Hey Mr. D.J.

"Hey Mr. D.J."
Single by Zhané featuring Fam
from the album Pronounced Jah-Nay
Released August 12, 1993
Format
Recorded 1992–1993
Genre Hip hop soul
Length 4:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • A. Bahr
  • V. Brown
  • A. Criss
  • K. Gist
  • R. Neufville
  • J. Norris
Producer(s)
Zhané singles chronology
"Hey Mr. D.J."
(1993)		 "Groove Thang"
(1994)

"Hey Mr. D.J."
(1993)		 "Groove Thang"
(1994)
Music video
"Hey Mr. D.J." on YouTube

"Hey Mr. D.J." is a song by American R&B group Zhané recorded for their debut album Pronounced Jah-Nay (1994). The song was released as the group's debut single in August 1993 and featured a rap from Rottin Razkals member Fam.

The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1] The single was certified gold by the RIAA for selling 500,000 copies domestically.[2][3]

Background

The song was originally recorded and released on the compilation album Roll Wit tha Flava in 1993.[4] "Hey Mr. DJ" samples the song Looking Up to You by singer Michael Wycoff.

Release and reception

The single was certified gold in the US by October 1993,[5] and was also certified gold in Australia in 1994.[6] Jose F. Promis of Allmusic called the song "a sleek slice of earthy, sophisticated soul that stands as one of the best R&B/pop hits of the '90s."[7]

Billboard wrote: "Female act earns points for not succumbing to the temptation of being just another bunch of new fill swingers. Instead, they choose to conjure memories of the Emotions by laying pretty vocal into the context of shimmying R&B bassline and subtle disco strings. The song itself is a bit thin, but engaging nonetheless—thanks mostly to a charismatic new act with the potential to lure more than a few DJs to the fold."[8]

Network 40 wrote in their review of the song: "Sultry and smooth, Zhane' (...) brings a fresh tasting low groove that's nicely reminiscent of a relaxing, flavorful '70s summer tune. Jean Norris and Renee Neufville comprise the duo of Zhane', while their voices blend together like a shake from an ice cream parlor. Produced by superstar Kay Gee of Naughty By Nature fame, Zhane' proudly sing their tribute record-spinners the world over. They do so without missing a beat on this exciting debut."[9]

Impact and legacy

In 2006, the song was voted number nine on website Slant Magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs.[10] And in 2011 it was voted number 86 in ther list of The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s, adding: "Straight-up, no-bullshit dance music. The duo pronounced “Jah-Nay” let the slack groove thang take you away to a place where the DJ will keep playing that song all night."[11]

BuzzFeed listed the song number 45 in their The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s list in 2017. They wrote: "Great harmonies, chill vibe, rap bridge; all the things you needed to make a perfect early-‘90s R&B dance song."[12]

Pop Culture

In the Season 5 premiere episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air entitled "What's Will Got to Do with It? (Part 1)", Ashley is singing "Hey Mr. DJ" by Zhané in Uncle Phil's record store when Will discovers Ashley has a talent in singing.

Track listings

12", 33​1⁄3 RPM, vinyl
  1. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Maurice's Club Mix) – 6:37
  2. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Maurice's Club Mix w/ Rap) – 6:37
  3. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Original Mix) – 4:20
  4. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Mo's Hey D.J. Work This Dub) – 6:25
  5. "Hey Mr. D.J." (UBQ's Underground Dub) – 6:45
  6. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Moapella) – 2:38
CD, maxi-single
  1. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Original Mix) – 4:20
  2. "Hey Mr. D.J." (7" Remix) – 3:54
  3. "Hey Mr. D.J." (7" Remix w/ Rap) – 3:52
  4. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Maurice's Club Mix) – 6:39
  5. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Maurice's Club Mix w/ Rap) – 6:39
  6. "Hey Mr. D.J." (Mo's Hey D.J. Work This Dub) – 6:25

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 27
Canada Dance (RPM)[15] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 62
France (SNEP)[17] 32
Germany (Media Control Charts)[18] 29
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 20
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[20] 42
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[21] 26
US Billboard Hot 100[1] 6
US Dance Music/Club Play Singles[22] 2
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[23] 3
US Rhythmic Top 40[24] 2
US Top 40 Mainstream[25] 16

Year-end charts

Chart (1993) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 64
Chart (1994) Position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 48

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Billboard > Artists / Zhané > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  2. ↑ "American certifications – Zhane – Hey Mr. D.J." Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. BPI Communications. 106 (3): 73. January 15, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ Bush, John. "allmusic ((( Zhané > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  5. ↑ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - April 12, 2010 : Search Results - Zhane". RIAA. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  6. 1 2 "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original on 2015-10-25. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  7. ↑ "allmusic ((( Pronounced Jah-Nay > Review )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  8. ↑ "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  9. ↑ "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). Network 40 (1992-09-17, page 20). Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  10. ↑ "100 Greatest Dance Songs – Music – Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  11. ↑ "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  12. ↑ "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  13. ↑ "australian-charts.com > Zhané - Hey Mr D.J. (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  14. ↑ "austriancharts.at > Zhané - Hey Mr D.J." (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  15. ↑ Canadian dance peak
  16. ↑ "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  17. ↑ "lescharts.com > Zhané - Hey Mr D.J. (chanson)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  18. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Zhané - Hey Mr D.J. (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  19. ↑ "charts.nz.org > Zhané - Hey Mr D.J. (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  20. ↑ "hitparade.ch > Zhané - Hey Mr D.J." (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  21. ↑ "Official Charts > Zhane". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  22. ↑ "Billboard > Artists / Zhané > Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  23. ↑ "Billboard > Artists / Zhané > Chart History > Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  24. ↑ "Billboard > Artists / Zhané > Chart History > Rhythmic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  25. ↑ "Billboard > Artists / Zhané > Chart History > Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  26. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1993". Archived from the original on 2006-11-10. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
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