Whenever You Need Somebody (song)

"Whenever You Need Somebody" is a song written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, which became successful for two of their artists, namely O'Chi Brown and Rick Astley.

O'Chi Brown version
"Whenever You Need Somebody"
Single by O'Chi Brown
from the album O'Chi
ReleasedNovember 1985
Recorded1985
GenreDance-pop
Length3:26
LabelMagnetic
Songwriter(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
O'Chi Brown singles chronology
"Why Can't We Be Friends"
(1985)		 "Whenever You Need Somebody"
(1985)		 "100% Pure Pain"
(1986)

"Whenever You Need Somebody" was originally written for British singer O'Chi Brown, and released in November 1985 on Magnetic Records. It became a minor hit for Brown in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 97 there.[1] According to Brown, the popularity of the track "caught people [in the industry] by surprise", with producer Pete Waterman left "on the warpath" over the lack of support for the track.[2]

The single was later released in 1986 in the US, where it became a number one hit on the dance charts. It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, however, due to a lack of available stock in record stores.[2] According to Brown, "They didn't have the physical disc, they'd run out of the physical discs."[2]

The song was later included in Brown's studio album O'Chi, released in 1986. When the song was covered by Rick Astley in 1987, Magnet reissued the single in 12" format with new mixes in late 1987.

Charts
Chart (1985-1986) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 97
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 88

Rick Astley version
"Whenever You Need Somebody"
Single by Rick Astley
from the album Whenever You Need Somebody
Released26 October 1987 (UK)
Recorded1987
GenreDance-pop
Length3:26 (radio edit)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Rick Astley singles chronology
"Learning to Live (Without Your Love)"
(1987)		 "Whenever You Need Somebody"
(1987)		 "When I Fall in Love/My Arms Keep Missing You"
(1987)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Whenever You Need Somebody" on YouTube

In 1987, Rick Astley covered the song, as SAW rushed to gather strong follow up material in the wake of the unexpected global mega-success of "Never Gonna Give You Up".[3] The song would become the title track and second single from Astley's multi-million selling debut album Whenever You Need Somebody, also written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. It was a successful European hit for Astley, reaching No. 1 in seven countries, continuing the success of his previous smash single. Though not released as a single in the U.S., it was released as the 4th single in Canada. The girl part of the music video was shot at Las Canteras beach and at the adjacent Hotel Reina Isabel, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

In 2019, Astley recorded and released a 'Reimagined' version of the song for his album The Best of Me, which features a new piano arrangement.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Number One[5]

Richard James and Jenny Jay of Number One praised "Whenever You Need Somebody" as being "a very good song", stating that "it's very commercial and [Astley's] voice is just brillant", and considered SAW "a right set of genuises".[5] Jerry Smith of British magazine Music Week described the song an "uninspired, high energy dance track", but predicted its success on the charts.[6] Discussing Astley's success with the track she'd originated, Brown complimented the singer on his voice and praised the chart performance of his cover, but noted, "I like mine better, what can I tell you? Rick's got a great voice, but I just felt that the song suited a woman, and I felt it suited my voice. I'm not going to say mine was better, but I liked mine more."[2]

Chart performance

Astley's version of "Whenever You Need Somebody" was a major hit on the charts, being a top five hit in almost all the countries where it was released. In the UK, it started at number 11 on 31 October 1987, then climbed to number three, a position it hold for non consecutive three weeks, and stayed on the chart for 12 weeks.[7] It topped the charts in seven European countries, including the Walloon region of Belgium, Finland,[8] Italy,[9] Sweden,[10] Switzerland,[11] and West Germany. In the latter country, it charted for 16 weeks, with four of them spent at number one.[12] It also peaked at number two in Belgium (Flanders),[13] Denmark,[8] the Netherlands,[14] Norway and Spain,[15][16] number three in Australia and Ireland,[17][18] number four in Austria,[19] and number nine in New Zealand.[20] It barely failed to reach the top ten in France and Iceland only, where it atteined number 11 and 17, respectively.[21][22] On the overall Eurochart Hot 100 singles chart established by the Music & Media magazine, it started at number 53 on 7 November 1987, peaked at number four for three weeks, behind Astley's previous single "Never Gonna Give You Up",[23] and spent 33 weeks on the chart. Much aired on radios, it culminated at number two on the European Airplay Top 50 and totaled 14 weeks on the chart.[24]

Track listings
  • 7" single
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" — 3:26
  2. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45
  • 7" single - Picture-disc
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" — 3:26
  2. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45
  • 12" maxi
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Lonely Hearts Mix) — 7:34
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Instrumental) — 3:50
  3. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45
  • 12" / cassette single
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" – 7:52
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Instrumental) – 4:38
  3. "Just Good Friends" – 3:40
  • 12" promo
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Lonely Hearts Mix) – 7:34
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (7" version) – 3:27
  3. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Remix) – 7:57
  4. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Remix Dub) – 4:39

Charts

References
  1. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 8: It's A Man's Man's Man's World to Whenever You Need Somebody on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  2. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 12: Tell Me Tomorrow to New York Afternoon on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  3. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 29: Learning To Live (Without Your Love) to Turn It Up on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. Brungardt, Leah (12 November 2019). "An Interview with 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Singer Rick Astley on His Iconic Hit Song, His Newest Album and Much More!". All Access Music. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. James, Richard; Jay, Jenny (31 October 1987). "Single of the Week: Rick Astley — "Whenever You Need Somebody" (RCA)". Number One. No. 228. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. p. 50. ISSN 0266-5328. Retrieved 18 November 2022 – via Flickr.
  6. Smith, Jerry (31 October 1987). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  7. "Rick Astley: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  8. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 49. Amsterdam. 12 December 1987. p. 16. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  9. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Rick Astley".
  10. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  11. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  13. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  14. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  15. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  16. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  17. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 20. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whenever You Need Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  19. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  20. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  21. "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  22. "Rick Astley Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  23. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 48. 5 December 1987. p. 14-15. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  24. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 49. 12 December 1987. p. 6. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  25. "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 November 1987. p. 30. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  26. "Single top 100 over 1987" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  27. The Complete Book Of British Charts by Warwick/Kutner/Brown
  28. "Top 50 Singles 1988". Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  29. "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  30. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
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