Wikipedia

Say What You Want

For the Barenaked Ladies song, see Say What You Want (Barenaked Ladies song). For the Nelly Furtado song, see Powerless (Say What You Want).

"Say What You Want" is a song by Scottish rock band Texas, written by band members Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri. It was the first single to be released from the group's fourth studio album, White on Blonde (1997), and released via the bands record label Mercury Records.[1]

"Say What You Want"
Single by Texas
from the album White on Blonde
B-side
  • "Cold Day Dream"
  • "Tear It Up"
Released6 January 1997 (1997-01-06)
Length3:53
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Texas
Texas singles chronology
"Fade Away"
(1994) 		"Say What You Want"
(1997) 		"Halo"
(1997)
Music video
"Say What You Want" on YouTube

A commercial success for the band, it has featured on all the bands compilation albums ― The Greatest Hits (2000),[2] I Don't Want a Lover: The Collection (2004),[3] Say What You Want: The Collection (2012),[4] Texas 25 (2015)[5] and The Very Best of 1989–2023 (2023).[6][7]

Release

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Released in January 1997 by Mercury, it is the band's biggest hit commercially, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. As of March 2023, the single is certified platinum in the United Kingdom for sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units. The accompanying music video released to promote the single shows lead singer Sharleen Spiteri in a futuristic room.

In 1998, Texas collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man and RZA to remix the song as "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)". This version features Method Man and RZA on vocals and was released as a single in March 1998, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in Iceland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Both version of the song are included on Texas's 2000 compilation album The Greatest Hits.

Critical reception

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Quentin Harrison from Albumism wrote in his retrospective review of the album, that "the bulk of White on Blonde examines the high and lows of modern love as best heard on its lead single 'Say What You Want'."[8] Andy Gill from The Independent opined that it crosses a lyric line from "Sexual Healing" with a guitar line from "Tired of Being Alone" "without quite emulating either."[9] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times felt it "has a bit of Marvin Gaye going on."[10] Catherine Eade from Music Week noted the "easy-on-the-ear nature" of the song, "with its Marvin Gaye-influenced chorus".[11] David Sinclair from The Times complimented it as "charming".[12]

Track listings

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  • UK and Australian CD1 (MERCD 480, 578 921-2)[13]
  1. "Say What You Want" – 3:53
  2. "Cold Day Dream" – 4:01
  3. "Tear It Up" – 3:23
  4. "Say What You Want" (Boilerhouse remix) – 4:19
  • UK and Australian CD2 (MERDD 480, 578 923-2)[14]
  1. "Say What You Want" – 3:53
  2. "Say What You Want" (Rae & Christian mix) – 4:50
  3. "Good Advice" – 4:50
  4. "Say What You Want" (Rae & Christian instrumental mix) – 4:50
  • UK cassette single and European CD single (MERMC 480; INT 578 920-2)[15][16]
  1. "Say What You Want" – 3:53
  2. "Cold Day Dream" – 4:01

Personnel

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Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet.[17]

  • Texas – production, mixing
  • The Boilerhouse Boys – additional production
  • Paul Taylor – additional programming

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)"

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"Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)"
 
Single by Texas featuring the Wu-Tang Clan
A-side"Insane"
B-side"Polo Mint City"
Released9 March 1998 (1998-03-09)
Length4:06
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)RZA
Texas singles chronology
"Put Your Arms Around Me"
(1997) 		"Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" / "Insane"
(1998) 		"In Our Lifetime"
(1999)
Wu-Tang Clan singles chronology
"It'z Yourz"
(1997) 		"Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)"
(1998) 		"Reunited"
(1998)

The song was remixed as "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)", featuring Method Man and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, and re-released as a double A-side with "Insane" on 9 March 1998. This version was also a success, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and reaching number three in New Zealand, becoming the band's highest-charting hit in the latter country. A second music video was created, showing Spiteri in a park.

Regarding this version, Spiteri said in Q magazine, "They're the biggest guys I've ever seen in my life. They're like basketball players. I'd just recorded a vocal, and Chef Raekwon's like, 'Yo! Who's that singing?' And RZA goes, 'It's Girlie' – 'cos they called me Girlie. And Raekwon goes, 'Man, you black!' And I laughed so loud. Method Man's a pussycat."[41]

