"Mr. Vain"
Standard CD single
Single by Culture Beat
from the album Serenity
Released16 April 1993 (1993-04-16)
Genre
Length
  • 5:37 (album version)
  • 4:17 (single version)
LabelDance Pool
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Torsten Fenslau
Culture Beat singles chronology
"No Deeper Meaning"
(1991)
"Mr. Vain"
(1993)
"Got to Get It"
(1993)
Audio sample

"Mr. Vain" is a song by German musical group Culture Beat, released in April 1993 by Dance Pool as the lead single from the group's second studio album, Serenity (1993). The song was written by Steven Levis, Nosie Katzmann and Jay Supreme, and produced by Torsten Fenslau. Tania Evans is the lead vocalist and Supreme is the rapper. The female part of the lyrics describes the narcissist title character Mr. Vain, while the rap embodies his selfish desires.[3]

"Mr. Vain" achieved success worldwide, reaching the number-one position in at least 19 countries,[4] including 9, 7 and 6 weeks at number one in Germany, Denmark and Finland. In the United States, it peaked at number 15 on the Cash Box Top 100, number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. In 1994, the song earned an award at the German Echo Award, in the category for "Best International Dance Single"[5] and an award in the category for "Best Hi-NRG 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US.[6] Its accompanying music video was directed by Matt Broadley and received heavy airplay on music television channels such as MTV Europe.

Background

German DJ an producer Torsten Fenslau and his friend Jens Zimmerman formed Culture Beat in Frankfurt in 1989.[7] They took the name from the idea of trying to mix high culture and music,[7] and had their first hit same year, entitled "Der Erdbeermund" ("Strawberry Lips"), which meshed house sounds with the poetry of 15th century French writer François Villon. With the success of songs like "Rhythm Is a Dancer" by German group Snap! in 1992, which several critics later would compare "Mr. Vain" to,[3][2] the formula for what would be known as 90s Eurodance was now beginning to establish. Fenslau wanted to develop the group further[8] and American rapper Jay Supreme and British singer Tania Evans were recruited to front a new single and album. Supreme had moved to Germany after being in the US Army, while Evans had been working as backing singer for Neneh Cherry.[7] The lyrics to "Mr. Vain" were written by German musician and songwriter Nosie Katzmann with Supreme and Steven Lewis, and the single was released on April 16, 1993.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor William Cooper called "Mr. Vain" an "engaging house tune". He compared it to Snap!'s "Rhythm Is a Dancer" and Real McCoy's "Another Night" with its "instantly memorable keyboard hook".[2] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "chirpy rave/NRG track", stating that "if its European chart success is a fair indicator", then the song "will be all the rage within minutes."[9] Nicole Leedham from The Canberra Times noted Culture Beat's "combination of soul, insightful lyrics and dance floor-friendly music".[10] Student newspaper Columbia Daily Spectator stated that "near-indiscernible rapping over a pulsing techno beat and an unforgettable synth line" make it "the quintessential '90s dance track."[11]

Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger wrote that "Mr. Vain" "heads straight for the dark heart of the club, sketching a dancefloor predator who – like Eezer Goode [sic] – is as much metaphor as character. For drugs, lust, loss of control – who knows? The lyrics' almost-there English works to the song's benefit – there's an awkward poetry to "Call him Mr Raider, call him Mr Wrong" – and for once the obligatory rap isn't an embarrassment, with Jay Supreme's gloating, bassy flow reminding me of knowingly devilish Chicago house classics like "Your Only Friend". "Mr Vain" is the hustling flipside to "All That She Wants", and almost as good a pop record."[12] John Patrick from Lake District News stated, "The beat is a dream to any dance and the words become so familiar, you can sing along with the chorus on cue."[13]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "Stand by for the dance hit of the summer." He added that "although in actual fact as one of the best European dance records of the year so far it would probably have been a major hit anyway."[14] Simon Price from Melody Maker viewed it as an "audacious rewrite" of "Rhythm Is a Dancer", and categorized it as "house music. Not rave, not techno, but good ol' rump-pumping Hi-NRG house." He also remarked, "When Evans purrs, "I know what I want, and I want it NOWWW", empires crumble."[15] Diana Valois from The Morning Call noted its formula of "staccato beats, deep bass lines, and nervous and tinny keyboard riffs." She added, "Balancing the somber vocals of Jay Supreme is the optimistic soulfulness of a cheery Tania Evans".[16]

Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called "Mr. Vain" a "snappy and poppy dance groove".[17] Alan Jones from Music Week declared the song as "maddeningly commercial but lyrically nonsensical",[18] and with "hugely commercial hooks".[19] Jim Farber from New York Daily News described it as "propulsive", with "snappy electronic rhythms and trendy rap break". He commented, "Musically, the song strongly recalls Snap!'s smash "Rhythm Is a Dancer", but its clash of two voices offers a fresh twist. One voice (provided by R&B singer Tania Evans) mockingly describes the ace narcissist "Mr. Vain", while a second (from a rapper named Jay Supreme) embodies the title character's selfish desire – it's a winkling comment on self-absorption on a track made for the indulgent world of dance clubs."[3] In an 2014 retrospective review, Pop Rescue praised it as "fantastically catchy".[20]

Chart performance

"Mr. Vain" first experienced success in Germany, topping the German Singles Chart for nine consecutive weeks from June to August 1993,[21] before spreading to other European countries. The song spent 33 weeks within the German Top 100. It also topped the charts of Austria (1 week),[22] Belgium (4 weeks),[23] Denmark (7 weeks),[24] Finland (6 weeks),[25] Ireland, Italy (2 weeks),[26] the Netherlands (2 weeks),[27] Norway (2 weeks),[28] Switzerland (4 weeks),[29] and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, the song hit the top spot during its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart, on 22 August 1993,[30] after entering the chart at number 24. It was the first single to top the chart that was not released on 7-inch vinyl,[31][32] spending four weeks at the top and 15 weeks inside the UK Top 100. It sold more than 442,000 copies in the UK.[33] Additionally, "Mr. Vain" peaked at number two in Sweden for 4 weeks, behind UB40's "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" and 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up", and was a top-3 hit in France, Iceland and Spain.[34][35][36] The song debuted on the Eurochart Hot 100 at number 65 on 5 June,[37] after charting in Germany. It peaked at number one thirteen weeks later, on 28 August, and stayed at the top position for six consecutive weeks,[38] before Haddaway's "Life" took over the top position at the chart.

Outside Europe, "Mr. Vain" peaked at number one in Australia (1 week),[39] on the RPM Dance chart in Canada for ten weeks,[40] and in Zimbabwe (1 week).[41] In the United States, the single reached number 15 on the Cash Box Top 100[42] and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Mr. Vain" also peaked at number two for two weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart.[43] It charted also in Asia, peaking at number ten on the Japanese Oricon chart.[44]

The song also earned a gold record in Austria (25,000), the Netherlands (50,000), Sweden (25,000), Switzerland (25,000) and the UK (400,000), while it received a silver record in France (125,000). It was also awarded a 3× gold record in Germany, with a sale of 750,000 units, and a platinum record in Australia (70,000) and Norway.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley.[45] It features Evans and Supreme at a baroque house party populated by a mélange of powdered dandies and silver-vested ravers.[46] The video begins with Supreme in black-and-white, looking at himself in a mirror, putting on a ring. As he looks into the mirror again, he sees the cracks in his face. He then attends the house party. Now in colours, people are dancing at the party and Evans sits in the corner of the room, seeing Supreme peeking by the curtain. He walks towards her and offers her his hand. She leaves, with him following her. Meanwhile, an epic arrangement of fruit is served at the party and it devolves into an hedonistic orgy of juice.[46] As the video ends, after being followed through the hallway and up a dark staircase, Evans finds a hand-mirror lying on a nightstand and puts it up to Supreme's face. In black-and-white, his face becomes cracked and chipped again.[47] The last shot depicts a white rocking horse rocking alone in a room littered with leaves. The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in July 1993.[48] Broadley would also be directing the videos for Culture Beat's next singles, "Anything" and "World in Your Hands".

Impact and legacy

The German Echo Award honored the song with an award in the category for "Best International Dance Single" in 1994.[5] Same year, it also received an award in the category for "Best Hi-NRG 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US.[6] Same year, Peter Paphides and Simon Price of Melody Maker praised songs such as "Rhythm Is a Dancer", "What Is Love" and "Mr. Vain" as modern classics, "butt-shaking Wagnerian disco monsters. Or, as someone else who knew a thing or two put it: Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat."[49] In 2005, Freaky Trigger ranked "Mr. Vain" number 78 in their list of "Top 100 Songs of All Time".[50]

The Guardian featured "Mr. Vain" in their "Sounds of Germany: A History of German Pop in 10 Songs" in 2012. They wrote, "Culture Beat's glorious "Mr Vain", with its rollicking beat, diva vocals and stilted rapping, comes as close as anything to summarising the spirit of the genre."[51] Australian music channel Max included "Mr. Vain" in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2012.[52] In their "The ABC in Eurodance" in 2016, Finnish broadcaster Yle noted, "If someone could look up "The archetypal Eurodance hit song" in an Encyclopedia there would probably be a link to an audio file for "Mr Vain" - a song that more than anyone else came to define the 90's dance music."[53] BuzzFeed ranked the song number 17 in their "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s" list in 2017.[54]

Track listing and formats

  • CD maxi single (Germany, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Decent Mix) – 7:05
  3. "Mr. Vain" (Special Radio Edit) – 4:17
  • CD maxi single – Remix (Germany, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. House) – 6:18
    • Remixed by Doug Laurent
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Rave) – 6:42
    • Remixed by Doug Laurent
  3. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Trance) – 6:20
    • Remixed by Doug Laurent
  4. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Hardcore) – 6:37
    • Remixed by Doug Laurent
  • CD maxi single (United States, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Intense Radio Edit) – 3:52
  3. "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
  4. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Intense) – 5:28
  5. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Hardcore) – 6:38
    • Remixed by Doug Laurent
  • 12-inch vinyl single (US, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Club) – 6:39
  3. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Intense) – 5:28
  4. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Liebrand) – 5:40
  5. "Mr. Vain" (Mr. Hardcore) – 6:38
  • Cassette single (US, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Radio Edit) (w/o Rap) – 4:17
  • CD single – Promo (US, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Lone Star Edit) – 3:30
  • CD maxi single – (United Kingdom, 1993)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (Special Radio Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Vain Mix) – 6:35
  3. "(Cherry Lips) Der Erdbeermund" (Single Version) – 4:05
  4. "I Like You" (Single Version) – 3:58
  • CD maxi single – Remix (Japan, 1996)
  1. "Mr. Vain" (FM 802 Rock Kids 802 Mix) – 4:25
  2. "Mr. Vain" (Hyper Rave Mix) – 5:32
  3. "Mr. Vain" (Tribal Mix) – 4:47
  4. "Anything" – 6:26
  5. "Mr. Vain" (Album Version) – 5:39
  6. "Culture Beat Mega Mix" – 6:38

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Mr. Vain"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[93] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[94] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[95] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[96] 2× Platinum 1,000,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[97] Gold 50,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[98] Platinum  
Sweden (GLF)[99] Gold 25,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[100] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[101] Gold 400,000^
United States (RIAA)[102] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe 16 April 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
Dance Pool [21]
United Kingdom 26 July 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
Epic [103]
Japan 21 October 1993 CD [104]
30 June 1994 Remix CD [105]

Covers and samples

One of the song's original writers, Nosie Katzmann, recorded a new country version of the song.

