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Change (Lisa Stansfield song)

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"Change"
Single by Lisa Stansfield
from the album Real Love
Released7 October 1991 (1991-10-07)[1]
Genre
Length5:39
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
  • Lisa Stansfield
  • Ian Devaney
  • Andy Morris
Producer(s)
  • Ian Devaney
  • Andy Morris
Lisa Stansfield singles chronology
"You Can't Deny It"
(1990) 		"Change"
(1991) 		"All Woman"
(1991)
Music video
"Change" (EU) on YouTube

"Change" is a song by British singer-songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield from her second album, Real Love (1991). The song was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and produced by Devaney and Morris. It was released as the lead single on 7 October 1991 by Arista Records. "Change" was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and Driza Bone.

"Change" became a hit, reaching top 10 in several European countries and Canada. In the United States, it peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart (for two weeks), number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 13 on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart. Two music videos for the song were released: the European version directed by Steve Lowe and the US version directed by Stefan Würnitzer.

In 2003, "Change" was included on Biography: The Greatest Hits. In 2014, the remixes of "Change" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Real Love and on People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology (also on The Collection 1989–2003).

Chart performance

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"Change" became a major hit in Europe, and remains one of Stansfield's most successful songs. It was a top-10 hit in Belgium (6), Italy (2), the Netherlands (7), Spain (6) and the UK (10). In the latter, it peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, on 20 October 1991.[2] The single also was a top-20 hit in Germany (13), Ireland (17), Sweden (13) and Switzerland (12). On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Change" peaked at number 11 in November 1993, while on the European Dance Radio Chart, it reached number one same month.

Outside Europe, the single was successful also in Canada, where it peaked at number 10, and in the US, where it peaked at number-one for two weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 12 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 13 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles. In Australia and New Zealand, the song peaked at number 21 and 20, respectively.

"Change" was awarded one of BMI's Pop Awards in 1993, honoring the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the song.[3]

Critical reception

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The song received favorable reviews from many music critics. David Taylor-Wilson from Bay Area Reporter wrote that Stansfield is "sounding like Donna Summer".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard complimented it as "a gorgeous down-tempo disco trip",[5] adding that with "a subtle slice of Philly-styled soul, Stansfield's lovely alto is caressed by soft strings and a warm bassline. Factor in a memorable chorus and you have the makings of a multiformat smash."[6] A reviewer from Boston Herald noted that the "husky-voiced" singer "purrs" through the song.[7] The Columbus Dispatch remarked that before Stansfield even gets around to singing on "Change", "she breathes - deeply - into her microphone to establish mood. Nearly every line in the song, in fact, is preceded by a sensuous expulsion of breath."[8] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented that "blending elements of jazz, pop and dance is an art Lisa and partners Ian Devaney and Andy Morris perfected on their debut album, and now they take us to level two. If this lead-off single is any indication, her soon-to-be-released album Real Love should cause an awful lot of excitement when it hits the street."[9]

Scott Sterling from The Michigan Daily complimented the song as a "smooth, driving groove with luscious strings and mellow horns that sounds like a '90s Love Unlimited Orchestra."[10] Daniel S. Housman from Miscellany News felt it "seems addressed to a friend in need."[11] Pan-European magazine Music & Media found that on her first single in two years, Stansfield is updating the '70s "Philly" soul sound, "tastefully adding a fashionable dance beat to it."[12] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update named it "her best in ages".[13] The Newcastle Evening Chronicle noted that it "marks the start of a new and exciting era in her career."[14] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt it's the "best track" of the album, saying that "Its catchy melody floats along on a sea of strings and burbling synth and horn riffs."[15] The Sun-Sentinel's reviewer found that "Change" "deals with unconditional love. The woman is telling the man that she loves him and always will despite all he's put her through. (Sound familiar, ladies?) This song has a funky beat that really gets you moving."[16] Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits described Stansfield's voice as "glass-shattering".[17]

Music video

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The European music video for "Change", directed by Steve Lowe was filmed on location in Lisbon, Portugal and features two of the city's notable landmarks, The Monument of the Discoveries at the very beginning and the 25 de Abril Bridge over the river Tagus shown later in background. It begins with a close-up of Stansfield's face against a white background as she sings the chorus. Other scenes show her standing on a balcony on top of a building at night with thunderstorms over the rooftops. She also sometimes sits on a beach. All these scenes are mixed with close-ups of the singer's face against the light background.[18] The video was later made available on Stansfield's official YouTube channel in 2012, and had generated almost ten million views as of February 2024.[19]

Track listings

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Charts

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 5 October 1991. p. 25.
  2. ^ a b "Lisa Stansfield: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  3. ^ "BMI Congratulates The PRS Writers and Publishers of BMI's Most Performed Works of 1992: Most Performed Pop Songs" (PDF). Music Week. 20 November 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. ^ Taylor-Wilson, David (26 December 1991). "Lisa Stansfield Real Love (Arista)". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (21 September 1991). "Dance Trax: Moroder Back On The Dancefloor With New Readings" (PDF). Billboard. p. 30. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (26 October 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 83. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Discs Brit singer Stansfield proves 'Real Love' is intoxicating". Boston Herald. 15 November 1991.
  8. ^ "Stansfield Breathes 'Real Love' Into Follow-Up". Columbus Dispatch. 12 December 1991.
  9. ^ Sholin, Dave (18 October 1991). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1878. p. 60. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. ^ Sterling, Scott (15 January 1992). "Records: Lisa Stansfield - Real Love". The Michigan Daily. p. 8. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  11. ^ Housman, Daniel S. (31 January 1992). "The Inimitable Spirit and Lush Voice of Lisa Stansfield". Miscellany News. p. 9. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 October 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  13. ^ Hamilton, James (12 October 1991). "DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Lisa Stansfield - Change". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 26 October 1991. page 28.
  15. ^ Gettelman, Parry (3 January 1991). "Lisa Stansfield". Orlando Sentinel.
  16. ^ "Stansfield Mines Love's Ups, Downs". Sun-Sentinel. 5 June 1992
  17. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (13 November 1991). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. p. 54. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Lisa Stansfield - Change (Video (Colour Version))". YouTube. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Lisa Stansfield - Change (Video (Colour Version))". YouTube. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2042." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  24. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2049." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  25. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2033." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  27. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 47. 23 November 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  29. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lisa Stansfield". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  31. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 50. 14 December 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  32. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles, 27 October 1991
  33. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  34. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  35. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  36. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  37. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  38. ^ "Lisa Stansfield – Change". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  39. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 October 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  40. ^ "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  41. ^ "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  42. ^ "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  43. ^ "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  44. ^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  45. ^ "Single Top 100 Over 1991" (PDF). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - single 1991". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  47. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  48. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  49. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1992" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  50. ^ "The Year in Music: 1992" (PDF). Billboard. 26 December 1992. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
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