Respectable (Mel and Kim song)

For other uses see Respectable (disambiguation).

"Respectable"
Single by Mel and Kim
from the album F.L.M.
B-side	Instrumental
Released	1987
Format	7" single, 12" maxi
Recorded	1987
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	3:21
Label	Supreme
Writer(s)	Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer	Stock Aitken Waterman
Mel and Kim singles chronology
"Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" (1986) "Respectable" (1987) "F.L.M." (1987)

"Respectable" was a UK number one single for one week in March 1987 for Mel and Kim. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was the team's second number one. It was also number one in New Zealand for five weeks spanning July and August, and in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

A memorable feature of the song is the sampled and sequenced first syllable of the chorus: "Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t, t-t, t, tay, tay, take or leave us...".

UK releases

7" (SUPE 111)

1. "Respectable"
2. "Respectable" (instrumental)

12" (SUPE T 111 / RCA PT 41220)

1. "Respectable" (Club/Extended mix)
2. "Respectable" (7” version)
3. "Respectable" (Extra Beats version [vocal])

12" picture disc (SUPE TP 111)

1. "Respectable" (The Tabloid mix)
2. "Respectable" (7” version)
3. "Respectable" (Extra Beats version [vocal])

12" remix (SUPE TX 111)

1. "Respectable" (The Tabloid mix)
2. "Respectable" (7” version)
3. "Respectable" (Extra Beats version [vocal])

12" remix (SUPE TZ 111)

1. "Respectable" (Shop mix)
2. "Respectable" (7” version)
3. "Respectable" (Extra Beats version [vocal])

Official mixes

A promo release of Respectable

• Album version 5:41
• 7” version 3:22
• Instrumental 4:05
• Club/Extended mix 6:15
• The Tabloid mix 7:53
• Extra Beats version [vocal] 8:08
• Extra Beats version [instrumental] 6:11
• Shop mix
• Remixable 6:41 – by Peter Slaghuis for DMC 1987

Cover versions

Girlband Girls@Play released a version of "Respectable" which reached the UK singles chart at number 28.

Sampling

The song was sampled in Pop Will Eat Itself's song, "Hit the Hi-Tech Groove" on their 1987 album Box Frenzy.

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	1
Austrian Singles Chart	7
Dutch Singles Chart	1
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles	1
French SNEP Singles Chart	14
German Singles Chart	1
Irish Singles Chart	2
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	1
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	5
Swiss Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1

End of year charts

End of year chart (1987)	Position
Dutch Top 40	13
Swiss Singles Chart	15

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Netherlands	Gold	1987	40,000
UK	Gold	1 April 1987	500,000

Chart successions

Preceded by "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by Aretha Franklin and George Michael	Dutch Top 40 number-one single 21 March 1987 – 4 April 1987	Succeeded by "Sailing Home" by Piet Veerman
Preceded by "Everything I Own" by Boy George	UK number-one single 28 March 1987	Succeeded by "Let It Be" by Ferry Aid
Preceded by "Reality" by Richard Sanderson	Swiss number-one single 5 April 1987 – 26 April 1987
Preceded by "Stay" by Pierre Cosso and Bonnie Bianco	German number-one single 10 April 1987 – 17 April 1987	Succeeded by "You're the Voice" by John Farnham
Preceded by "Diamonds" by Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson and Lisa Keith	Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single 4 July 1987	Succeeded by "In Love with Love" by Debbie Harry
Preceded by "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston	Australian (ARIA) number-one single 20 July 1987	Succeeded by "He's Gonna Step On You Again" by The Party Boys
	New Zealand RIANZ number-one single 24 July 1987 – 21 August 1987	Succeeded by "La Bamba" by Los Lobos