3 Is Family

"3 Is Family" is the first single released from American singer Dana Dawson's second and final studio album, Black Butterfly (1995). The song was written by Billy Mann and produced by Ric Wake. In several territories, including the United Kingdom, it was released as her debut single on June 26, 1995. It was not released in the United States.

"3 Is Family"
Single by Dana Dawson
from the album Black Butterfly
B-side	"Freedom Calling" "The Miracle of Your Love"
Released	June 26, 1995 (1995-06-26)
Genre	Pop dance^[1]
Length	3:40
Label	EMI 1st Avenue
Songwriter(s)	Billy Mann
Producer(s)	Ric Wake
Dana Dawson singles chronology
"Moving On" (1992) "3 Is Family" (1995) "Got to Give Me Love" (1995)
Audio
"3 Is Family" on YouTube

The track was positively received by music critics and became a big radio hit in Europe, charting within the top 10 on the singles charts of Italy and the United Kingdom. On the European Hit Radio year-end chart for 1995, it was ranked at number 36. The song's success resulted in the follow-up single, "Got to Give Me Love", having its release date pushed back to October 1995.^[2]

Critical reception

James Masterton described the song as "bright" and "an almost classic bit of summer pop" in his weekly UK chart commentary, noting that Dawson's voice sounded like Australian singer Kylie Minogue's.^[3] A reviewer from Music & Media wrote, "Coming from First Avenue in Hitsville, UK again, a hit is born almost per definition. Positioning her, she's the missing link between production stable mates Eternal and Dina Carroll."^[4] British magazine Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "Yankee Dana is big in Europe, and must be fancied to make her UK breakthrough with this. The radio edit is concise and catchy, while mixes by T-Empo and Dancing Divaz have pushed it to the top of the club chart."^[5] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update declared it as a "Janet Jackson-ishly gurgled and cooed anxious jiggler".^[6] Peter Larsen of Danish radio station VLR said of the song, "It's simply a great pop song, which fully serves its purpose to make the people feel happy," while Sandra Boussu of Belgian radio station Hit-FM 106.1 described it as "summery" and "cheerful".^[2]

Chart performance

Despite becoming a European radio hit, ending 1995 as European Hit Radio's 36th-most-successful hit, the song appeared on the official singles charts of only a few countries.^[7] On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number 28.^[8] In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 19 on July 9, 1995, then peaked at number nine two weeks later, spending a total of eight weeks in the top 100.^[9] On Music Week's RM Club Chart, it reached number one on June 17, 1995.^[10] The song charted for a single week in Iceland, debuting and peaking at number 37 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 on the issue of August 26, 1995.^[11] "3 Is Family" spent 11 weeks on the German Singles Chart, climbing to number 59 on September 25.^[12] The same month, it debuted at number five in Italy, its peak.^[13] Outside Europe, the song managed to chart in Australia, where it peaked at number 54.^[14]

Track listings

UK and Australian CD single^[15] "3 Is Family" "Freedom Calling" "The Miracle of Your Love" "3 Is Family" (T-Empo radio mix) UK 12-inch single^[16] A1. "3 Is Family" (T-Empo club mix) A2. "3 Is Family" (T-Empo dub) A3. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. hip hop mix) B1. "3 Is Family" (Dancing Divas club mix) B2. "3 Is Family" (Dancing Divas dub mix) B3. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. R&B mix)

UK cassette single and European CD single^[17]^[18] "3 Is Family" "Freedom Calling" Japanese CD single^[19] "3 Is Family" (radio version) "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. R&B mix) "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. hip hop mix) "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. salsa mix) "3 Is Family" (T-Empo radio edit) "3 Is Family" (Dancing Divas club mix)

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[14]	54
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[8]	28
Europe (European Dance Radio)^[20]	3
Germany (Official German Charts)^[12]	59
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[11]	37
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[13]	5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[21]	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)^[22]	9
Scotland (OCC)^[23]	20
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	9
UK Dance (OCC)^[24]	2
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[25]	3
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[10]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United Kingdom	June 26, 1995	CD cassette	EMI 1st Avenue	^[2]^[26]
	July 10, 1995	12-inch vinyl		^[27]
Japan	September 13, 1995	CD	EMI	^[28]

References

1. Kops, Pieter (July 29, 1995). "Airplay Action" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 30. p. 21. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
2. Tilli, Robbert (September 16, 1995). "Only 21 Dawson Already Embarks on Her 2nd Career" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 37. p. 11. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
3. Masterton, James (July 9, 1995). "Week Ending July 15th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
4. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 25. June 24, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
5. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 24, 1995. p. 29. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
6. Hamilton, James (July 1, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week. p. 15. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert).
7. "EHR Year -End Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. December 23, 1995. p. 22. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 31. August 5, 1995. p. 9. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
9. "Dana Dawson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
10. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week. June 17, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert).
11. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (26.8. '95 – 1.9. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 26, 1995. p. 26. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
12. "Dana Dawson – 3 Is Family" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
13. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 38. September 23, 1995. p. 18. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
15. 3 Is Family (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Dana Dawson. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. CDEM 378, 7243 882218 2 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. 3 Is Family (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Dana Dawson. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. 12EM 378, 7243 882218 6 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. 3 Is Family (UK cassette single sleeve). Dana Dawson. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. TC-EM 378, 7243 8 82218 4 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. 3 Is Family (European CD single liner notes). Dana Dawson. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. 7243 8 82519 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. 3 Is Family (Japanese CD single liner notes). Dana Dawson. EMI Records. 1995. TOCP-8647.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 33. August 19, 1995. p. 19. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
21. "Dana Dawson – 3 Is Family" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
22. "Dana Dawson – 3 Is Family" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
24. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
25. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
26. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 24, 1995. p. 43.
27. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. July 8, 1995. p. 27.
28. "3・イズ・ファミリー | デイナ・ドーソン" [3 Is Family | Dana Dawson] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 1, 2023.