Expression (song)
{{Short description|1989 single by Salt-n-Pepa}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Expression
| cover = Expression (album art).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Salt-N-Pepa
| album = Blacks' Magic
| B-side = Clubhouse
| released = November 13, 1989
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 4:04
| label = Next Plateau
| writer = Cheryl "Salt" James
| producer = Cheryl "Salt" James
| chronology = Salt-N-Pepa
| prev_title = Twist and Shout
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Independent
| next_year = 1990
}}
"Expression" is a song by American group Salt-N-Pepa, released as the lead single from their third album, Blacks' Magic (1990). The song was both written and produced by member Cheryl "Salt" James. It became the group's second single to reach the top 40 in the United States, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 while also topping the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, becoming their first song to do so. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 1992 a re-release charted within the top 30 in Ireland and the United Kingdom and peaked at number 13 in France. The accompanying music video is notable for marking the directorial debut of director Millicent Shelton.{{cite web|title=Millicent Shelton – Bio|url=http://millicentshelton.com/bio/|website=millicentshelton.com|publisher=Millicent Shelton|access-date=May 13, 2018}}
Critical reception
Connie Johnson from Los Angeles Times remarked that "Expression" is written "with a power-to-the-individual emphasis", naming it "one of the wittiest rap tracks to emerge this year."{{cite news|first=Connie|last=Johnson|title=In Brief|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 29, 1990|access-date=January 21, 2023|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-29-ca-129-story.html}} Terry Staunton from NME wrote, "A bold experiment combining rap and lovers' rock with a built-in tribute to their favourite rappers near the end. This is going to be bloody massive, Top Ten in matter of minutes."{{cite magazine|first=Terry|last=Staunton|magazine=NME|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52082983956/|date=April 7, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023}} Kim France from Spin described it as "a danceable, darn near perfect number that owes more than a touch to Chaka Khan's 84 proto-hip-house hit "I Feel For You"."{{cite magazine|first=Kim|last=France|title=Spins|magazine=Spin|date=May 1990|page=78|access-date=January 23, 2023|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v28LuIZchkEC}}
Track listing
- A-side
- "Expression" – 4:04
- "Expression" (No Shorts mix) – 5:17
- "Expression" (acappella) – 1:16
- B-side
- "Expression" (instrumental) – 4:04
- "Expression" (Bonus Beats) – 1:30
- "Clubhouse" (vocal) – 5:29
- "Clubhouse" (instrumental) – 5:29
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990–1992) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-05-05.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|date=May 5, 1990|volume=7|issue=18|page=V|access-date=June 19, 2021|magazine=Music & Media}}
|99 |
|---|
| {{single chart|France|13|artist=Salt 'N' Pepa|song=Expression|rowheader=true|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|76|artist=Salt 'N' Pepa|song=Expression|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UK|40|date=19900505|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|26|artist=Salt N Pepa|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|32|artist=Salt N Pepa|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|6|artist=Salt N Pepa|rowheader=true|access-date=September 8, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|8|artist=Salt N Pepa|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|1|artist=Salt N Pepa|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990) !Position |
| scope="row"|US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1990: Top Dance Sales 12-inch Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|issue=51|page=YE-31|date=December 22, 1990}}
|31 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1990: Top R&B Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|issue=51|page=YE-22|date=December 22, 1990}}
|63 |
| scope="row"|US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1990: Top Rap Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|issue=51|page=YE-34|date=December 22, 1990}}
|1 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Salt 'N Pepa|title=Expressions|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=October 22, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
1992 re-release
{{Infobox song
| name = Expression
| version = Hard Ecu edit
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Salt-N-Pepa
| album = Rapped in Remixes: The Greatest Hits Remixed
| released = 1992
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip house
| length = 3:59
| label = Next Plateau
| writer = Cheryl "Salt" James
| producer =
| chronology = Salt-N-Pepa
| prev_title = You Showed Me
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Start Me Up
| next_year = 1992
}}
"Expression" was re-released in 1992 as the first (and only) single from Salt-N-Pepa's remix album, Rapped in Remixes: The Greatest Hits Remixed. The song peaked at number 23 in Ireland and the United Kingdom and number 13 in France.
=Track listing=
- CD maxi-single
- "Expression" (Hard Ecu edit) – 3:59
- "Expression" (Hard Ecu full kength) – 6:18
- "Expression" (House mix) – 6:18
- "Expression" (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker) – 5:46
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1992) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-04-25.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|page=22|date=April 25, 1992|access-date=October 31, 2021}}
|11 |
|---|
| {{single chart|France|13|artist=Salt 'N' Pepa|song=Expression|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019|refname=france13}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|23|song=Expression|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UK|23|date=19920328|rowheader=true|access-date=October 22, 2019|refname="uk1992"}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Salt-n-Pepa}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Millicent Shelton