Everything (Mary J. Blige song)

"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.

"Everything"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album Share My World
ReleasedAugust 4, 1997 (1997-08-04)
RecordedNovember 1996
StudioFlyte Time Studios
(Edina, Minnesota)
Length4:55
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"I Can Love You"
(1997)		 "Everything"
(1997)		 "Missing You"
(1997)

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 wrote 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."[1] Laura Jamison from Salon also noted that "Everything" quotes Stylistics' song and added that the song "draws you in with its sheer familiarity."[2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams and shot in Kauai, Hawaii in June 1997.[3] The video blends South Asian style against the lush jungles, cliffs and black sand beaches of the island.[3]

Track listing
CD single (CD1), UK (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Everything" (Album Version)5:01
2."Everything" (Full Crew Club Mix)4:31
3."Everything" (Curtis & Moore Vocal Mix)7:13
4."Love Is All We Need" (Remix)4:13
CD single (CD2), UK (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Everything" (Instant Flava Mix)4:31
2."Everything" (Full Crew Old Skool Mix)4:14
3."Everything" (Curtis & Moore Dub)6:00
4."Everyday"4:24

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Share My World liner notes.[4]

Charts

References
  1. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. August 9, 1997. p. 54. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. Jamison, Laura (May 1997). "Sharps and Flats". Salon. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  3. Washington, Shannon (February 12, 2012). "Video Passport: Mary J. Blige's 'Everything' Makes Hawaii's Kauai Real". parlourmagazine.com. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  4. Blige, Mary J. (1997). Share My World (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
  5. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  6. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 237 Vikuna 4.9. '97 - 11.9. '97)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 12, 2018. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. "Mary J Blige - Everything" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mary J Blige – Everything" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. "Charts.nz – Mary J Blige – Everything". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  11. "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  12. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  13. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  14. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  15. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1997". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  16. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1998". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
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