Blow Your Mind (Jamiroquai song)

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"Blow Your Mind"
Single by Jamiroquai
from the album Emergency on Planet Earth
B-side"Hooked Up" (Instrumental)
Released24 May 1993 (1993-05-24)[1]
Length
  • 8:35 (album version)
  • 3:51 (radio edit)
LabelSony Soho Square
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Pope
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"Too Young to Die"
(1993) 		"Blow Your Mind"
(1993) 		"Emergency on Planet Earth"
(1993)
Music video
"Blow Your Mind" on YouTube

"Blow Your Mind" is the third overall single to be released from British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai's debut studio album, Emergency on Planet Earth (1993). It was released on 24 May 1993 through Sony Soho Square in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by frontman Jay Kay with Toby Smith, and produced by Rick Pope. Its accompanying music video was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.

Background[edit]

The single was later featured on the group's greatest hits compilation, High Times: Singles 1992–2006; however, its release was a shorter version rather than the original album-length track. Like both of the group's previous singles, two versions of the song exist: a heavily edited radio edit, running at 3:51, and the full-length album version, running at 8:35. The latter version has only ever been officially included on the group's debut album release (as well as the 2013 remaster). All other releases which include the track include the radio edit. The B-side of the single is an instrumental version of the popular Emergency on Planet Earth track "Hooked Up".

Critical reception[edit]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "In many ways this new single is not quite as good a song [as "Too Young to Die"] – this star still has a little way to rise."[2] The Stud Brothers from Melody Maker viewed it as "classy, elegant and unspeakably dull."[3] Steve Morton from Music & Media said, "Again, not unreminiscent of Mr Stevie Wonder and he does it so well. Light piano tinkles, funky guitar flutters, horns ride the controlled storm and that voice breathes each soulful note out effortlessly. Less obviously catchy than "Too Young to Die" but it just oozes summer all over you."[4] Another Music & Media editor stated, "On a hopping funky bass line Jay is scatting his vocals, while the horn section exhales full blast. Mind blowingly good stuff!"[5]

Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song four out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, adding, "The kid can do no wrong at the moment. His third single is a breezy jazz funk track that lacks the lyrical message of its predecessors but is already turning out to be a winner on the nation's dancefloors. Its chart success is assured."[6] Ian McCann from NME wrote, "Jamiroquai gets all smooth and mildly funky. [...] Wait for the album, wherein this silky-drawered thing belongs."[7] Kevin L. Carter from Philadelphia Inquirer felt the "extended electric-piano showcase" "Blow Your Mind" recalls early Herbie Hancock.[8] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update declared it as "excellent" and "brassy".[9]

Music video[edit]

A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British music video directors Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton,[10] and shows a group of people dancing in a 1970s club, where Jamiroquai are performing the song to the paying crowd. It was later made available on the band's official YouTube channel in 2009[11] and had generated more than 12.5 million views as of September 2021.

Track listings[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 53
Europe (European Dance Radio)[13] 5
Europe (European Hit Radio)[14] 33
UK Singles (OCC) 12
UK Dance (Music Week)[15] 2
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[16] 14

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 May 1993. p. 21.
  2. ^ Masterton, James (30 May 1993). "Week Ending June 5th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  3. ^ The Stud Brothers (29 May 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ^ Morton, Steve (22 May 1993). "New Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 21. p. 17. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 32. 7 August 1993. p. 7. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ^ Beevers, Andy (22 May 1993). "Market Preview: Dance – Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 9. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  7. ^ McCann, Ian (29 May 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 18. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ^ L. Carter, Kevin (21 September 1993). "Ron Carter Continues to Combine Jazz with Classical's Lyricism". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  9. ^ Hamilton, James (22 May 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 2. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Jamiroquai: Blow Your Mind". IMDb. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Jamiroquai – Blow Your Mind (Official Music Video)". 26 November 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 25. 19 June 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  13. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 29. 17 July 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  14. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 32. 7 August 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  16. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 29 May 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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