Mr. Vain
"Mr. Vain" | ||||
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Single by Culture Beat | ||||
from the album Serenity | ||||
Released | 16 April 1993 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Dance Pool | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Torsten Fenslau | |||
Culture Beat singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Mr. Vain" is a song by German musical group Culture Beat, released in April 1993 by Dance Pool as the lead single from the group's second studio album, Serenity (1993). The song was written by Steven Levis, Nosie Katzmann and Jay Supreme, and produced by Torsten Fenslau. Tania Evans is the lead vocalist and Supreme is the rapper. The female part of the lyrics describes the narcissist title character Mr. Vain, while the rap embodies his selfish desires.[3]
"Mr. Vain" achieved success worldwide, reaching the number-one position in at least 19 countries,[4] including 9, 7 and 6 weeks at number one in Germany, Denmark and Finland. In the United States, it peaked at number 15 on the Cash Box Top 100, number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. In 1994, the song earned an award at the German Echo Award, in the category for "Best International Dance Single"[5] and an award in the category for "Best Hi-NRG 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US.[6] Its accompanying music video was directed by Matt Broadley and received heavy airplay on music television channels such as MTV Europe.[7]
Background
[edit]German DJ and producer Torsten Fenslau and his friend Jens Zimmerman formed Culture Beat in Frankfurt in 1989.[8] They took the name from the idea of trying to mix high culture and music,[8] and had their first hit same year, entitled "Der Erdbeermund" ("Strawberry Lips"), which meshed house sounds with the poetry of 15th century French writer François Villon. With the success of songs like "Rhythm Is a Dancer" by German group Snap! in 1992, which several critics later would compare "Mr. Vain" to,[3][2] the formula for what would be known as 90s Eurodance was now beginning to establish. Fenslau wanted to develop the group further[9] and American rapper Jay Supreme and British singer Tania Evans were recruited to front a new single and album. Supreme had moved to Germany after being in the US Army, while Evans had been working as backing singer for Neneh Cherry.[8] The lyrics to "Mr. Vain" were written by German musician and songwriter Nosie Katzmann with Supreme and Steven Lewis, and the single was released on April 16, 1993.
Critical reception
[edit]AllMusic editor William Cooper called "Mr. Vain" an "engaging house tune". He compared it to Snap!'s "Rhythm Is a Dancer" and Real McCoy's "Another Night" with its "instantly memorable keyboard hook".[2] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "chirpy rave/NRG track", stating that "if its European chart success is a fair indicator", then the song "will be all the rage within minutes."[10] Nicole Leedham from The Canberra Times noted Culture Beat's "combination of soul, insightful lyrics and dance floor-friendly music".[11] Student newspaper Columbia Daily Spectator stated that "near-indiscernible rapping over a pulsing techno beat and an unforgettable synth line" make it "the quintessential '90s dance track."[12]
Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger wrote that "Mr. Vain" "heads straight for the dark heart of the club, sketching a dancefloor predator who – like Eezer Goode [sic] – is as much metaphor as character. For drugs, lust, loss of control – who knows? The lyrics' almost-there English works to the song's benefit – there's an awkward poetry to "Call him Mr Raider, call him Mr Wrong" – and for once the obligatory rap isn't an embarrassment, with Jay Supreme's gloating, bassy flow reminding me of knowingly devilish Chicago house classics like "Your Only Friend". "Mr Vain" is the hustling flipside to "All That She Wants", and almost as good a pop record."[13] John Patrick from Lake District News stated, "The beat is a dream to any dance and the words become so familiar, you can sing along with the chorus on cue."[14]
In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "Stand by for the dance hit of the summer." He added that "although in actual fact as one of the best European dance records of the year so far it would probably have been a major hit anyway."[15] Simon Price from Melody Maker viewed it as an "audacious rewrite" of "Rhythm Is a Dancer", and categorized it as "house music. Not rave, not techno, but good ol' rump-pumping Hi-NRG house." He also remarked, "When Evans purrs, "I know what I want, and I want it NOWWW", empires crumble."[16] Diana Valois from The Morning Call noted its formula of "staccato beats, deep bass lines, and nervous and tinny keyboard riffs." She added, "Balancing the somber vocals of Jay Supreme is the optimistic soulfulness of a cheery Tania Evans".[17]
Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called "Mr. Vain" a "snappy and poppy dance groove".[18] Alan Jones from Music Week declared the song as "maddeningly commercial but lyrically nonsensical",[19] and with "hugely commercial hooks".[20] Jim Farber from New York Daily News described it as "propulsive", with "snappy electronic rhythms and trendy rap break". He commented, "Musically, the song strongly recalls Snap!'s smash "Rhythm Is a Dancer", but its clash of two voices offers a fresh twist. One voice (provided by R&B singer Tania Evans) mockingly describes the ace narcissist "Mr. Vain", while a second (from a rapper named Jay Supreme) embodies the title character's selfish desire – it's a winkling comment on self-absorption on a track made for the indulgent world of dance clubs."[3] In a 2014 retrospective review, Pop Rescue praised it as "fantastically catchy".[21]
Chart performance
[edit]"Mr. Vain" first experienced success in Germany, topping the German Singles Chart for nine consecutive weeks from June to August 1993,[22] before spreading to other European countries. The song spent 33 weeks within the German Top 100. It also topped the charts of Austria (1 week),[23] Belgium (4 weeks),[24] Denmark (7 weeks),[25] Finland (6 weeks),[26] Ireland, Italy (2 weeks),[27] the Netherlands (2 weeks),[28] Norway (2 weeks),[29] Switzerland (4 weeks),[30] and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, the song hit the top spot during its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart, on 22 August 1993,[31] after entering the chart at number 24. It was the first single to top the chart that was not released on 7-inch vinyl,[32][33] spending four weeks at the top and 15 weeks inside the UK Top 100. It sold more than 442,000 copies in the UK,[34] and also topped the Music Week Dance Singles chart as well as reaching number five on the UK Airplay chart.[35][36] Additionally, "Mr. Vain" peaked at number two in Sweden for 4 weeks, behind UB40's "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" and 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up", and was a top-3 hit in France, Iceland and Spain.[37][38][39] The song debuted on the Eurochart Hot 100 at number 65 on 5 June,[40] after charting in Germany. It peaked at number one thirteen weeks later, on 28 August, and stayed at the top position for six consecutive weeks,[41] before Haddaway's "Life" took over the top position at the chart.
Outside Europe, "Mr. Vain" peaked at number one in Australia (1 week),[42] on the RPM Dance chart in Canada for ten weeks,[43] and in Zimbabwe (1 week).[44] In the United States, the single reached number 15 on the Cash Box Top 100[45] and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Mr. Vain" also peaked at number two for two weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart.[46] It charted also in Asia, peaking at number ten on the Japanese Oricon chart.[47]
The song also earned a gold record in Austria (25,000), the Netherlands (50,000), Sweden (25,000), Switzerland (25,000) and the UK (400,000), while it received a silver record in France (125,000). It was also awarded a 3× gold record in Germany, with a sale of 750,000 units, and a platinum record in Australia (70,000) and Norway.
Music video
[edit]A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley.[48] It features Evans and Supreme at a baroque house party populated by a mélange of powdered dandies and silver-vested ravers.[49] The video begins with Supreme in black-and-white, looking at himself in a mirror, putting on a ring. As he looks into the mirror again, he sees the cracks in his face. He then attends the house party. Now in colours, people are dancing at the party and Evans sits in the corner of the room, seeing Supreme peeking by the curtain. He walks towards her and offers her his hand. She leaves, with him following her. Meanwhile, an epic arrangement of fruit is served at the party and it devolves into an hedonistic orgy of juice.[49] As the video ends, after being followed through the hallway and up a dark staircase, Evans finds a hand-mirror lying on a nightstand and puts it up to Supreme's face. In black-and-white, his face becomes cracked and chipped again.[50] The last shot depicts a white rocking horse rocking alone in a room littered with leaves. The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in July 1993.[7] Broadley would also be directing the videos for Culture Beat's next singles, "Anything" and "World in Your Hands".
