Take Me Higher (song)

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For other songs of this title, see Take Me Higher (disambiguation).

"Take Me Higher"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Take Me Higher
B-side
  • "Let Somebody Know"
  • "Too Many Nights"
ReleasedAugust 5, 1995
GenreDance-pop
Length4:13
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Narada Michael Walden
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Chain Reaction '93"
(1993) 		"Take Me Higher"
(1995) 		"Gone"
(1995)
Music video
"Take Me Higher" on YouTube

"Take Me Higher" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 5, 1995, by Motown Records as the first single from her 21st album of the same name (1995). Co-written and produced by Narada Michael Walden featuring additional credits from Mike Mani, it became Ross' fifth number-one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the US.[1] In Europe, it entered the top forty in Scotland and the UK, but was an even bigger hit on the UK Dance Chart, peaking at number four.

Critical reception[edit]

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "swirling retro disco ditty that inspires a wonderfully loose and playful performance", and complimented its chorus as "instantly infectious and brimming with warm optimism."[2] Gil L. Robertson IV from Cash Box stated that "Lady Ross is in fine form with a confident vocal delivery, while her music backdrop is a throwback to the glory days of disco."[3] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan called it "a fine dance number that Ross revels in".[4] Quincy McCoy from the Gavin Report noted that it "kicks up a happy feeling of nostalgia along with keeping a contemporary feel that brings a smile to your feet."[5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that here, "La Ross shifts to a higher gear, the pop dance speed."[6]

A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, describing is as "a slight affair".[7] Music Week editor Alan Jones deemed it "a fairly innocuous affair – pleasant, undemanding and vaguely anthemic in its regular mix".[8] Rupert Howe from NME said, "Needless to say Ms Ross' attempts to cut it on a hip-thrusting house track at an age when most women are claiming their bus passes proves to be no 'Chain Reaction'."[9] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue felt that the singer's vocals "are strong and confident in the verses, but a little weaker in the chorus", adding that "she's joined by backing singers to help lift her higher."[10] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update declared it as a "soaring anxious wailer".[11]

Music video[edit]

The single's accompanying music video featured scenes of Ross in a cocktail dress on stage, while dancers execute a choreography and the band plays the song, intercut with footage of Ross on the beach.[12] It received solid airplay on American television network BET.[13]

Track listings[edit]

  • CD single, UK (1995)
  1. "Take Me Higher" – 4:21
  2. "Let Somebody Know" – 4:57
  3. "Too Many Nights" – 4:36
  • CD maxi, US (1995)
  1. "Take Me Higher" (12-inch mix) – 7:25
  2. "Take Me Higher" (dub mix) – 9:34
  3. "Take Me Higher" (a capella) – 3:44
  4. "Take Me Higher" (LP version) – 4:13
  5. "Take Me Higher" (radio edit) – 4:02
  6. "Take Me Higher" (instrumental) – 4:11

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Take Me Higher.[14]

  • Patti Austin – background vocals
  • Angela Bofill – background vocals
  • Sally Jo Dakota – writing
  • Nikita Germaine – background vocals, writing
  • Allen Gregorie – mix engineering
  • Sandy Griffith – background vocals
  • Kevin Hedge – mixing
  • Tony Lindsay – background vocals
  • Mike Mani – associate production
  • Timmy Regisford – mixing
  • Diana Ross – lead vocals
  • Narada Michael Walden – production, writing

Charts[edit]

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 61
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[16] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)[17] 7
Scotland (OCC)[18] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 32
UK Dance (OCC)[20] 4
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21] 14
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[22] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 77

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 5, 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Motown [citation needed]
United Kingdom August 21, 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
 EMI United Kingdom [24]
Japan October 18, 1995 CD EMI [25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 222.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (September 16, 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 47. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  3. ^ Robertson IV, Gil L. (September 23, 1995). "Pop Singles: Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. ^ Millan, Mark (August 6, 2010). "Take Me Higher – Diana Ross". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  5. ^ McCoy, Quincy (September 1, 1995). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2070. p. 54. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 36. September 9, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  7. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. August 12, 1995. p. 15.
  8. ^ Jones, Alan (August 5, 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 29. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Howe, Rupert (August 26, 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 40. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Review: "Take Me Higher" by Diana Ross (CD, 1995)". Pop Rescue. October 23, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  11. ^ Hamilton, James (September 2, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  12. ^ DianaRossVEVO Take Me Higher
  13. ^ "Take Me Higher (1995)". Dianarossproject.wordpress.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. ^ Take Me Higher (Media notes). Diana Ross. Motown Records. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 36. September 9, 1995. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  16. ^ "Diana Ross – Take Me Higher" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "Diana Ross – Take Me Higher" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 19, 1995. p. 31.
  25. ^ "思い出にかわるまで | ダイアナ・ロス" [Until Memories | Diana Ross] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
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