"What a Man"
2002 UK vinyl re-release
Single by Linda Lyndell
B-side"I Don't Know"
ReleasedJuly 1968 (US)
GenreSoul
LabelVolt (VOA-4001)
Songwriter(s)Dave Crawford
Producer(s)Dave Crawford
Linda Lyndell singles chronology
"Bring Your Love Back to Me"
(1976)		 "What a Man"
(1968)

"What a Man" is a song written by Dave Crawford, and originally recorded for Stax Records' Volt imprint by Linda Lyndell, whose recording reached number 50 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1968. The song was sampled and reinterpreted as "Whatta Man" in 1993 by the trio Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue, which became a commercial success; reaching the top ten in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2011, German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut (credited as Lena) covered the song while retaining the original title and lyrics.

Early versions

Linda Lyndell, a white singer who had been a supporting act with James Brown and Ike & Tina Turner and then recommended to Stax Records by Otis Redding, recorded "What a Man".[1] The song was essentially improvised by Lyndell, record producer Dave Crawford, and the Stax studio musicians in Memphis, Tennessee. It was released as a single in 1968 with the B-side track "I Don't Know"; both songs were credited to and produced by Dave Crawford.[2] The single entered the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart on August 24, 1968, and then peaked at number 50.[3] The record came to the attention of white supremacists in the Ku Klux Klan, who threatened Lyndell for associating with black musicians; as a result, she largely withdrew from the music business for the next 25 years.[1]

Laura Lee covered the song, released in 1970 as a single by the Cotillion Records with "Separation Line" as the B-side track.[4] Lee's version earned poor sales.[5]

Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue version

"Whatta Man"
Single by Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
from the album Very Necessary and Runaway Love
A-side"Shoop" (US)
B-side
ReleasedDecember 2, 1993 (1993-12-02)
RecordedAugust 1993[6]
Genre
Length4:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Hurby Azor
Salt-N-Pepa singles chronology
"Shoop"
(1993)		 "Whatta Man"
(1993)		 "None of Your Business"
(1994)
En Vogue singles chronology
"What Is Love"
(1993)		 "Whatta Man"
(1993)		 "Don't Let Go (Love)"
(1996)

Production

In 1993, American hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa recorded the song retitled "Whatta Man" for Runaway Love, an EP by En Vogue, who is credited as the featured group. Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor wrote the rap lyrics and produced the version, with Cheryl James (Salt) also credited as one of the songwriters. Salt-N-Pepa sampled Lyndell's original recording and remade the song as a rap song.[7][8]

En Vogue sings the refrain of the song; "Whatta man, whatta man, whatta mighty good man."[9], while a pregnant Cindy Herron is featured only on background vocals. "Whatta Man" was later featured on Salt-n-Pepa's 1993 album, Very Necessary. The male vocals at the beginning of the song were performed by brothers Troy and John Mitchell of the rap group 3 Feet.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the song "such a wonderful duet", noting that they deliver a song "so sexy it hurts".[10] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the "fierce, ruling rap divas dip into their fine Very Necessary album and pull out this wickedly funky hip hop jam." He added further, "Loose and oh-so-appealing harmonies by En Vogue provide a kickin' framework for clever, lip-lickin' rhymes that melt into the track's butt-shaggin' beats. Destined to be an out-of-the-box smasheroo, single further benefits from Danny D's well-conceived remixes."[11] James Earl Hardy from Entertainment Weekly felt in his review of En Vogue's EP, Runaway Love, that the song "prove [that] these divas have more in common with the Emotions and the Sweet Inspirations than with the Supremes."[12] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Whatta concept, pairing these goddesses of hip-hop with a killer track and some of the best lines heard in a long time. Though it was getting a healthy number of spins in several markets late last year, it's now starting to bust big."[13]

James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update deemed it a "cooing gritty slow rap".[14] Ted Kessler from NME named it Unstoppable Hit Single of the Week, writing, "This takes En Vogue's "My Lovin'", puts it in a car, drives it off somewhere hot, sunny and sexy, slows it down, feeds it loads of funky guitar and sewns in some sassy rapping about how the ideal man treats Salt, Pepa and Spinderella."[15] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times felt the song showed that En Vogue "can rap with the best of them."[16] A reviewer from People Magazine described it as "R&B-stoked".[17] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue declared it as a "fantastic collaboration" with En Vogue and a "masterpiece".[18] Sylvia Patterson from Smash Hits gave it two out of five.[19] James Hunter from Vibe noted that En Vogue are "sounding proud as punch to play second fiddle, furnish Salt-N-Pepa with harmonic backdrops. It's a logical collaboration: En Vogue provide the sound of true romance that the rappers can better state than demonstrate."[20]

Commercial performance

"Whatta Man" was a major hit for Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number six on the UK Dance Singles Chart. In the US, this version was certified platinum.[21] The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Whatta Man" was ranked number 23 on VH1's countdown of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 1990s.

