Something About You (Level 42 song)

"Something About You" is a single released by English jazz-funk band Level 42 in 1985, in advance of its inclusion on the album World Machine the same year. The song was written by Mark King, Mike Lindup, Phil Gould, Boon Gould, and Wally Badarou. Hugh Thompson (Hedge End) sung backing vocals on the 12" remix.

"Something About You"
Single by Level 42
from the album World Machine
B-side	"Coup d'état" (version)
Released	13 September 1985[1]
Genre	New wave[2] synth-pop[3] dance-pop[4] jazz[4]
Length	4:27 (album version) 3:44 (7"/video version) 7:40 (12" Sisa mix)
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Mike Lindup Phil Gould Mark King Rowland Gould Wally Badarou
Producer(s)	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

Background

"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 the weeks of May 31 and June 7, 1986,^[5][6] and 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.

"Something About You" appears in many Level 42 collections, including Level Best, The Very Best of Level 42, and The Definitive Collection.

"Something About You" also appears on the PC version of the video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the Vice City FM radio station.

Music video

The music video for "Something About You", which uses the shorter single version, is directed by Stuart Orme, who also directed videos for the Level 42 songs "Lessons in Love" and "Running in the Family" (appearing in 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 actress Cherie Lunghi.^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986) Peak position Canada RPM[8] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 33 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 10 UK Singles (OCC)[11] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 7 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[13] Remix 4 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[14] 10 US Cash Box Top 100[15] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Position UK Singles (OCC)[16] 53 Chart (1986) Position US Billboard Hot 100[17] 37 US Cash Box Top 100[18] 83

References

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". L.A. Weekly.
4. Gibbs, Ryan (November 15, 2022). "An introduction to Sophisti-pop". In Between Drafts. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
5. Billboard Hot 100, Week of May 31, 1986 – Billboard.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
6. Billboard Hot 100, Week of June 7, 1986 – Billboard.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
7. "Lunghi plays love interest in music video".
8. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
9. "LEVEL 42 – SOMETHING ABOUT YOU" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
10. "LEVEL 42 – SOMETHING ABOUT YOU". Top 40 Singles.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
12. "LEVEL 42 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
13. "LEVEL 42 Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
14. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 139.
15. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 7, 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.
16. "Top 100 1985 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
17. "Top 100 Hits of 1986/Top 100 Songs of 1986". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
18. "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.