You Remind Me

This article is about the song by Mary J. Blige. For the song by Usher, see U Remind Me. For the song by Nickelback, see How You Remind Me. For the song by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, see Remind Me (Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood song).

"You Remind Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It served as Blige's first single from her debut album, What's the 411? (1992). Written by Eric Milteer and produced by Dave "Jam" Hall, it was originally used on the soundtrack of 1991 comedy film Strictly Business. The song marked Blige's first top forty hit, reaching number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart.^[3] The music video was released in 1992. The song also sampled Patrice Rushen’s 1982 song, ‘Remind Me’.

"You Remind Me"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album What's the 411? and Strictly Business
Released	June 23, 1992 (1992-06-23)
Genre	R&B[1][2]
Length	4:19
Label	Uptown MCA
Songwriter(s)	Eric Milteer
Producer(s)	Dave "Jam" Hall
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"I'll Do 4 U" (1990) "You Remind Me" (1992) "Real Love" (1992)
Music video
"You Remind Me" on YouTube

Critical reception

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun complimented the "smooth, soulful balladry" of "You Remind Me".^[4] Havelock Nelson from Entertainment Weekly noted its "cascading, intricately layered mid-tempo beat".^[5] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described it as a "slinky groin grinder".^[6] Dele Fadele from NME remarked its "massed harmonies, lovely arrangements and subtle hip-hop beats" and "a luxurious, creamy vocal that makes you wonder why record companies don't seek out more black female singers (remember Cherrelle, Candi Staton, et al)."^[7] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote, "Blige's voice swoops and croons wonderfully on her big hit, "You Remind Me". The tune is built around a nice little phrase but wouldn't really go anywhere if it weren't for the funky hip-hop beat."^[8]

Track listings

US Cassette single[9] "You Remind Me" (Radio version) – 4:15 "You Remind Me" (Extended instrumental) – 5:08 US Cassette maxi-single and CD single[10][11] "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop) – 5:56 "You Remind Me" (Bentley's) – 4:43 "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio) – 5:12 "You Remind Me" (Jazz mix) – 5:15 US 12-inch single[12] "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop) – 5:56 "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio) – 5:12 "You Remind Me" (Bentley's) – 4:43 UK 7-inch single (1992)[13] "You Remind Me" (Album version) – 4:15 "You Remind Me" (Bentley's) – 4:43 UK 12-inch single (1992)[14] "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop) – 5:56 "Leave a Message" (Album version) – 3:38 "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio) – 5:12 "You Remind Me" (Bentley's) – 4:43 UK CD single (1992)[15] "You Remind Me" (Album version) – 4:15 "You Remind Me" (Bentley's) – 4:43 "Leave a Message" (Album version) – 3:38 "You Remind Me" (Daddy Hip Hop) – 5:56

UK Cassette single (1993)[16] "You Remind Me" (Straight to the Heart radio edit) – 3:19 "You Remind Me" (Album version) – 4:15 UK CD single – CD1 (1993)[17] "You Remind Me" (Straight to the Heart radio edit) – 3:19 "You Remind Me" (Straight to the Heart mix) – 5:41 "You Remind Me" (Album version) – 4:15 "You Remind Me" (AD's Radio) – 5:12 UK CD single – CD2 (1993)[18] "You Remind Me" (Bentley's) – 4:43 "You Remind Me" (Phat remix) – 5:37 "Love No Limit" (Puff Daddy remix) – 3:57 "Love No Limit" (Bad Boy mix) – 3:58

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the What's the 411? liner notes.^[19]

• Sean "Puffy" Combs – executive producer
• Dave "Jam" Hall – producer
• Andre Harrell – executive producer
• Eric Milteer – songwriting

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992–1993) Peak position Europe (European Dance Radio)[20] 24 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 48 UK Dance (Music Week)[22] 14 US Billboard Hot 100[23] 29 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[24] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[26] 23

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[28]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 23, 1992	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Uptown MCA	[citation needed]
United Kingdom	June 1, 1993		MCA	[29]

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)

References

1. Harrington, Jim (2015). "Mary J. Blige - "Real Love". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 689.
2. Molanphy, Chris (June 21, 2021). "Say My Name, Say My Name Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 65.
4. Considine, J.D. (1992). "Mary J. Blige – What's the 411?". The Baltimore Sun. – via Milwaukee Journal. (September 20, 1992).
5. Nelson, Havelock (August 7, 1992). "Music Review: 'What's the 411?'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
6. Hamilton, James (June 5, 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
7. Fadele, Dele (July 3, 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 18. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
8. Gettelman, Parry (September 25, 1992). "Mary J. Blige". Orlando Sentinel.
9. You Remind Me (US Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records. 1992. MCACS-54327.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. You Remind Me (US Cassette maxi-single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records. 1992. UPTM 54447.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. You Remind Me (US CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records. 1992. UPTDM-54447.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. You Remind Me (US 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records. 1992. UPT12 54447.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. You Remind Me (UK 7-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. MCS 1683.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. You Remind Me (UK 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. MCST 1683.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. You Remind Me (UK CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1992. MCSTD 1683.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. You Remind Me (UK Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSC 1770.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. You Remind Me (UK CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSTD 1770.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. You Remind Me (UK CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1993. MCSXD 1770.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. Blige, Mary J. (1992). What's the 411? (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records.
20. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. July 10, 1993. p. 17. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
21. "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
22. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 12, 1993. p. 22. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
23. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
24. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
25. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
26. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
27. "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
28. "American single certifications – Mary J. Blige – You Remind Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
29. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 29, 1993. p. 23.