When I'm Good And Ready
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"When I'm Good and Ready" is a song by American R&B and pop singer-songwriter
Sybil Sibyls were oracular women believed to possess prophetic powers in ancient Greece. Sybil or Sibyl may also refer to: Films * ''Sybil'' (1921 film) * ''Sybil'' (1976 film), a film starring Sally Field * ''Sybil'' (2007 film), a remake of the 1 ...
, released on March 8, 1993 by
PWL International Pete Waterman Entertainment (PWE) is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by British pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL (Pete Waterman Limited), is most famous for being the home of hit record produ ...
and
FFRR FFRR Records (sometimes credited as Full Frequency Range Recordings) is a dance music label founded as a subsidiary of London Records in 1986, with A&R run by the British DJ Pete Tong. Originally a part of London Records' label roster, FFRR ...
, as the first single from her fifth album, '' Good 'N' Ready'' (1993). Written and produced by Stock/Waterman, it also features backing vocals by Mae McKenna, Stock and
Miriam Stockley Miriam Arlene Stockley (born 15 April 1962) is a South African singer. She was born in Johannesburg, and her work is influenced by the Music of Africa, African music of her home country. Her distinctive ''vocal warm up#Vocalise, vocalise'' style ...
. It went on to become one of her most successful songs and a major hit on the charts in Europe, reaching the top 10 in the UK and Ireland, and was a top-20 hit in Austria and a top-50 hit in Germany. In 1997, "When I'm Good and Ready" was re-released in a new remix by UK remix, production and songwriting team
Love to Infinity Love to Infinity are a UK-based remix, production and songwriting team of brothers Andy Lee, Pete Lee and Dave Lee. As the duo of Andy and Pete Lee, they also later operated under the pseudonyms Caramel (a cover of Pebbles' "Girlfriend" was a ...
, which achieved a moderate success on the national chart.


Critical reception


Initial response

In their review of the '' Good 'N' Ready'' album, Pan-European magazine ''
Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later m ...
'' stated, "Her forte is
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
with a poppy and exuberant feel to it". Alan Jones from ''
Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...
'' described the song as a "typically bright and breezy Stock/Waterman production superbly sung by the American diva
hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...
has instant, if fairly lighweight ic appeal." He added, "This is what you're missing, Kylie." Johnny Dee from ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' named Sybil "this year's
Rozalla Rozalla Miller (born 18 March 1964), better known as simply Rozalla, is a Zimbabwean electronic music performer who was born in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). She is best known for her three 1991/92 hit singles " Faith (In the Po ...
", writing that songs like "When I'm Good and Ready" "are about the same things Sandie and Dusty sang of in the '60s: female independence and chucking boys. This is the sound of
River Island River Island (stylised as RiverIsland and abbreviated as RI) is a London-based, multi-channel fashion brand, founded in 1948 by Bernard Lewis (entrepreneur), Bernard Lewis. The retailer has a presence in over 125 of worldwide markets, in stores ...
changing rooms on a Saturday afternoon".
James Hamilton James Hamilton may refer to: Dukes *James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606–1649), heir to the throne of Scotland *James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658–1712), Scottish nobleman *James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton (1703–1743), Sco ...
from the ''
Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper published between 1954 and 1991, aimed at pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after ''New Musical Express'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK Album ...
'' Dance Update complimented it as "superb". Another editor, Tim Jeffery, stated, "The test of a cover version artist is whether they can come through with an original follow-up. Sybil has done just that. Even though the production of this pop/
garage A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include: *Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicl ...
tune is heading straight at the Top 40 market." Tony Cross from ''
Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...
'' stated, "After "
The Love I Lost "The Love I Lost" is a song by American R&B group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Group member Teddy Pendergrass sang lead vocals. Originally written as a ballad by Philly soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song was transformed int ...
", Sybil has another song with "hit" written all over it." He also opined that "her powerful vocals are underused in this repetitive soul-sisters dancerama." On the release of the
Love to Infinity Love to Infinity are a UK-based remix, production and songwriting team of brothers Andy Lee, Pete Lee and Dave Lee. As the duo of Andy and Pete Lee, they also later operated under the pseudonyms Caramel (a cover of Pebbles' "Girlfriend" was a ...
remix in 1997, ''Music Week'' rated it four out of five, adding, "This was great as an anthemic pop dance number (a top five hit in 1993) and is even better now it's been toughened up with a raunchier, soulful feel."


Retrospective reviews

In 2017, Christian Guiltenane of British magazine '' Attitude'' praised the song as being a "sparkly pop sensation" and a "dancefloor filler", adding that "Sybil's impressive soul vocals give this a much needed boost of gravitas".


Impact and legacy

In 2023, Alexis Petridis of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' listed the song at number 19 in his "Stock Aitken Waterman's 20 greatest songs – ranked!", adding: "Pop house meets bubblegum soul, the old SAW sound given a sleek upgrade for a new era: less obviously tinny, a little more luxurious".


Chart performance

In UK, "When I'm Good and Ready" debuted at number 22 on the chart edition ending March 20th, 1993, reached number five three weeks later, a position it held for consecutive three weeks, and fell off the chart after 13 weeks of presence. On the UK year-end chart of 1993, it ranked at number 40, and was a top-ten hit in UK clubs. It was also a top-ten hit in Ireland, peaking at number six, with eight weeks of charting. In other European territories, the single was less successful, rising to number 17 in Austria, and barely made the top 50 in Germany where it culminated at number 46 and charted for ten weeks. On the Pan-
European Hot 100 Singles The European Hot 100 Singles was compiled by '' Billboard'' and ''Music & Media'' magazine from March 1984 until December 2010. The chart was based on national singles sales charts in 17 European countries: Austria, Belgium (two charts separately ...
chart compiled by ''
Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later m ...
'', it peaked at number 21 in its sixth week, in May 1993. Outside Europe, it stalled under the top 200 in Australia. In 1997, a remixed version charted in UK, reaching number 66.


Track listings

* 7" single, UK (1993) :A. "When I'm Good and Ready" – 3:38 :B. "When I'm Good and Ready" (Good N' Buzzin' Edit) – 3:38 * 12", UK (1993) :A. "When I'm Good and Ready" (Jewel & Stone Mix) – 10:00 :B1. "When I'm Good and Ready" (7" Version) – 3:38 :B2. "When I'm Good and Ready" (12" Club Mix) – 5:15 * CD single, UK (1993) #"When I'm Good and Ready" (7-inch version) – 3:38 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Jewels & Stone Mix) – 10:00 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Classic Dub Mix) – 5:38 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (The Woman's Prerogative Mix) – 7:00 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (12-inch club mix) – 5:15 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Good N' Buzzin' Mix) – 5:28 * CD mini single, Japan (1993) #"When I'm Good and Ready" (7" Edit) – 3:35 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Good 'N' Buzzin' Edit) – 3:39 * Cassette single, UK (1993) #"When I'm Good and Ready" – 3:38 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Good N' Buzzin' Edit) – 3:38 * CD maxi, Europe (1997) #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Stratoradio Mix) – 3:50 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Stratomaster Mix) – 7:22 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Telescopic Jippy Dub) – 7:21 #"When I'm Good and Ready" (Original Version) – 3:33


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:When Im Good and Ready 1993 songs 1993 singles 1997 singles Sybil (singer) songs Dance-pop songs Eurodance songs FFRR Records artists Next Plateau Entertainment singles Pete Waterman Entertainment singles Songs written by Pete Waterman Songs written by Mike Stock (musician)