Stay (Shakespears Sister song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Stay"
Shakespears Sister Stay.jpg
Single by Shakespears Sister
from the album Hormonally Yours
B-side"The Trouble with Andre"
Released13 January 1992 (1992-01-13)
Recorded1991
Genre
Length
  • 3:50 (album version)
  • 3:45 (7-inch edit)
LabelLondon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Shakespears Sister singles chronology
"Goodbye Cruel World"
(1991) 		"Stay"
(1992) 		"I Don't Care"
(1992)
Music video
"Stay" on YouTube

"Stay" is a song by UK-based pop act Shakespears Sister, released by London Records in January 1992 as the second single from their album Hormonally Yours. The single was written by Siobhan Fahey, Marcella Detroit, and Dave Stewart (under the pseudonym "Jean Guiot"), and became a global hit. It is the duo's first and only number-one single in numerous territories, including the UK, where it topped the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks and was the fourth-biggest-selling single of 1992. "Stay" also reached No. 1 in Sweden and in band member Siobhan Fahey's birthplace, Ireland. It was a transatlantic hit as well, reaching No. 4 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart.

At the 1993 Brit Awards "Stay" won the award for British Video of the Year.[1] In November 2010, The X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd performed the song on series 7 of the show. Following this, the original version re-entered the UK, Ireland and the European Hot 100 Singles charts. As well as being used on The X Factor, the song has also been featured on Britain's Got Talent, Dancing on Ice, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice UK, etc.

Composition[]

"Stay" is the only Shakespears Sister song that features Siobhan Fahey less prominently on vocals than Marcella Detroit, with Detroit singing the verses and lead chorus and Fahey singing the bridge. Detroit sings in whistle register before the last chorus of the song, going up to a high F (F6). The piano, synth and bass guitar were performed by Ian aka Jennifer Maidman, and the drums by Steve Ferrera, both musicians whose contributions featured throughout the 'Hormonally Yours' album.

Critical reception[]

The song received favorable reviews from most music critics. AllMusic editor Tom Demalon said in his review of Hormonally Yours, that "everything was lost in the wake of the lovely, dramatic "Stay," a global smash."[2] Christopher Kramer from American Eagle noted that the song "has lyrics that ring of their gospel interests."[3] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "complex modern-pop tune" and noted further that the "vocal tradeoff between Marcella Detroit and Siobhan Fahey is both intense and dramatic."[4] Cashbox said it's "almost like two separate songs, representing the different influences the pair bring to their music. The first half is Marcie's reverent and angelic sounding voice, then out of the blue, comes the industrial clammer of heavy percussion and Siobhan's rough-edged bridge."[5] Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith called it a "masterpiece" and wrote that the song managed to "show the world just what could be done to an otherwise mundane and ordinary ballad. It not only turned the entire pop formula on its ear, it totally blew the possibilities wide open."[6] Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger noted "the teetering, cracking soprano" of Detroit's lead vocal, and Fahey's "growled and throaty intervention" on the bridge. He also added that "obviously, the switched-dynamics form of the song matches its content: a tale of two worlds, the singer's and the subject's, and the relationship between them. One is claustrophobic, intense, something to escape: the other reached by risky passage, but where safety is hardly guaranteed and worse terrors may lurk."[7]

Dave Sholin from Gavin Report stated, "This haunting ballad proves they haven't changed course as they deliver a melody that has true staying power."[8] Another editor wrote that "this female duo gives a once-in-a-lifetime performance of a moody and deliberate song about staying power in a relationship."[9] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News-Sentinel described it as a "disarmingly sweet ballad" and added that it "segues into a stern warning ("I'll go anywhere with you/I'll do anything it takes/But if you try to go it alone/Don't think I'll understand") then concludes rather sinisterly."[10] Music & Media commented that "Detroit's vibrato gives the tune the ethereal ambiance of classic Marianne Faithfull material. Towards the end of the song Fahey takes over with her slightly darker voice."[11] They also added in their review of the song that "after a slow start backed by minimal arrangements, this serious ballad slowly acquires some bite."[12] Imran Khan from PopMatters called it a "weird sci-fi ballad of gothic-gospel electronica".[13] Lucy O'Brien from Select stated that Detroit "makes a brave stab at the anthemic ballad with "Stay", but ends up sounding suspiciously like Jennifer Rush."[14] Smash Hits said it "sounds like a hymn".[15] St. Petersburg Times called the song "the year's best single" and commented, "'You'd better hope and pray/That you make it safe/Back to your own world.' Just try to ignore former Bananarama B-girl Siobhan Fahey, as she growls like a master berating her slave".[16] In his review of Singles Party, Christopher Smith from TalkAboutPopMusic described it as "haunting" and "epic".[17]

Music video[]

Background, development, and release[]

British director Sophie Muller directed the promo video for the single, the concept of which was inspired by the film Cat-Women of the Moon.[18] The video featured Detroit and Fahey fighting over a comatose man (played by Dave Evans, former boyfriend of Fahey's Bananarama bandmate Keren Woodward).[19]

The video won Best Video at the 1993 Music Week Awards and Brit Awards, and was the subject of a spoof by comedians French & Saunders. The video was featured in the Top 100 Music Videos of all time by Channel 4.[20] As of February 2021, the official video has amassed over 20 million views on YouTube after three years of it being uploaded. Collectively with all uploads of the video being counted its views add up to over 38 million.

