adding that it "involve thick, jazzy bass paired against thin keyboards that prove for the smoothest-yet fusion of hip hop and jazz acid jazz."
Pan-European magazine 'Music & Media' said that Anderson's lead vocals are "pure soul delight", as illustrated on "Apparently Nothin'". Davydd Chong from 'Music Week' 'RM' Dance Update called it a "mind-numbingly brilliant track", "uplifting, inspirational and funky". Phil Cheeseman from 'Record Mirror' wrote, "All very mid-Eighties warehouse jams this kind of low-slung funk, but there's something very sexy about this and Carleen Anderson's vocal is superb, suggesting that the Disciples could be on to something here. Kicks harder than Liverpool when they're one down." Marc Andrews from 'Smash Hits' stated that it "was one of those rare soul-funk throwbacks to the '70s that actually sounded exceptionally groovy and hip in these here cool-catting '90s." Charles Aaron from 'Spin' noted that "this Brit duo with diva-for-hire replaces Soul II Soul's capitalist uplift goo-goo with a fretful attitude and snappier grooves. The Large Professor Rap Mix thumps with even less patience."
Chart performance
"Apparently Nothin'" charted in several European countries. In Luxembourg, the single peaked at number 12 in its second week within the top 20 in August 1991, after entering the chart on number 17 the week before. It then dropped to number 15 and 19 before leaving the chart. In the Netherlands, the single spent four weeks on the Dutch Top 40 Tipparade, before entering the Dutch Top 40 chart with three weeks within it and peaking at number 34. On the Single Top 100 chart, it spent a total of eight weeks within, peaking at number 36 on October 19, 1991. In the UK, "Apparently Nothin'" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on number 55 on February 17, 1991. 46, 59, 62 before leaving the chart. Then in July, it re-appeared at number 33, climbing to number 19 and peaking at number 13 on August 11. The following weeks, the song dropped to number 15, 30, 42 and 64. On 'Music Week's Dance Singles chart, it reached number two in February 1991. And on the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 45.
Impact and legacy
British DJ, radio show host, and founder/managing director of Acid Jazz Records, Eddie Piller chose "Apparently Nothin'" as one of his favourites in 1996, saying, "One of the best British soul tunes of all time. This record took British soul to a new level."
Track listing
* '7" single, Uk & Europe (1991)'
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Edit)
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Soul River Mix)
* '12" single, UK & Europe (1991)'
#"Apparently Nothin'"
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Soul River Mix)
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Instrumental)
* 'CD single, Europe (1991)'
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Edit) 4:03
#"Apparently Nothin'" 4:40
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Soul River Mix) 5:24
#"Apparently Nothin'" (Instrumental) 4:38
Charts
References
Category:1991 singles
Category:1991 songs
Category:Acid jazz songs
Category:Talkin' Loud singles
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