(At Your Best) You Are Love

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"(At Your Best) You Are Love"
Song by the Isley Brothers
from the album Harvest for the World[1]
Released1976
Recorded1975
GenreR&B
Length5:23
Songwriter(s)
  • Ernie Isley
  • Marvin Isley
  • Chris Jasper
  • Rudolph Isley
  • O'Kelly Isley
  • Ronald Isley
  • Chris Jasper

"(At Your Best) You Are Love" is a song by the Isley Brothers, originally a radio hit in 1976. It was originally dedicated to their mother.

Personnel

Aaliyah version

"At Your Best (You Are Love)"
File:Aaliyah-AtYourBest.jpg
Single by Aaliyah
from the album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number
B-side"Back & Forth"
ReleasedAugust 22, 1994
Recorded1993
StudioChicago Recording Company (Chicago)
Genre
Length
  • 4:52 (album version)
  • 4:30 (remix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)R. Kelly
Aaliyah singles chronology
"Back & Forth"
(1994) 		"At Your Best (You Are Love)"
(1994) 		"Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"
(1994)
Music video
"At Your Best (You Are Love)" on YouTube

"(At Your Best) You Are Love" was covered by American singer Aaliyah for her debut studio album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994). The cover, titled "At Your Best (You Are Love)", was released as the second single from Age Ain't Nothing but a Number on August 22, 1994, by Blackground Records and Jive Records. A commercial success, it peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Soon after its release, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Critical reception

"At Your Best (You Are Love)" received widespread critical acclaim. Damien Scott from Complex felt that the song was a nice departure from the hip hop and new jack swing–inspired songs that comprised a large portion of Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. He said that the song showed Aaliyah was "on the cusp of adulthood".[2] Music writer James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart commentary: "Her second hit is in essence a beauty, a sparse but haunting rendition of an old Isley Brothers track, first written and recorded before she was even born."[3] Alan Jones from Music Week rated it three out of five, adding that "this pretty Isley Brothers ballad is played on traditional instruments, and is sung by the striking young R Kelly protege in intimate and breathily pure style."[4] In a retrospective review, Cydney Lee from Billboard praised Aaliyah's vocal delivery on the song and felt that she maintained the original song's "depth with a sense of maturity and grace that defined her emerging class of young R&B stars, like Brandy and Monica, at the time".[5]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "At Your Best (You Are Love)" was directed by Millicent Shelton. It was shot back-to-back with R. Kelly's "Summer Bunnies" and both were released during the fall of 1994. The video uses the remix of the song and features Kelly, who produced it, in the video. It was published on YouTube in October 2009. As of September 2021, the video has amassed over 15 million views.[6]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Age Ain't Nothing but a Number.[13]

  • Aaliyah – lead vocals, backing vocals
  • R. Kelly – multi-instrumentation, production

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "At Your Best (You Are Love)"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 22, 1994
[31]
United Kingdom October 10, 1994 Jive
[32]
Japan October 21, 1994 Mini CD BMG
[33]

Notes

  1. ^ R. Kelly co-wrote only the remix of "At Your Best (You Are Love)".

Other versions

  • In the Philippines, the Aaliyah's version was covered by two artists: MYMP on their album Versions and Nina from her love songs live album Nina Live!.
  • Swedish artist El Perro Del Mar covered the song in 2009 as a special Record Store Day release as well.
  • In 2010, Drake made a song with Young Jeezy called "Unforgettable" using the same beat.
  • As well as "Activist" Written By Gucci Mane & Peewee Longway: Release Date, August 13, 2013
  • In 2015, Frank Ocean released a cover (You are Luhh) on his Tumblr account as a tribute to Aaliyah, one day after what would have been her 36th birthday. A slightly different version was also included on his visual album Endless.[34]
  • In 2021, English singer Sinéad Harnett covered the song with a new music video to tribute to Aaliyah's version of the song.[35]

Samples

References

  1. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "The 25 Bthree out of fiveest Aaliyah Songs". Complex. May 19, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  3. ^ Masterton, James (October 9, 1994). "Week Ending October 15th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Jones, Alan (October 8, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "Aaliyah's 20 Best Songs: Staff List". Billboard. August 25, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "Aaliyah - At Your Best (You Are Love) (Official HD Video)". YouTube. October 25, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Aaliyah (1994). At Your Best (You Are Love) (12-inch single). Blackground Records, Jive Records.
  8. ^ Aaliyah (1994). At Your Best (You Are Love) (cassette single). Blackground Records, Jive Records.
  9. ^ Aaliyah (1994). At Your Best (You Are Love) (CD single). Blackground Records, Jive Records.
  10. ^ Aaliyah (1994). At Your Best (You Are Love) (12-inch single). Jive Records.
  11. ^ Aaliyah (1994). At Your Best (You Are Love) (cassette single). Jive Records.
  12. ^ Aaliyah (1994). At Your Best (You Are Love) (CD single). Jive Records.
  13. ^ Aaliyah (1994). Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (CD). Blackground Records, Jive Records.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2655." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  15. ^ "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. October 22, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "week 45 (5 november 1994)" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  17. ^ "Aaliyah – At Your Best (You Are Love)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  18. ^ "Aaliyah – At Your Best (You Are Love)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  20. ^ "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  21. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  22. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  23. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  24. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  26. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  27. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  28. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1994". Archived from the original on 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  29. ^ "R&B Rap Hip-Hop Year-End Charts - 1994 - Soul System". Soulsystem.it. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – Aaliyah – At Your Best". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  31. ^ "At Your Best (You Are Love)". Blackground Records, Jive Records. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. October 8, 1994. p. 25. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  33. ^ "アット・ユア・ベスト" [At Your Best] (in Japanese). Japan: Oricon. October 21, 1994. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  34. ^ "frank ocean". Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  35. ^ "Sinéad Harnett Tributes Aaliyah With Remake of 'At Your Best (You Are Love)'". Ratedrnb.com. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.

External links

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