See also

References

  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Culture Beat – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Cooper, William. "Culture Beat – Serenity". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Farber, Jim (28 November 1993). "'Vain' eases pain for Culture Beat". New York Daily News. p. 29.
  4. ^ Spahr, Wolfgang; Pride, Dominic (4 December 1993). "After three decades, German dance music still floors the world". Billboard. Vol. 105. Issue 49.
  5. ^ a b Pride, Dominic (26 March 1994). "Dance Music (And a Punk Jester) Captivate Echo Awards Ceremony" (PDF). Billboard. p. 58. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Jimenez, Maria (26 March 1994). "Groovemix: Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 13. p. 11. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Ramesh, Randeep (2 September 1993). "Just Set The Beat, Mr. Vain". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Soininen, Juha (26 August 2020). Move Your Body (2 The 90's): Unlimited Eurodance. BoD - Books on Demand. p. 61. ISBN 9789528026303. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  9. ^ Flick, Larry (25 September 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 39. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. ^ Leedham, Nicole (19 May 1994). "Everybody Dance Now". The Canberra Times. p. 27. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. ^ Abrahamian, Atossa; Klopfer, John (21 October 2005). "From Dashboard to Dixie Chicks, Pop is More Than Just Pep". Columbia Daily Spectator. p. B5. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  12. ^ Ewing, Tom (2 May 2012). "Culture Beat – "Mr Vain"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  13. ^ Patrick, John (26 October 1994). "Column dedicated to deejay". Lake District News. p. B4.
  14. ^ Masterton, James (1 August 1993). "Week Ending August 7th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  15. ^ Price, Simon (18 September 1993). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 39. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  16. ^ Valois, Diana (29 January 1994). "Culture Beat – Serenity". The Morning Call. p. A32.
  17. ^ Bakker, Machgiel (17 July 1993). "Culture Beat Spans Dance/EHR Boundary" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 29. pp. 1, 25. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  18. ^ Jones, Alan (28 August 1993). "Market Preview > Mainstream – Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  19. ^ Jones, Alan (25 December 1993). "Market Preview > Mainstream – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Review: "Serenity" by Culture Beat (CD, 1993)". Pop Rescue. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  21. ^ a b c "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  22. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 7 weeks at number one on the Danish singles chart in August and September 1993.
  25. ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 6 weeks at number one on the Finnish singles chart in August and September 1993.
  26. ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 2 weeks at number one on the Italian Musica e dischi singles chart in October 1993.
  27. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  28. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  29. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  30. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  31. ^ Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (2013) [2005]. 1,000 UK Number One Hits (E-book). London, England: Omnibus Press. pp. 1009–1010. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
  32. ^ "No seven-inch for number one single" (PDF). Music Week. 4 September 1993. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Official Chart Flashback 1993: Culture Beat – Mr Vain". Official Charts Company. 30 August 2013.
  34. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  35. ^ "Íslenski Listinn: Topp 40: Vikan 2. – 8. sept". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 September 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  36. ^ a b Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  37. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 23. 5 June 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Mr. Vain" spent 6 weeks at number one on the Eurochart Hot 100 from August to October 1993.
  39. ^ a b "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  40. ^ "Mr. Vain" spent 10 weeks at number one on the Canadian RPM Dance chart from August to October 1993.
    • Week 1: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 7. 28 August 1993.
    • Week 2: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 8. 4 September 1993.
    • Week 3: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 9. 11 September 1993.
    • Week 4: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 10. 18 September 1993.
    • Week 5: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 11. 25 September 1993.
    • Week 6: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 12. 2 October 1993.
    • Week 7: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 13. 9 October 1993.
    • Week 8: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 14. 16 October 1993.
    • Week 9: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 15. 23 October 1993.
    • Week 10: "RPM Dance". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 16. 30 October 1993.
  41. ^ a b Kimberley, Chris (2000). Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book. Harare.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  42. ^ a b "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending January 22, 1994". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
  43. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 67.
  44. ^ a b c カルチャー・ビートのヒストリー (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Credits – Matt Broadley". Mattbroadley.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  46. ^ a b McGlynn, Karyna. "How One Sexy Can Perplex Me: Me & Mr Vain by Karyna McGlynn". Marchxness.com. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  47. ^ Avoledo, Pam (20 March 2020). "Video Review: Culture Beat "Mr. Vain"". I Want My Pop Culture. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  48. ^ "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 31. 31 July 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  49. ^ Paphides, Peter; Price, Simon (14 May 1994). "Europa Uber Alles". Melody Maker. p. 25. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  50. ^ "Top 100 Songs of All Time". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  51. ^ Khan, Andrew (25 June 2012). "Sounds of Germany – day one: a history of German pop in 10 songs". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  52. ^ "Top 1000 Greatest Songs of All Time – 2012". Max. 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  53. ^ Koivukangas, Antti; Isojoki, Jukka (3 August 2016). "ABC i Eurodance: C som i Culture Beat". Yle (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  54. ^ Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (11 March 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  55. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2305." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  56. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2218." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  57. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 36. 4 September 1993. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510.
  58. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 33. 14 August 1993. p. 13. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  59. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 36. 4 September 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  60. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-9-5112-1053-5.
  61. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mr Vain". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  62. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  63. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  64. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  65. ^ "hitparade.ch – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain (Remix)". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  66. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 August 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  67. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 24 July 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  68. ^ a b c d e "Culture Beat – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  69. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain Recall" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  70. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain Recall". Tracklisten. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  71. ^ "Culture Beat: Mr Vain Recall" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  72. ^ "Single – Culture Beat, Mr. Vain Recall" (in German). Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  73. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  74. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  75. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain Recall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  76. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 34, saptamina 1.09-7.09, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 9 January 2005.
  77. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain Recall". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  78. ^ "Culture Beat – Mr. Vain Recall". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  79. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  80. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1993". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  81. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  82. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  83. ^ "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 23. Library and Archives Canada. 18 December 1993. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  84. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  85. ^ "1993 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  86. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1993". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  87. ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  88. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  89. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  90. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  91. ^ "Chart Archive – 1990s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  92. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1994". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  93. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  94. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  95. ^ "French single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in French). InfoDisc. Select CULTURE BEAT and click OK. 
  96. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Culture Beat; 'Mr. Vain')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  97. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Mr. Vain in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1993 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  98. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  99. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  100. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Mr. Vain')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  101. ^ "British single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr Vain". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  102. ^ "American single certifications – Culture Beat – Mr. Vain". Recording Industry Association of America.
  103. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 July 1993. p. 25.
  104. ^ "ミスター・ベイン | カルチャー・ビート" [Mister Vain | Culture Beat] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  105. ^ "リミックス!!ミスター・ベイン | カルチャー・ビート" [Remix!! Mister Vain | Culture Beat] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 February 2024.