Buddy X
{{short description|1993 single by Neneh Cherry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Buddy X
| cover = Neneh Cherry-Buddy X.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Neneh Cherry
| album = Homebrew
| released = 7 June 1993{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=5 June 1993}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 2:49
| label =
- Circa
- Virgin
| writer =
- Cameron McVey
- Paul Gorman
- Jerry Barnes
- Neneh Cherry
| producer =
- Booga Bear
- Jonny Dollar
- Neneh Cherry
| prev_title = Money Love
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = 7 Seconds
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|lCvfvFKKNjk|"Buddy X"}}}}
}}
"Buddy X" is a song by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released in 1993 by Circa and Virgin Records as the third and final single from her second album, Homebrew (1992). Co-written and co-produced by Cherry, it was a top-40 hit in both the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, peaking at numbers 23 and 35, respectively. The song also charted in the United States, reaching No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, and in Canada, where it reached No. 28 on the RPM Top Singles chart. Additionally, it peaked at No. 2 on the European Dance Radio Chart by Music & Media and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Its music video was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard felt the song is "way-hip",{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: 'DeNiro' Delivers; 'Gypsyland' A Trip; Exposing I.D. |magazine= Billboard |date= 17 April 1993 |page= 24 |accessdate= 8 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-04-17.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} adding that on this "hip-hop-derived romp", Cherry "further proves that her double talent for singing and rhyming comes in mighty handy, as she swerves from sassy street kid-to worldly chanteuse with ease."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= 6 March 1993 |page= 74 |accessdate= 26 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-03-06.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said, "She speaks for all those who've been jacked around by that special someone in their life. Her message really cuts through, thanks to a catchy hook woven into not only the chorus, but the entire track."{{cite magazine|first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |date= 26 February 1993 |page= 58 |accessdate= 16 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/93/Gavin-Report-1993-02-26.pdf}} Chris Dafoe from Globe & Mail remarked that the song finds Cherry "tipping towards soul".Dafoe, Chris (23 November 1992). "Cherry Mixes A Good Homebrew". Globe & Mail. In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton opined, "The latest is unlikely to progress much further either, a far cry from the days of 'Buffalo Stance' and 'Manchild'."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending June 19th 1993|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1993/week-ending-june-19th-1993|website=Chart Watch UK|date=14 June 1993|accessdate=10 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}}
A reviewer from Music & Media wrote that "intrinsically this is a slow song, but it has the drive of a real mean stomper. When Neneh sings "yeah yeah" you automatically join in and your feet start itching."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-06-19.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=25|date=19 June 1993|page=13|accessdate=29 February 2020}} Dave Piccioni from the Record Mirror Dance Update remarked that the singer "drops the home girl stuff just long enough for us to discover that there's been a good voice in there all along."{{cite magazine|first= Dave |last= Piccioni |title= Hot Vinyl Buzzing |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 8 May 1993 |page= 7 |accessdate= 26 March 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-05-08.pdf}} Adam Higginbotham from Select viewed it as "a fine, simple song — Neneh's voice is laid over bubbling clarinet, scalding backing vocals, and simple R&B guitar lick."{{cite magazine|url=http://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2014/09/albums51.jpg|first=Adam|last=Higginbotham|title=Reviews: New Albums|magazine=Select|date=1 December 1992|page=73|accessdate=3 March 2020|author-link=Adam Higginbotham}} Siân Pattenden from Smash Hits gave "Buddy X" three out of five, adding that "this tune seems boring at first but is a "grower". It has a nice beat and some friendly backing sorts who croon "yeah yeah yeah"."{{cite magazine|first=Siân|last=Pattenden|title=New Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52554099242/in/album-72177720304356889/|work=Smash Hits|date=9 June 1993|page=50|accessdate=15 December 2022|author-link=Siân Pattenden}}
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single. It was directed by French fashion photographer and music video director Jean-Baptiste Mondino.{{cite web|title=Neneh Cherry: Buddy X|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7013074/|publisher=IMDb|date= |access-date=10 September 2021}}
1999 remix
{{Infobox song
| name = Buddy X 99
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Dreem Teem vs. Neneh Cherry
| album =
| released = 25 October 1999
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = UK garage
| length =
| label = 4 Liberty
| writer =
- Cameron McVey
- Paul Gorman
- Jerry Barnes
- Neneh Cherry
| producer = Dreem Teem
| chronology = Dreem Teem
| prev_title = The Theme
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = It Ain't Enough
| next_year = 2001
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|LDnoZh37uWg|"Buddy X 99"}}}}
}}
In 1999, "Buddy X" was remixed by UK garage trio the Dreem Teem and retitled "Buddy X 99". This version was a top-twenty hit, peaking at No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. Other mixes on the single include the Original Dreem Teem Edit, the Dreem Teem Vocal Mix and the Original Dreem Teem Dub Mix.
=Track listing=
- CD single
- "Buddy X 99" (Dreem House Edit) - 3:21
- "Buddy X 99" (Original Dreem Teem Edit) - 3:33
- "Buddy X 99" (Dreem Teem Vocal Mix) - 5:02
- "Buddy X 99" (Original Dreem Teem Dub Mix) - 5:32
Charts
=Original version=
=1999 remix=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1999) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Scotland|42|date=19991106|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 August 2019}} |
| {{singlechart|UK|15|date=19991106|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 August 2019|refname="uk1999"}} |
| {{singlechart|UKdance|1|date=19991106|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 August 2019|refname="ukd"}} |
| {{singlechart|UKindie|4|date=19991106|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 August 2019|refname="uki"}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Neneh Cherry}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Neneh Cherry
Category:Songs written by Cameron McVey
Category:Song recordings produced by Cameron McVey
Category:Song recordings produced by Jonny Dollar