Stay (Sash! song)

The song was universally acclaimed across the music press. Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal viewed it as "Sash’s better effort".Aberdeen Press and Journal. 21 November 1997. p. 14. Jon O'Brien from AllMusic noted the "dramatic" spoken word intro, describing the song as "an epic slice of soulful Hi-NRG pop".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-sash-x-it-mw0001634701|title=Sash! – The Best of Sash [X-It]|last=O'Brien|first=Jon|publisher=AllMusic|access-date= 8 November 2020 }} Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The time has come for this internationally acclaimed producer/musician to finally crack the pop charts. By drafting the belting skills of La Trec for this rare vocal track from his fine album, It's My Life, he offers his most viable mainstream contender to date. The track thumps with Euro-NRG intensity, while a swirl of colorful synths fleshes out the song's simple yet wickedly infectious melody. La Trec, a singer to keep a close eye on, struts across the groove with enough force to please clubheads, but with the sweet allure that popsters require."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-03-07.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=10|date=7 March 1998|page=61|access-date=26 February 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}}

A reviewer from Music Week rated "Stay" four out of five, declaring it "another trancey house stomper. Built around the gospel-like uplifting vocals of San Francisco-born La Trec."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-20.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=20 September 1997|page=31|accessdate=13 September 2022}} Another Music Week editor, Alan Jones, constated that Sash! "are likely to get, their third consecutive smash", complimenting the singer's "gutsy femme vocal".{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-27.pdf|title=Talking Music|magazine=Music Week|date=27 September 1997|page=33|accessdate=13 September 2022}}

"Stay" climbed to number one on both the Canadian RPM Dance chart and the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In Europe, the single entered the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, "Stay" reached number two during its first week on the UK Singles Chart, on October 12, 1997. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland (19). In Oceania, it peaked at numbers 12 and 24 in New Zealand and Australia, respectively. The single earned a gold record in Belgium, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The accompanying music video for "Stay" was directed by Oliver Sommer.{{cite web|url=https://imvdb.com/video/sash!/stay|title=Stay (1997) by Sash! feat. La Trec|publisher=IMVDb.com|access-date=15 October 2018}} It depicts Sascha Lappessen and La Trec in a dream, where he is being chased by female agents. On MTV Europe, some scenes in the video was left out from the original music video. Sommer had previously directed the video for "Encore une fois" and would also be directing the video for the team's next single, "La Primavera". "Stay" was later made available by Altra Moda Music on YouTube in 2016 and had generated more than 22 million views as of February 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrwi79HxaOw|title=Sash! feat. La Trec - Stay (Official Video)|publisher=YouTube|access-date=5 February 2024}}

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• German 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Stay|others=Sash!|year=1997|type=German 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Mighty|id=571 813-1}}

:A1. "Stay" (original 12-inch) – 5:54

:A2. "Stay" (Exit EEE remix) – 5:53

:B1. "Stay" (Magnificent 4 remix) – 6:01

:B2. "Stay" (2 Phunky People remix) – 5:54

• German 12-inch remix single{{cite AV media notes|title=Stay|others=Sash!|year=1997|type=German 12-inch remix single vinyl disc|publisher=X-IT Records|id=X-IT 037R}}

:A1. "Stay" (Armand van Helden "Kano" Remix) – 7:34

:A2. "Stay" (Armand van Helden "Soul Solution" Remix) – 7:41

:B1. "Stay" (Exit EEE's Fly So High dub) – 6:15

:B2. "Stay" (Boris & Beck remix) – 7:10

• German maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Stay|others=Sash!|year=1997|type=German maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mighty|id=571 813-2}}

1. "Stay" (single edit) – 3:29
2. "Stay" (original 12-inch) – 5:54
3. "Stay" (Exit-Eee remix) – 5:53
4. "Stay" (Magnificent 4 remix) – 6:01
5. "Stay" (2 Phunky People remix) – 5:54

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• UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Stay|others=Sash!|year=1997|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Multiply Records|id=CDMULTY26}}

1. "Stay" (original single edit) – 3:29
2. "Stay" (Armand van Helden "Kano" Remix) – 7:25
3. "Stay" (Exit-EEE remix) – 5:53
4. "Stay" (PowerPlant "Suck This" mix) – 7:46
5. "Stay" (Loop Da Loop's vocal mix) – 7:42

• UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Stay|others=Sash!|year=1997|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Multiply Records|id=CXMULTY26}}

1. "Stay" (original single edit) – 3:29
2. "Stay" (Eat Me edit) – 3:52
3. "Stay" (The Lisa Marie Vocal Experience) – 8:37
4. "Stay" (Magnificent 4 remix) – 6:01
5. "Stay" (2 Phunky People remix) – 5:54
6. "Stay" (original 12-inch) – 5:55

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=22 June 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|nosales=true|access-date=22 June 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Sash ft La Trec|title=Stay|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=2013|id=6264-3206-1|access-date=1 November 2020}}

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Category:1997 songs

Category:1997 singles

Category:Multiply Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Oliver Sommer

Category:Sash! songs