Lyrics analyses

Richard Harrington of The Washington Post interprets the song as "a celebration of strong men who stay home and care for kids."[22] Garth Baker-Fletcher, an Associate Professor of Religion from Texas College, interpreted the version's refrain as "praising a steady-thinking, family-values-yet-sexy man."[9] Writer Keith Boykin described the song portion, "Although most men are hos / He flows on the down low / Cuz I never heard about him with another girl," as if "rather than praise his faithfulness, the artists appreciate his discretion, while tacitly acknowledging his cheating." Moreover, Boykin said that "another girl" refers to Salt-N-Pepa's considerations of "heterosexual infidelity" and as if "some women [...] were publicly excusing their men for their down low behavior."[23]

Music videos

A music video was released on the week ending January 2, 1994[24] to promote the single. Tupac Shakur and Treach from Naughty by Nature make cameo appearances. The video was directed by Matthew Rolston, filmed by cinematographer Derek M. Allen and won three MTV Video Music Awards: Best Dance Video, Best R&B Video, and Best Choreography in 1994. New York magazine journalist Dinitia Smith wrote about the video: "Salt-N-Pepa have [sic] a warmth and sexual heat that make Madonna seem contrived and mechanical."[25]

Salt-n-Pepa later recorded a variation on their own, with slightly rewritten lyrics, for another music video as the one-time segment of Monday Night Football. In the Monday music video, the two women wearing tight short-sleeved clothes, including T-shirts containing their respective logos of two opposing teams, are seen in a gym complimenting two football players of their respective teams,[26][27] one white and one black, for the men's bodies and weight training efforts.[27] In contrast, the lyrics of the Monday Night Football music video say that "their man 'likes pushin'[,] spends quality ball with the fellas,' and 'takes a big hit, 'cause he's a real man.'" According to academic Nick Trujillo of California State University, Sacramento, the rap song may associate hypermasculinity "with combat sports such as [American] football." He further said that the standard version has the women rather choose men who do not play football but are good parental candidates and are comfortable with their masculinities, while the Monday music video "not only objectifie[s] football players as sex objects but also reinforce[s] stereotypes of black men as sexual performers and white men as loving fathers."[27]

Impact and legacy

NME magazine ranked "Whatta Man" number 34 in their list of the "50 best songs of 1994".[28] The Village Voice ranked it number 99 in their list of "Top Singles of the 90's" in 1999.[29] Q magazine featured the song in their list of "The 1010 Songs You Must Own" in 2004.

Awards and nominations

YearAward
1994Won MTV Video Music Awards for Best Dance Video, Best R&B Video, and Best Choreography for "Whatta Man".
1995Nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("Whatta Man").
1995Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Whatta Man").

Track listing

  • US maxi-CD single
  1. "Whatta Man" (video remix)
  2. "Whatta Man" (Luvbug remix)
  3. "Whatta Man" (12-inch Danny D remix)
  4. "Push It" (remix)
  5. "Let's Talk About AIDS"

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[57] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[65] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[66] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States December 2, 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [66]
United Kingdom March 7, 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[67]
Japan March 25, 1994 Mini-CD
  • London
  • FFRR
 [68]

Other cover versions and uses

The television show Bill Nye the Science Guy features "Whatta Brain", a parody of this song by En Vogue parody band En Lobe, in the episode "Brain". Australian rock band New Waver covered the song in 1994 and released their cover as a cassingle. Funny or Die released a version of this song with Bruno Mars singing and acting out various scenes, such as an arm wrestling scene with many men competitors.

The song is featured in a few episodes of the sitcom Sister, Sister, and also in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The original Linda Lyndell version of the song was also covered by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut as the theme song to the 2011 German film What a Man. It is featured on the Platinum edition her second studio album Good News and on the film soundtrack album. It was released on 2 September 2011 as CD single and Digital download in Germany, reaching number 21 on the German Singles Chart.[69] A music video for the Lena version was released.

The original "What a Man" was performed in the film The Sapphires and appears on the soundtrack album. It was used as Dan Wilson's intro music when he came up to bat for the Seattle Mariners, and Eddie Murray's for the Cleveland Indians. The Salt-N-Pepa version appears in a 2016 television commercial for Walmart and Coming 2 America released on March 5, 2021.

