Whenever I Say Your Name

"Whenever I Say Your Name" is a duet recorded by English musician Sting and American singer Mary J. Blige, for Sting's seventh studio album Sacred Love (2003). It was written and produced by Sting, and co-produced by Mark "Kipper" Eldridge. Although not originally included on Blige's sixth studio album Love & Life (2003), the track was subsequently added to its international reissue.

"Whenever I Say Your Name"
Single by Sting and Mary J. Blige
from the album Sacred Love and Love & Life
Released	8 December 2003
Length	5:25
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Sting
Producer(s)	Sting Kipper
Sting singles chronology
"Send Your Love" (2003) "Whenever I Say Your Name" (2004) "Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)" (2004)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Not Today" (2004) "Whenever I Say Your Name" (2004) "It's a Wrap" (2004)
Music video
"Whenever I Say Your Name" on YouTube

"Whenever I Say Your Name" was released as the second single from Sacred Love, and the fourth single from Love & Life, on 8 December 2003, by A&M Records. It peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart, marking Sting's lowest-peaking single since "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" (1988), and Blige's lowest-peaking single ever. Despite its commercial underperformance, the song won Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards (2004).

Background

"Whenever I Say Your Name" was written and produced by Sting for his seventh studio album Sacred Love (2003).^[1] Production was helmed by Sting and Mark "Kipper" Eldridge.^[1] The singer felt inspired to work with Blige ever since they performed together on the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2003, he told LAUNCHcast: "I was totally blown away by her passionate, open singing [...] I had decided on that night that I'd love to write a song for her one day, and I came up with this idea of "Whenever I Say Your Name" – that's perfect for her, you know? It's very romantic. It also has a kind of religious component – you know, she's very churchy in the way she sings."^[2]

Critical reception

Alan Light from The Los Angeles Times described "Whenever I Say Your Name" as "a knockout duet,"^[2] while Entertainment Weekly's Tom Sinclair called it a "erotically charged duet" and further wrote: "[Sting] unites the secular and the sacred with the phrase "Whenever I say your name, I’m already praying"."^[3] Riff Magazine's Alexander Baechle found that "Blige oozes exuberance on "Whenever I Say Your Name." Both Blige and Sting take the opportunity to play to their strengths. Sting begins the tune with a characteristically moody, subtle verse. Imperceptibly, the song morphs into a borderline funk romp, pushing Blige’s power vocals to the fore."^[4]

Music video

A music video for "Whenever I Say Your Name" was directed by frequent Sting collaborator Jim Gable.^[5]

Track listings

All tracks written by Sting.^[6]

CD single^[6]

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Whenever I Say Your Name" (radio version)	Sting Kipper	4:03
2.	"Whenever I Say Your Name" (Will.I.Am remix featuring The Black Eyed Peas)	Sting Kipper will.i.am[a]	4:03
3.	"Whenever I Say Your Name" (Salaam's Groove mix)	Sting Kipper Salaam Remi[a]	4:48
4.	"Whenever I Say Your Name" (Billy Mann mix)	Sting Kipper Billy Mann[a] The Supaflyas[a]	3:53

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes remix producer

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sacred Love.^[1]

• Mary J. Blige – vocals
• Kipper – producer
• Simon Osborn – engineer
• Sting – producer, vocals, writer

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Whenever I Say Your Name"

Chart (2003–2004)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[7]	6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8]	60
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9]	50
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	60

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Whenever I Say Your Name"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	8 December 2003	CD	A&M Polydor	[11]