Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe song)

"Poison" is the debut single by the American vocal group Bell Biv DeVoe. This song, in the style of new jack swing, a late-1980s/early-1990s hybrid of R&B, hip hop and swing, was the group's most successful. The lyrics, written by Elliot Straite, describe the dangers of falling in love with a deceptive woman. The song's swing sample is similar to "Taking U Out" by Rockwell Noel & The Poet. "Poison" was the first single taken from Bell Biv DeVoe's debut album of the same name.

"Poison"
Single by Bell Biv DeVoe
from the album Poison
ReleasedFebruary 24, 1990
RecordedOctober 1989
Genre
Length4:21
LabelMCA Records
Songwriter(s)Elliot Straite
Producer(s)Elliot Straite
Bell Biv DeVoe singles chronology
"Poison"
(1990)		 "Do Me!"
(1990)

Background and information

The song was written and produced by Elliot Straite, AKA Dr. Freeze. Straite had originally planned to feature the song on his own album, but plans changed when the members of Bell Biv DeVoe heard his demo version. "When the guys heard it, they went nuts. I didn't think that record was going to be that big because it was a personal love letter to my ex-girlfriend at the time. It wasn't a song at first. It was a letter. When I wrote it as a song, I let a lot of my friends hear it, and they said it was weird. After that, I put the music together. I was thinking I wasn't going to be on the album because such heavyweights were already on it. I ended up having two songs on the album: 'Poison' and 'She's Dope!'."[3] Straite cited German electronic group Kraftwerk and Latin musicians Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria as influences on the song's sound and production.[3]

Chart performance

On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, "Poison" rose from number fifty-two to number thirty-eight in the week of April 14, 1990, and eventually peaked at number three for four consecutive weeks, beginning on June 9, 1990. The single also peaked at number one on the Hot Black Singles chart for two weeks.[4] "Poison" became one of the most successful singles of 1990 (see 1990 in music), and was a staple on MTV and mainstream radio in the summer, spending ten weeks in the Top 10. The single peaked at number seven on the dance charts.[5] "Poison" was certified platinum by the RIAA on June 1, 1990 for sales of over one million copies.

It has been used in film (Mo' Money, Pootie Tang, Honey 2, Pineapple Express, Think Like A Man Too, Pitch Perfect 2), television (A Different World, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Scrubs, Glee, The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, Narcos, Hindsight and Supernatural), and video games (2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, on new jack swing radio station CSR 103.9, 2009's DJ Hero, 2010's Dance Central). It is also referenced in the Madvillain song "Fancy Clown" and the Donald D. track "She Gets Buck Wild". "Poison" was named number 60 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s as well as number one on VH1's 40 Greatest R&B Songs of the 90s.

The song was used in a New York Knicks intermission video, where the players awkwardly attempt to sing along with the song. It was also covered by Dev in her mixtape Dev Is Hot: The Mixtape. The song was also used a sample for Missy Elliott protégée Sharaya J's "Snatch Yo Wigs" (2013).[6] The song was later sampled in 2020 by rapper Busta Rhymes for his own song "Outta My Mind" from his album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God.

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Lionel C. Martin.[7] The predominant color is purple. It takes place at a club, an old basketball court and a schoolyard.

Sample credits

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Josephs, Brian (July 20, 2012). "The 25 Best New Jack Swing Songs". Complex. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/poison-mw0000141841
  3. http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/06/key-tracks-bell-biv-devoe-poison
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 52.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 32.
  6. "SHARAYA J - SMASH UP THE PLACE". YouTube.com. September 11, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  7. ""Poison (Remix)" by Bell Biv Devoe | Music Video | VH1.com". VH1. Viacom International. October 15, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1276." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 33. August 18, 1990. p. V. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. "Charts.nz – Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison". Top 40 Singles.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  15. "Bell Biv DeVoe Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  16. "Bell Biv DeVoe Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  17. "Top 40/Dance: June 30, 1990" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  18. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  19. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 22, 1990). "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 102 (51): YE-14.
  20. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  21. "American single certifications – Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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