"Remember Me" is a 1996 song by British DJ Alexis 'Lex' Blackmore under his pseudonym Blue Boy, first released by Guidance Recordings, Chicago, titled 'Scattered Emotions'. In 1997 the track was rereleased under the title's name on 12", including the original and remixed versions. Built around samples performed by American singer Marlena Shaw, the song peaked at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1997 and No. 2 on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart. It was a top-10 hit in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the track reached No. 13.
"Remember Me" is built around samples from "Woman of the Ghetto" by American jazz, blues and soul singer Marlena Shaw: "Remember me? I'm the one who had your babies", in reference to African-American maids raising white children for little pay, came from a live version, whereas the "ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging..." sample repeated throughout the song is the scat portion of the original song's refrain.[9] Shaw had the following to say about it:
When it first happened, and the Mushroom Jazz people contacted me from San Francisco, I was kind of excited about it. But then, once I actually HEARD it, my first reaction was 'Oh my goodness! How in the world can I possibly stand onstage and sing those same notes, and those same lyrics, over and over again?'! You know, 'I'm the one who had your babies - ha-ha-ha-ha'! I mean, it's different when it's being recorded and you're just pushing the button! But then, once I got used to the idea, I became excited all over again! And actually several other people have sampled the song since, though with them it's been the onstage version I did on the (1973-released) 'Live At Montreux' album that seems to have got more attention - I guess because it was more spontaneous. Which, as I say, is something that HAPPENS in my live performances! And I particularly liked the St. Germain version, which had more of a jazz flavour to it.[10]
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "wickedly catchy dance anthem", noting further that "while the groove is appropriately aggressive and street-credible, the song is iced with accessible keyboards, and a loopy hook takes up permanent residence in the brain upon impact."[11] Australian music channel Max included "Remember Me" in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2012.[12] In 1996, Andy Beevers from Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote that it is "wooing the jazz and funk crowd", placing a Marlena Shaw classic "over a very basic but very bouncy funk rhythm. It's blindingly simple, dead cheeky and undeniably effective".[13] Later, in 1997, another editor James Hyman rated it five out of five, calling it a "ridiculously simple and thus ultra-catchy funker". He added that the samples "and the subsequent 'Remember me, I'm the one who had your babies' hook added to a sparse hip hop break and a gently throbbing bassline not only recalls another classic—the Young Disciples' 'Apparently Nothin'—but commands an instant top 10 chart placing."[3]
Chart performance
"Remember Me" was very successful on the charts all over the world. In Europe, it was a top 10 hit in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. In the latter, the single peaked at number eight in its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 9 February 1997.[14] It also reached the top spot on both the UK Dance and UK R&B singles charts. Additionally, "Remember Me" was a top 20 hit in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 13 in June 1997. Outside Europe, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US, number six on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada and No. 17 in Australia. The single was awarded with a gold record in Australia and the UK, with a sale of 35,000 and 400,000 units.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Cover versions and sampling
In late 2008, the Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala started performing this song as part of their live sets, eventually recording a cover version of it as a B-side to the "Sundown Syndrome" single. This cover became quite popular in Australia, reaching No. 78 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2009.[61]
In November 2012, British musician Daley sampled this song for his own composition "Remember Me", with the refrain sung by Jessie J.[62]
In 2013, South African group Goldfish sampled the song for their track "Three Second Memory". TheSouthAfrican.com said of the song: "Where to start? Obviously the title track, which takes the vocal sample "Remember Me" and builds around it to a level which justifies its standing as the basis of the album."[63]
In 2024, Puma sampled the song for it's "FOREVER. FASTER" world-wide campaign (the first in 10 years for the german company).
References
^"New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 31.
^Remember Me (UK CD single liner notes). Blue Boy. Pharm. 1997. CD PHARM1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Blue Boy. Pharm. 1997. 12 PHARM1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (UK cassette single sleeve). Blue Boy. Pharm. 1997. CA PHARM1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Blue Boy. Jive Records. 1997. 051628-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (European 12-inch single sleeve). Blue Boy. Jive Records. 1997. 051628-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (US CD single liner notes). Blue Boy. Om Records. 1997. OM005 S5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Blue Boy. Om Records. 1997. OM005 S1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Blue Boy. Om Records. 1997. OM005SV3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Remember Me (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Blue Boy. DanceNet. 1997. DNET076 - EPD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
