The Real Thing (Lisa Stansfield song)
"The Real Thing" is a song recorded by British singer Lisa Stansfield for her 1997 eponymous album. It was released as the first proper single from Lisa Stansfield in Europe, Australia and Japan on 10 March 1997, after "People Hold On" (The Bootleg Mixes).
—Stansfield talking to Music & Media about the song.[1]
"The Real Thing" | ||||
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Single by Lisa Stansfield | ||||
from the album Lisa Stansfield and Money Talks soundtrack | ||||
Released | 10 March 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:20 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney | |||
Producer(s) |
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Lisa Stansfield singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Real Thing" on YouTube |
The song is written by Stansfield and Ian Devaney, and produced by Devaney and Peter Mokran. An accompanying music video, directed by Michael Geoghegan, was also released. The CD single included remixes created by prominent US and UK producers: Mark Picchiotti, K-Klass and the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. "The Real Thing" reached number ten in Italy and number nine on the UK Singles Chart. In August 1997, it was featured on the Money Talks soundtrack. Later, it was included on The Remix Album (1998) and Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003).
In 2014, remixes of "The Real Thing" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Lisa Stansfield. Additional remixes were featured on People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology (2014). The previously unreleased remix, Silk's Real House Thang was also included. All was included on The Collection 1989–2003.[2][3]
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from most music critics. Aftonbladet wrote that it is "a real hit".[4] Irish Independent noted it as one of the "moments" of the Lisa Stansfield album, calling it as a "superb" single.[5] People stated that Stansfield is "singing circles around the wah-wah-spiked melodies of "Never Gonna Fall" and "The Real Thing" without resorting to gut-busting theatrics."[6] Press of Atlantic City said in their review, that she "shines" on "the horn-spiced" song.[7] Natasha Stovall from Rolling Stone wrote that "the heat comes from Stansfield, who belts her heart out in a voice that's smooth and pliant when she's falling in love again."[8]
Track listings
European CD single
- "The Real Thing" (Radio Edit) – 4:01
- "The Real Thing" (Mark!'s Radio Edit) – 3:56
Australian/European/Japanese/UK CD maxi-single
- "The Real Thing" (Radio Edit) – 4:01
- "The Real Thing" (Touch Mix) – 5:36
- "The Real Thing" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels's Vocal Mix) – 7:10
- "People Hold On" (Jon Is The Don Mix) – 8:08
Australian/UK CD maxi-single #2
- "The Real Thing" (Radio Edit) – 4:01
- "The Real Thing" (Mark!'s Radio Edit) – 3:56
- "The Real Thing" (Mark!'s Good Time Disco Vocal) – 11:25
- "The Real Thing" (Mark!'s Shelter Vocal) – 9:48
- "The Real Thing" (K-Klassic Mix) – 8:39
European/UK 12" single
- "The Real Thing" (Mark!'s Good Time Disco Vocal) – 11:25
- "The Real Thing" (K-Klassic Mix) – 8:39
- "The Real Thing" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrel's Vocal Mix) – 7:38
Japanese promotional CD single
- "The Real Thing" (Mega Pop Mix) – 4:32
- "The Real Thing" (Hip Hop Mix) – 4:48
- "The Real Thing" (Yutenji Mix) – 4:53
- "The Real Thing" (Radio Edit) – 4:01
UK promotional 12" single
- "The Real Thing" (Mark!'s Genuine Dub)
- "The Real Thing" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Dub Mix)
- "The Real Thing" (Bunker Dub)
UK promotional 12" single
- "The Real Thing" (Touch Mix) – 5:36
- "The Real Thing" (Touch Extended Mix) – 6:27
Other remixes
- "The Real Thing" (K-Klass Mix) – 4:44
- "The Real Thing" (Silk's Real House Thang) – 9:45
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- "'Dirty Rotten' tricks pays off for Stansfield" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- "Lisa Stansfield – The Collection: tracklists". lisa-stansfield.com. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Exclusive: First pictures takes you inside the reissues 'The Collection 1989–2003'". lisastansfield.net. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- Aftonbladet. 4 April 1997.
- "WET WET WET". Irish Independent. 2 April 1997. page 28. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "Picks and Pans Review: Lisa Stansfield". People. 1 September 1997. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- "LISA STANSFIELD FOCUSED WITH HER LATEST RELEASE". Press of Atlantic City. 10 August 1997. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- "Lisa Stansfield - Lisa Stansfield". Rolling Stone. 23 June 1997. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". imgur.com. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- "Ultratop.be – Lisa Stansfield – The Real Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Ultratop.be – Lisa Stansfield – The Real Thing" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. 3 May 1997. Archived from the original on November 29, 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Lisa Stansfield - The Real Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (08.05.1997 – 14.05.1997)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 14. 5 April 1997. p. 19. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "Lisa Stansfield - The Real Thing" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Lisa Stansfield – The Real Thing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Notowanie nr800" (in Polish). LP3. 30 May 1997. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Lisa Stansfield – The Real Thing". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Lisa Stansfield: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart 1993". Retrieved 20 May 2015.