Deep (East 17 song)

"Deep"
Single by East 17
from the album Walthamstow
Released18 January 1993 (1993-01-18)
Genre
Length4:08
LabelLondon
Songwriter(s)Tony Mortimer
Producer(s)Robin Goodfellow, Ian Curnow, Phil Harding
East 17 singles chronology
"Gold"
(1992) 		"Deep"
(1993) 		"Slow It Down"
(1993)
Music video
"Deep" on YouTube

"Deep" is a song by British boy band East 17, released on 18 January 1993 by London Records as the third single from the band's debut album Walthamstow (1993). Following the lacklustre commercial performance of their previous single "Gold", "Deep", written by band member Tony Mortimer and produced by Robin Goodfellow along with Ian Curnow and Phil Harding, returned the band to several international music charts, making the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, Sweden and Zimbabwe, as well as becoming a number one hit in Israel; it also became their first top-five hit in the UK, charting at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It is the band's only single to appear on the main Billboard chart in the United States, peaking at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 in September 1993.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Shuffling, hip-hop-lite beats groove along at a pleasing clip, while harmless rapping and layers of harmony cover the bases of top 40's fave sounds of the moment. It may sound completely formulaic and sugary, but it works incredibly well. Besides, not every song is meant to change the world. Sometimes, a little ear-candy is in order."[2] Adam Sweeting from The Guardian declared it as a "happening dance-pop combo [that] are currently luxuriating in chart glory with the atmospheric 'Deep', though the song is hardly typical."[3] Victoria Segal from Melody Maker wrote, "A phallic monument that could make the Eiffel Tower blush, it swam with hilariously creepy lust-lyrics — I'll butter the toast if you lick the knife, indeed — and a slippery Hot Chocolate bass-line, encapsulating why the choice had to be made."[4] A reviewer from Music & Media felt the "slow rap not unlike L.L. Cool J's standard 'I Need Love' is a fairly inventive piece of music."[5]

Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week, commenting, "After their high octane hit 'House of Love', it's something of a surprise to hear East 17 adopt a shuffle beat, as they do here, for a much less frenetic deadpan rap, punctuated by a melodic chorus, some pretty piano runs and chiming strings. A hit of some magnitude."[6] Jeff Silberman from The Network Forty described it as "a smooth pop/funk ditty with spoken-rap vocals and sweet harmonies. This song is funky enough for crossover, yet polished and melodic enough for the mainstream. An inviting debut from their first album, Walthamstow."[1] Another TNF editor, Wendi Cermak, noted that "down-tempo and smooth, this jam comes off fresh. With a sound something like PM Dawn, this tune is sure to please."[7] Gina Morris from NME wrote, "'Deep' is a gooey, girlie, dripping wet lettuce of a song, set to rival Take That's last abysmal effort."[8] Neil Spencer from The Observer remarked that "with sly sexuality", the band showed "surprisingly clever songwriting."[9] Johnny Lee from Smash Hits gave it five out of five and named it Best New Single, writing that "the tykes from the 'Stow launch into the '93 with a groove so slinky it's almost obscene. Tony purrs his rap - "how much I can touch/How much and where" - in slo-mo mystical fashion. Plus it's got the most squishy chorus ever."[10]

Music video

The official music video for "Deep", directed by Richard Heslop, intercuts clips of the band performing the track in various locations, hanging out, and playing pool in their local area.[11][better source needed]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 18 January 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 London [44]
Japan 26 May 1993 Mini-CD [45]

References

  1. ^ a b c Silberman, Jeff (30 July 1993). "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 20. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Flick, Larry (7 August 1993). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 53. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. ^ Sweeting, Adam (12 February 1993). "Rock/pop: Cool as a glass of Chablis". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Segal, Victoria (9 November 1996). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 49. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 6. 6 February 1993. p. 9. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  6. ^ Jones, Alan (16 January 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ^ Cermak, Wendi (30 July 1993). "Crossover: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 30. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  8. ^ Morris, Gina (16 January 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 17. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  9. ^ Spencer, Neil (21 February 1993). "Pop Releases". The Observer.
  10. ^ Lee, Johnny (20 January 1993). "New Singles: Best New Single". Smash Hits. p. 49. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. ^ "East 17: Deep". IMDb. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  12. ^ Deep (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). East 17. London Records. 1993. LONCD 334, 857 011-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Deep (UK limited CD single liner notes). East 17. London Records. 1993. LOCDP 334, 857 047-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Deep (UK 7-inch single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1993. LON 334, 857 010 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Deep (UK cassette single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1993. LONCS 334, 857 010-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Deep (European CD single liner notes). East 17. London Records. 1993. 857 069-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Deep (French CD single liner notes). East 17. London Records, Barclay. 1993. 857 590-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Deep (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). East 17. London Records. 1993. 857 255-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Deep (US cassette single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1993. 857 254-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "East 17 – Deep". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  21. ^ "East 17 – Deep" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  22. ^ "East 17 – Deep" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  23. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 8. 20 February 1993. p. 23. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  24. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  25. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 12. 20 March 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  26. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  27. ^ "East 17 – Deep" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  28. ^ "East 17 – Deep" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Deep". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  31. ^ "East 17 – Deep" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  32. ^ "East 17 – Deep". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  33. ^ "East 17 – Deep". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  34. ^ "East 17 – Deep". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  36. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 27 February 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. 11 September 1993. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  38. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  39. ^ a b "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1993". ARIA. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  40. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  41. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – East 17 – Deep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  44. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  45. ^ "ディープ | East 17" [Deep | East 17] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 13 March 2024.