Track listings

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  • UK CD1 (MERCD 499)[42]
  1. "Insane" – 4:45
  2. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" – 4:06
  3. "Polo Mint City" (full version) – 2:50
  4. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (Trailermen mix) – 8:38
  • UK CD2 (MERDD 499)[43]
  1. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (extended version) – 5:02
  2. "Insane" (The Second Scroll) – 6:33
  3. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (RZA instrumental) – 5:13
  4. "Insane" (The Second Scroll dub) – 6:35
  • UK cassette single (MERMC 499)[44]
  1. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" – 4:06
  2. "Insane" – 4:45
  • European CD single (568 596-2)[45]
  1. "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" – 4:06
  2. "Insane" (The Second Scroll) – 6:33

Personnel

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Personnel are lifted from The Greatest Hits album booklet.[17]

  • Johnny McElhone – writing, keyboards, programming, remix and additional production (as Johnny Mac)
  • Sharleen Spiteri – writing, keyboards
  • Method Man – writing (as Clifford Smith)
  • RZA – writing (as Robert Diggs), keyboards, production, programming
  • Ally McErlaine – guitars
  • Eddie Campbell – keyboards, programming

Charts

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Release history

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Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom "Say What You Want" 6 January 1997 (1997-01-06)
  • CD
  • cassette
 Mercury [61]
United States 7 July 1997 (1997-07-07)
[62]
14–15 July 1997 (1997-07-15) Contemporary hit radio [62][63]
30 July 1997 (1997-07-30) College radio [62]
United Kingdom "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" / "Insane" 9 March 1998 (1998-03-09)
  • CD
  • cassette
 [64]

References

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  1. ^ "Say What You Want". Amazon UK. Mercury. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  2. ^ "The Greatest Hits". Amazon UK. Mercury Records. 2004. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  3. ^ "I Don't Want a Lover: The Collection - Texas | Album | AllM". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Say What You Want - The Collection". Amazon UK. Spectrum. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Texas 25". Amazon UK. Play it Again Sam. 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. ^ Gotto, Connor (25 April 2023). "Texas announce The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023 greatest hits album". RETROPOP. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Texas - The Very Best Of - 1989 - 2023. Texas". Texas Official Store. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  8. ^ Harrison, Quentin (1 February 2022). "Texas' 'White on Blonde' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. ^ Gill, Andy (31 January 1997). "Pop Albums". The Independent.
  10. ^ Courtney, Kevin (21 February 1997). "Rock". Irish Times.
  11. ^ Eade, Catherine (22 February 1997). "Track of the Week – Texas: Say What You Want" (PDF). Music Week. p. 20. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  12. ^ Sinclair, David (8 February 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
  13. ^ Say What You Want (UK & Australian CD1 disc notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1997. MERCD 480, 578 921-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Say What You Want (UK & Australian CD2 disc notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1997. MERDD 480, 578 923-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Say What You Want (UK cassette single sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records. 1997. MERMC 480, 578 920-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Say What You Want (European CD single disc notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1997. INT 578 920-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ a b The Greatest Hits (UK CD album booklet). Texas. Mercury Records. 2000. 548 264-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  19. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3306." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 5. 1 February 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  24. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 209 Vikuna 20.2. '97 – 26.2. '97)". DV (in Icelandic). 21 February 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  26. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Say What You Want". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  29. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  31. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  32. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  33. ^ "Texas – Say What You Want". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  34. ^ "Texas: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. 29 November 1997. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  36. ^ "R&R Top 20" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1221. 31 October 1997. p. 40. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  37. ^ "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  38. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  39. ^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 55.
  40. ^ "British single certifications – Texas – Say What You Want". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  41. ^ Collins, Andrew (February 1998). "Their year: Texas". Q #137. p. 93.
  42. ^ Insane / Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) (UK CD1 liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1998. MERCD 499, 568 597-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ^ Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) / Insane (UK CD2 liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1998. MERDD 499, 568 599-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ^ Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) / Insane (UK cassette single sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records. 1998. MERMC 499, 568 596-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  45. ^ Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) (European CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1998. 568 596-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. ^ "Texas feat. The Wu Tang Clan – Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  47. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 13. 28 March 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  48. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.3 – 12.3. 1998)". DV (in Icelandic). 6 March 1998. p. 26. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  49. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Say What You Want/Insane". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  50. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  51. ^ "Texas feat. The Wu Tang Clan – Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  52. ^ "Texas feat. The Wu Tang Clan – Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  53. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  54. ^ "Texas feat. The Wu Tang Clan – Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  55. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  56. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". DV (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  57. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1998". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  58. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  59. ^ "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  60. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  61. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 28 December 1996. p. 19. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  62. ^ a b c Reece, Doug (5 July 1997). "Texas Finds International Hit in 'White'". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 27. p. 12.
  63. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1205. 11 July 1997. p. 42.
  64. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 March 1998. p. 35. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
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