Shy Guy Explained

Shy Guy
Cover:Shy_guy.jpg
Caption:Artwork for European release
Type:single
Artist:Diana King
Album:Tougher Than Love Bad Boys: Music from the Motion Picture
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:20 (album version)
  • 3:40 (single version)
Label:Work
Producer:Andy Marvel
Prev Title:Stir It Up
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Ain't Nobody
Next Year:1995

"Shy Guy" is a song by Jamaican recording artist and songwriter Diana King for the movie soundtrack album Bad Boys. It also appeared on King's debut studio album, Tougher Than Love (1995). The song was written by King, Kingsley Gardner and Andy Marvel, who produced the song as well. It was released by Sony Music worldwide in March 1995 as the lead single from Tougher Than Love. The song contains a sample from "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band.

The song received positive reviews from music critics, with many saying it was a definite highlight of the album and calling it one of the best reggae fusion songs of its time. AllMusic said the song was a highlight of both the soundtrack and King's debut album.[1] [2] "Shy Guy" also received chart success. The song peaked at number thirteen in the United States and went to number two in the United Kingdom. It topped the charts in Finland, Sweden and Zimbabwe and became a top-five hit in several other countries, including Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway. Two music videos were produced for the song, directed by Marcus Nispel and Michael Bay.

Critical reception

Devon Jackson from Entertainment Weekly named "Shy Guy" a standout on the Bad Boys soundtrack, complimenting it as "a seamless merging of Anita Baker and dancehall reggae."[3] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report stated that King's artistry "will be discovered by the masses who hear this song via the airwaves and the soundtrack of the new Will Smith and Martin Lawrence film, Bad Boys. Hot tune, hot movie and a lot of airplay—that'll work!"[4] Bianca Gracie from Idolator ranked it one of the 50 Best Pop Singles of 1995, noting that "the breezy mid-tempo dance tune features sassy lyrics that are peppered with patois inflections that urge women everywhere to realize they deserve more than what these f*ck boys are offering."[5] A reviewer from Music & Media said that "Miss [Mx] King provides prospect for the no-hopers. Move over fly guys, Diana wants a shy guy. Within the context of a mix of ragga and swingbeat, she [they] joyfully sing[s] and rap[s] about the timid type."[6] Stephen Meade from The Network Forty wrote that "reggae flava with ultra-smooth vocals lead us to a hook we can't forget."[7] Rune Slyngstad from Norwegian Nordlandsposten described the song as "pulsating and catchy".[8]

Chart performance

"Shy Guy" was released as the lead single on both King's album and the soundtrack of Bad Boys. The song received charting success worldwide. The song debuted at number thirty-five on the Australian Singles Chart and later peaked at number three, staying at the position for three consecutive weeks. The song later debuted at number twenty-eight on the New Zealand Singles Chart. After seventeen weeks, it peaked at number three for one week. The song peaked at number thirteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 500,000 copies in the US.

The song also had success in Europe. It debuted at number six on the Swiss Singles Chart, then peaked at number five for three consecutive weeks. It debuted at number thirty on the Austrian Singles Chart, and rose to number six for one week. The song later debuted at number twenty-seven on the French Singles Chart and rose to peak at number four, staying there for two consecutive weeks. The song was certified silver in France, selling over 125,000 copies there. The song reached number one on two charts. It debuted at number twenty-seven in Sweden before rising to number one for one week, while in Finland, the song remained at number one for four non-consecutive weeks. It also peaked at number two in Norway, staying there for seven consecutive weeks. The song debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart, then peaked at number two. It was certified Silver in the United Kingdom.

Music videos

Two music videos were made: one in black and white, directed by German film director and producer Marcus Nispel,[9] for the Tougher Than Love album; the other, directed by American film director and producer Michael Bay,[10] for the Bad Boys soundtrack with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence appearing in it. That video features King dancing and singing to the song in a very cold-looking environment, but through the chorus they are seen dancing on a runway looking stage.

Track listings

  1. "Shy Guy" (radio edit) — 3:39
  2. "Shy Guy" (Darpe mix) — 3:41
  1. "Shy Guy" (radio edit) — 3:39
  2. "Shy Guy" (Darpe mix) — 3:41
  1. "Shy Guy" (radio edit) — 3:39
  2. "Shy Guy" (Darpe mix) — 3:41
  3. "Shy Guy" (RandB mix) — 3:36
  4. "Shy Guy" (dancehall mix) — 5:00
  5. "Shy Guy" (dancehall dub) — 4:54

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[11] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 1
Europe (European Dance Radio)[13] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[14] 5
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 8
Italy (Musica e dischi)[16] 10
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[17] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 25
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 52
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 12
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[21] 12
Europe (European Dance Radio)[22] 2
France (SNEP)[23] 14
Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 31
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 74
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 35
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[32] 43
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[33] 73

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
Europe14 March 1995CDWork
Japan21 July 1995Mini-CDSony[34]

Covers and samples

In 1998, a cover version of the song called Jeito Sexy became the first hit of Brazilian band Fat Family.[35]

Aswad and former Eternal singer Easther Bennett recorded a version of the song in 2002.[36]

In December 2008, Mýa recorded a cover version of "Shy Guy" with the words in English rather than in the patois that King's version was recorded in. This was included on Mýa's 2008 Japan-only album Sugar & Spice but was not released as a single.

In 2016, Belgian singer Unicq released her own bilingual French / English version under the title "Mercy (Shy Guy)". The single reached number 76 on the SNEP chart, the French official singles chart.[37]

The chorus of the 2016 song "Don't Hurt Me" by DJ Mustard and Nicki Minaj contains an interpolation of "Shy Guy".

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AllMusic - Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands. AllMusic.
  2. Web site: AllMusic - Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands. AllMusic.
  3. Jackson, Devon. Music Review: 'Bad Boys (soundtrack)'. Entertainment Weekly. 12 May 1995. 20 October 2021.
  4. Dave . Sholin . Gavin Picks > Singles . . 2045 . 10 March 1995 . 62 . 16 April 2018 .
  5. Web site: Gracie, Bianca. The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1995 (Featuring New Interviews With Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Kylie Minogue, Monica, Ace Of Base & More!). Idolator. 9 December 2015. 6 April 2020.
  6. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 12. 20. 20 May 1995. 13. 27 February 2018.
  7. Stephen. Meade. Crossover. The Network Forty. 24 February 1995. 26. 21 February 2018.
  8. News: Rune . Slyngstad . Nyheter CD & MC . . 7 June 1995 . 34 . 8 May 2020 . Norwegian.
  9. Web site: Shy Guy Diana King Music Video MTV . www.mtv.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407142635/http://www.mtv.com/videos/diana-king/976811/shy-guy.jhtml . 7 April 2014.
  10. Web site: Shy Guy Diana King Music Video MTV . www.mtv.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407141115/http://www.mtv.com/videos/diana-king/976809/shy-guy.jhtml . 7 April 2014.
  11. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 30. 14. 29 July 1995. 29 October 2019.
  12. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 30. 12. 29 July 1995. 29 October 2019.
  13. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 12. 28. 15 July 1995. 16. 23 April 2023.
  14. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 46. 29. 18 November 1995. 16 February 2020.
  15. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.9.1995 – 8.9.1995). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 28. 2 September 1995. 3 April 2018.
  16. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 37. 18. 16 September 1995. 26 November 2019.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  17. Web site: 1995 ARIA Singles Chart. ARIA. 29 October 2019.
  18. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1995. Ultratop. nl. 29 October 2019.
  19. Web site: Rapports annuels 1995. Ultratop. fr. 29 October 2019.
  20. 1995 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 51/52. 14. 23 December 1995. 2 December 2019.
  21. 1995 in Review: European Dance Radio 1995. Music & Media. 12. 51/52. 23. 23 December 1995. 5 March 2024.
  22. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 1995. SNEP. fr. 16 February 2021.
  23. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1995. GfK Entertainment. de. 29 October 2019.
  24. News: Árslistinn 1995. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 25. 2 January 1996. 30 May 2020.
  25. Web site: Single top 100 over 1995. Top40. nl. 19 April 2010.
  26. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995. MegaCharts. nl. 29 October 2019.
  27. Web site: End of Year Charts 1995. Recorded Music NZ. 29 October 2019.
  28. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1995. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 30 May 2020.
  29. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995. de. 29 October 2019.
  30. Top 100 Singles 1995. Music Week. 9. 13 January 1996.
  31. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1995. 27 August 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090815124541/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995. 15 August 2009.
  32. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995. Billboard. 1 December 2021. 3 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150803035313/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs. dead.
  33. Web site: シャイ・ガイ ダイアナ・キング. Shy Guy Diana King. Oricon. ja. 29 December 2023.
  34. http://cliquemusic.uol.com.br/artistas/ver/fat-family CliqueMusic - Fat Family
  35. Web site: ASWARD - Artist - Official Charts. Official Charts Company. 20 July 2024.
  36. Web site: lescharts.com - Unicq - Mercy (Shy Guy). Steffen. Hung. lescharts.com.