People Everyday

The song uses the chorus and basic structure of Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 hit "Everyday People", with new verses written by lead singer Speech. He also sings the lead, with additional lyrics sung by Dionne Farris, who is not an official member of the group. The single of this song, which was released in 1992, features additional singing vocals by DeAnna Fields, also known as Mawakana Auset, who is an extended family member of the group. DeAnna also appears in the video for this song, in addition to serving as wardrobe assistant for the video as well. It also uses a sample from "Tappan Zee" by Bob James.

The narrator describes an incident in which he is enjoying a day at the park, listening to music and spending time with his girlfriend. The couple's pleasure is interrupted by the arrival of several "niggas" who are drinking heavily, carrying firearms, and behaving disrespectfully toward the woman. The narrator hopes they will leave him in peace, but they instead begin to grope his girlfriend. He eventually flies into a rage and assaults one of the men, requiring the efforts of several police officers to pull him away. The narrator ends the song with a plea for people to treat each other with respect, since there is no way to predict when a verbal dispute might escalate into a fight or a killing.

In a retrospective review, Daryl Easlea of BBC noted that "People Everyday", which updated Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People", "showed how they could embrace the past while modernising the message."{{cite web|first=Daryl|last=Easlea|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/qmxm/|title=Arrested Development 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of... Review|publisher=BBC|access-date=March 1, 2020}} Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard viewed it as a "languid, dancehall-spiced hip-hopper". He added that "uplifting, unity driven rhymes are delivered with laidback finesse. Tradeoff of rapping and singing works extremely well. Destined for hefty (and much deserved) success."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-08-15.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|page=78|date=August 15, 1992|access-date=January 25, 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}} Justin Wilson from The Cavalier Daily remarked that the group's "message of harmony and brotherhood" also resonated on songs like "People Everyday".{{cite magazine|first=Justin|last=Wilson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyUhAAAAIBAJ|title='Lucky Town' tops list of year's best |magazine=The Cavalier Daily|date=January 21, 1993|access-date=March 15, 2020}} Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune found that here, Speech "forcefully sets himself apart from the young toughs who roam the streets aiming to bring everyone down to their level. At times, he brings to mind the visionary fire of the late reggae legend Bob Marley."Kot, Greg (April 9, 1992). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. A reviewer from Music Week's RM Dance Update declared it as a "great follow-up" to "Tennessee", that "takes us back to its roots. Musically this is a very strong mid-tempo hip hop track with a reggae style bassline — a sure club and radio hit".{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-09-05.pdf |title= Hot Vinyl: Buzzing On Promo & Import |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= September 5, 1992 |page= 9 |access-date= October 2, 2020}}

Angus Batey from NME felt the music "works best where it's given room to breathe", as on the "reggae-flavoured" "People Everyday".{{cite magazine|first=Angus|last=Batey|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=May 30, 1992|page=32|access-date=February 22, 2023|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52621378291/}} Another editor, John Mulvey, viewed it as "a deceptively laid-back track", complimenting its "beautifully easy-going, strolling groove." He added, "Wise, warm and impeccably right-on".{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Mulvey|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52723838746/|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=October 17, 1992|page=22|access-date=February 6, 2023}} People Magazine noted that here, the band "scolds men who loiter on street corners, holding their crotches and being obscene".{{cite magazine|url= https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-3-years-5-months-and-2-days-in-the-life-of-vol-38-no-7/ |title= Picks and Pans Review: 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... |magazine= People |date= August 17, 1992 |access-date= November 13, 2020}} Adam Higginbotham from Select said that it "scrambles Sly Stone's anthem into reggae format."{{cite magazine|first=Adam|last=Higginbotham|url=http://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/05/reviews1.jpg|title=Reviews: New Albums|magazine=Select|date=June 1, 1992|page=69|access-date=March 3, 2020}} Another editor, Rupert Howe, constated that "a track like "People Everyday" contrasts the AD pro-African stance with that of a drug- and violence-addicted 'nigga'. "An African is proud of their culture and lives that pride out", Speech says. "While a nigga is just a social product, and that's nothing to be proud of."{{cite magazine|first=Rupert|last=Howe|url=http://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2011/09/first0.jpg|title=Arrested Development School 'em|magazine=Select|date=June 1, 1992|page=33|access-date=March 3, 2020}} Alec Foege from Spin declared it as a "true '90s pop anthem", and "socially progressive and roots-conscious."{{cite magazine|first=Alec|last=Foege|title=20 Best Albums Of The Year|magazine=Spin|date=December 1992|page=67|accessdate=January 25, 2023|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZFqiGmZIPAC}} Matthew Sag from Australian student newspaper Woroni found that the song is covering the issue of "street gangs".{{cite magazine|first= Matthew |last= Sag |title= Arrested Development 3 years, 5 months and 2 days in the life of... |magazine= Woroni |date= March 1, 1993 |page= 30 |access-date= April 24, 2020 |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134421383}}

"People Everyday" peaked at number one on both the RPM Dance chart in Canada and on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart in the United States. On the Billboard Dance Club Play chart, it peaked at number six, while on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number eight. In Europe, the single entered the top 10 in France and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it reached number two during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on November 1, 1992. "People Everyday" was a top-20 hit in Ireland and the Netherlands, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number 12, and it topped the European Dance Radio Chart in October 1992. The song was also a top-30 hit in Sweden. In Australia and New Zealand, it peaked at number six. The single was awarded with a gold record in Australia, New Zealand and the US, as well as a silver record in the UK.

NME ranked "People Everyday" number 38 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1992. British DJ and presenter Trevor Nelson picked the song as one of his favourites in 1996, saying, "It's so happy. It's a crowd participation, hope record, it's so cool. It came out it when there were a lot of emerging acts like Jamiroquai. They were light and happy and broke down all the barriers. This record has a feel-good factor of nine and I used to play it every morning before I got up!"{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-04-13.pdf|first=|last=|title=Jock On His Box|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=April 13, 1996|page=5|access-date=August 15, 2021}}

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• 7-inch vinyl{{cite AV media notes|title=People Everyday|others=Arrested Development|year=1992|type=UK 7-inch vinyl sleeve|publisher=Cooltempo Records|id=COOL 265}}

:A. "People Everyday" (Methamorphosis radio edit)

:B. "People Everyday" (Methamorphosis radio version)

• US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=People Everyday|others=Arrested Development|year=1992|type=US 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=Y-19756}}

:A1. "People Everyday" (Metamorphosis mix) — 4:52

:A2. "People Everyday" (LP version) — 3:26

:A3. "People Everyday" (Maroon mix) — 3:39

:B1. "People Everyday" (Metamorphosis instrumental) — 3:52

:B2. "Children Play with Earth" (LP version) — 2:38

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• US and Canadian cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=People Everyday|others=Arrested Development|year=1992|type=US & Canadian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=4KM-50397}}

1. "People Everyday" — 3:26
2. "People Everyday" (Metamorphosis mix) — 4:52
3. "Children Play with Earth" — 2:38

• European maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=People Everyday|others=Arrested Development|year=1992|type=European maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Cooltempo Records|id=cdcool265, 0946 3 23901 2 7}}

1. "People Everyday" (Metamorphosis radio edit)
2. "People Everyday" (Metamorphosis radio version)
3. "People Everyday" (Metamorphosis mix)
4. "People Everyday" (album version)

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Arrested Development|title=People Everyday|relyear=1992|certyear=1993|id=1993-03-26|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname="NZcert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|artist=Arrested Development|title=People Everyday|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|id=5048-160-1|access-date=May 5, 2020|refname="UKcert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Arrested Development|title=People Everyday|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|access-date=May 7, 2018|refname="RIAA"}}

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{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video}}

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Category:1992 songs

Category:1992 singles

Category:Arrested Development (group) songs

Category:Chrysalis Records singles

Category:Cooltempo Records singles

Category:Songs written by Sly Stone