Love Is All We Need
Encyclopedia
"Love Is All We Need" is a 1997 song by R&B
singer Mary J. Blige
. It was released as the first single from Blige's third album, Share My World
, and features a rap cameo from Nas
.
' 1985 single "Moonchild." With its more buoyant tone, "Love Is All We Need" stood in conspicuous contrast to much of the more dark-rooted material featured on Blige's earlier albums.
." A remix of the song features a separate rap cameo by Foxy Brown and a vocal interpolation of Diana Ross
' "Do You Know Where You're Going To (Theme from Mahogany)".
in February 1997 where Mary is at a office singing her verse and the second scene was a fashion show, Nas is in a fancy chair rapping his verse and the third scene is where Mary is on top of a roof building at the end of the song.
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
. It was released as the first single from Blige's third album, Share My World
Share My World
Share My World is the third studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, released by MCA Records on April 23, 1997. The album serves as a follow-up to her Grammy-nominated critically acclaimed second album, My Life...
, and features a rap cameo from Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
.
Recording
Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song features a sample of Rick JamesRick James
James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
' 1985 single "Moonchild." With its more buoyant tone, "Love Is All We Need" stood in conspicuous contrast to much of the more dark-rooted material featured on Blige's earlier albums.
Release and reaction
While well received in America as an airplay single, the song was never given a physical release in the US and as a result the song never charted on the Hot 100 singles chart, though it did reach number one on the US dance singles chart. Meanwhile, the song became an international hit reaching number fifteen on the UK singles charts; Blige's first top twenty UK hit since 1995's "Mary Jane (All Night Long)Mary Jane (All Night Long)
"Mary Jane " is a 1995 single by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige, taken from her second album, My Life. The song samples the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long", Rick James' "Mary Jane", and Teddy Pendergrass' classic single "Close the Door". The official remix features LL Cool J...
." A remix of the song features a separate rap cameo by Foxy Brown and a vocal interpolation of Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
' "Do You Know Where You're Going To (Theme from Mahogany)".
Music video
The music video was shot in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in February 1997 where Mary is at a office singing her verse and the second scene was a fashion show, Nas is in a fancy chair rapping his verse and the third scene is where Mary is on top of a roof building at the end of the song.
Chart performance
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Hot 100 Airplay The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard... |
43 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay | 5 |
| US Rhythmic Top 40 | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
15 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 90 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 31 |
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Mary J. Blige
- Background vocals by Mary J. Blige and LaTonya Blige-DaCosta
- Rap written and performed by Nas
- Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis