People (Soul II Soul song)

"People" is a song by British R&B band Soul II Soul, released in 1990 as the third single from their second album, Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade (1990). It features singer Marcia Lewis, who had performed on their previous single, "Get a Life". The song was a notable hit, peaking at number ten in Italy, number 16 in the Netherlands and number 46 in Germany. It is one of the few songs by the band not to chart in the UK. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US.

"People"
Single by Soul II Soul featuring Marcia Lewis
from the album Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
Released	1990
Genre	Downtempo funk soul
Length	3:50
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Beresford "Jazzie B" Romeo Hayden Maclaren Browne
Producer(s)	Nellee Hooper Beresford "Jazzie B" Romeo
Soul II Soul singles chronology
"A Dream's a Dream" (1990) "People" (1990) "Missing You" (1990)
Music video
"People" on YouTube

Critical reception

Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly remarked that the band "sometimes [are] in a more lighthearted mood", as on the song, "where, to the pulse of a house-music beat, comments on crowds passing in the street evoke a vision of the humanity all of us share."^[1] Paolo Hewitt from NME said, "It is only on "People", with its trite melody and even triter lyrics that the group show a rare lack of quality control".^[2] Nathaniel Wice from Spin felt the best hooks come in "People", "an interpration of urban life in the Soul II Soul style—bright, lively and melodic."^[3]

Track listing

• 7", UK (1990)

1. "People" – 3:50
2. "Feelin' Free" – 4:14

• 12", UK & Europe (1990)

1. "People" (12" Mix) – 5:35
2. "People" (Alternate # 2) – 9:25

• CD single, UK & Europe (1990)

1. "People" (7" Mix) – 3:50
2. "People" (12" Mix) – 5:35
3. "People" (Alternate #2) – 9:25

• CD maxi, Europe (1990)

1. "People" (7" Mix) – 3:50
2. "People" (LP Version) – 4:55
3. "People" (12" Mix) – 5:35
4. "People" (Alternate #1) – 5:26
5. "People" (Acappella) – 4:56

Charts

Chart performance for "People"

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[4]	90
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[5]	97
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[6]	12
Germany (Official German Charts)	46
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[7]	10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[8]	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[9]	17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[10]	49
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)	3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	44

References

1. Sandow, Greg (1 June 1990). "Vol. II 1990 A New Decade". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
2. Hewitt, Paolo (19 May 1990). "Long Play". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
3. Wice, Nathaniel (August 1990). "Spins". Spin. p. 74. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
4. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 261.
5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 October 1990. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
6. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Soul II Soul". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 242. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
7. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Soul II Soul".
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Soul II Soul" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
9. "Soul II Soul – People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
10. "Soul II Soul – People". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 June 2021.