Close to You (Maxi Priest song)

1990 song by Maxi Priest

"Close to You" is a song by English reggae singer Maxi Priest. It was released in 1990 as the lead single from his fifth album Bonafide (1990). "Close to You" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and number seven on the UK Singles Chart.

Ron Wynn from AllMusic said the song "is more pop/R&B with a reggae touch than it is real reggae." A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "After a tougher than normal start, this song quickly becomes another Maxi Priest single like all the others. Nice melody and well sung." David Giles from Music Week wrote, "A discernible step in the soul direction from the reggae maestro. Though the emphasis is still firmly on melody and honeyed vocals, the rhythm leans dancefloor wards. Very commercial." Troy L. Smith of cleveland. com called it "the mellowest new jack swing song you'll ever hear", while Tom Breihan of Stereogum classified it as dance pop.

The music video features Priest singing while the background features people in Egypt. There is also a second version, which takes place inside of a soundstage. The song was also featured in the film Sleeping with the Enemy.

In 2003, trance act Origene covered the song. In 2004, American boy band B3 covered the song on their album Living for the Weekend, which also features Maxi Priest on backing vocals. In 2006, Puerto Rican reggaeton group Pachanga covered the song on their album Recontra locos latinos and released it as their second single. In the same year, Dutch singer Jay Delano of hip hop duo R'n'G fame covered the song and released it as his debut solo single of his debut solo album Close to You, released in 2007. In 2014, US group the Uptown Band released a contemporary jazz version of the song which appears on the group's full length CD Heart, Soul, Body & Mind.