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===Beyoncé Knowles and Luther Vandross version===
===Beyoncé Knowles and Luther Vandross version===
{{Infobox song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{double image|right|BEYONCE CONCERT IN CENTRAL PARK 2011 Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series - Central Park, Manhattan NYC - 070111 cropped.jpg|185|Luther Vandross head.jpg|150|Beyoncé Knowles (left) and Luther Vandross (right) recorded their duet version of "The Closer I Get To You" in 2003.}}
| Name = The Closer I Get to You
| Type = Song
| Artist = [[Beyoncé Knowles]] and [[Luther Vandross]]
| Album = [[Dangerously in Love]]
| Released =
| Recorded = [[The Hit Factory]] <br> <small>([[New York City]])</small><ref name="Dangerously in Love"/> <br /> Right Track Studios <br> <small>([[New York City]])</small><ref name="Dangerously in Love"/>
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Urban contemporary|Urban Valentine]], [[Hip hop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/beyonce/tracks/closer-i-get-to-you--2056263 |title=Closer I Get to You &#124; Beyoncé Song - Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-09}}</ref>
| Length = 4:58
| Writer = [[James Mtume]], [[Reggie Lucas]]
| Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| Producer = [[Nat Adderley, Jr.]]
| prev = "That's How You Like It"
| prev_no = 10
| track_no = 11
| next = "[[Dangerously in Love 2]]"
| next_no = 12
}}

[[Beyoncé Knowles]]' and [[Luther Vandross]]' 2003 cover version of the song appeared on both Vandross' final album ''[[Dance with My Father]]'' and Knowles' solo debut ''[[Dangerously in Love]]''. This version of the song was intended to be on the soundtrack for the [[2003 in film|2003]] film ''[[The Fighting Temptations]]'' in which Knowles co-starred.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.about.com/cs/fightingtemptation/a/fighttempsound.htm |title='The Fighting Temptations (Music From The Motion Picture)' News |publisher=[[About.com]]. [[The New York Times Company]] |date=February 9, 2004 |author=Rebecca Murray |accessdate=March 5, 2011}}</ref> Their version was recorded at the [The Hit Factory]] and the Right Track Studios, in [[New York City]].<ref name="Dangerously in Love"/> It is a moderate contemporary [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[Pop (music)|pop]] [[Ballad (music)|ballad]], which also contains elements of [[Soul music|soul]], [[urban contemporary]], and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] music.<ref name="ign"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/beyonce/tracks/closer-i-get-to-you--2056263 |title=Closer I Get to You &#124; Beyoncé Song - Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-09}}</ref><ref name="ballad"/><ref name="Ratliff">Ratliff, Ben. [http://www.webcitation.org/5mr9K2czV Review: ''Dangerously in Love'']. ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''. Alpha Media Group. Retrieved on March 14, 2011.</ref> According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Scarab Publishing Corporation, the song paces in [[common time]] at a slow [[tempo]] of 98 [[beats per minute]].<ref name="sheet2"/><!--Yes it is in source, please check the "Arrangement Details" subsection--> It is written in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[E-flat major|E{{music|flat}} Major]].<ref name="sheet2"/> Knowles' vocals span from the note of [[B♭ (musical note)|Bb{{music|sharp}}<sub>3</sub>]] to [[E♭ (musical note)|Eb<sub>6</sub>]].<ref name="sheet2"/>
[[Beyoncé Knowles]]' and [[Luther Vandross]]' 2003 cover version of the song appeared on both Vandross' final album ''[[Dance with My Father]]'' and Knowles' solo debut ''[[Dangerously in Love]]''. This version of the song was intended to be on the soundtrack for the [[2003 in film|2003]] film ''[[The Fighting Temptations]]'' in which Knowles co-starred.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.about.com/cs/fightingtemptation/a/fighttempsound.htm |title='The Fighting Temptations (Music From The Motion Picture)' News |publisher=[[About.com]]. [[The New York Times Company]] |date=February 9, 2004 |author=Rebecca Murray |accessdate=March 5, 2011}}</ref> Their version was recorded at the [The Hit Factory]] and the Right Track Studios, in [[New York City]].<ref name="Dangerously in Love"/> It is a moderate contemporary [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[Pop (music)|pop]] [[Ballad (music)|ballad]], which also contains elements of [[Soul music|soul]], [[urban contemporary]], and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] music.<ref name="ign"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/beyonce/tracks/closer-i-get-to-you--2056263 |title=Closer I Get to You &#124; Beyoncé Song - Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-09}}</ref><ref name="ballad"/><ref name="Ratliff">Ratliff, Ben. [http://www.webcitation.org/5mr9K2czV Review: ''Dangerously in Love'']. ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''. Alpha Media Group. Retrieved on March 14, 2011.</ref> According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Scarab Publishing Corporation, the song paces in [[common time]] at a slow [[tempo]] of 98 [[beats per minute]].<ref name="sheet2"/><!--Yes it is in source, please check the "Arrangement Details" subsection--> It is written in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[E-flat major|E{{music|flat}} Major]].<ref name="sheet2"/> Knowles' vocals span from the note of [[B♭ (musical note)|Bb{{music|sharp}}<sub>3</sub>]] to [[E♭ (musical note)|Eb<sub>6</sub>]].<ref name="sheet2"/>


