"You Put a Move on My Heart"
Song by Mica Paris
from the album Whisper a Prayer
ReleasedJune 8, 1993
Genre
Length6:06
LabelIsland Records, 4th & Broadway
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Rod Temperton
Whisper a Prayer track listing
12 tracks
  1. "I Never Felt Like This Before"
  2. "I Wanna Hold on to You"
  3. "You Put a Move on My Heart"
  4. "We Were Made for Love"
  5. "Whisper a Prayer"
  6. "Too Far Apart"
  7. "I Bless the Day"
  8. "Two in a Million"
  9. "Positivity"
  10. "Can't Seem to Make Up My Mind"
  11. "You Got a Special Way"
  12. "Love Keeps Coming Back"

"You Put a Move on My Heart" is a song by British recording artist Mica Paris, written and produced by Rod Temperton for her third studio Whisper a Prayer (1993).

Reception

Though not released as a single, the song received general acclaim from critics. Andrew Hamilton of Allmusic expressed, 'Mica Paris' original rendition of Rod Temperton's ballad supreme [...] shames Tamia's more successful rendition'. Hamilton also described the tone of her voice as 'glorious', writing, it 'never pales; it glows like a warm fire as the devastating British woman squeezes the last drop of soul from the lyrics.'[1]

Whilst Entertainment Weekly writer James Earl Hardy described the song as 'sexy R&B', Daryl Easlea of the BBC called it 'beautiful and passionately delivered' he also expressed, 'you long for it being recorded at a different time, not with Paris in front of a keyboard with an orchestra setting button and a drum machine'.[2][3]

Quincy Jones version

"You Put a Move on My Heart"
Single by Quincy Jones and Tamia
from the album Q's Jook Joint
B-side"Let the Good Times Roll"
ReleasedDecember 2, 1995
Recorded1995
Genre
Length6:13
Label
Songwriter(s)Rod Temperton
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Tamia singles chronology
"You Put a Move on My Heart"
(1995) 		"Slow Jams"
(1996)

In 1994, Canadian singer Tamia performed at a multiple sclerosis benefit in Aspen, Colorado when she met music manager, Lionel Richie's ex-wife Brenda Richie, who was co-sponsoring the event and introduced herself to Tamia after the show.[4] A few months later, Tamia, who was being courted by Warner Bros. Records at the time, called Richie to say that she was coming to Los Angeles for a photo session, resulting in her lasting stay and a management deal with Richie.[4]

Weeks later, Richie arranged for her to perform at a star-studded party that she held for singer Luther Vandross.[4] Her performance reportedly impressed all in attendance, including veteran producer Quincy Jones, who later offered her the chance to appear on his album, Q's Jook Joint (1995).[4] Overwhelmed by his offer, Tamia recorded vocals for "You Put a Move on My Heart", which Jones later selected as the album's first single.[5] A moderate commercial success, the collaboration earned acclaim from critics; it was later nominated for a Grammy Award.[6]

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 98
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] 16

References

  1. ^ Hamilton, Andrew. "Whisper a Prayer - Mica Paris". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  2. ^ Earl Hardy, James (11 June 1993). "Whisper a Prayer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  3. ^ Daryl Easlea (2010-11-02). "BBC - Music - Review of Mica Paris - Whisper a Prayer". BBC. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "Canadian-born Bombshell". Vibe. 1998-06-01. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. ^ "Quincy Jones Introduces Singer Tamia On New Album". Jet. 1995-11-13. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "The Complete List of Nominees". Los Angeles Times. 1998-01-08. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tamia Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  8. ^ "Tamia Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
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