The Real Thing (Tony Di Bart song)
"The Real Thing" is a song from 1993 by English singer Tony Di Bart. It topped the UK Singles Chart following a rerelease in 1994 and reached the top 20 in Belgium, France, Ireland, and Spain.
"The Real Thing" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Tony Di Bart | ||||
Released |
| |||
Genre | House[1] | |||
Length | 3:54 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | The Joy Brothers | |||
Tony Di Bart singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"The Real Thing" on YouTube |
Background and release
Di Bart was working as a bathroom salesman in Buckinghamshire when he recorded and released "The Real Thing".[1][2] It was written by Di Bart, Andy Blissett and Lucinda Drayton. Originally released in November 1993, the song failed to appear on the UK Singles Chart. However, a remixed version was released in April 1994, and spent a week at number one on the UK Singles Chart in May 1994.[3] This remix also found success in countries outside the UK, becoming a top-20 hit in Belgium,[4] France,[5] Ireland,[6] and Spain.[7] It also reached the top 50 in Germany and the Netherlands.[8][9] In North America, it peaked at number 35 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number on the Canadian RPM Dance chart.[10][11]
Critical reception
Music & Media wrote about the song: "It's the combination of the fast basslinelike Grandmaster Flash's 'White Lines' with Di-Bart's slow soulful vocals that does it. This type of pop dance happens to be very popular in Turkey, says Radio Number One FM/Istanbul programmer Alpay Kasicki. "We try to cover everything, but this is the people's taste. It was played 25 times in its first two weeks on our playlist. I'm sure Di-Bart will follow in the footsteps of Haddaway and Culture Beat."[12]
Track listings
1993 release
UK 12-inch blue vinyl[13]
- A1. "The Real Thing"
- B1. "The Real Thing" (dance mix)
- B2. "The Real Thing" (underground mix)
1994 release
UK 7-inch vinyl[14]
UK 12-inch vinyl[15]
UK CD single[16]
|
Dutch 12-inch vinyl[17]
French CD single[18]
Spanish maxi-single[19]
|
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Certifications
|
References
- Petridis, Alexis (31 May 2012). "The best No 1 records: Tony di Bart – The Real Thing". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- Ewing, Tom (January 2013). "Tony Di Bart – "The Real Thing"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Ultratop.be – Tony Di Bart – The Real Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Lescharts.com – Tony Di Bart – The Real Thing" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Real Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Tony Di Bart – The Real Thing". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- "Tony Di Bart Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2608." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- "Music & Media: New Releases" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 18. 30 April 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- The Real Thing (UK 12-inch blue vinyl disc). Tony Di Bart. Cleveland City Blues. 1993. CCB 15001.CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Real Thing (UK 7-inch vinyl disc). Tony Di Bart. Cleveland City Blues. 1994. CCB 715001(R).CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Real Thing (UK 12-inch vinyl disc). Tony Di Bart. Cleveland City Blues. 1994. CCB 15001(R).CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Real Thing (UK CD single liner notes). Tony Di Bart. Cleveland City Blues. 1994. CCBCD 15001 (R).CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Real Thing (Dutch 12-inch vinyl disc). Tony Di Bart. Freaky Records. 1994. Freaky 1038-5.CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Real Thing (French CD single liner notes). Tony Di Bart. NN'B, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1994. 74321215012.CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Real Thing (Spanish maxi-single liner notes). Tony Di Bart. Max Music. 1994. NM 865 CDMX.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 20. 14 May 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- Israel Top-30 24.05.1994
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Tony Di Bart – The Real Thing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- "Ultratop.be – Tony Di Bart – The Real Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- "1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 9.
- "British single certifications – Tony Di-Bart – The Real Thing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 June 2019.