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You're History

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"You're History"
Single by Shakespears Sister
from the album Sacred Heart
B-side
  • "Dirty Mind" (live)
  • "Heroine" (live)
Released17 July 1989 (1989-07-17)[1]
LabelFFRR
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Shakespears Sister singles chronology
"Break My Heart (You Really)" / "Heroine"
(1988) 		"You're History"
(1989) 		"Run Silent"
(1989)

"You're History" is a song by British-based pop act Shakespears Sister, released in July 1989 as the second single from their debut album, Sacred Heart (1989). The song was the first release to present the act as a duo and their first chart hit, reaching number seven in the United Kingdom. Outside the UK, "You're History" reached number five in Finland and entered the top 40 in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.

Background

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"You're History" is the first release to present Shakespears Sister as a duo comprising Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit, as opposed to a solo project by Fahey. The single sleeve depicts the two seen from the back with Detroit wielding a guitar; however, an early pressing of the single used an alternate cover depicting only Fahey.[2] Another alternate cover is used for the "Voodoo Remix" single, which is similar to the cover depicting both Fahey and Detroit but features Fahey looking at Detroit instead of straight ahead.[3]

Critical reception

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Bill Coleman from Billboard complimented the song's "refreshing hooks", describing it as "danceable pop with a distinctive edge [that] has the goods to seduce programmers with its infectious charm."[4] Alison Mayes from Calgary Herald felt it's a "stellar turn" on the album, and "a witty, infectious statement of female independence that dispenses with a lover by telling him to go back to sleep and comparing him with the Dead Sea scrolls."[5] Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times wrote, "Though this kind of novelty wears out quickly, the delightfully absurd put-down of an old lover is too much fun to ignore. Siobhan Fahey is married to Dave Stewart, which may explain some of the Eurythmic tension in the arrangement."[6] David Giles from Music Week said, "Fairly cluttered record built around a wailing bluesy chorus, chugging rhythm and choppy guitar. Tries very hard to be soulful, perhaps too hard."[7] In a 2014 retrospective review, Pop Rescue stated that both singers are on "great vocal form", complimenting the producer of the song, adding, "I think that’s partly why it stands out."[8] A reviewer from Record Mirror declared it as a "mildly eccentric and compelling mature pop song".[9] Richard Lowe from Smash Hits complimented it as "fab".[10]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "You're History", the third video directed by English director Sophie Muller for the group, was the first in which Detroit appeared.[11] The video begins with Detroit singing the opening verse of the song in front of a red stage curtain. At the end of the verse, the curtains open and the video continues in a glittering vaudeville style with Detroit and Fahey superimposed against various backdrops. A variety of dancers (including a group of ballerinas), a court jester juggling act, and various musicians also appear in the video, as does Fahey's son, Sam, dressed in a bumblebee costume.[12]

Track listings

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Personnel

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  • Siobhan Fahey – vocals
  • Marcella Detroit – vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Stevie Salas – guitar solo[20]
  • Alan Moulder – remix
  • Jimmy Iovine – production
  • Manu Guiot – remix
  • Mark McGuire – remix
  • Richard Feldman – production

Charts

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Chart (1989–1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[1] 20
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[21] 29
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[23] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 51
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[27] 7
West Germany (GfK)[28] 55

References

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  1. ^ a b "Shakespears Sister – You're History". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b You're History (European mini-CD single liner notes). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. 886 634-3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ a b You're History (UK remix 12-inch single sleeve). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. FXR 112, 886 653-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Coleman, Bill (7 October 1989). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 81. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  5. ^ Mayes, Alison (23 November 1989). "Discs". Calgary Herald. p. G7.
  6. ^ Hilburn, Robert (11 November 1989). "Top Alternative Pop Tunes Embody Accessibility and Craft". Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
  7. ^ Giles, David (29 July 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 25. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Review: 'Sacred Heart' by Shakespear's Sister (CD, 1989)". Pop Rescue. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  9. ^ Kevin Murphy (7 October 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror.
  10. ^ Lowe, Richard (20 September 1989). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 73. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. ^ The Best of Shakespear's Sister liner notes
  12. ^ Shakespears Sister - You're History at ShakespearsSisterTV on YouTube
  13. ^ You're History (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. F 112, 886 612.7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ You're History (UK cassette single sleeve). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. FCS 112, 886612.4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ You're History (UK CD single liner notes). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. FCD 112, 886 613.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ You're History (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. FX 112, 886 613.1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ You're History (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Shakespears Sister. London Records. 1989. POOL 37017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ You're History (Canadian 12-inch single vinyl disc). Shakespears Sister. London Records. 1989. 886 613-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ You're History (US cassette single cassette notes). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. 886 696-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Sacred Heart (US CD album liner notes). Shakespears Sister. FFRR Records. 1989. 828 168-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 34. 26 August 1989. p. V. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  22. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You're History". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Shakespears Sister – You're History" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Shakespears Sister – You're History". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Shakespears Sister – You're History". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Shakespears Sister – You're History" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
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