“You Got Me” is a song by the hip hop band The Roots, featuring vocals by Erykah Badu (who sings the chorus) and Eve, then known as Eve of Destruction, who raps the second verse but does not appear in the music video. She is often thought to be the female that Black Thought lays next to on the concrete at the end, but said figure was merely just a resembling female. The track was released as a single from the band’s fourth studio album, Things Fall Apart (1999).
“You Got Me” was co-written by musician Jill Scott, who recorded vocals for the song’s chorus and bridge. Her part was subsequently re-recorded by Badu at the insistence of MCA Records, who wanted a higher-profile collaboration for the album’s official lead single (at the time, Scott was relatively unknown outside of Philadelphia). When the group later went on tour, Scott joined them during performances of the song. The original version was later released on the 2005 compilation Home Grown! The Beginners Guide to Understanding the Roots, Volume One.
Category: 90’s
Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca
“Livin’ la Vida Loca” (La vida loca means “the Crazy Life” in English) is a number-one hit song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin’s self-titled debut English album (he had previously released several albums in Spanish). The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999. It received various Grammy Awards nominations and helped Ricky Martin obtain enormous success inside the United States and worldwide. In 2007, the song was ranked at number twenty-eight on the list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 90’s by VH1. It is Martin’s signature song.
“Livin’ la Vida Loca” is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition of other Spanish-speaking artists (first Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias, then later Shakira and Thalía) into the English-speaking market easier. Before this time, most non-Latino Americans had never heard of Ricky Martin until what CNN reported was a show-stopping performance of “La Copa de la Vida” at the 41st Grammy Awards show, which became a catalyst in bringing Latin pop to the forefront of the U.S. music scene. “Livin’ la Vida Loca” sold over 8 million copies, making it one of the best selling singles of all time.
Mariah Carey – Honey
“Honey” is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album, Butterfly. It was released as the lead single from the album on August 26, 1997. The song was written by Carey, Puff Daddy, Q-Tip and Stevie J, all of whom served as the song’s producers as well. It samples “Hey DJ” by the World’s Famous Supreme Team, and “The Body Rock” by the Treacherous Three. “Honey” was a re-defining song in Carey’s career, pushing her further into hip-hop world. The song’s lyrics describe the feeling the protagonist feels towards her lover, and compares the sensation to honey, and its overbearing sweetness.
Ugly Kid Joe – Cats In The Cradle
“Cat’s in the Cradle” is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin’s only No. 1 hit song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music. In 1992, the hard rock band Ugly Kid Joe included a cover of “Cat’s in the Cradle” on their debut album America’s Least Wanted. The cover was issued as a single in 1993 and peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, the group’s highest ever position on that chart. The song also peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Chapin’s and Ugly Kid Joe’s singles were both certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
“Unfinished Sympathy” is a song by English trip hop group Massive Attack. Featuring vocals from British singer Shara Nelson, the song was released as the second single from the group’s debut studio album Blue Lines on 11 February 1991. The song – produced by Massive Attack and Jonny Dollar – incorporates various musical elements into its arrangement, including vocal and percussion samples, drum programming, and string orchestration by arranger Wil Malone. Upon release as a single, “Unfinished Sympathy” topped the Dutch Top 40 and became a top twenty hit on the singles charts of countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom.