Just Be Good to Me
Encyclopedia
"Just Be Good to Me" is a 1983 single by The SOS Band
, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The single reached number two on the U.S. R&B chart
, number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and number three on the dance chart
that year. It was more successful in the UK where it peaked at #13.
The song has subsequently been covered by several artists, including Deborah Cox
(whose version reached number eight on the US Hot Dance Club Play
chart), Mariah Carey
(who performed it live on her 1993 Music Box and 1996 Daydream tours), Karmah
(whose version hit number one in Poland) , Shayne Ward
(who recorded it for his 2007 album Breathless
) and Faithless
in 2008 in a collaboration with Dido
. 2Pac also sampled the track on his 1994 album Me Against The World on track number 7 Heavy In The Game Ft. Lady Levi and Richie Rich. Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim
) was involved with a very successful UK version with his band Beats International
who took the song to number one as "Dub Be Good to Me
", which featured a backing track consisting mainly of a sample of The Clash
classic, "The Guns of Brixton
". The song was also sampled on the 1998 single by rapper Silkk the Shocker, "Just Be Straight with Me
," which also featured Destiny's Child
. In 2010, Professor Green
and Lily Allen
released a cover reminiscent of Beats International
's version entitled "Just Be Good to Green
", and Cher Lloyd performed it on series seven
of The X Factor
. In 2011 the song was performed by Simone Battle on series one of The X Factor (US).
The melody is sampled on "I Belong To You
", a single by Whitney Houston from her 1990 album, I'm Your Baby Tonight
.
In the 2006 the song was remixed by the band of Karmah
with a mash-up of the sample of Every Breath You Take
by Police
.
In 2008, the song was featured on Grand Theft Auto IV
s fictional Soul/R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8.
The SOS Band
The SOS Band is an American musical ensemble, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.-History:...
, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The single reached number two on the U.S. R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and number three on the dance chart
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
that year. It was more successful in the UK where it peaked at #13.
The song has subsequently been covered by several artists, including Deborah Cox
Deborah Cox
Deborah Cox is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. Her 1998 song "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held the record for longest-running number one single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart , a record held for nearly eight years. She has achieved ten number-one hits on...
(whose version reached number eight on the US Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart), Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
(who performed it live on her 1993 Music Box and 1996 Daydream tours), Karmah
Karmah (band)
Karmah is an Italian pop/hip-hop duo, produced by the Italian DJ Gabry Ponte. In 2005, they experienced some success in several European countries with a cover of The SOS Band's song "Just Be Good To Me", which peaked at #1 on Polish National Top 50 and sampled "Every Breath You Take by The Police...
(whose version hit number one in Poland) , Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
(who recorded it for his 2007 album Breathless
Breathless (Shayne Ward album)
Breathless is the second solo studio album by British pop singer and winner of The X Factor, Shayne Ward. Record label Syco Music released it in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2007. The album is mostly written by Rami Yacoub, Arnthor Birgisson and Savan Kotecha. The album was commercially...
) and Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
in 2008 in a collaboration with Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
. 2Pac also sampled the track on his 1994 album Me Against The World on track number 7 Heavy In The Game Ft. Lady Levi and Richie Rich. Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
) was involved with a very successful UK version with his band Beats International
Beats International
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook , after his departure from The Housemartins.-Career:...
who took the song to number one as "Dub Be Good to Me
Dub Be Good to Me
"Dub Be Good to Me" is a popular single by the club music group Beats International, released in 1990. It is generally considered the band's signature song.-Song information:Written by Norman Cook aka...
", which featured a backing track consisting mainly of a sample of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
classic, "The Guns of Brixton
The Guns of Brixton
"The Guns of Brixton" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon, who grew up in Brixton, south London...
". The song was also sampled on the 1998 single by rapper Silkk the Shocker, "Just Be Straight with Me
Just Be Straight with Me
"Just Be Straight With Me" was the first single released from Silkk the Shocker's second album, Charge It 2 da Game. It was produced by Beats By the Pound member Craig B. and featured Master P and Destiny's Child...
," which also featured Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. In 2010, Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
and Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
released a cover reminiscent of Beats International
Beats International
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook , after his departure from The Housemartins.-Career:...
's version entitled "Just Be Good to Green
Just Be Good to Green
"Just Be Good to Green" is a reworked cover of "Dub Be Good to Me" by British recording artist Professor Green from his second studio album, Alive Till I'm Dead...
", and Cher Lloyd performed it on series seven
The X Factor (UK series 7)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent; the winner of which receives a £1 million recording contract with the Syco Music record label. The seventh series started on ITV on 21 August 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The winner was Matt Cardle and...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
. In 2011 the song was performed by Simone Battle on series one of The X Factor (US).
The melody is sampled on "I Belong To You
I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)
"I Belong to You" is the fifth single released from Whitney Houston's multi-platinum third album I'm Your Baby Tonight. It was written by Derek Bramble and Franne Golde...
", a single by Whitney Houston from her 1990 album, I'm Your Baby Tonight
I'm Your Baby Tonight
I'm Your Baby Tonight is the third studio album by American pop/R&B singer Whitney Houston; released by Arista Records on November 6, 1990. Following the run of this album, Houston continued to achieve widespread commercial success throughout the 1990s, venturing heavily into films—while...
.
In the 2006 the song was remixed by the band of Karmah
Karmah
Karmah may refer to:*Al-Karmah, a city in Iraq near Fallujah*Karmah , an Italian duo...
with a mash-up of the sample of Every Breath You Take
Every Breath You Take
"Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers . The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks and the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It also topped the...
by Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
.
In 2008, the song was featured on Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
s fictional Soul/R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8.