Forget Me Nots

"Forget Me Nots" is a 1982 song co-written and performed by American R&B musician Patrice Rushen. It appears on her seventh album, Straight from the Heart. Making a radical shift in her music, Rushen would continue to harness the particular style of this record all through to her next album Now, released in 1984. Originally deemed by record label executives as a "flop", the song became a Top 40 pop (#23), Top 5 R&B (#4), and Top 5 dance (#2) hit on the Billboard charts and is the hit for which she is best known. The single's success culminated in Rushen's scoring her first nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1983 Grammy Awards. Rushen had a number of songs on the R&B and Dance charts but "Forget Me Nots" was her only top 40 pop hit in the U.S.

This article is about the Patrice Rushen song. For other uses, see Forget me not (disambiguation).
"Forget Me Nots"
Single by Patrice Rushen
from the album Straight from the Heart
B-side"(She Will) Take You Down to Love" (U.S.)[1]
ReleasedApril 2, 1982
Recorded1982
GenreFunk, R&B, post-disco[2]
Length4:45
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen singles chronology
"Never Gonna Give You Up"
(1981)		 "Forget Me Nots"
(1982)		 "Breakout!"
(1982)
Music video
"Forget Me Nots" on YouTube

The bassline is particularly recognizable, and was performed on the record by session bass player Freddie Washington. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Los Angeles session player and recording artist Gerald Albright, who also appears in the music video of the song. The lyrics are from the point of view of one professing her longing for a rekindling with an ex-lover. She ruminates on the romance's end and sends the lover forget-me-nots, a flower that since medieval times has been given and worn to symbolize enduring love despite absence or separation.

Critical reception

Brandon Ousley from Albumism wrote in his review of Straight from the Heart, "There's no better evidence of her refined style than on the album's seminal lead single, "Forget Me Nots". Co-written by Rushen, Freddie Washington, and Terri McFaddin, the propulsive dance-funk classic boasts layers of effervescent synthesizers and lively percussion, all anchored by scintillating handclaps, fingersnaps, and Washington's explosive bass work. After the song's irresistible drum-cum-bass break, noted jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright provides a steamy solo that ascends the infectious groove to new heights. A light, airy toned Rushen reminisces on a dissolved relationship between two lovers. With every emotion and desire she explores in her poised phrasing, she longs to rekindle their union by sending her lover 'forget me nots',—a flower that symbolizes enduring love—in hoping that he won't forget the love they once shared."[3]

Chart performance

The single had a respectable chart performance in the United States and in some countries around the world. In the United States, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 90 on May 1, 1982. It peaked at No. 23 on July 3, 1982.[4][5] In Ireland, the single charted on May 16, 1982 and peaked at No. 19.[6] The song debuted on the United Kingdom chart at No. 72 on April 24, 1982 before peaking at No. 8 on May 29.[7] In New Zealand, the song debuted at No. 45 on August 1, 1982 and peaked at No. 8 on September 26, 1982.[8]

Impact and legacy

VH1 listed "Forget Me Nots" at number 34 in its list of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000 and ranked the song number 85 in its list of the 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s in 2009.[9]

Charts
Chart (1982–83) Peak
position
Australia (KMR Singles Chart)[10] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 24
New Zealand (RIANZ)[13] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] 8
US Billboard Hot 100 23
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 4
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 2

Cover versions and sampling

Along with being prominently featured in the Tom Hanks hit film Big, the song has been sampled frequently. These include George Michael in "Fastlove" (1996), which samples the song near the end and Christian Hip-Hop group I.D.O.L. King in their 1991 song "You Don't Know Like I Know." It is also copied by Will Smith's 1997 hit "Men in Black" from the film of the same name. It plays at the end of episodes in Men in Black: The Series (ironically, the Neuralyzer, the most famous device from the film and the series, is designed to make those affected by it forget things, and the chorus lyrics are modified in "Men in Black" to reference this). Others using the song include French rapper MC Solaar on "Les Temps Changent" from his funk-inspired Paradisiaque album, and hip hop artists The Beatnuts in "Give Me Tha Ass" from the Stone Crazy LP. In addition, Australian satirist Pauline Pantsdown sampled it heavily in the song "Backdoor Man" in 1997.

The song has been covered directly by several artists. In 1991, electronic band Tongue 'n' Cheek recorded a dance version of "Forget Me Nots", which reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart.[15] In 1995, Eurodance/dance-pop duo La Bouche covered it on their debut album Sweet Dreams. It was included on their remix album All Mixed Up. In 2006, jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour collaborated with Patrice Rushen and South African singer Zamajobe on a cover version of the song for his album, Smoke 'n Mirrors. Zamajobe sang the lead vocal, with Rushen on background vocals, Rhodes piano, and an organ solo. The version featured a brief African rhythm interlude.[16][17] In 2007, German dance project Vinylshakerz released their version of "Forget Me Nots".

In 2017, Yung Gravy, a rapper from Minnesota, covered the hit in his song "Forget Me Thots".

References
  1. https://www.discogs.com/Patrice-Rushen-Forget-Me-Nots/master/157004
  2. Lester, Paul (March 11, 2014). "Yumi Zouma (No 1,717)". The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2017. Patrice Rushen's postdisco classic Forget Me Nots
  3. Ousley, Brandon (2017-04-12). "Patrice Rushen's 'Straight from the Heart' Turns 35: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  4. "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1982-05-01. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  5. "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1982-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  6. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  7. "forget+me+nots | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  8. Hung, Steffen. "Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots". charts.nz. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  9. Ali, Rahsheeda (2 May 2013). "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s". VH1. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  10. Hung, Steffen. "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  11. Ward, Jaclyn (1962-10-01). "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  12. Hung, Steffen. "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  13. Hung, Steffen. "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  14. "The Official Charts Company - Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen Search". The Official Charts Company. 2 May 2014.
  15. "Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  16. Smoke 'n' Mirrors, by Woodrow Wilkins, AllAboutJazz.com, June 14, 2007
  17. "Smoke 'N Mirrors overview". Allmusic.com.
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