"Take Me Higher" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 5, 1995, by Motown Records as the first single from her 21st album of the same name (1995). Co-written and produced by Narada Michael Walden featuring additional credits from Mike Mani, it became Ross' fifth number-one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the US.[1] In Europe, it entered the top forty in Scotland and the UK, but was an even bigger hit on the UK Dance Chart, peaking at number four.
"Take Me Higher" | ||||
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Single by Diana Ross | ||||
from the album Take Me Higher | ||||
B-side |
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Released | August 5, 1995 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 4:13 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Narada Michael Walden | |||
Diana Ross singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Take Me Higher" on YouTube |
Critical reception
editLarry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "swirling retro disco ditty that inspires a wonderfully loose and playful performance", and complimented its chorus as "instantly infectious and brimming with warm optimism."[2] Gil L. Robertson IV from Cash Box stated that "Lady Ross is in fine form with a confident vocal delivery, while her music backdrop is a throwback to the glory days of disco."[3] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan called it "a fine dance number that Ross revels in".[4] Quincy McCoy from the Gavin Report noted that it "kicks up a happy feeling of nostalgia along with keeping a contemporary feel that brings a smile to your feet."[5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that here, "La Ross shifts to a higher gear, the pop dance speed."[6]
A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, describing is as "a slight affair".[7] Music Week editor Alan Jones deemed it "a fairly innocuous affair – pleasant, undemanding and vaguely anthemic in its regular mix".[8] Rupert Howe from NME said, "Needless to say Ms Ross' attempts to cut it on a hip-thrusting house track at an age when most women are claiming their bus passes proves to be no 'Chain Reaction'."[9] In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue felt that the singer's vocals "are strong and confident in the verses, but a little weaker in the chorus", adding that "she's joined by backing singers to help lift her higher."[10] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update declared it as a "soaring anxious wailer".[11]
Music video
editThe single's accompanying music video featured scenes of Ross in a cocktail dress on stage, while dancers execute a choreography and the band plays the song, intercut with footage of Ross on the beach.[12] It received solid airplay on American television network BET.[13]
Track listings
edit- CD single, UK (1995)
- "Take Me Higher" – 4:21
- "Let Somebody Know" – 4:57
- "Too Many Nights" – 4:36
- CD maxi, US (1995)
- "Take Me Higher" (12-inch mix) – 7:25
- "Take Me Higher" (dub mix) – 9:34
- "Take Me Higher" (a capella) – 3:44
- "Take Me Higher" (LP version) – 4:13
- "Take Me Higher" (radio edit) – 4:02
- "Take Me Higher" (instrumental) – 4:11
Credits and personnel
editCredits are adapted from the liner notes of Take Me Higher.[14]
- Patti Austin – background vocals
- Angela Bofill – background vocals
- Sally Jo Dakota – writing
- Nikita Germaine – background vocals, writing
- Allen Gregorie – mix engineering
- Sandy Griffith – background vocals
- Kevin Hedge – mixing
- Tony Lindsay – background vocals
- Mike Mani – associate production
- Timmy Regisford – mixing
- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- Narada Michael Walden – production, writing
Charts
editChart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] | 61 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[16] | 13 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)[17] | 7 |
Scotland (OCC)[18] | 35 |
UK Singles (OCC)[19] | 32 |
UK Dance (OCC)[20] | 4 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21] | 14 |
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[22] | 1 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] | 77 |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | August 5, 1995 |
|
Motown | [citation needed] |
United Kingdom | August 21, 1995 |
|
EMI United Kingdom | [24] |
Japan | October 18, 1995 | CD | EMI | [25] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 222.
- ^ Flick, Larry (September 16, 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 47. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ Robertson IV, Gil L. (September 23, 1995). "Pop Singles: Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ Millan, Mark (August 6, 2010). "Take Me Higher – Diana Ross". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ McCoy, Quincy (September 1, 1995). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2070. p. 54. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 36. September 9, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. August 12, 1995. p. 15.
- ^ Jones, Alan (August 5, 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 29. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ Howe, Rupert (August 26, 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 40. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ "Review: "Take Me Higher" by Diana Ross (CD, 1995)". Pop Rescue. October 23, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ Hamilton, James (September 2, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ DianaRossVEVO Take Me Higher
- ^ "Take Me Higher (1995)". Dianarossproject.wordpress.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Take Me Higher (Media notes). Diana Ross. Motown Records. 1995.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 36. September 9, 1995. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ "Diana Ross – Take Me Higher" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
- ^ "Diana Ross – Take Me Higher" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 19, 1995. p. 31.
- ^ "思い出にかわるまで | ダイアナ・ロス" [Until Memories | Diana Ross] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 23, 2023.