Revision as of 17:09, 17 February 2012

"The Closer I Get to You"
Song
B-side"Love is the Healing"

"The Closer I Get to You" is a song performed by American jazz, soul, R&B, and folk singer-songwriter Roberta Flack and American soul musician Donny Hathaway. The song was written by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, two former members of Miles Davis's band, who were members of Flack's band at the time. Produced by Atlantic Records, the song was released on Flack's 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement, and as a single in 1978. It became a major crossover hit, becoming Flack's largest hit to date. Originally set as a solo-single, Flack's manager, David Franklin, suggested a duet with Hathaway which resulted in the finished work.

"The Closer I Get to You" spent two weeks as number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in April 1978, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song charted in the top ten spots for fourteen weeks in Canada and one week in France. It was eventually certified gold in the United States on May 1978, and became one of their most familiar duets. "The Closer I Get to You" has been covered by musicians including, Beyoncé Knowles and Luther Vandross. whose duet of the song won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 46th Grammy Awards and charted at number 62 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Background and development

"The Closer I Get to You" was written by Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, who were members of Roberta Flack's touring band and played on Blue Lights in the Basement.[1] After forming a songwriting partnership, they left Miles Davis and attempted (unsuccessfully) to break into the record business, before finally joining Roberta Flack's band.[1] They wrote the song between tours and, during the sessions for the album, brought it to Flack's producer Joe Ferla, who played it for Flack.[2] Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, good friends while attending Howard University, recorded an album of duets in 1972.[2] Five years later, the duo collaborated again on "The Closer I Get to You".[2] "The Closer I Get To You" marks the second time Flack and Hathaway collaborated on a duet together, the first being "Where Is the Love", released in 1973.[3]

"The Closer I Get to You" was not originally written as a duet.[2] Flack's manager David Franklin, who had worked with Hathaway in the past, decided to re-write the song to include him.[2] Hathaway had been suffering from severe bouts of depression at the time, which often forced him to be hospitalized.[4] The depression caused mood swings which adversely affected his partnership with Flack.[4] After Flack and Hathaway were reconciled, the producers had to get permission from the hospital to fly Hathaway out for the recording sessions.[2] Following Hathaway's death in 1979, Flack revealed the importance of recording the song in an interview with Jet, stating:

I tried to reach out to Donny. That's how we managed to do the song we did last year. I felt this need because I didn't know what to do. I couldn't save him, I knew he was sick. But I knew when he sat down at that piano and sang for me it was like it was eight or nine years ago because he sang and played his ass off

— Roberta Flack to Jet, [5]

Flack announced that "The Closer I Get to You" would forever be a dedication to Hathaway, and that all money made from the song would be donated to Hathaway's wife and two kids, stating "All of that money is going to his family. Any portion that would have been mine is going to go to his wife and two kids."[5] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Scarab Publishing Corporation, "The Closer I Get to You" moves at a slow tempo of 90 beats per minute,[6] and it is written in the key of A Major.[6] Flack sings in a vocal range of C#4-F#5.[6] "The Closer I Get to You" features piano, guitar and male and female vocals.[6]

Critical reception and accolades

Black-and-white portrait of a woman, who has a microphone in front of her. She wears a suit, and she keeps her hands in the middle of her body.
"The Closer I Get to You" would go on to become Flacks biggest hit.

