{{Short description|1991 single by Shabba Ranks}} {{About|the song by Shabba Ranks|the novel written by Bernardine Evaristo|Mr Loverman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Mr. Loverman | cover = Mr_Loverman.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Shabba Ranks | album = Rough & Ready Vol. 1 {{noitalic|and}} Deep Cover (soundtrack) | released = 1991{{citation needed|date=October 2022|reason=Vinyl formats of the single appear to have been issued in the US and Jamaica in the late 1980s.}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * R&B * reggae fusion * dancehall | length = 3:36 | label = Epic | writer = * Shabba Ranks * Mikey Bennett * Hopeton Lindo | producer = * Clifton Dillon * Mikey Bennett | prev_title = Love Punaany Bad | prev_year = 1991 | next_title = Slow and Sexy | next_year = 1991 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|zYoAeFq1HBU|"Mr. Loverman"}}}} {{Extra chronology | artist = Shabba Ranks | type = single | prev_title = I Was a King | prev_year = 1991 | title = Mr. Loverman | year = 1991 | next_title = Housecall | next_year = 1991 }} }} "'''Mr. Loverman'''" is a song by Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks, released in 1991 as a single by Epic Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisrnb.com/2016/08/25-rb-dancehall-reggae-fusion-songs-to-turn-you-on/3/|title=25 R&B Dancehall & Reggae Fusion Songs To Turn You On – Page 3 of 25|date=1 August 2016}}</ref> It reached number 40 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart, as well as becoming a top-20 hit in France, Germany and Ireland. The song was written by Ranks, Mikey Bennett and Hopeton Lindon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/shabba-ranks-and-friends?cat=entertainment|title=Answers – The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions|website=Answers.com}}</ref><ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r175435|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Guide]</ref> The accompanying music video was directed by Fab 5 Freddy. German ''Spex'' included "Mr. Loverman" in their "The Best Singles of the Century" list in 1999,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/spex20jh.htm#singles|title=Die besten Singles aller Zeiten at home.rhein-zeitung.de|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706022353/http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/spex20jh.htm#singles|archive-date=6 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''Q Magazine'' featured it in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm|title=Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003)|publisher=}}</ref>
==Origin of song== The song first appeared as "Champion Lover" by Deborahe Glasgow. Ranks then versioned "Champion Lover" under the new title "Mr. Lover Man", with Deborahe Glasgow the featured female lead. This version appeared on his ''Rappin' with the Ladies'' album in 1988. Glasgow's illness and subsequent early death led to the song being re-recorded for release as a single, this time with Chevelle Franklyn as the featured singer.
The version featuring Chevelle Franklyn was originally released in 1992 with the David Morales remix promoted as the main version, when it charted in a modest position on the UK Singles Chart, but after being re-released in 1993, when dancehall music was starting to enjoy mainstream popularity, the track rose to number three on the UK Singles Chart and remains his biggest hit single to date.
This track also features the first time he used his trademark cry "Shabba!", using the sampled vocals of Maxi Priest from the track "Housecall" on Ranks' 1991 album ''As Raw As Ever''. The song also contains a sample of the 1973 single “Impeach the President” by The Honeydrippers.
==Critical reception== AllMusic editor Ron Wynn stated that the artist "kept the slack dancehall", noting his "thick, patois-laced delivery" on the song, that "basically defined" the album.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ron|last=Wynn|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rough-ready-vol-1-mw0000613701|title=Shabba Ranks – Rough & Ready, Vol. 1|publisher=AllMusic|date=|accessdate=23 March 2020}}</ref> J.D. Considine from ''The Baltimore Sun'' commented, "Although 'Mr. Loverman' starts off with a drumbeat and backing vocals that would seem at home on any rap album, Shabba's thick accent and sing-song delivery couldn't have come from anywhere but the dancehall scene. It isn't just the way his deep, rough-edged voice booms in hypnotic repetition, either. Most of Shabba's effectiveness stems from his ability to fuse each rhyme into a near-perfect blend of sound and rhythm; drop the rhythm track, and his performances would still be as danceable and addictive."<ref>Considine, J.D. (1992). "Reggae and rap meet at dancehall". ''The Baltimore Sun''. – via ''Toronto Star''. (23 August 1992).</ref>
Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' magazine wrote that "the Shabba Ranks success story will have yet another glowing chapter added once radio programmers get their hands on this deliciously sexy R&B/dancehall gem. A languid, shuffling groove is enhanced by easygoing toasting and sultry femme backing vocals. Yummmm."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-05-09.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=9 May 1992|access-date=25 January 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> John Martinucci from the ''Gavin Report'' felt the song "has hit written all over it".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= John |last= Martinucci |title= Urban: New Releases |magazine= Gavin Report |date= 8 May 1992 |page= 42 |accessdate= 17 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-05-08.pdf}}</ref> In his UK chart commentary, James Masterton declared it "a strong contender for No. 1", and "a far cry from the days when he was merely the added novelty on Scritti Politti's version of the Beatles' 'She's a Woman' which represented his first ever chart appearance in this country."<ref>{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending March 20th 1993|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1993/week-ending-march-20th-1993|website=Chart Watch UK|date=14 March 1993|accessdate=10 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}}</ref> A reviewer from ''Music & Media'' said that the "top man in the ranks of raggamuffin artists knows the tricks to break a relatively unknown musical genre. He keeps it simple and accessible with a very high sing-along factor."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-05.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=36|date=5 September 1992|page=11|access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref> James Hamilton from ''Music Week'''s ''RM'' Dance Update described the song as a "huskily ragga rapped swayer."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-08-01.pdf |title= DJ Directory: Out On Monday |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 1 August 1992 |page= 5 |accessdate= 2 October 2020 |author-link=James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}</ref>
