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Everything (Mary J. Blige song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Everything
| cover = MJBEverything.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Mary J. Blige
| album = Share My World
| released =
| recorded =
| studio = Flyte Time (Edina, Minnesota)
| genre =
| length = 4:55
| label = MCA
| writer =
* James Harris III
* Terry Lewis
| producer = Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
| prev_title = I Can Love You
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Missing You
| next_year = 1997
| misc =
}}
"'Everything'" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for Blige's third album, 'Share My World' (1997). The song contains samples from "You Are Everything" (1971) by American soul group The Stylistics and "The Payback" (1973) by American singer James Brown, also incorporating elements from "Sukiyaki" (1961) by Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto. Due to the inclusion of the samples, Brown, Hachidai Nakamura, Rokusuke Ei, Linda Creed, Thom Bell, John Starks, and Fred Wesley are also credited as songwriters.
MCA Records released the song as the third single from 'Share My World' in August 1997. "Everything" reached number twenty-four on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 and number five on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It also peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Blige's first top ten hit in the UK, and entered the top ten in the Netherlands and the top twenty in New Zealand. An accompanying music video, directed by Hype Williams, was filmed in Kauai, Hawaii in June 1997.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from 'Billboard' stated in his review of "Everything", that Blige "is in typically solid diva form on this romantic jeep cruiser, which is fueled by a prominent sample of "You Are Everything" by the Stylistics, as well as a snippet from James Brown's "The Payback"." He noted that producers Jam and Lewis "do an exemplary job of letting Blige breathe freely as an artist (which she does with delicious soul), while also injecting their own signature pop/R&B flavor." Jonathan Bernstein from 'Entertainment Weekly' felt that "she unleashes equal joy" on the song. Alan Jones from 'Music Week' declared it as a "wonderful Jam & Lewis creation" and "a spartan urban contemporary track, which provides emphatic proof of Blige's singing ability." Ralph Tee from the magazine's 'RM' Dance Update concluded, "For me this is the standout song from 'Share My World', the familiarity factor in the music and Mary's best vocal yet having a lot to do with it." Gerald Martinez from 'New Sunday Times' opined that Blige "mixes sweetness and power". Laura Jamison from 'Salon' also noted that "Everything" quotes Stylistics' song, adding that it "draws you in with its sheer familiarity."
Music video
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by American director Hype Williams and shot in Kauai, Hawaii in June 1997. The video blends South Asian style against the lush jungles, cliffs and black sand beaches of the island.
Track listings
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the 'Share My World' liner notes.
* Thom Bell writer (sample)
* Mary J. Blige executive producer, vocals
* James Brown writer (sample)
* Linda Creed writer (sample)
* Rokusuke Ei writer (sample)
* James Harris III producer, writer
* Terry Lewis producer, writer
* Hachidai Nakamura writer (sample)
* John Starks writer (sample)
* Steve Stoute producer
* Fred Wesley writer (sample)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
Category:1997 singles
Category:1997 songs
Category:Mary J. Blige songs
Category:MCA Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Hype Williams
Category:Song recordings produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Category:Songs with music by Hachidai Nakamura
Category:Songs written by Fred Wesley
Category:Songs written by James Brown
Category:Songs written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Category:Songs written by John "Jabo" Starks
Category:Songs written by Linda Creed
Category:Songs written by Thom Bell
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