Critics described "The Closer I Get to You" as Flack at the top of her form.[7] The song came in at number 40 on Billboard' poll of "The 40 Biggest Duets Of All Time", where it was described a "tender tune".[3] Authors of All Music Guide To Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul described the song as ethereal.[8] Alan Light of Vibe magazine characterized it as intimate and effortless as an overheard conversation.[9] Author of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic, Gregory J. P. Godek, included the song in a list of "Best Love Song Duets".[10]

A writer of Jet magazine described the song as a "pop-soul classic".[11] Carolyn Quick Tillery, author of "Celebrating Our Equality", described the song as a lasting musical legacy.[12] Devon Jarvis of Women's Health included Flack and Hathaway's version of "The Closer I Get to You" in "Favorite Karaoke Duets".[13] While opening the "R&B Vault", Gail Mitchell of Billboard praised the song as a 1970s-era classic.[14] The song became the duo's second number one on the U.S. R&B charts in 1978, and climbed to the number two spot on the Pop charts.[15] Both Hathaway and Flack were nominated for a Grammy for their duet.[16]

Music video

A music video for "The Closer I Get to You" was shot and directed by Roberta Flack herself.[17][18] The video begins with Roberta Flack singing while sitting by a piano in a candle-lit room. Hathaway had died by the time the music video was shot, so as his verse plays, the camera zooms into a picture of Hathaway located on a table behind Flack's shoulder. Flack performs the rest of the song sitting by the piano, and the camera's direction occasionally looks over a candle flame during Hathaway's verse. The video ends with Flack mouthing some of Hathaway's lyrics as she fades into the camera's view of the room lit by a single candle. A version of Flack performing the song live circulated as its promotional music video.[19]

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from The Closer I Get To You / Love Is The Healing single record notes.[20]

  • Vocals: R. Flack, D. Hathaway
  • Writing: J. Mtume, R. Lucas
  • Executive Producer: Ahmet Ertegun
  • Producing: Rubina Flake, Joe Ferla, Eugene McDaniels

Track listing

  1. "The Closer I Get to You" – 4:41
  2. "Love is the Healing" – 3:44

Charts and certification

Preceded by Billboard's Hot Soul Singles number one single (Robert Flack and Donny Hathaway version)
April 1–8, 1978 		Succeeded by

Cover versions

"The Closer I Get To You" has been covered many times. The first was released by Mtume on their 1978 album Kiss This World Goodbye, sung by James Mtume and Tawatha Agee. In 1994, Fourplay covered the song for their third studio album Elixir.[24] In 1998, Dennis Brown covered the song with Janet Kay for his compilation album The Prime of Dennis Brown.[25] In 2005, Nina Girado covered the song with Thor for her album Nina Live!.[26] On an episode of Martin, Gina (played by Tisha Campbell-Martin) and singer Keith Washington performed, "The Closer I Get to You" at a party Gina was hosting.[27] In the film Rush Hour 3, when Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are at the French theater and the play has stopped, the song is sung by Tucker and Chan, with Tucker singing it in a high-pitched voice.[2][28][unreliable source?] It was covered by Filipino acoustic band MYMP on their 2005 album Versions.[29] Contemporary jazz guitarist Peter White covered the song on his rendition-packed album Reflections.[30][31][unreliable source?] Saxophonist Kim Waters included a version of the song on his 2007 album You Are My Lady. It features the vocals by R&B singer Lisa Fischer.[32]

Beyoncé Knowles and Luther Vandross version

"The Closer I Get to You"
Song

Beyoncé Knowles' and Luther Vandross' 2003 cover version of the song appeared on both Vandross' final album Dance with My Father and Knowles' solo debut Dangerously in Love. This version of the song was intended to be on the soundtrack for the 2003 film The Fighting Temptations in which Knowles co-starred.[35] Their version was recorded at the [The Hit Factory]] and the Right Track Studios, in New York City.[33] It is a moderate contemporary R&B and pop ballad, which also contains elements of soul, urban contemporary, and hip hop music.[36][37][38][39] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Scarab Publishing Corporation, the song paces in common time at a slow tempo of 98 beats per minute.[6] It is written in the key of E♭ Major.[6] Knowles' vocals span from the note of Bb♯3 to Eb6.[6]

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote: "Dangerously in Love is completely superfluous while the dated 'The Closer I Get to You', a duet with Luther Vandross, seems out of place on an otherwise forward-thinking album."[40] Neil Drumming of Entertainment Weekly said: "A remake of ‘The Closer I Get to You’ with Luther Vandross also sounds, sadly, a little dated."[41] Spence D. of IGN Music commented: "[...] By the time Beyoncé has teamed up with the granddaddy of contemporary love jams, Luthor Vandross, on 'The Closer I Get To You', her album has descended into somewhat generic terrain. Sure, her vocals are on point and the music is adequately slick."[36] Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone wrote: "[...] While she oozes charisma and has a fine voice, Beyoncé isn't in a class with the likes of Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey as a singer, a fact that 'The Closer I Get to You', her duet with the effortlessly smooth Luther Vandross, also makes clear."[42]

