The Rise of “Show Me Love”: How Robin S. and a 1993 Remix Became Dance Music Legends.
The Twelve Inch 137 : Show Me Love (Robin S.)
Introduction: The Making of an Iconic Track
In the early '90s, house music was reaching new heights, finding its way from the underground clubs of Chicago, New York, and London into the mainstream. Tracks like Technotronic’s "Pump Up The Jam" and the Nightcrawlers’ "Push the Feeling On“ were lighting up dancefloors and crossing over into pop. But "Show Me Love" was different—it took years to reach the fame it enjoys today. If you've ever felt its infectious bassline or sung along to that unforgettable hook, you know it’s a classic. But the journey from Robin Stone’s original recording to StoneBridge’s remix is a tale of perseverance, ingenuity, and an unexpected rise that speaks to the unpredictable world of dance music.
Robin S.: The Journey from Backup Singer to Dancefloor Queen
Robin Stone, professionally known as Robin S., didn’t set out to be a dance music icon. Growing up in Queens, New York, she nurtured her voice in church and began her career as a backup singer and vocal coach, even working as a secretary for the mayor of Hempstead, New York. But everything changed when her debut single, "Show Me Love," started gaining traction. She took a leave of absence to promote it but initially viewed music as a passion—not yet as her path to fame.
The First Release of “Show Me Love”: A Track Ahead of Its Time
"Show Me Love," written by songwriter Allen George and producer Fred McFarlane, first emerged in 1990. Despite its catchy hook, the track was slower, leaning into R&B rather than the punchy house beats we know today. Released through Champion Records, it didn't make a big splash. Even Robin S. herself wasn’t enthusiastic about the song at first, later saying, "It wasn't a song I really wanted to do." But fate had other plans.
The original version of 1990
Fun Fact : At the time Robin was expected in the studio to record Show Me Love, she had the flue but went anyway. It explains the slight nasal sound of the vocals
Enter StoneBridge: The Remix That Changed Everything
Swedish DJ and producer Sten Hallström, better known as StoneBridge, was steadily building his career in Stockholm during the late '80s and early '90s. After finding some success with a club he opened with a friend, they used their earnings to invest in a recording studio. Their big break came when a local dentist recorded his first track there—none other than Dr. Alban with the song “Hello Africa.” This initial success provided the funding they needed to continue producing music.
He licensed one of his productions to Champion Records and, as an aspiring young producer, asked them if they had “any old crap” lying in the basement he could remix. They answered “yes we do” and they send him “Show Me Love”. After multiple failed attempts, StoneBridge stripped the track down, creating a version with a thumping kick drum, punchy snares, and an organ-style bass. His remix was completed in about four hours.
Though apprehensive, he sent the remix to Champion Records and heard nothing back. Months later, StoneBridge discovered his remix had become a massive hit in the UK, where it was played on Top of the Pops. He phoned Champion records and said “Well, why didn’t you tell me?”. The guy at Champion records said “Well we didn’t want your fee to go up”. This hit launched StoneBridge's remix career—"The phone didn’t stop ringing for five years," he later said.
Welcome, I’m Pe Dupre and this is “The Twelve Inch”, a newsletter that tells the history of dance music between 1975 and 1995, one twelve inch at a time.
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Robin S. Meets Her Remixer—And an International Success
Initially unaware of StoneBridge or the success of his remix, Robin S. was slow to react to the European buzz. However, the song’s popularity couldn’t be ignored for long, and soon she was performing the track on Top of the Pops. With its new energy and radio-friendly appeal, "Show Me Love" took on a life of its own, reaching global audiences and catapulting Robin S. into dance music history.
Big Beat Records and the Rise of “Show Me Love” in the U.S.
