Don't Need the Sun to Shine (To Make Me Smile)

"Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)"
Single by Gabrielle
from the album Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Released	22 October 2001
Format	CD Single, Cassette single
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop, R&B, Soul
Length	3:28
Label	Go Beat, Universal Records
Writer(s)	Gabrielle and Shorten
Gabrielle singles chronology
"Out of Reach" (2001) "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (2001) "Stay the Same" (2004) Alternative cover UK CD: 2 cover

"Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" is a song by Gabrielle and the lead single from her greatest hits compilation Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1, spanning her first three albums. The single managed to peak at number nine in the UK Singles Chart and helped her best of compilation achieve four-times platinum status. The song was also her eighth consecutive top fifteen hit in the UK and her tenth top ten hit.

Biography

That Gabrielle dismisses her five years out of the limelight with a shrug and a smile won’t surprise her fans. The self-confessed shy singer may have sold more than 10 million records, but she was never one to work to pop’s regular treadmill schedule. “I was notorious for taking three years between albums,” laughs Gabrielle. “I love making music, but not 365 days of the year. I’m probably just lazy, but I can’t force myself to write songs. I have to long to be back in the studio and feel good vibes when I’m recording.” Working at her own pace and refusing to tailor her music to trends has always paid off for the Londoner who topped the charts with her debut single, Dreams, two decades ago, had ten Top 10 hits, won two Brit Awards and began her last sabbatical shortly after being awarded an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Song Collection in 2008. Her unexpected return on producer Naughty Boy’s star-studded, chart topping album, Hotel Cabana, on the slinky, sepia-tinged song Hollywood, may have been her first release in five years, but she returned to writing and recording, as well playing occasional big gigs abroad a couple of years ago. Before that, however, she considered herself retired. “I was adamant I would never make music again,” admits Gabrielle. “I’d had enough of being in the public eye. I’m not a celebrity – I always tried to stay under the radar when I wasn’t promoting an album. I had my website shut down and I told people I was retiring. “Looking back, it was a bit extreme but I decided to just be a mum, which is what I did. I didn’t miss music because making music had stopped being fun for me.” A couple of years ago Gabrielle rediscovered her passion for music almost by accident. Several producers had been in touch, trying to lure her out of retirement. She kept saying no, but agreed to meet Grammy Award-winning producer Syience (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Ne-Yo) at a studio in London. “He was doing a session with another singer and I just popped in to say hi,” recalls Gabrielle. “I loved the vibe and the music they were creating. All of a sudden, I wanted the singer in there to be me. Being in that particular environment, on that day, flicked a switch. “He played me some wicked tracks he had. I was vibing off his tunes while he was recording. There was no alcohol and definitely no drugs, but they had a disco ball spinning and a party going on. Seeing people being so creative, with so much natural energy, reintroduced me to my first love. It was exciting!” With no label pushing her for material, Gabrielle not only took her time, but experimented with different producers and different styles of music. She wanted to keep her classic soul sound, but make it contemporary. In 2010, she played her first gig for two years, with a brand new band, at a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and adored being back on stage. That evening, she went to an after-race concert at which Prince was playing. When she arrived, Prince requested she join him on stage. Gabrielle got up and danced, but she didn’t sing. “Honey, I’ll tell you why,” she howls. “Nicole Scherzinger was up there with him, looking all slim and fine. No way was I standing next to her! But I was side of stage for this spectacular show of Prince playing all his hits. Let me tell you, if your interest in music is waning, go see a Prince gig. I was so happy and high I knew I had to get out there again.”

Charts

Track listings

CD: 1

1. "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (album version)
2. "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (E-Smoove remix)
3. "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (Dimitri & Tom remix)
4. "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (Agent Sumo remix)
5. "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (video)

CD: 2

1. "Don't Need the Sun to Shine (to Make Me Smile)" (album version)
2. "Out of Reach" (acoustic version)
3. "Rise" (live version)

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics