Nobody's Supposed to Be Here

"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" is a song by Canadian recording artist Deborah Cox, released as the lead single from her second studio album, One Wish (1998). Written by Montell Jordan and its producer, Anthony "Shep" Crawford, the song was released on the same day as the album, on September 15, 1998, by Arista Records. It is Cox's most successful song, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and spending a then-record 14 weeks at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song at number five on its "Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" chart.

"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"
Single by Deborah Cox
from the album One Wish
B-side
ReleasedSeptember 15, 1998 (1998-09-15)[1]
Genre
Length4:22
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Anthony "Shep" Crawford
Deborah Cox singles chronology
"Things Just Ain't the Same"
(1997)		 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"
(1998)		 "It's Over Now"
(1999)
Music video
"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "Cox previews her second album with a stirring old-school soul ballad that's perhaps the best vocal showcase she's ever had. The groove cruises at a languid, finger-poppin' jeep pace, giving her plenty of room to get down and dirty, vamping as if she's lived every syllable of the song's tale of a love fraught with drama. Justice prevailing, pop and R&B radio programmers will find this a refreshing change of pace from the saccharine ballads currently glutting the airwaves. And if they don't, they'll have Hex Hector's wholly accessible uptempo dance reconstruction to embrace. It's easily among the best efforts of the young remixer's career. In all, this is a fine single hinting that Cox is about to pay off on all of the promise and hype generated by her first album two years ago."[2]

Commercial performance

The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week of December 5, 1998, and remained there for eight consecutive weeks.[3] It was held from the top spot by R. Kelly and Celine Dion's 'I'm Your Angel' (for six weeks) and Brandy's 'Have You Ever?' (for two weeks), making it one of the longest stays at number two in Billboard history. The song ranked at number nine on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1999.

The song reached number one on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the week of November 7, 1998, and remained there for a then-record-breaking 14 weeks.[4] This record was tied by Mariah Carey in 2005 with her song "We Belong Together", and then broken by Mary J. Blige in 2006 with "Be Without You", which spent 15 weeks at number one. During this period, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held four Hot 100 number-one singles out of the top position: "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill (three weeks), "Lately" by Divine (two weeks), the aforementioned "Have You Ever?" (four weeks), and "Angel of Mine" by Monica (one week), as well as the number seven-peaking "Love Like This" by Faith Evans (three weeks). The song ranked at number two on the Billboard Year-End R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of 1999 and at number five on the Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5][6]

The song was remixed by dance music producer Hex Hector, and peaked at number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the week of October 24, 1998.[7] As of 1999, the song has sold 1,900,000 copies in the United States and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[8][9][10]

Awards
  • 1998: Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female
  • 1999: Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year

Track listings

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Platinum 1,900,000[8][9]

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 7, 1998 Radio Arista [40]
September 15, 1998
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [1]
United Kingdom September 27, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
[41]

Usage in media

The Hex Hector Dance Mix version of this song was featured on episode 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 3) during the "Lip Sync for Your Legacy" between BeBe Zahara Benet and BenDeLaCreme. It was also featured on episode 3 of Canada's Drag Race: Canada Vs. The World during the lip sync of Victoria Scone and Silky Nutmeg Ganache as well as during the lip sync of Loreley Rivers and Victoria Shakespears on episode 7 of Drag Race Germany.

See also

References
  1. Sandiford-Waller, Theda (September 19, 1998). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 38. p. 105. Also hitting stores Tuesday (15) are Deborah Cox's 'Nobody's Supposed To Be Here'...
  2. Flick, Larry (August 22, 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 34. p. 16. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  3. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  4. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  5. "Billboard Year-End R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of 1999". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  6. "Billboard Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  7. "Dance Club Songs Chart". Billboard.
  8. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. January 30, 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  9. "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 22, 2000. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  10. "American single certifications – Deborah Cox – Nobody's Supposed to Be Here". Recording Industry Association of America.
  11. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13550-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US cassette single sleeve). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13550-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (European CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321-64465-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13551-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US 12-inch single sleeve). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13551-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (UK CD1 liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321-70210-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (UK CD2 liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321-70211-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (Australian CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 74321632912.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6996." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  21. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7002." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  22. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6976." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  23. "Deborah Cox – Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  24. "Íslenski Listinn (22.1–29.1. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 22, 1999. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  25. "Tipparade-lijst van week 10, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  26. "Deborah Cox – Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  28. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  29. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  30. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  31. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  32. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  33. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved April 24, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  34. "RPM's Top 50 Dance Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved April 24, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  35. "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  36. "Billboard Year-End R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of 1998". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  37. "RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Retrieved April 24, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  38. "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  39. "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  40. Smith, Shawnee (August 29, 1998). "Arista's Deborah Cox Offers 'One Wish'". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 35. p. 31. The single went to radio Aug. 7 in the U.S.
  41. "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles". Music Week. September 25, 1999. p. 25.
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