Synopsis[]

In some rare versions the beginning quotes a variation of the opening of William Shakespeare's Macbeth: The original quote of the play ("When shall we three meet again") is changed to "When shall we two meet again", referring to the story told in the video.[21]

The video starts with a view of a calm night sky wherein a shooting star passes over a full moon and the song begins. The camera pans back into what appears to be a hospital room showing Marcella Detroit and her lover (Evans), who is in a coma and on the verge of death. As Detroit tends to him, she sings to him not to leave her. At the bridge of the song, a portal opens and the angel of death, played by Fahey, appears at the top of a staircase, wearing a sparkling catsuit. She dances around in front of a bright light whilst mocking Detroit that she cannot save her lover and the best she can hope for is to return safely to her own world. Detroit tries her best to wake the man up, while Death slowly makes her way down the stairs to claim his soul. The two women begin fighting over the man, making it literally and figuratively a fight between life (Detroit) and death (Fahey). During their struggle, the man finally wakes up, and he and Detroit embrace while Death, having failed to seduce him into her realm, walks away in disgust and goes back up the staircase to the light, presumably being the stairway to Heaven.[22]

Track listing[]

Charts and certifications[]

In popular culture[]

References[]

  1. ^ "1993". Brits.co.uk. 16 February 1993. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Shakespear's Sister - Hormonally Yours". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. ^ Kramer, Christopher (24 February 1992). "Shakespears Sister mixes R&B, rock". American Eagle. 66 (25). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 30 May 1992. p. 70. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. 13 June 1992. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Shakespear's Sister - Hormonally Yours". Daily Vault. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  7. ^ "SHAKESPEARS SISTER – "Stay"". Freaky Trigger. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. ^ Sholin, Dave (22 May 1992). "Personal Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 48. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ^ "A/C: Reviews" (PDF). Gavin Report. 24 July 1992. p. 28. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. ^ Campbell, Chuck. (19 February 1992). "DUO'S ATTITUDE GIVES SONGS FIERCE TEETH". Knoxville News-Sentinel. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Spotlight: Shakespears Sister" (PDF). Music & Media. 15 February 1992. p. 13. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  12. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 February 1992. p. 12. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  13. ^ Khan, Imran (10 April 2017). "Hormonal Rush: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of Shakespears Sister". PopMatters. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Reviews: New Albums". Select. 1 March 1992. p. 68. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. 8 January 1992. p. 45. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Hormonally Yours' finds right chemistry". St. Petersburg Times. 2 October 1992. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  17. ^ Smith, Christopher (19 July 2019). "REVIEW: 'SINGLES PARTY' – SHAKESPEARS SISTER". TalkAboutPopMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Marcy & Siobhan about STAY". YouTube. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  19. ^ [1] Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Explore". Channel 4. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  21. ^ "Shakespears Sister 'Stay'". YouTube. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  22. ^ "Shakespears Sister 'Stay'". YouTube. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  23. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Shakespears Sister – Stay". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Shakespears Sister – Stay" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Shakespears Sister – Stay" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  26. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1949." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1932." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  28. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 14. 4 April 1992. p. 34. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Lescharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Stay" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Shakespears Sister – Stay" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  31. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shakespear's Sister". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  32. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  33. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Shakespears Sister – Stay" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – Shakespears Sister – Stay". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Stay". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Stay". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  37. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Shakespears Sister – Stay". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Shakespears Sister Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  40. ^ "Shakespears Sister Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  41. ^ "Shakespears Sister Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  42. ^ "Shakespears Sister Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  43. ^ "Shakespears Sister Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  44. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shakespears Sister". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  46. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1992". ARIA. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  48. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1992" (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  49. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56 no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  50. ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  51. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  52. ^ "End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  53. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1992" (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  54. ^ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  55. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  56. ^ Rob Copsey (28 May 2021). "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1992". Official Charts. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  57. ^ "British single certifications – Shakespears Sister – Stay". British Phonographic Industry.
  58. ^ "American single certifications – Shakespear's Sister – Stay". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 30 January 2020.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""