A sub-unit of South Korean girl group I.O.I from Produce 101 sampled the hook of the Salt-N-Pepa version for their song "Whatta Man" which was released on August 9, 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 Ankeny, James. Biography of Linda Lyndell. AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Top 20: R&B – Spotlights Predicted to Reach the Top 20 of the Top-Selling R&B Singles Chart". Billboard. July 13, 1968. p. 70. Retrieved November 18, 2016 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts: The 1960s. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 242. ISBN 9780898201758. Retrieved November 18, 2016 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2010). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991 (7th ed.). Krause Publications via F+W. p. 70. ISBN 9781440216213. Retrieved November 18, 2016 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Carpenter, Bil (2005). "Laura Lee". Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia. San Francisco: Backbeat Books via United Entertainment Media. ISBN 9780879308414. Retrieved November 18, 2016 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ "Updates from the industry". EW.com.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. p. 215. ISBN 9780875862071. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  8. ↑ Dean, Maury (2003). "Hip Rap Soul". Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia. New York City: Algora Publishing. p. 468. ISBN 0-87586-207-1. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Baker-Fletcher, Garth Kasium (2007) [1996]. "Rap's 'Angry' Children". Xodus: An African-American Male Journey. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8006-2918-2. Retrieved November 28, 2016 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "En Vogue - The Very Best of En Vogue". AllMusic. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  11. ↑ Flick, Larry (January 8, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  12. ↑ Hardy, James Earl (September 24, 1993). "Runaway Love". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ Sholin, Dave. "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  14. ↑ Hamilton, James (March 12, 1994). "Dj directory". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7.
  15. ↑ Kessler, Ted (March 12, 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 48. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  16. ↑ Martinez, Gerald (November 15, 1998). "Top notch hits from Collins". New Sunday Times. p. 13. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Very Necessary". People. February 21, 1994. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Review: "Very Necessary" by Salt 'N' Pepa (CD, 1993)". Pop Rescue. October 28, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  19. ↑ Patterson, Sylvia (March 2, 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 56. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  20. ↑ Hunter, James (October 1, 1993). "Single File". Vibe. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  21. ↑ "American certifications – Salt 'n Pepa – Whatta Man". Recording Industry Association of America.
  22. ↑ Harrington, Richard (May 27, 1994). "Salt-N-Pepa Taking Control". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  23. ↑ Boykin, Keith (2005). "Everybody's Doing It". Beyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America. New York City: Carroll & Graf Publishers. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-78671-704-0.
  24. ↑ "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard_(magazine). January 15, 1994. p. 32.
  25. ↑ Smith, Dinitia (January 17, 1994). "Straight Outta Queens: How Salt-N-Pepa Turned Rap on Its Head". New York. pp. 32–33. Retrieved November 28, 2016 – via Google Books.
  26. ↑ Guttmann, Allen (1996). "Erotic Athleticism and Popular Culture". The Erotic in Sports. New York City: Columbia University Press. p. 83. ISBN 9780231105569. Retrieved November 28, 2016 – via Google Books.
  27. 1 2 3 Trujillo, Nick (1995). "Machines, Missiles, and Men: Images of the Male Body on ABC's Monday Night Football". Sociology of Sport Journal. 12 (4): 403–423. doi:10.1123/ssj.12.4.403. Republished in Contemporary Issues in Sociology of Sport (2001), edited by Andrew Yiannakis and Merrill J. Melnick. pp. 223–236. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Inc. Reference to Salt-n-Pepa version is found in pp. 232–233.
  28. ↑ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Rocklist.net..Jeff Brown's Village Voice Lists - Best of the '80's & '90's..." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk.
  30. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  31. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  32. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  33. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2421." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2395." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  35. ↑ Danish Singles Chart. April 15, 1994.
  36. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. April 2, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  37. ↑ "European Dance Radio Top 25". Music & Media. April 9, 1994. p. 34.
  38. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man" (in French). Les classement single.
  39. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  40. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.05.1994 – 25.05.1994)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 19, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  41. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whatta Man". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  42. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  43. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  44. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man". Top 40 Singles.
  45. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  46. ↑ "Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue – Whatta Man". Singles Top 100.
  47. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  48. ↑ "Dance Singles". Music Week. March 26, 1994. p. 24.
  49. ↑ "The RM Club Chart". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). March 5, 1994. p. 4.
  50. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  51. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  53. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  55. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  56. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 9, 1994".
  57. 1 2 "1994 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  58. ↑ "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  59. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  60. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  61. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. January 14, 1995. p. 9.
  62. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  63. ↑ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 31, 1994".
  64. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Salt N Pepa – Whatta Man". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  65. ↑ "British single certifications – Salt N Pepa ft En Vogue – Whatta Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  66. 1 2 "American single certifications – Salt 'N Pepa – Whatta Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  67. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. March 5, 1994. p. 21.
  68. ↑ "ホワット・ア・マン | ソルト・ン・ペパ" [Whatta Man | Salt n Pepa] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  69. ↑ "Lena, 'What a Man'". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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