Impact and legacy
[edit]The German Echo Award honored the song with an award in the category for "Best International Dance Single" in 1994.[5] Same year, it also received an award in the category for "Best Hi-NRG 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US.[6] Same year, Peter Paphides and Simon Price of Melody Maker praised songs such as "Rhythm Is a Dancer", "What Is Love" and "Mr. Vain" as modern classics, "butt-shaking Wagnerian disco monsters. Or, as someone else who knew a thing or two put it: Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat."[51] In 2005, Freaky Trigger ranked "Mr. Vain" number 78 in their list of "Top 100 Songs of All Time".[52]
The Guardian featured "Mr. Vain" in their "Sounds of Germany: A History of German Pop in 10 Songs" in 2012. They wrote, "Culture Beat's glorious "Mr Vain", with its rollicking beat, diva vocals and stilted rapping, comes as close as anything to summarising the spirit of the genre."[53] Australian music channel Max included "Mr. Vain" in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2012.[54] In their "The ABC in Eurodance" in 2016, Finnish broadcaster Yle noted, "If someone could look up "The archetypal Eurodance hit song" in an Encyclopedia there would probably be a link to an audio file for "Mr Vain" - a song that more than anyone else came to define the 90's dance music."[55] BuzzFeed ranked the song number 17 in their "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s" list in 2017.[56]
Track listing and formats
[edit]- CD maxi single (Germany, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
- "Mr. Vain" (Decent Mix) – 7:05
- "Mr. Vain" (Special Radio Edit) – 4:17
- CD maxi single – Remix (Germany, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. House) – 6:18
- Remixed by Doug Laurent
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Rave) – 6:42
- Remixed by Doug Laurent
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Trance) – 6:20
- Remixed by Doug Laurent
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Hardcore) – 6:37
- Remixed by Doug Laurent
- CD maxi single (United States, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
- "Mr. Vain" (Intense Radio Edit) – 3:52
- "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Intense) – 5:28
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Hardcore) – 6:38
- Remixed by Doug Laurent
- 12-inch vinyl single (US, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Club) – 6:39
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Intense) – 5:28
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Liebrand) – 5:40
- "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Hardcore) – 6:38
- Cassette single (US, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
- "Mr. Vain" (Radio Edit) (w/o Rap) – 4:17
- CD single – Promo (US, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Lone Star Edit) – 3:30
- CD maxi single – (United Kingdom, 1993)
- "Mr. Vain" (Special Radio Edit) – 4:17
- "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
- "(Cherry Lips) Der Erdbeermund" (Single Version) – 4:05
- "I Like You" (Single Version) – 3:58
- CD maxi single – Remix (Japan, 1996)
- "Mr. Vain" (FM 802 Rock Kids 802 Mix) – 4:25
- "Mr. Vain" (Hyper Rave Mix) – 5:32
- "Mr. Vain" (Tribal Mix) – 4:47
- "Anything" – 6:26
- "Mr. Vain" (Album Version) – 5:39
- "Culture Beat Mega Mix" – 6:38
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]Original version[edit]1 Mr. Vain Remix! (Japanese mini album) 2 Remix "Mr. Vain Recall" version[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[95][page needed] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[96] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[97] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[98] | Silver | 125,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[99] | 2× Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[100] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[101] | Platinum | |
Sweden (GLF)[102] | Gold | 25,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[103] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[104] | Gold | 400,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[105] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Europe | 16 April 1993 |
|
Dance Pool | [22] |
United Kingdom | 26 July 1993 |
|
Epic | [106] |
Japan | 21 October 1993 | CD | [107] | |
30 June 1994 | Remix CD | [108] |
Covers and samples
[edit]One of the song's original writers, Nosie Katzmann, recorded a new country version of the song.
