Daydreamin' (Tatyana Ali song)

"Daydreamin'" is a song by American actress and singer Tatyana Ali, written by Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins, Peter Pankey, and Sean Hamilton. Featuring a sample of the Steely Dan song "Black Cow", the song includes an uncredited rap from Pankey and Hamilton, also known as Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. "Daydreamin'" was released through Work Group and Michael Jackson's MJJ Music label on July 21, 1998, as the lead single from Ali's only studio album, Kiss the Sky (1998). The song peaked at number six in both the United States and United Kingdom while becoming a top-five hit in Canada and New Zealand. The single was certified gold in New Zealand and the US.

"Daydreamin'"
Single by Tatyana Ali
from the album Kiss the Sky
B-side
  • "Daydreamin' Part II"
  • "Never Leave You Lonely"
ReleasedJuly 21, 1998 (1998-07-21)
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 5:00 (album version)
  • 4:02 (single edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rodney Jerkins
Tatyana Ali singles chronology
"Daydreamin'"
(1998)
"Boy You Knock Me Out"
(1999)
Audio
"Daydreamin'" on YouTube

Background edit

Following the conclusion of American sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, lead actor Will Smith persuaded co-star Tatyana Ali, who played the character of Ashley Banks on the program, to embark on a music career.[1][3] "Daydreamin'" was written by Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, and Fred Jerkins, as well as Peter Pankey and Sean Hamilton of Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, who perform an uncredited rap verse on the song.[1][4] The track includes a sample of the Steely Dan song "Black Cow", so band members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are given writing credits. Ali recorded the track at Enterprise II and Pacifique Studios in Los Angeles.[4] The song became a US hit shortly after Ali had enrolled in Harvard University, but she decided to stay in school since she had taken a year off from education to record Kiss the Sky, choosing to promote her music during the weekends.[1]

Release edit

MJJ Records and Work Group first tested the song's commercial appeal by providing Los Angeles radio station KPWR with a copy of the song. Following positive reception, KYLD in San Francisco picked up the track, and airplay subsequently spread further. According to KKBT music director Dorsey Fuller, the song was a radio hit because of its jovial tone, lack of references to violence and sex, and compatible rap from a hip hop artist. Mix shows also helped the song gain popularity.[3] "Daydreamin'" was officially serviced to US rhythmic contemporary and urban radio on June 30, 1998, and it was released to retail on July 21, 1998.[3][5] On August 25, the track was sent to contemporary hit radio.[6] In the United Kingdom, MJJ Music and Epic Records released the single as a CD and cassette on November 2, 1998.[7]

Chart performance edit

"Daydreamin'" became Ali's only song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 20 on August 8, 1998, and peaking at number six five weeks later.[8][9] After spending 17 issues on the Hot 100, the song left the chart, appearing at number 55 on the Hot 100's year-end edition for 1998.[9][10] The song also appeared on two other Billboard rankings, peaking at number five on the Hot R&B Singles chart and number two on the Rhythmic Top 40.[11][12] On August 24, 1998, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song gold for shipping over 500,000 units in the US.[13] In Canada, the song reached number five in September 1998 and spent seven weeks on the Canadian Singles Chart while also peaking at number two on the RPM Urban Top 30.[14][15]

Outside North America, the song charted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. "Daydreamin'" appeared on New Zealand's RIANZ Singles Chart first, debuting at its peak of number three on October 11, 1998. It spent a total of four weeks in the top 10 and 13 weeks on the chart altogether, giving Ali her highest-charting single there, and was awarded a gold disc by Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for selling over 5,000 copies.[16][17] At the end of the year, RIANZ ranked it at number 47 on their year-end chart.[18] In the UK, the single debuted at number six, its peak, on the UK Singles Chart in November 1998 and remained on the listing for nine weeks; it is Ali's second-most successful single there, after "Boy You Knock Me Out".[19]

Track listings edit

Credits and personnel edit

Credits are taken from the Kiss the Sky album booklet.[4]

Studios

Personnel

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] Gold 5,000*
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 30, 1998
  • MJJ
  • Work
[5]
July 21, 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
[3]
August 25, 1998 Contemporary hit radio [6]
United Kingdom November 2, 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
  • MJJ
  • Epic
[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Crowe, Jerry (August 27, 1998). "Not Just 'Daydreamin' '". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Reece, Doug (August 22, 1998). "Popular Uprisings". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 34. p. 14. Just as her music career begins to take off with the explosive R&B single "Daydreamin'...
  3. ^ a b c d "Ali Scores Knockout with Debut Single". Radio & Records. No. 1255. July 3, 1998. p. 37.
  4. ^ a b c Kiss the Sky (US CD album booklet). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Work Group. 1998. OK 68656.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b "New Releases / AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1254. June 26, 1998. pp. 45, 53.
  6. ^ a b "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1262. August 21, 1998. p. 39.
  7. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 31, 1998. p. 35.
  8. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. August 8, 1998. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Tatyana Ali Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "American single certifications – Tatyana Ali – Daydreamin'". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7071." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali – Daydreamin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – Tatyana Ali – Daydreamin'". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  20. ^ Daydreamin' (US CD single liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Work Group. 1998. 32K 78855.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Daydreamin' (US cassette single sleeve). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Work Group. 1998. 32T 78855.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Daydreamin' (UK CD1 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1998. 666546 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Daydreamin' (UK CD2 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1998. 666546 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Daydreamin' (UK cassette single sleeve). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1998. 666546 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ Daydreamin' (European CD1 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1998. EPC 666336 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Daydreamin' (European CD2 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1998. EPC 666336 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Daydreamin' (Australian CD single liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Work Group. 1998. 666497 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 47. November 21, 1998. p. 16.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  31. ^ "The Urban Top 40 of 1998" (PDF). Music Week. January 9, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2023.