Jason King of Vibe magazine wrote that Knowles had some "cojones" to follow up a Jay-Z duet with a Luther Vandross duet on the album's track-listing.[43] Rob Fitzpatrick of NME stated that "it's the irredeemably cheesy ballad with 80s cornball Luther Vandross that will make the voices in your head demand hot, fresh blood."[38] By contrast, Lewis Dene of the BBC gave the song a positive review, stating that it is guaranteed the number one slot on the US R&B charts.[44] In Chapter 21 of Singing for Dummies, "The Closer I Get to You" is credited as being one of Knowles' best vocal performances.[45] Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters gave Knowles and Vandross "vocal props" for their performance in the "quiet storm", but described the overall performance as flat.[46] During the 46th Grammy Awards, the remake of "The Closer I Get to You" was nominated and won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[47] It charted at number 62 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart issue dated August 14, 2004, and spent four weeks on the chart.[48]

Chart (2004) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[48] 62

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from Dangerously in Love liner notes.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hogan, Ed. "The Closer I Get to You". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "The Closer I Get To You by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  3. ^ a b c Up for Discussion Jump to Forums (2011-02-14). "The 40 Biggest Duets Of All Time". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  4. ^ a b All music guide to soul: the ... - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  5. ^ a b Jet - Google Books. Books.google.com. 1979-11-29. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "The Closer I Get to You sheet music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes, Inc. Scarab Publishing Corporation. MN0052014.
  7. ^ Notable Black American women - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  8. ^ All music guide to rock: the ... - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  9. ^ Vibe - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  10. ^ 1001 Ways to Be Romantic - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  11. ^ Jet - Google Books. Books.google.com. 2005-01-10. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  12. ^ Celebrating our equality: a cookbook ... - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  13. ^ Women's Health - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  14. ^ "Flyte Tyme Records Take Flight At Arista; 'Ladies Man' Soundtrack Opens R&B Vaults". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 37. Nielsen Business Media. 2000-09-09. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  15. ^ All music guide to soul: the ... - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  16. ^ Ebony - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  17. ^ hiphopmomo (2009-04-06). "Roberta Flack - The Closer I Get To You - une vidéo Muziek". Dailymotion. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  18. ^ "Videos : Roberta Flack : The Closer I Get To You". CMT. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  19. ^ "Roberta Flack › Music Videos". MTV. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
  20. ^ The Closer I Get To You / Love Is The Healing (Media notes). Atlantic Records. 1977.
  21. ^ (Media notes). ASIN B000P93VQQ. {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b c d e "Song artist 409 - Roberta Flack". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  23. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 206.
  24. ^ "Fourplay's The Closer I Get to You cover of Roberta Flack feat. Donny Hathaway's The Closer I Get to You". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  25. ^ "Dennis Brown feat. Janet Kay's The Closer I Get to You cover of Roberta Flack feat. Donny Hathaway's The Closer I Get to You". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  26. ^ "Live: Nina: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  27. ^ "Martin: The Closer I Get to You Episode Summary". TV.com. 1994-10-06. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  28. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293564/soundtrack
  29. ^ "Closer I Get to You | MYMP Song - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  30. ^ "Closer I Get to You | Peter White Song - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  31. ^ ""The Closer I Get To You" from Answers.com". Soultracks.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  32. ^ "The Closer I Get To You | Kim Waters Song - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  33. ^ a b c d Dangerously in Love (Media notes). Sony Music BMG Entertainment. 2003.
  34. ^ "Closer I Get to You | Beyoncé Song - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  35. ^ Rebecca Murray (February 9, 2004). "'The Fighting Temptations (Music From The Motion Picture)' News". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  36. ^ a b D., Spence (September 3, 2003). "Dangerously In Love - Beyoncé's solo debut is a mixed bag of contemporary R&B". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved March 5, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  37. ^ "Closer I Get to You | Beyoncé Song - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  38. ^ a b "NME Album Reviews - Beyonce : Dangerously In Love". Nme.Com. 2003-07-02. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  39. ^ Ratliff, Ben. Review: Dangerously in Love. Blender. Alpha Media Group. Retrieved on March 14, 2011.
  40. ^ Sal Cinquemani (June 21, 2003). "Beyoncé Dangerously in Love". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 5, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  41. ^ Neil Drumming (June 27, 2003). "Dangerously in Love (2003)". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  42. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (July 10, 2003). "Album Reviews: Dangerously in Love". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  43. ^ Vibe - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  44. ^ "Music - Review of Beyoncé - Dangerously In Love". BBC. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  45. ^ Singing For Dummies - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  46. ^ Anthony, Mark. "Beyoncé: Dangerously in Love < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  47. ^ Joseph Patel (February 9, 2004). "Beyonce Wins Most, Outkast Shine, 50 Cent Shut Out At Grammys". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  48. ^ a b "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2004.
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