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You Can't Deny It
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = You Can't Deny It
| cover = YouCantDenyIt1990.JPG
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Lisa Stansfield
| album = Affection
| B-side =
| released =
| recorded = 1989
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Arista
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = What Did I Do to You?
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Change
| next_year = 1991
| misc =
}}
"'You Can't Deny It'" is a song by English singer and songwriter Lisa Stansfield from her debut solo studio album, 'Affection' (1989). It was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, produced by Devaney and Morris, and remixed by Gail "Sky" King and Yvonne Turner. The song was released as the album's second North American single on 2 May 1990, by Arista Records and received generally positive reviews from music critics.
"You Can't Deny It" achieved great commercial success, reaching number 14 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 and Canadian 'RPM' Top Singles chart. In 2003, the song was included on the North American edition of Stansfield's first greatest hits compilation album, 'Biography: The Greatest Hits'. In 2014, the remixes of "You Can't Deny It" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of 'Affection' and on her third remix album, 'People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology' (also on 'The Collection 19892003'). The new 24/7 version of the song was included on the deluxe edition of Stansfield's seventh studio album, 'Seven', and on 'Seven+' also in 2014.
Release
"You Can't Deny It" was released as the album's second North American single on 2 May 1990, by Arista Records. In Japan, the song was released on 21 June 1990. The "You Can't Deny It" single also included the previously unreleased tracks, "Lay Me Down" and "Something's Happenin'."
In September 1990, just before Stansfield's European tour, the double A-side single "This Is the Right Time"/"You Can't Deny It" with US remixes was released in selected European countries.
Critical reception
Matthew Hocter from Albumism viewed the song as "R&B inspired" in his review of 'Affection'. Bill Coleman from 'Billboard' stated that here, Stansfield "comes closer to establishing herself as a major star". He noted that "placed on top of a familiar swingbeat, glorious vocals weave effortlessly through lines of retro-fashioned strings and horns." Greg Kot from 'Chicago Tribune' described it as "gliding". Dave Sholin from the 'Gavin Report' wrote that "there are lots of choice selections on Lisa's debut album, and here is a sweet example of her brand of whirling, sophisticated soul. No denying she must be considered among the most promising new artists to emerge this year." A. Scott Galloway from 'The Network Forty' deemed the song a "sexy follow-up". Another editor, Gene Sandbloom described it as "soulful and danceable in all the right places". Amy Linden for 'Rolling Stone' noted that on the song, Stansfield "evokes" Deniece Williams but does it her way, "with a hint of Brit reserve and a cool, never cold, aloofness. Steven Daly from 'Spin' said that "All Around the World" "was a sensational piece of selfinvention around the kind of voice that vaporizes all criticism." He added that "You Can't Deny It" "is again bitin' on Jazzie's groove with a similarly searing vocal. Ahistorical, arculturual, probably amorala great single." Greg Sandow from 'Entertainment Weekly' commented that Stansfield "might be hurtling right to the top of the charts. Can we listen to her soberly? We drive each other crazy", she sings, in a voice like a suffocated flame. No two people ever felt this way", she wants her lucky lover to know."
Chart performance
"You Can't Deny It" became a hit in the United States, reaching number fourteen on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart, number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number two on the Dance Club Songs chart and number 26 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
In Canada, it peaked at number fourteen on the Top Singles chart and Adult Contemporary chart, and also reached number two on the Dance chart.
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Steve Lowe and Jimmy Fletcher. It was later published on Stansfield's official YouTube channel in February 2013. The video has amassed more than 858,000 views as of October 2021.
Track listing and formats
* 'US 7" single / Japanese CD single'
#"You Can't Deny It" (Single Version) 4:32
#"Lay Me Down" 4:21
* 'US CD single'
#"You Can't Deny It" (Single Version) 4:32
#"Lay Me Down" 4:21
#"Something's Happenin'" 3:57
* 'US 12" single'
#"You Can't Deny It" (Extended Version) 7:53
#"You Can't Deny It" (Single Version) 4:21
#"You Can't Deny It" (Sky King Mix) 8:21
#"Lay Me Down" 4:16
* 'US promotional 12" single'
#"You Can't Deny It" (Extended Short Version) 5:04
#"You Can't Deny It" (Extended Long Version) 7:53
#"You Can't Deny It" (Sky King Mix) 8:21
#"You Can't Deny It" (Percapella) 4:14
* 'US promotional 12" single'
#"You Can't Deny It" (Extended Remix) 7:39
#"You Can't Deny It" (Dubmental) 6:47
#"You Can't Deny It" (R&B Radio Remix) 5:01
#"You Can't Deny It" (Silky Sax Mix) 7:39
* 'European 7" single'
#"You Can't Deny It" (US Mix) 4:22
#"This Is the Right Time" (US Mix) 4:12
* 'European CD single'
#"This Is the Right Time" (US Mix) 4:12
#"You Can't Deny It" (Yvonne Turner Mix) 6:08
#"This Is the Right Time" (Shep Pettibone Mix) 6:33
* 'European 12" single'
#"This Is the Right Time" (Shep Pettibone Mix) 6:33
#"This Is the Right Time" (Yvonne Turner Mix) 7:51
#"You Can't Deny It" (Yvonne Turner Mix) 6:08
* 'Other remixes'
#"You Can't Deny It" (24/7) 4:22
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
See also
*List of number-one R&B singles of 1990 (U.S.)
References
Category:Lisa Stansfield songs
Category:1990 singles
Category:Songs written by Lisa Stansfield
Category:1989 songs
Category:Arista Records singles
Category:Songs written by Ian Devaney
Category:Songs written by Andy Morris (musician)
Category:New jack swing songs
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