| "You Gotta Be" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Original CD single cover | ||||
| Single byDes'ree | ||||
| from the albumI Ain't Movin' | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 28 March 1994 (1994-03-28) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:04 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Ashley Ingram | |||
| Des'ree singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "You Gotta Be" onYouTube | ||||
"You Gotta Be" is anR&B/soul song by British singer and songwriterDes'ree, written by her with Ashley Ingram, who produced the song. It is the third track on the singer's second album,I Ain't Movin' (1994), and the opening track on the US release of that album. The song was released as a single in March 1994 bySony Soho Square,550 andEpic, becoming a top-40 hit in several countries, and a top-10 hit in the United States and Australia. Its music video was directed byPaul Boyd. By 13 June 1998, the single had sold 358,000 copies in United States, and it has received sales certifications in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The song was used in several television advertisements over the following years, and a 1999remix used in aFord Focus advert became a top-10 hit in Des'ree's native UK and a number-one hit in Spain.Q Magazine included "You Gotta Be" on their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.[1]
Described by Stuart Elliott inThe New York Times as "an infectiously sunny tune about the affirmative powers of self-confidence,"[2] "You Gotta Be" according to Des'ree is, like all the songs on its parent album, "about having the inner strength to figure out who you are" with "You Gotta Be" specifically being "born out of me stopping myself and thinking every day how you gotta be something. You have to be cool and calm in [one] situation, and then you have to be bold and strong in another situation."[3]
Des'ree drew inspiration for "You Gotta Be" from theShakti Gawain bookCreative Visualization which had abetted the singer's recovery from a painful romantic break-up; "I've always been blindly optimistic, and that [book] helped me rise from my melancholia," explains Des'ree who it is said "swears by daily affirmations."[4]
"You Gotta Be" was released several times in the United Kingdom: first on 28 March 1994,[5] then on 27 February 1995 after it had become a US top-10 hit,[6] and again on 22 March 1999 in a remixed version because of its use in the 1999Ford Focus advertising campaign and following the success of Des'ree's previous singles "Life" and "What's Your Sign?".[7][8] The latter release of "You Gotta Be" charted in its highest position out of all three releases in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 10. This version, entitled the "1999 Mix" was added to a re-issue of her third studio albumSupernatural. The original release first charted in September 1994 in the United States and slowly climbed the charts peaking at No. 5 in March 1995, and staying 44 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The remixed version of the song was a number-one hit in Spain for two weeks in February and March 1999.
AllMusic editor Tom Demalon described "You Gotta Be" as "uplifting", noting that it "best exemplified Des'ree's smooth blend ofPop-R&B music and power-of-positive thinking lyrical style."[9]Larry Flick fromBillboard wrote that the "adventurous artist" is pulling out an "percussive mover." He explained further, "Des'ree has a deepalto range and a compelling style that renders anything she sings a sophisticated musical gift. At a time when jockin' anew-jill-swing position is the name of theR&B radio game, single has an iffy future. Justice prevailing, though, programmers with minds of their own (and a modicum of good taste) will give this one a fair shot. Otherwise, punters should take this information and go find thealbum on their own. It's well worth the effort."[10] Michele Romero fromEntertainment Weekly declared the song as "deliciously hypnotic", adding that it "sounds like a mini-motivational seminar".[4]
Dave Sholin from theGavin Report stated, "On her own this time around, she delivers a mid-tempo gem about being one's own person. The lyrics are positive and hopeful—perfect for summertime."[11] Mike Wass fromIdolator wrote, "A relentlessly upbeat self-help anthem with a mantra-like chorus, the track was a much-needed ray of light at the height ofgrunge, and can still be heard in lifts and doctor’s waiting rooms today."[12] In his weekly UK chart commentary,James Masterton said, "The more I listen to this the more I am convinced it is a simple rewrite of her first hit "Feel So High"."[13] Pan-European magazineMusic & Media commented, "In her only two-year absence a whole new generation ofsoul dames have taken over her position of most promising newcomer.Gabrielle's "Dreams" must have been model for this reply."[14]
Alan Jones fromMusic Week wrote, "Folksily soulful in its original version, a remix adds a slow, muscular bass and other elements that leave it sounding like a suave second cousin to theIsley Brothers' "Between the Sheets"."[15] John Kilgo fromThe Network Forty called it a "superb" track.[16]Dele Fadele fromNME viewed it as a "vaguely pleasant rehash" of "Feel So High", "complete with words of advice and a well-streamlined and tasteful dance backing."[17] Bob Waliszewski ofPlugged In found that it is "heeding parental wisdom".[18] Troy J. Augusto fromVariety remarked its "fresh, infectious groove".[19]
The accompanying music video for the song was directed byPaul Boyd; it was filmed in colour, but this was removed during post-production. It was nominated in the category of "Best Female Video" at the1995 MTV Video Music Awards,[20] but lost toMadonna's "Take a Bow".[21]
1994 release[edit]
| 1995 release[edit]
| 1999 mix[edit]
|
Weekly charts[edit]Original version[edit]
1999 mix[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] | Gold | 5,000* |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[66] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States | — | 358,000[67] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
In April 1994, it was used bySky Movies, for their summer preview commercial. In March 1995,ABC began airing an ad campaign forGood Morning America, aimed at attracting a younger demographic and also boosting male viewership, in which Des'ree's "You Gotta Be" played under scenes of "Americans immersed in morning rituals: commuters rushing, a young man shaving, school-bound children" intercut with shots of theGood Morning America hosts.[2]
Also in 1995, the song and music video were parodied byEllen Cleghorne (playingO. J. Simpson's first wife Marguerite Whitley but visually resembling Des'ree) during aSeason 20 episode ofSaturday Night Live. WhileLuscious Jackson were the musical guests that episode, Des'ree herself performed both the song and "Feel So High" as the musical guest two episodes later. The song was also used for Ford's Focus commercial between 1998 and 1999.[citation needed]
This song was featured in the filmsThe Next Karate Kid andThe Object of My Affection. It was also used in a special promo forPBS Kids shown everyMartin Luther King Jr. Day between 2001 and 2006. A cover of the song was also featured in an episode ofDon't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.[citation needed]
After being dropped from Sony in 2004, Des'ree did not allow the use of the song in films, television shows (includingGlee[68] andHappy Endings[69]) or commercials. However, upon her return to the music industry in 2019, the song was re-licensed, with the song being used in the filmCaptain Marvel.[citation needed]
A reworked version of this song was used in the Big Sing 2008. The Big Sing raised money forCLIC Sargent andMarie Curie with hundreds of schools singing this song at the same time across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, breaking the record for "most people simultaneously singing the same song".[70]
In 2021, the song was featured in CW'sThe Flash, covered byMel B in an episode ofAntena 3's Spanish adaptation ofThe Masked Singer,[71] and featured in a mashup withJanet Jackson'sRhythm Nation in the 2021 adaptation ofCinderella, sung byCamila Cabello,Idina Menzel and the ensemble cast.[citation needed]
In 2022, the song was again covered inThe Lake, S1E5. It was sung by Billie, played by Madison Shamoun.[72]
Female video: Madonna, 'Take a Bow'.
