Mr Blue (Yazoo song)

"Mr Blue"
Song by Yazoo
from the album You and Me Both
Released1983 (1983)
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:26
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke
Producer(s)

"Mr Blue" is a song by English synth-pop duo Yazoo, which was released in 1983 on their second and final studio album You and Me Both. The song, written by Vince Clarke, was notably covered by Dutch singer René Klijn in 1993.

Yazoo version

Background

"Mr Blue" was one of five tracks to be written by Clarke for You and Me Both.[1] It was recorded at Blackwing Studios in London and produced by Yazoo with Eric Radcliffe.[2] Speaking to Melody Maker in 1983, Clarke commented, "You and Me Both [is] probably more serious than the last album. Alison's always written serious lyrics. I've had a bash at it. 'Mr Blue' is about an emotion called... Mr Blue, like a person."[2]

Critical reception

In a review of You and Me Both, Gavin Martin of New Musical Express described the song as a "shimmering", "beautifully crisp" and "evocative" song which "pinpoint[s] the outcome of the last four years of harsh political strictures". He also noted the song's "genuinely heartbreaking melody which has that bristling shiver down the spine which hallmarks classic pop from all eras past".[1] Mark Cooper of Number One considered both "Mr Blue" and "Unmarked" to show Clarke "develop[ing] his social conscience" and "dealing military madness a blow or two".[3]

Audio described the song as having a mood of "outer-space solitude".[4] Stuart Cohn of Rolling Stone picked "Mr Blue" and "Softly Over" as the best songs on the album, with both setting "ambiguously worded love lyrics to traditional-sounding, hymn-like melodies".[5]

Personnel

Yazoo

Additional personnel

René Klijn version

"Mr. Blue"
Single by René Klijn
Released1993 (1993)
Length3:45
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke
Producer(s)

"Mr. Blue" was recorded by the Dutch singer and model René Klijn in 1993 and became a number one hit in the Netherlands.

Background

Klijn originally performed "Mr. Blue" at the end of his appearance on Paul de Leeuw's De Schreeuw van De Leeuw in November 1992.[6] Klijn appeared on the show to discuss his illness with AIDS. Leading up to his appearance, Klijn requested to perform "Mr. Blue" at the end of the show and he agreed that De Leeuw could accompany him by singing with him during the chorus.[7]

The broadcast was viewed by millions and provided a greater awareness of the disease across the country. Klijn then recorded a studio version of the song, which featured contributions from Cor Bakker, Candy Dulfer and John van Eijk.[6] It was released as a single in early 1993 and reached No. 1 on the Dutch Single Top 100 and Dutch Top 40 charts. It became the country's best selling single of the year, with all proceeds donated to an AIDS foundation.[8] Klijn died on 5 September 1993.[7]

Track listing

CD single
  1. "Mr. Blue" – 3:45
  2. "I Need You" – 3:30
  3. "My Best Friend" – 5:10
  4. "Mr. Blue" (live recording from De Schreeuw van De Leeuw, 28 November 1992) – 3:53

Personnel

Mr. Blue

  • René Klijn – vocals, producer
  • Mildred Douglas – backing vocals
  • Cor Bakker – grand piano, arranger, leader, producer
  • Gerard Peters – guitar
  • Candy Dulfer – saxophone
  • John van Eijk – synthesizer, producer
  • Charlie Angenois – bass
  • Gerhard Jeltes – drums

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[9] 52
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 1

Other versions

References

  1. ^ a b Martin, Gavin. "Both sides up!". New Musical Express. No. 9 July 1983. p. 26.
  2. ^ a b Colbert, Paul. "Diary of a somebody". Melody Maker. No. 25 June 1983. pp. 24=25.
  3. ^ Cooper, Mark. "Albums". Number One. No. 9 July 1983. p. 33.
  4. ^ "Audio". Radio Magazine. 2 January 1985 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Stuart Cohn. "Recordings: Yaz, You & Me Both, 4 Stars". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 June 2001. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b Bartelds, Jaap (5 September 2018). "25 jaar geleden overleed René Klijn. Een eerbetoon". winq.nl. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b Schmale, Jeroen (5 September 2018). "25 jaar na overlijden René Klijn: zo gaf hij aids een gezicht". dpgmedia.nl. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ "René Klijn - Mr. Blue". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 16. 17 April 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 2 January 2021 – via American Radio History.
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – René Klijn" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  11. ^ "René Klijn – Mr. Blue" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ^ Hayward, Anthony (19 June 2012). "Brian Hibbard obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2021.