See also
[edit]- List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1993
- List of European number-one hits of 1993
- List of number-one hits of 1993 (Austria)
- List of number-one hits of 1993 (Germany)
- List of number-one hits of 1993 (Italy)
- List of number-one singles of 1993 (Ireland)
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s
- List of number-one singles of the 1990s (Switzerland)
- List of RPM number-one dance singles of 1993
- List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1990s
- VG-lista 1964 to 1994
- VRT Top 30 number-one hits of 1993
References
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- ^ a b c Cooper, William. "Culture Beat – Serenity". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b c Farber, Jim (28 November 1993). "'Vain' eases pain for Culture Beat". New York Daily News. p. 29.
- ^ Spahr, Wolfgang; Pride, Dominic (4 December 1993). "After three decades, German dance music still floors the world". Billboard. Vol. 105. Issue 49.
- ^ a b Pride, Dominic (26 March 1994). "Dance Music (And a Punk Jester) Captivate Echo Awards Ceremony" (PDF). Billboard. p. 58. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ a b Jimenez, Maria (26 March 1994). "Groovemix: Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 13. p. 11. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 31. 31 July 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Ramesh, Randeep (2 September 1993). "Just Set The Beat, Mr. Vain". The Guardian.
- ^ Soininen, Juha (26 August 2020). Move Your Body (2 The 90's): Unlimited Eurodance. BoD - Books on Demand. p. 61. ISBN 9789528026303. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ^ Flick, Larry (25 September 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 39. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ Leedham, Nicole (19 May 1994). "Everybody Dance Now". The Canberra Times. p. 27. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
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- ^ Patrick, John (26 October 1994). "Column dedicated to deejay". Lake District News. p. B4.
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- ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 7 weeks at number one on the Danish singles chart in August and September 1993.
- Week 1: "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). M&M. Vol. 10, no. 32. 7 August 1993. p. 16.
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- ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 6 weeks at number one on the Finnish singles chart in August and September 1993.
- Week 1: "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). M&M. Vol. 10, no. 32. 7 August 1993. p. 16.
- Week 2: "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). M&M. Vol. 10, no. 33. 14 August 1993. p. 16.
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- Week 6: "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). M&M. Vol. 10, no. 39. 25 September 1993. p. 22.
- ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 2 weeks at number one on the Italian Musica e dischi singles chart in October 1993.
- Week 1: "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). M&M. Vol. 10, no. 40. 2 October 1993. p. 14.
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- ^ "Mr. Vain" spent 10 weeks at number one on the Canadian RPM Dance chart from August to October 1993.
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- ^ "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 23. Library and Archives Canada. 18 December 1993. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "1993 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Jahrescharts – 1993". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "Chart Archive – 1990s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "Airplay Top 50 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 41. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1994". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". IFPI Danmark.
- ^ "French single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in French). InfoDisc. Select CULTURE BEAT and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Culture Beat; 'Mr. Vain')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Dutch single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Mr. Vain in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1993 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Mr. Vain')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr Vain". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 July 1993. p. 25.
- ^ "ミスター・ベイン | カルチャー・ビート" [Mister Vain | Culture Beat] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "リミックス!!ミスター・ベイン | カルチャー・ビート" [Remix!! Mister Vain | Culture Beat] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- 1993 singles
- 1993 songs
- Culture Beat songs
- Dance Pool singles
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- English-language German songs
- Epic Records singles
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
- Music videos directed by Matt Broadley
- Music Week number-one dance singles
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Number-one singles in Austria
- Number-one singles in Denmark
- Number-one singles in Finland
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Number-one singles in Italy
- Number-one singles in Norway
- Number-one singles in Switzerland
- Number-one singles in Zimbabwe
- Songs written by Jay Supreme
- Songs written by Nosie Katzmann
- UK singles chart number-one singles
- Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles