Real Love (Mary J. Blige song)

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"Real Love"
MJBRealLove.jpg
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album What's the 411?
ReleasedAugust 25, 1992 (1992-08-25)[1]
RecordedFall 1991
Genre
Length4:30
LabelUptown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Cory Rooney
  • Mark Morales[3]
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"You Remind Me"
(1992) 		"Real Love"
(1992) 		"Check It Out"
(1992)
Music video
"Real Love" at VH1.com

"Real Love" is a 1992 song recorded by American singer Mary J. Blige for her debut studio album, What's the 411?. It was written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales. The song samples Audio Two's 1987 song "Top Billin'", and was issued as the album's second single on August 25, 1992. It became Blige's first top-ten hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100.[4] It also reached the top on both the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts, and was eventually certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 4, 1992.[5]

Background[]

The initial creation of this song started with Morales writing the lyrics in a studio. According to Rooney, he started singing the first few lines and Rooney liked its hint of rap. Rooney added a bridge and a melody. Regarding the song's meaning, Rooney said, "Mary J. Blige is the female that’s from the hood that sings the pain of all of the females from the hood. At that point in her life, she was being taken advantage of by a lot of the industry cats and a song like ‘Real Love’ described her situation."[6]

Critical reception[]

Daryl McIntosh from Albumism noted that "the sped-up baseline" of Audio Two's "Top Billin'" "provided the perfect head-nodding cadence for Blige's soulful exploration of her Mr. Right."[7] Stanton Swihart from AllMusic stated that songs like "Real Love" "are and will remain timeless slices of soul even after their trendiness has worn off".[8] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan described it as a "upbeat love song that the young Blige revels in singing". He added that "it still gets a rousing response when she dusts it off during gigs."[9] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update called it "EnVogue-ish".[10]

Music video[]

The official music video for the song was directed by American film and music video director Marcus Raboy.[11]

Use in media[]

In 2020, Target used the song in a series of TV ads promoting its Black Friday Now deals.

Track listings[]

CD maxi single[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Real Love" (Album Version)4:30
2."Real Love" (Hip-Hop Mix featuring The Notorious B.I.G.)5:00
3."Real Love" (Acappella Version)3:32
4."Real Love" (Hip-Hop Club Mix featuring The Notorious B.I.G.)4:40
5."Real Love" (Instrumental)4:11

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from the What's the 411? liner notes.[13]

Charts and certifications[]

Toby Lightman version[]

"Real Love"
Toby Lightman - Real Love single cover.jpg
Single by Toby Lightman
from the album Little Things
ReleasedJune 29, 2004 (2004-06-29)[28]
GenrePop rock
Length5:26
LabelLava
Songwriter(s)
  • Cory Rooney
  • Mark Morales
Toby Lightman singles chronology
"Everyday"
(2004) 		"Real Love"
(2004) 		"Operator"
(2004)
Music video
"Real Love" on YouTube

In 2004, American pop rock singer-songwriter Toby Lightman covered "Real Love" and included it as the closing track on the re-release of her debut studio album Little Things. The song was issued as the third and final single from the album; and it peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard top 40 chart.[29]

Music video[]

The official music video for the song was directed by Charles Jensen.[30]

Charts[]

Chart (2004) Peak
position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 35

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Amazon.com: Mary J. Blige: Real Love: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  2. ^ "Real Love - Mary J. Blige - Listen, Appearances, Song Review - AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  3. ^ "Mary J Blige* - Real Love (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  4. ^ "Mary J. Blige - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  5. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - November 14, 2014". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  6. ^ https://www.ebony.com/entertainment/whats-the-411-mary-j-bliges-classic-turns-20/
  7. ^ McIntosh, Daryl (July 28, 2017). "Mary J. Blige's Debut Album 'What's the 411?' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Swihart, Stanton. "Mary J. Blige – What's the 411?". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Millan, Mark (July 5, 2010). "What's The 411? – Mary J. Blige". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Hamilton, James (August 21, 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  11. ^ ""Real Love" by Mary J. Blige - Music Video - VH1.com". VH1. Viacom International. January 27, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  12. ^ "Mary J Blige - Real Love". Discogs. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  13. ^ Blige, Mary J. (1992). What's the 411? (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1855." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1866." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  16. ^ "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  17. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 4, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  19. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  20. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  21. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  22. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  23. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  24. ^ Pedro. "Longbored Surfer - 1992". LongboredSurfer.com. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  25. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  26. ^ Pedro. "Longbored Surfer - 1993". LongboredSurfer.com. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  27. ^ "American single certifications – Mary J Blige – Real Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
  28. ^ "Real Love [1 Track] - Toby Lightman - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b "Toby Lightman - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  30. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Toby Lightman - "Real love"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved November 17, 2014.

External links[]

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