"You Bring Me Joy"
Artwork used for US commercial cassette releases
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album My Life
ReleasedMay 28, 1995 (1995-05-28)
Length4:36
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Combs (music)
  • Thompson (music)
  • Hailey (vocals)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
(1995) 		"You Bring Me Joy"
(1995) 		"I Love You"
(1995)

"You Bring Me Joy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Joel "Jo-Jo" Hailey, and Chucky Thompson for her second studio album, My Life (1994), while overall music production was helmed by Combs and Thompson with the vocal tracks being produced by Jo-Jo. The song is built around a sample of "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me" (1977) by singer Barry White. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Ekundayo Paris and Nelson Pigford are also credited as songwriters.[1] "You Bring Me Joy" served as the third single from My Life and peaked at number 29 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, also topping the Hot Dance Club Songs.[2]

Critical reception

Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "Without achieving the notoriety of a Boyz II Men or Whitney Houston, Blige has quickly become one of the surest bets on both the pop and R&B singles charts, currently appearing twice on each chart. The latest single from her My Life album is sure to follow suit rapidly. Featuring a solid beat to accompnay Blige’s sweet vocals, the track is a natural at a plethora of formats."[3] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin noted, "The same piano intro that gave "Real Love" its irresistible bounce reappears to serve the same purpose in "You Bring Me Joy"."[4]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "You Bring Me Joy" was directed by Marcus Raboy. It was shot at a big blue and red room from April 10–11, 1995 where Blige and other dancers do crazy dance moves. The video was later published on Blige's official YouTube channel in December 2019, and had generated more than 1.3 million views as of January 2023.[5]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the My Life liner notes.[1]

Charts

References

  1. ^ a b Blige, Mary J. (1994). My Life (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 65.
  3. ^ Baltin, Steve (May 20, 1995). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (February 1995). "Spins". Spin. p. 76. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mary J. Blige - You Bring Me Joy". YouTube. December 6, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). March 18, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). March 25, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  11. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1995". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
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