"Love Me In a Special Way" is a single by

DeBarge DeBarge was an American musical recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family. In addition to various solo projects completed by members of the family, DeBarge was active between 1979 and 1989. The group originally consisted ...

, released on November 20, 1983. It was the second and final single from their third studio album, ''

In a Special Way ''In a Special Way'' is the third studio album by American R&B group DeBarge, released by Gordy Records on September 24, 1983. It was recorded at Kendun Records in Burbank and Westlake Audio in West Hollywood; written and produced by lead voca ...

'' on the

Gordy ''Gordy'' is a 1994 American family comedy-drama film directed by Mark Lewis, about a livestock piglet named Gordy who searches for his missing family (who are taken away to a slaughterhouse in Omaha, Nebraska). He experiences the lives of others ...

label.

Overview

The song was written, composed, arranged and produced by lead singer, El DeBarge, who mixed his modal tenor vocals with his high

falsetto ''Falsetto'' (, ; Italian diminutive of , "false") is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous ed ...

notes. The song includes a melodica solo by

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

, a fellow Motown recording artist. The single reached number 45 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 11 on the R&B singles chart and increased the group's fan base as the group emerged as superstars that year. The single would later be covered by

IMx Immature (later known as IMx) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B boy band, managed by record producer Chris Stokes (record producer), Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques Houston, Marques "Batman" Houston (born August 4, 1981), Young Rome, ...

Tamia Tamia Marilyn Washington Hill (born May 9, 1975) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Tamia performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. In 1994, after signing a development dea ...

, and

Kim Burrell Kimberly Jean Burrell (born August 27, 1972) is an American, Grammy–nominated, gospel singer-songwriter, producer, and pastor from Houston, Texas, United States. Biography Early life Born Kimberly Jean Burrell on August 27, 1972 in Houston, Te ...

, and would be sampled by rapper AZ on a similarly titled single, which featured sampled recordings of El's chorus line from the song. The song was sampled in 1995 by the RZA on "Cold World," off the GZA's highly acclaimed, first solo album, "Liquid Swords". In 2002, Ashanti sampled it for her song, "Dreams", on her self-titled debut album.

Charts

Personnel

*Lead vocals and piano/keyboards:

El DeBarge Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge (born June 4, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He was the focal point and primary lead singer of the family group DeBarge. Popular songs led by El DeBarge include "Time Will Reveal", "Who's Holding ...

*Background vocals by DeBarge *Instrumentation by assorted musicians *Guest instrumentation/

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica inclu ...

solo:

References

GZA ''Gary Eldridge Grice'' (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage names GZA ( ) and The Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both ...

Cold World (GZA song)

Liquid Swords ''Liquid Swords'' is the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA, released on November 7, 1995, by Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album began midway through 1995 at producer RZA's basement studio in ...

lp {{authority control 1984 singles DeBarge songs Songs written by El DeBarge 1983 songs Gordy Records singles Soul ballads