"Very Special" is a song by Debra Laws. Released as a single in 1981, it is the title track of her first album, and features her brother Ronnie with call and response backing vocals.

"Very Special"
Single by Debra Laws
from the album Very Special
B-side"All the Things I Love"
ReleasedAugust 1981
Recorded1981
Genre
Length4:29
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
  • Lisa Peters
  • William Jeffrey
Producer(s)
Debra Laws singles chronology
"Very Special"
(1981)
"Be Yourself"
(1981)

The song reached #90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of the year.[1] It peaked at number 11 on the R&B chart.[2] On that chart, it ranks as the 64th biggest hit of 1981.

"Very Special" has been most notably covered and/or sampled by Big Daddy Kane and Jennifer Lopez, and has been the subject of lawsuits in this regard.

Big Daddy Kane cover

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"Very Special"
 
Single by Big Daddy Kane featuring DJ Spinderella
from the album Looks Like a Job For...
B-side"Stop Shammin'"
ReleasedJune 22, 1993
Recorded1993
GenreHip hop
Length5:05
LabelCold Chillin' / Reprise
Songwriter(s)Antonio Hardy, Lisa Peters, William Jeffrey
Producer(s)Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane singles chronology
"How U Get a Record Deal?"
(1993)
"Very Special"
(1993)
"In the PJs"
(1994)

"Very Special" was covered by Big Daddy Kane featuring DJ Spinderella in 1993. It was the second single released from his fifth studio album, Looks Like a Job For.... Produced by Kane, the song is a duet between Kane and Salt-n-Pepa member DJ Spinderella. The chorus was performed by vocalists Karen Anderson and Laree Williams.

The song became an American Top 40 hit, becoming Big Daddy Kane's first and only single to crack the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 31.[3]

Track listing

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A-side

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  1. "Very Special" (Album Version) – 5:05
  2. "Very Special" (Underground Mix) – 3:03
  3. "Very Special" (Edit Without Female Rap) – 3:53

B-side

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  1. "Stop Shammin'" (Album Version) – 3:57
  2. "Stop Shammin'" (Instrumental Version) – 3:57

Chart history

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Debra Laws version
Chart (1981) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[1] 90
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[2] 11
Big Daddy Kane version
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Billboard Hot 100 31
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 23
Billboard Hot Rap Singles 9
Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 24
Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 6

Other cover versions and sampling

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References

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  1. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  2. ^ a b "1981: The Top 100 Soul/Funk/Disco Singles - RYM/Sonemic". Rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Spinderella". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Crystal Kay×今市隆二、デュエットシーン収めた「Very Special」映像公開". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-01-04.
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