Don't Make Me Over (song)

"Don't Make Me Over" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in August 1962 and released in fall 1962 as her debut single.[1][2] The song reached number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It was also a top-forty hit in Canada, reaching number 38. Various covers of the song have been made. Brenda & The Tabulations hit #15 on the R&B charts with their cover in 1970. Jennifer Warnes recorded a version which reached number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979, and in 1989, Sybil released a successful dance cover of the song, that was a number-one hit in New Zealand.

"Don't Make Me Over"
Single by Dionne Warwick
from the album Presenting Dionne Warwick
Released	Fall 1962
Recorded	August 18, 1962, Bell Sound Studios, New York City, New York
Genre	Pop, easy listening, soul
Length	2:46
Label	Scepter
Songwriter(s)	Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Producer(s)	Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Dionne Warwick singles chronology
"Don't Make Me Over" (1962) "This Empty Place" (1963)

Sybil version

"Don't Make Me Over"
Single by Sybil
from the album Sybil
Released	1989
Genre	Dance downtempo new jack swing soul
Length	3:54
Label	Attic Bellaphon BITE Records Champion Mega Records Metronome Next Plateau Records Inc. On The Beat Sanni Records
Songwriter(s)	Burt Bacharach Hal David
Producer(s)	Dolores Drewry James Bratton
Sybil singles chronology
"Can't Wait (On Tomorrow)" (1988) "Don't Make Me Over" (1989) "Make It Easy on Me" (1990)
Music video
"Don't Make Me Over" on YouTube

In 1989, American singer Sybil reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her version, one position above Warwick's original, and number two on the Hot Black Singles chart, eventually receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. This version also became a UK hit, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart, and topped the New Zealand Singles Chart for four weeks. A prominent sample of Sybil's version of the song became the basis for Caron Wheeler's 1992 hit single "I Adore You" from the soundtrack of the motion picture Mo' Money starring Damon Wayans.

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard described Sybil's cover as a "spirited Soul II Soul-ish rendition of the Dionne Warwick classic [that] has smash written all over it".[3] Also Pop Rescue stated that it has a beat that musically reminds of "a hybrid" of Soul II Soul's "Keep On Movin'" and Take That's "Pray", calling it "mellow and soulful".[4] Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits noted "the swoony dance wisples" of the song.[5]

Track listing

7" single, Germany (1989)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Make Me Over" (Radio Version)	3:54
2.	"Here Comes My Love"	3:58

12" single, Germany (1989)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Make Me Over" (The KING-dom Come Mix)	7:20
2.	"Don't Make Me Over" (Radio Mix)	3:54
3.	"Here Comes My Love" (Vocal)	3:58
4.	"Here Comes My Love" (Instrumental)	3:58

CD maxi, Germany (1989)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Make Me Over" (Nightime Mix)	3:45
2.	"Don't Make Me Over" (Daytime Mix)	3:27
3.	"My Love Is Guaranteed" (Red Ink Mix - Part 1)	5:35

CD maxi, France (1989)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Make Me Over" (The King-Dom Come Mix)	7:20
2.	"Don't Make Me Over" (Radio Mix)	3:54
3.	"Here Comes My Love" (Vocal)	3:58
4.	"Don't Make Me Over" (Instrumental Version)	3:36

Charts and certifications

Dionne Warwick version

Chart (1962–1963)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[6]	N/A
Canada (CHUM)	38
France (IFOP)[7]	69
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	21
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9]	5

Jennifer Warnes version

Chart (1979)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[10]	67
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11]	36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12]	84

Sybil version

Weekly charts Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 144 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 58 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[15] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 70 Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 40 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 48 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[20] 19 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 20 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[22] 4 US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[23] 2 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 17 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 500,000^^ ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

In January 1966 Liverpudlian band the Swinging Blue Jeans released a cover version which peaked at 31 in the United Kingdom.[27]

Italian chanteuse Ornella Vanoni recorded an Italian-language version of 'Don't Make Me Over', entitled 'Non Dirmi Niente', with lyrics by Giulio Rapetti (otherwise known as Mogol), which was released as a single in Italy in 1964[28] and in the Netherlands in 1965.[29]

References

1. Butler, Jerry (2004). Only the Strong Survive: memoirs of a soul survivor. Bloomington IN: Indiana University Press. p. 116. ISBN 0-253-21704-0.
2. Dominic, Serene (2002). Burt Bacharach, song by song: the ultimate Burt Bacharach reference for fans. London: Omnibus Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-8256-7280-5.
3. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 29 July 1989. p. 69. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
4. "REVIEW: "WALK ON BY" BY SYBIL (VINYL, 1990)". Pop Rescue. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
5. Sawyer, Miranda (21 February 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
6. "Ultratop.be – Dionne Warwick – Don't Make Me Over" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
7. "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque Artiste commençant par W". Retrieved 12 June 2020.
8. "Dionne Warwick Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
9. "Dionne Warwick Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
10. "Jennifer Warnes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
11. "Jennifer Warnes Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
12. "Jennifer Warnes Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
13. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". imgur.com. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6660." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
15. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6688." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 November 1989. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sybil – Don't Make Me Over". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sybil – Don't Make Me Over" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
19. "Charts.nz – Sybil – Don't Make Me Over". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
21. "Sybil Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
22. "Sybil Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
23. "Sybil Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
24. "Sybil Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
25. "End Of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
26. "American single certifications – Sybil – Don't Make Me Over". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 August 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
27. "Official Singles Chart Top 50 24 February 1966 - 02 March 1966". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
28. "Ornella Vanoni: Non Dirmi Niente (Don't Make Me Over)". www.45cat.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
29. "Ornella Vanoni: Non Dirmi Niente (Don't Make Me Over)". www.45cat.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics