Whatever (En Vogue song)
Encyclopedia
"Whatever" is the second single from musical group En Vogue
's third studio album, EV3
. It has been certified gold by the RIAA
for shipments of over 500,000 units. It reached #16 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
"Whatever" was produced by Babyface (he participated on other tracks as well) as this album marked the first time En Vogue
departed from their usual Foster & McElroy
sound. The video version was also the first to feature only three of the original En Vogue
members (without the recently departed Dawn Robinson
).
Efforts to re-record the album without Robinson (whose solo career flopped as well) were all but successful as she is heard in background and lead throughout EV3
. Her original lead verse on "Whatever" is fourth ("anything you do, I crave it baby...") and can be clearly heard on the remixes to this track. Terry Ellis
replaced Dawn
's outgoing lead in the video and studio album version.
While EV3
was being recorded, Dawn Robinson
chose to leave the group. Her voice is heard throughout the hamony and lead vocals on 95% of the album including this song.
Cindy is shown pulling a face statue in a lightning filled hallway, while she begins the song covering up her face with a mask then removing to sing the first verse, replacing it back after the final chorus.
Maxine is seen singing in front of a three - way mirror in a blue dress while Terry sings while wearing a face brace as a doctor attends to her.
Several beauty enhancement procedures are shown in the video - face lifts, breast augmentation, even skin whitening.
The girls dance in a robotic way throughout the video and are seen sporting several looks and hairstyles each.
En Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
's third studio album, EV3
EV3
EV3 is the third studio album by En Vogue. Originally called "Friendship" It was their first project that wasn't fully produced by Thomas McElroy & Denzil Foster, the then quartet called on hitmakers Babyface, David Foster, Diane Warren, and Ivan Matias among others to provide the group with a new...
. It has been certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for shipments of over 500,000 units. It reached #16 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
"Whatever" was produced by Babyface (he participated on other tracks as well) as this album marked the first time En Vogue
En Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
departed from their usual Foster & McElroy
Foster & McElroy
Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an R&B record production and songwriting duo which has produced and written hit singles for acts such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Alexander O'neal, Regina Bell, Madonna, Swingout Sister, to name a few, and most notably, En Vogue,. In addition, they have...
sound. The video version was also the first to feature only three of the original En Vogue
En Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
members (without the recently departed Dawn Robinson
Dawn Robinson
Dawn Robinson is an American R&B/soul/Dance-pop singer best known for her work as a member of hit Urban/Dance-pop group, En Vogue....
).
Efforts to re-record the album without Robinson (whose solo career flopped as well) were all but successful as she is heard in background and lead throughout EV3
EV3
EV3 is the third studio album by En Vogue. Originally called "Friendship" It was their first project that wasn't fully produced by Thomas McElroy & Denzil Foster, the then quartet called on hitmakers Babyface, David Foster, Diane Warren, and Ivan Matias among others to provide the group with a new...
. Her original lead verse on "Whatever" is fourth ("anything you do, I crave it baby...") and can be clearly heard on the remixes to this track. Terry Ellis
Terry Ellis
Terry Lynn Ellis is an African-American R&B singer best known for her work with the quartet En Vogue.-Biography:...
replaced Dawn
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
's outgoing lead in the video and studio album version.
While EV3
EV3
EV3 is the third studio album by En Vogue. Originally called "Friendship" It was their first project that wasn't fully produced by Thomas McElroy & Denzil Foster, the then quartet called on hitmakers Babyface, David Foster, Diane Warren, and Ivan Matias among others to provide the group with a new...
was being recorded, Dawn Robinson
Dawn Robinson
Dawn Robinson is an American R&B/soul/Dance-pop singer best known for her work as a member of hit Urban/Dance-pop group, En Vogue....
chose to leave the group. Her voice is heard throughout the hamony and lead vocals on 95% of the album including this song.
Music video
The music video for "Whatever" features the girls in a modern beauty salon - come - cosmetics surgery lab. They are surrounded by doctors and nurses dressed in orange outfits performing various surgical procedures.Cindy is shown pulling a face statue in a lightning filled hallway, while she begins the song covering up her face with a mask then removing to sing the first verse, replacing it back after the final chorus.
Maxine is seen singing in front of a three - way mirror in a blue dress while Terry sings while wearing a face brace as a doctor attends to her.
Several beauty enhancement procedures are shown in the video - face lifts, breast augmentation, even skin whitening.
The girls dance in a robotic way throughout the video and are seen sporting several looks and hairstyles each.
Official Versions
- Radio Edit (4:11)
- Album Version (4:22)
- Instrumental (4:22)
- A Capella (4:22)
- TV Track (4:22)
- The Tumblin' Dice Remix Extended Club Remix (featuring Ossirus aka Ol' Dirty Bastard) (5:43)
- The Tumblin' Dice Remix Radio Remix without Rap (4:16)
- The Tumblin' Dice Remix Instrumental (4:16)
- The Tumblin' Dice Remix A Capella (4:16)
- Tuff Jam Unda Vybe Dub (6:55)
- Tuff Jam 2 In 1 Remix (7:59)
- Tuff Jam 2 In 1 Instrumental (8:05)
- Lemon D. Remix (8:40)
- Mousse T. Remix (4:00)
- Roni's Searching For A New Key Mix (6:59)
- Towa Tei Remix (5:29)
- Towa Tei Remix - Instrumental (5:29)
- Mucho Soul Mix (6:27)
- Shelter Dub (6:35)