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Something About You (Level 42 song)

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"Something About You"
Single by Level 42
from the album World Machine
B-side"Coup d'état" (version)
Released13 September 1985 (1985-09-13)[1]
StudioMaison Rouge (Fulham, West London)
Genre
Length
  • 4:27 (album version)
  • 3:44 (7"/video version)
  • 7:40 (12" Sisa mix)
LabelPolydor
Songwriters
Producers
  • Wally Badarou
  • Level 42
Level 42 singles chronology
"The Chant Has Begun"
(1984)		 "Something About You"
(1985)		 "Leaving Me Now"
(1985)
Music video
"Something About You" on YouTube

"Something About You" is a single by the English jazz-funk band Level 42, released on 13 September 1985 by Polydor Records, in advance of its inclusion on their sixth studio album World Machine the same year. The song was written by Mark King, Mike Lindup, Phil Gould, Boon Gould, and Wally Badarou.

Release

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"Something About You" was released in several countries outside the United Kingdom, including the United States, Germany, Italy, Canada, in addition to many countries in South America and Asia. It is the only Level 42 song to have been a top 10 hit in the United States, where it peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as No. 8 on the Cashbox Top 100.[5][6] It was their second top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, reaching no. 6 on the UK singles chart. The single was certified gold in Canada in 1986.

The song received a remix by Shep Pettibone, which Billboard described as a liberal recontouring, with scratched stops, additional vocals and much overdubbed keyboard work".[7]

Critical reception

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In Smash Hits, Dave Rimmer wrote, "It's quite good and all that but there's absolutely nothing special about it. Not one of their best but immediately recognisable as Level 42."[8] Reviewing the 12-inch single, Billboard referred to the song as an "eloquent, precise dance tune [that] shows art-rock as well as r&b roots."[9]

Compilations

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"Something About You" appears in many Level 42 compilation albums, including Level Best (1989), The Very Best of Level 42 (1998), and The Definitive Collection (2006).

Music video

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The music video for "Something About You", which uses the shorter single version, is directed by Stuart Orme,[10] who also directed videos for the Level 42 songs "Lessons in Love" and "Running in the Family" (appearing on their video album Family of Five released in 1987), as well as Phil Collins and Genesis.

Mark King appears as a dark clown magician, representing the negative aspects in the relationships of Mike Lindup, Phil and Boon Gould with their girlfriends, all played by the actress Cherie Lunghi.[11]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[27] Gold 15,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 20.
  2. ↑ Jisi, Chris (1 August 2010). "Royal Return: Mark King Leads Level 42 On Its 30th Anniversary Comeback". Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.. Guitar Player.
  3. ↑ Hermann, Andy (25 January 2017). "10 Underrated '80s Bands You Need to Hear Now". LA Weekly.
  4. 1 2 Gibbs, Ryan (November 15, 2022). "An introduction to Sophisti-pop". In Between Drafts. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955-2010. Record Research.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research.
  7. ↑ Chin, Brian (11 January 1986). "Dance Trax" (PDF). Billboard. p. 41. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Dave Rimmer (29 August 1985). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 19.
  9. ↑ "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 11 January 1986. p. 67. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "New Video Clips" (PDF). Billboard. 25 January 1986. p. 34. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lunghi plays love interest in music video".
  12. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  13. ↑ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  14. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 46. 14 November 1985. p. 12. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "LEVEL 42 – SOMETHING ABOUT YOU" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  16. ↑ "LEVEL 42 – SOMETHING ABOUT YOU". Top 40 Singles.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 21/9/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  18. ↑ "LEVEL 42 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  19. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 139.
  20. ↑ "Album Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. 12 April 1986. p. 15. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via World Radio History.
  21. ↑ "LEVEL 42 Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "12 Inch Single Sales" (PDF). Billboard. 21 June 1986. p. 38. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952–1996. Record Research.
  24. ↑ "Top 100 1985 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  25. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1986/Top 100 Songs of 1986". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  26. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1986". Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2018-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
  27. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Level 42 – Something About You". Radioscope. Retrieved 5 June 2026. Type Something About You in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
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