I Know (Dionne Farris song)

"I Know" is a song by American R&B singer Dionne Farris. Written by Milton Davis and William DuVall, it was released in January 1995 by Columbia Records as the first single from Farris' debut album, Wild Seed – Wild Flower (1994). The song was a hit in Farris's native United States, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 10 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart, becoming that ranking's most successful song of 1995.

"I Know"
Artwork for US CD single
Single by Dionne Farris
from the album Wild Seed – Wild Flower
B-side	"People" "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" "Human"
Released	January 10, 1995 (1995-01-10)[1]
Length	3:47
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Milton Davis William DuVall
Producer(s)	Dionne Farris David Harris Milton Davis
Dionne Farris singles chronology
"I Know" (1995) "Don't Ever Touch Me Again" (1997)
Music video
"I Know" on YouTube

Outside the US, "I Know" reached number one in Canada, where it was the 19th-most-successful single of the year. It also reached the top 20 in Australia, Iceland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand and entered the top 40 in several other countries. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1996.^[2] Davis and DuVall won an ASCAP Pop Award for writing the song in 1996.^[3]

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "A sensational talent has emerged from Arrested Development and her name is Dionne Farris. Kent Zimmerman [editor] ran up and down the hall screaming about this weeks ago and even recommended it to his A3 panel. Early airplay indicates Top 40 programmers agree."^[4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "You first heard her voice on Arrested Development's Grammy-winning single 'Tennessee'. Farris solo has kept the band and hip hop concept intact. New is the rockier setting."^[5] Charles Aaron from Spin felt the vocalist "relates her story of a too-late lover with carefully measured soul that reads Club VH-1. But the kick comes from a peek-a-boo slide guitar, weaving in and out of the nimble beats and subtle tambourine like a generational flare. It's as if Farris runs down the whole relationship scene for a front porch full of aunts and uncles and grandparents, all of whom nod in rhythm."^[6] Mike Joyce from The Washington Post described 'I Know' as "a bluesy, slide guitar-riffed admonition".^[7]

Track listings

US maxi-CD single[8] "I Know" (single edit) – 3:25 "People" – 4:45 "I Know" (NY reprise mix) – 3:49 "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" – 4:39 "I Know" (acoustic roots – extended edit) – 5:03 US cassette single[9] A. "I Know" – 3:47 B. "Human" – 3:04 UK CD1[10] "I Know" (radio version) "I Know" (NY reprise mix) "Human" "The 11th Hour" (edit) UK CD2[11] "I Know" (radio version) "I Know" (NY reprise mix) "I Know" (acoustic roots extended mix) "People"

UK cassette single[12] "I Know" (radio version) "Human" European CD single[13] "I Know" (single edit) – 3:23 "I Know" (acoustic roots – extended) – 6:01 Australian CD and cassette single[14][15] "I Know" (single edit) "I Know" (acoustic roots – extended) "I Know" (NY reprise mix) Japanese CD single[16] "I Know" (single version) "Stop the Think" "People" "I Know" (acoustic roots – extended)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 16 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 1 France (SNEP)[19] 26 Germany (GfK)[20] 59 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[21] 7 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[22] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)[23] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 10 Scotland (OCC)[25] 32 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 41 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 2 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 13 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[30] 1 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard)[31] 33

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[32] 19 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 11 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] 2 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[35] 1

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 10, 1995	Cassette	Columbia	[1]
United Kingdom	May 15, 1995	CD		[36]