What Can You Do for Me

"What Can You Do for Me" is a song by English electronic group Utah Saints. It was released on 12 August 1991[1] as the first single from their self-titled debut album (1992). The song reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the UK Dance Singles Chart. It uses samples from "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics and "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie. The title "What Can You Do for Me" is taken from lyrics of "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent". A music video was also produced to promote the single.

"What Can You Do for Me"
Single by Utah Saints
from the album Utah Saints
Released12 August 1991
Length3:21
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox, David A Stewart, Gwen Guthrie, Jeremy Willis
Utah Saints singles chronology
"What Can You Do for Me"
(1991)
"Something Good"
(1992)
Music video
"What Can You Do For Me" on YouTube

Chart performance

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The single was released in August 1991 and entered the UK Singles Chart on 18 August at number 26. The song steadily rose up the chart and peaked at number 10 on 15 September. It spent a total of 11 weeks inside the top 75 chart.

In Australia, "What Can You Do for Me" did not enter the ARIA top 100 singles chart until April 1993,[2] following its re-release after the success of "Something Good".

Critical reception

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Cathi Unsworth from Melody Maker wrote, "Excellent! A dance track that incorporates everything groovy, from a hard metallic beat to deliciously disenchanted vocals to an inbred knowledge of why wearing platform boots is an ace fashion statement."[3]

Charts

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Chart performance for "What Can You Do for Me"
Chart (1991–1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 90
Europe (European Dance Radio)[4] 16
Ireland (IRMA) 16
Italy (Musica e dischi)[5] 17
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 10
UK Dance (Music Week)[8] 3

2012 re-release

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"What Can You Do for Me"
Single by Utah Saints vs. Drumsound & Bassline Smith
Released26 February 2012
Length2:48
LabelMinistry of Sound
Songwriter(s)Gwen Guthrie, Jeremy Willis
Utah Saints singles chronology
"Football Season Is Over Remix"
(2009)
"What Can You Do for Me"
(2012)
Drumsound & Bassline Smith singles chronology
"Freak"
(2011)
"What Can You Do for Me"
(2012)
"Through the Night"
(2012)

A new version of the song remixed by Drumsound & Bassline Smith was released on 26 February 2012.[9]

Track listing

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iTunes EP[9]
No.TitleLength
1."What Can You Do for Me" (Utah Saints vs. Drumsound & Bassline Smith) (Radio Edit)2:48
2."What Can You Do for Me" (7th Heaven Remix)6:00
3."What Can You Do for Me" (Ill Blu Remix)4:59
4."What Can You Do for Me" (Tantrum Desire Remix)4:36
5."What Can You Do for Me" (Hervé's Speaker Junkie Remix)4:36
6."What Can You Do for Me" (Felix Leiter & Mark Maitland Remix)6:54

Charts

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Chart (2012) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[10] 28
UK Dance (OCC)[11] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 28

References

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  1. ^ "What Can You do for Me (Extended Mix) - Single by Utah Saints, Drumsound & Bassline Smith". iTunes. 31 October 1991.
  2. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 291.
  3. ^ Unsworth, Cathi (1991-08-31). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  4. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 1992-11-02. p. 37. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  5. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-06-08. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Utah Saints".
  6. ^ "UTAH SAINTS - WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  7. ^ "Official Charts > Utah Saints". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  8. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1991-08-24. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  9. ^ a b "ITunes - Music - What Can You do for Me (Remixes) - EP by Utah Saints & Drumsound & Bassline Smith". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  10. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.