"Who Do You Think You Are" is a song written by British songwriting-team Des Dyer and Clive Scott. It was first recorded by English pop group Candlewick Green and released in late December 1973. The song peaked at #21 in the United Kingdom in February 1974.[2]
| "Who Do You Think You Are?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Candlewick Green | ||||
| B-side | "Fingers in Your Ears" | |||
| Released | 28 December 1973[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:49 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Chas Peate | |||
| Candlewick Green singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Who Do You Think You Are" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods | ||||
| from the album Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods | ||||
| B-side | "Fool's Way of Lovin'" | |||
| Released | July 1974 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | ABC | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Steve Barri | |||
| Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Candlewick Green version
editInfo and background
editThe single had been released in the United States on BASF 19193.[3]
Track listings
edit- 7" vinyl - Decca Records
- "Who Do You Think You Are?" (Dyer, Scott)
- "Fingers In Your Ears" (Dyer, Scott)
Charts
edit| Chart (1973–74) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 21 |
Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods version
editBo Donaldson and the Heywoods covered "Who Do You Think You Are" in 1974. Their version became a hit in both the United States and Canada. It peaked at #15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] and #13 on Cash Box.[6] It was a bigger hit in Canada, where it reached #11.[7] It was also an Adult Contemporary hit in both nations.
Track listings
edit- 7" vinyl - ABC Records
- "Who Do You Think You Are?" (Dyer, Scott)
- "Fool's Way Of Lovin'" (Michael Price, Dan Walsh)
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Saint Etienne version
edit| "Who Do You Think You Are" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Saint Etienne | ||||
| from the album You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone | ||||
| A-side | "Hobart Paving" | |||
| B-side | "Your Head My Voice (Voix Revirement)" | |||
| Released | 11 May 1993[13] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Saint Etienne | |||
| Saint Etienne singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Who Do You Think You Are" on YouTube | ||||
British indie dance/indie pop band Saint Etienne released an alternative dance-pop arrangement of "Who Do You Think You Are" on their first compilation album, You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone (1993). This version featured Debsey Wykes as co-lead vocalist, sometime backing singing for the band and former singer of Dolly Mixture. It peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart[4] as a double A-side with "Hobart Paving".
Critical reception
editStewart Mason from AllMusic felt that "Who Do You Think You Are" is "one of St. Etienne's most groove-oriented tunes."[14] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "English modern-pop act delves into Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods' pop evergreen with fanciful, disco-minded results. Singer Debsey offers a soft, sugar-coated vocal with a pleasant, cushiony house groove resting beneath." He added, "Far more interesting and effective than the group's previous releases."[15] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton found that it's "a completely new track, a superbly crafted bit of pop which should be Top 10 if there is any justice in the world. We shall see."[16] Taylor Parkes from Melody Maker declared it as "tuppeny-ha' penny Seventies bubblegum dipped in class and delivered deadpan".[17] Damon Albarn and Alex James of Blur reviewed the song for Smash Hits, naming it Best New Single and giving it five out of five. Albarn said, "I like the idea of this. I think they are getting a lot better. I think this is their most complete song. I think the radio will almost certainly play this and it will easily be a Top 20 hit. It's wonderful shopping mall music. It's shopping mall music with attitude. That's what it is."[18]
Music video
editA music video was produced to promote the single. It was later made available on YouTube in May 2012.[19]
Track listings
editAll tracks written and composed by Dyer and Scott; except where indicated.
|
|
Charts
edit| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20]
with "Hobart Paving" |
74 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 23 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)[21] | 31 |
| US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[22] | 5 |
| US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[22] | 36 |
Other cover versions
edit- In 1974, Dyer and Scotts's pop group Jigsaw recorded the song as an album track on their 1974 studio album; I've Seen The Film, I've Read The Book.
- In 1975, Claude François adapted the song into French under the title "On est qui, on est quoi" ("Who are we, what are we").
References
edit- ^ "45cat - Candlewick Green - Who Do You Think You Are? / Fingers In Your Ears - Decca - UK - FR 13480". 45cat website ©2014. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
- ^ "Candlewick Green / Artist / Official Charts". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
- ^ Billboard, June 22, 1974 - Page 10 "Who Do You Think You Are"
- ^ a b c "Saint Etienne / Artist / Official Charts". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
- ^ "Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods - Chart history - Billboard". © 2014 Billboard. All Rights Reserved. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
- ^ a b "Cash Box Top 100 10/05/74". TropicalGlen.com. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1974-10-19. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 92. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". 1974-10-26. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Hobart Paving, Who Do You Think You Are UK 1993 Heavenly". Saint Etienne Discography. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
- ^ Mason, Stewart. "Saint Etienne – You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Flick, Larry (26 June 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 84. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Masterton, James (16 May 1993). "Week Ending May 22nd 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ Parkes, Taylor (27 November 1993). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 40. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ Albarn, Damon; James, Alex (12 May 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 48. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Saint Etienne - Who Do You Think You Are". YouTube. 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 22. 29 May 1993. p. 35. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 5 June 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Saint Etienne > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