While StoneBridge and Champion Records worked their magic in Europe, Big Beat Records was making waves in the United States. Founded by Craig Kallman, the label was specialized in house music at a time when major labels were hesitant. After early successes, Atlantic Records acquired Big Beat, which released the remix of "Show Me Love" in 1993. Heidi Jo Spiegel, Big Beat's VP and GM, noted, “There was a void in clubs at the time for a good melodic tune, with a house (music) beat, something like CeCe Peniston’s ‘Finally’ or the songs that C+C Music Factory did,” .Released to the clubs in December, “Show Me Love” filled that void, topping the dance charts a few months later. “This is single that started in the clubs and made it to the top, which doesn’t happen that often,” Spiegel says. “It was so big in clubs that pop radio wanted it. All we did was make a change--repeating the chorus more often, to make it more radio-friendly”
The Challenge of Sustaining Success for Dance Divas in the Late ’90s
After "Show Me Love," Robin S. released two more singles from her debut album. The follow-up “Luv 4 Luv” was also remixed by Stonebridge. It’s a classic example of building on a hit formula, and in this case, it totally works—“Luv 4 Luv” even went on to surpass its predecessor in popularity. For her second album Robin S. worked with producers Eric "E-Smoove" Miller and Todd Terry on her second album, which included gospel and R&B influences. While she found success on the dance charts, mainstream appeal became harder to sustain as house music’s popularity declined, and hip-hop took over the airwaves. Singers like Robin S. struggled as the music industry became less receptive to the powerful, club-ready voices that had defined early house music.
Big Beat’s Shift and the Changing Landscape of Dance Music
As the '90s progressed, Big Beat Records moved from house music to hip-hop, a reflection of industry trends. Warner Music, which owned Big Beat, shuttered the label in 1998. The move underscores how major labels rarely maintained long-term visions for dance music. Yet, the story didn’t end there—Big Beat re-emerged in the early 2000s as an independent imprint under Atlantic, led by Kallman, now also Atlantic's chairman.
“Show Me Love”: A Timeless House Anthem
StoneBridge’s remix of "Show Me Love" did more than elevate Robin S.—it captured the energy of early '90s house music. By 1993, house music had cemented its global appeal, evolving with influences from techno and garage. But "Show Me Love" remained a quintessential track, its timeless beat and vocals still part of DJ sets today. Beyonce’s use of the track in "Break My Soul" is a recent nod to its enduring impact, though Robin S., without publishing rights, wasn’t informed beforehand—a common situation for many artists of her time.
The Legacy of “Show Me Love” Lives On
"Show Me Love" has become a symbol of house music’s golden age, transcending generations and staying relevant in dance music history. But what about you? Where were you the first time you heard this track? Did you hear it in a club, on the radio, or maybe on a friend’s mixtape? Share your memories in the comments below—how has this song shaped your love for dance music?
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Further reading (or should I say watching)
There are a number of interesting video’s/links :
For those (like me) who want to know exactly how the song was made
let’s make a “classic organ banger” 😁 Yep it’s a “make it yourself” video on Ableton Live. If you do, please share the results.
So You Wanna Hear More ?
I thought you would !
It’s fun to write about music but let’s be honest. Music is made to listen to.
Every week, together with this newsletter, I release a 1 hour beatmix on Mixcloud and Soundcloud. I start with the discussed twelve inch and follow up with 10/15 songs from the same timeframe/genre. The ideal soundtrack for…. Well whatever you like to do when you listen to dance music.
So what’s in this week’s mix ?
I’m diving deep into early '90s house music for this mix. I kick things off by blending "Show Me Love" with its follow-up, "Luv 4 Luv."
As house music began to go mainstream in the early '90s, I focused on tracks where renowned artists from other genres made their initial forays into house. One standout is "All We Got (It’s Not Enough)," a favorite of mine and one of Michael McDonald's best tracks, remixed into a stunning house anthem.
The mix also includes big diva house tracks from icons like Janet Jackson, Madonna, and Mariah Carey, and I wrap it up with Aretha Franklin’s powerful rendition of “A Deeper Love” and Clivilles & Cole’s remix of Michael Jackson's "Black or White."
Enjoy !
Next week, I'll tell the story of a disco diva that never got the massive breakthrough her daughter enjoyed 7 years later.
Is it heresy to say I actually prefer the original? I obviously appreciate how the remix works on the dancefloor but for listening purposes I like the space around the vocals and the keyboard touches in the 1990 version. It's disappointing that Beyonce's company Parkwood Entertainments failed to inform Robin Stone about the use of Show Me Love in Break My Soul. As you mention, like many female vocalists in dance culture, Stone had a difficult time maintaining her profile and although she was gracious about the situation, one would have expected Beyonce to respect a fellow female traveller
Interesting read! "Show Me Love" is a great song!