"Buddy X" is a song by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released in 1993 by Circa and Virgin Records as the third and final single from her second album, Homebrew (1992). Co-written and co-produced by Cherry, it was a top-40 hit in both the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, peaking at numbers 23 and 35, respectively. The song also charted in the United States, reaching No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, and in Canada, where it reached No. 28 on the RPM Top Singles chart. Additionally, it peaked at No. 2 on the European Dance Radio Chart by Music & Media and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Its music video was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.

"Buddy X"
Single by Neneh Cherry
from the album Homebrew
Released1993
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Neneh Cherry singles chronology
"Money Love"
(1992)
"Buddy X"
(1993)
"7 Seconds"
(1994)
Music video
"Buddy X" on YouTube

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard felt the song is "way-hip",[1] adding that on this "hip-hop-derived romp", Cherry "further proves that her double talent for singing and rhyming comes in mighty handy, as she swerves from sassy street kid-to worldly chanteuse with ease."[2] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said, "She speaks for all those who've been jacked around by that special someone in their life. Her message really cuts through, thanks to a catchy hook woven into not only the chorus, but the entire track."[3] Chris Dafoe from Globe & Mail remarked that the song finds Cherry "tipping towards soul".[4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton opined, "The latest is unlikely to progess much further either, a far cry from the days of 'Buffalo Stance' and 'Manchild'."[5]

A reviewer from Music & Media wrote that "intrinsically this is a slow song, but it has the drive of a real mean stomper. When Neneh sings "yeah yeah" you automatically join in and your feet start itching."[6] Dave Piccioni from the Record Mirror Dance Update remarked that the singer "drops the home girl stuff just long enough for us to discover that there's been a good voice in there all along."[7] Adam Higginbotham from Select viewed it as "a fine, simple song — Neneh's voice is laid over bubbling clarinet, scalding backing vocals, and simple R&B guitar lick."[8] Siân Pattenden from Smash Hits gave "Buddy X" three out of five, adding that "this tune seems boring at first but is a "grower". It has a nice beat and some friendly backing sorts who croon "yeah yeah yeah"."[9]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single. It was directed by French fashion photographer and music video director Jean-Baptiste Mondino.[10]

1999 remix

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"Buddy X 99"
Single by Dreem Teem vs. Neneh Cherry
Released25 October 1999
GenreUK garage
Label4 Liberty
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dreem Teem
Dreem Teem singles chronology
"The Theme"
(1997)
"Buddy X 99"
(1999)
"It Ain't Enough"
(2001)
Music video
"Buddy X 99" on YouTube

In 1999, "Buddy X" was remixed by UK garage trio the Dreem Teem and retitled "Buddy X 99". This version was a top-twenty hit, peaking at No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart[11] and No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.[12] Other mixes on the single include the Original Dreem Teem Edit, the Dreem Teem Vocal Mix and the Original Dreem Teem Dub Mix.

Track listing

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  • CD single
  1. "Buddy X 99" (Dreem House Edit) - 3:21
  2. "Buddy X 99" (Original Dreem Teem Edit) - 3:33
  3. "Buddy X 99" (Dreem Teem Vocal Mix) - 5:02
  4. "Buddy X 99" (Original Dreem Teem Dub Mix) - 5:32

Charts

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Original version

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Chart (1993) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 28
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 88
Europe (European Dance Radio)[15] 2
Europe (European Hit Radio)[16] 32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 35
UK Airplay (Music Week)[20] 21
UK Dance (Music Week)[21] 10
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[22] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 43
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24] 4
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[25] 8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 96
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[27] 22
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[28] 29
US Cash Box Top 100[29] 38

1999 remix

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Chart (1999) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[30] 42
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 15
UK Dance (OCC)[12] 1
UK Indie (OCC)[31] 4

References

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  1. ^ Flick, Larry (17 April 1993). "Dance Trax: 'DeNiro' Delivers; 'Gypsyland' A Trip; Exposing I.D." (PDF). Billboard. p. 24. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (6 March 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 74. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. ^ Sholin, Dave (26 February 1993). "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 58. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  4. ^ Dafoe, Chris (23 November 1992). "Cherry Mixes A Good Homebrew". Globe & Mail.
  5. ^ Masterton, James (14 June 1993). "Week Ending June 19th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 25. 19 June 1993. p. 13. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  7. ^ Piccioni, Dave (8 May 1993). "Hot Vinyl Buzzing" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  8. ^ Higginbotham, Adam (1 December 1992). "Reviews: New Albums". Select. p. 73. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. ^ Pattenden, Siân (9 June 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 50. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Neneh Cherry: Buddy X". IMDb. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1713." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  15. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  16. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Neneh Cherry – Buddy X" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 3 July 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  22. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 12 June 1993. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Neneh Cherry Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Neneh Cherry Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Neneh Cherry Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Neneh Cherry Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  27. ^ "Neneh Cherry Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  28. ^ "Neneh Cherry Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 35. 8 May 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2019.