Sweetness (Michelle Gayle song)

"Sweetness" is a song by British R&B-soul singer, songwriter, actress and author Michelle Gayle, released on 12 September 1994 by RCA and 1st Avenue as the second single from Gayle's eponymous debut album (1994). It is her most successful hit single, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK R&B Singles Chart. It also peaked within the top 40 in New Zealand and several countries across Europe, including Denmark, where it entered the top 10 and peaked at number seven.

"Sweetness"
Single by Michelle Gayle
from the album Michelle Gayle
B-side	"Say What's on Your Mind" "Looking Up"
Released	12 September 1994 (1994-09-12)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:41
Label	RCA 1st Avenue
Songwriter(s)	Narada Michael Walden Preston Glass
Producer(s)	Narada Michael Walden Preston Glass
Michelle Gayle singles chronology
"Looking Up" (1993) "Sweetness" (1994) "I'll Find You" (1994)

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "The follow-up has been a long time in coming but has been well worth the wait, belying the soap origins of the singer. Radio loves it to death, hence this high entry and I would be very surprised if this does not scrape a Top 10 placing."^[1] He added, "Its the kind of single that grows on you with each play".^[2] A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "Like tea-for-one, there's now also new jill swing for individuals. The radio mix is the sweetest, but the West End mix is far more adventurous and memorable."^[3] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "Penned by Narada Michael Walden and Preston Glass, it's quite odd with some ill-advised spoken segments alongside the better sung parts. It never gets into overdrive, but will still be a hit."^[4] Emma Forrest from NME viewed it as "disconcertingly cheery".^[5] Female pop-punk music duo Shampoo reviewed the song for Smash Hits, giving it two out of five.^[6] Rob Pendry of Swansea Sound called it "excellent" and concluded that "Sweetness" set a "great future" for Gayle, proving she could branch out from her acting career.^[7]

Track listings

UK, European, and Australian CD single[8][9] "Sweetness" (radio mix) "Sweetness" (West End mix) "Say What's on Your Mind" "Looking Up" (radio mix) UK 7-inch and cassette single[10][11] "Sweetness" (radio mix) "Looking Up" (radio mix) "Say What's on Your Mind"

UK 12-inch single[12] A1. "Sweetness" (West End mix) A2. "Sweetness" (Steve Jervier mix) B1. "Sweetness" (the Mellow Drum & Bass mix) B2. "Sweetness" (the All In mix) French CD single and Japanese mini-CD single[13][14] "Sweetness" (radio mix) "Sweetness" (West End mix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995) Peak position Denmark (IFPI)[15] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 18 Europe (European AC Radio)[17] 14 Europe (European Dance Radio)[18] 5 Germany (GfK)[19] 53 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 40 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 38 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 27 Scotland (OCC)[24] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 21 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 4 UK Dance (OCC)[27] 18 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[28] 1 UK Dance (Music Week)[29] 18 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[30] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position UK Singles (OCC)[31] 36

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[32]	Silver	200,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United Kingdom	12 September 1994	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	RCA 1st Avenue	[32][33]
Japan	8 March 1995	Mini-CD	RCA	[34]

References

1. Masterton, James (18 September 1994). "Week Ending September 24th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
2. Masterton, James (25 September 1994). "Week Ending October 1st 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
3. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 39. 24 September 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
4. Jones, Alan (20 August 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 18. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
5. Forrest, Emma (29 October 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 46. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
6. Shampoo (14 September 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 54. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
7. "New Releases – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 39. 24 September 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
8. Sweetness (UK CD single liner notes). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 7432 1230192.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Sweetness (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 7432 1230192.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Sweetness (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 74321 23019-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Sweetness (UK cassette single sleeve). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 74321 23019-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Sweetness (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 7432 12301915.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Sweetness (French CD single liner notes). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1994. 74321258422.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Sweetness (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Michelle Gayle. RCA Records. 1995. BVDP-115.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 48. 26 November 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 46. 12 November 1994. p. 24. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
17. "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 5. 4 February 1995. p. 44. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
18. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 47. 19 November 1994. p. 31. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
19. "Michelle Gayle – Sweetness" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweetness". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
22. "Michelle Gayle – Sweetness" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
23. "Michelle Gayle – Sweetness". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
25. "Michelle Gayle – Sweetness". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
26. "Michelle Gayle: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
27. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
28. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
29. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 September 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
30. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 27 August 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
31. "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 9.
32. "British single certifications – Michelle Gayle – Sweetness". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
33. "Single Releases". Music Week. 10 September 1994. p. 29.
34. "スイートネス | ミッシェル・ゲイル" [Sweetness | Michelle Gayle] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 20 September 2023.