==Music video== A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American visual artist, filmmaker, and hip hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8343996/|title=Shabba Ranks: Mr. Loverman|publisher=IMDb|date=|access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref>
==Track listings== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''7-inch single''' # "Mr. Loverman" (radio mix) – 3:36 # "Mr. Loverman" (twin city crew mix) – 4:05
* '''12-inch maxi''' # "Mr. Loverman" (D.M. ragga hop mix) – 6:05 # "Mr. Loverman" (twin city crew mix) – 4:05 # "Mr. Loverman" (new world mix) – 4:22 # "Mr. Loverman" (raggamental mix) – 4:24
* '''CD maxi''' # "Mr. Loverman" (radio mix) – 3:36 # "Mr. Loverman" (D.M. ragga hop mix) – 6:05 # "Mr. Loverman" (twin city crew mix) – 4:05 # "Mr. Loverman" (raggamental mix) – 4:24 # "Ca'an Dunn" – 5:23 # "The Jam" (back to the bridge) – 4:30 {{col-2}} * '''CD maxi – Remixes''' # "Mr Loverman" (D.M. ragga hop mix) – 6:05 # "Mr Loverman" (radio mix) – 3:36 # "Mr Loverman" (twin city crew mix) – 4:05 # "Mr Loverman" (new world mix) – 4:22 # "Mr Loverman" (raggamental mix) – 4:24 {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1992) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2024/06/week-commencing-29-june-1992.html | title=Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 29 June 1992 |website=Bubbling Down Under|access-date=30 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="ARIA history">{{cite web|url= https://imgur.com/a/4e9pG9z | title=Shabba Ranks ARIA Chart history (complete to 2024)|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= July 26, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> | 163 |- {{single chart|Austria|22|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|33|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-05.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=36|date=5 September 1992|page=21|access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> | 54 |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-10-10.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=41|date=10 October 1992|page=36|accessdate=24 October 2021}}</ref> | 9 |- {{single chart|Germany|17|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|songid=17786|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- {{single chart|Dutch40|21|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|21|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Sweden|31|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- {{single chart|UK|23|date=19920815|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- !scope="row"|UK Dance (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-08-22.pdf|title=Top 60 Dance Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=20|date=22 August 1992|access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> | 10 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|40|artist=Shabba Ranks|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|2|artist=Shabba Ranks|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2021}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|2|artist=Shabba Ranks|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- !scope="row"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>[https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/_files/ugd/b4848d_4f9128176360450ba51be67a0468e9fa.pdf Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996]</ref> | 54 |} {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1993) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-04-03.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=14|date=3 April 1993|page=19|access-date=27 September 2019}}</ref> | 17 |- {{single chart|France|19|artist=Shabba Ranks|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|8|song=Mr. Loverman|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019}} |- {{single chart|UK|3|date=19930320|rowheader=true|access-date=27 September 2019|refname="uk1993"}} |- !scope="row"|UK Airplay (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-04-24.pdf|title=Top 50 Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=24 April 1993|page=16|access-date=29 April 2024}}</ref> | 9 |- !scope="row"|UK Dance (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-03-27.pdf|title=Top 60 Dance Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=28|date=27 March 1993|access-date=9 April 2021}}</ref> | 5 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1992) !Position |- !scope="row"|Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1992|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=27 September 2019}}</ref> | 68 |- !scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1992|magazine=Billboard|access-date=9 November 2021|archive-date=3 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803035258/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs|url-status=live}}</ref> | 25 |- !scope="row"|US Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=52|page=YE-48|date=26 December 1992}}</ref> | 12 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1993) !Position |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1993|magazine=Music Week|page=24|date=15 January 1994}}</ref> | 35 |} {{col-end}}
==In popular culture== The song was used briefly in an episode of ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air''.<ref>{{Citation|title=will smith – shaba|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BZPtj19wws |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9BZPtj19wws |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was also featured in the soundtrack of 1992's motion-picture ''Deep Cover''. The song was parodied in an episode of ''In Living Color'' titled "Mr. Ugly Man", where it was performed by actor/comedian Marlon Wayans.<ref>{{Citation|title=Mr. Ugly Man (Shabba)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXXWF8tC3t8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/FXXWF8tC3t8 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> English football club Birmingham City used to sing this song about their striker Peter Lovenkrands until his retirement in November 2014. The British TV show ''Total Wipeout'' used the song for a contestant named Shabba.<ref>{{Citation|title=Total Wipeout – Series 4 Episode 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a23K3btAiYw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/a23K3btAiYw |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Samples and covers== The drum pattern was sampled by Alanis Morissette on "You Learn" from her multiplatinum album ''Jagged Little Pill'' (1995).<ref>{{Citation|title=You Learn|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFW-WfuX2Dk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GFW-WfuX2Dk |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=31 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Shabba Ranks}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1988 songs Category:1991 singles Category:Epic Records singles Category:Reggae fusion songs Category:Shabba Ranks songs