| Give Me a Little More Time | |
| Cover: | Gabrielle_-_Give_Me_A_Little_More_Time.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Gabrielle |
| Album: | Gabrielle |
| Genre: | Pop[1] |
| Length: | 4:53 |
| Label: | Go! Beat |
| Producer: | The Boilerhouse Boys |
| Prev Title: | Because of You |
| Prev Year: | 1994 |
| Next Title: | Forget About the World |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
"Give Me a Little More Time" is a song by English singer and songwriter Gabrielle, recorded for her second studio album, Gabrielle (1996). Written by Gabrielle and Ben Barson with the Boilerhouse Boys, Ben Wolff, and Andrew Dean, it served as the album's lead single, released on 12 February 1996 by Go! Beat. "Give Me a Little More Time" returned Gabrielle to the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number five and spending 10 weeks inside the top 20. The song also peaked at number nine on the Irish Singles Chart and reached the top 40 in Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. It was accompanied by a black-and-white music video. Melody Maker ranked "Give Me a Little More Time" number 18 in their list of the best singles of 1996.[2]
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Miles above 'Dreams' in song quality, this Go! Beat single shows Gabrielle in more flexible voice. The woman has clearly been working overtime on expanding her range and developing a unique approach to phrasing—and it shows. She's still got the street in her, to be sure, but this jam could easily broaden her reach beyond kids in the clubs and on the corner. The album mix surrounds her in Motown-styled echo, horns, and handclaps, with playful results."[3] Caitlin Moran from Melody Maker named it "the direct sequel to 'What Becomes of the Broken Hearted'" and "a shiny pop miracle".[1] In December 1996, Melody Maker ranked the song number eighteen in their list of "Singles of the Year", praising Gabrielle's "lovelorn 'been there' voice. A one-eyed Freda Payne for the New Labour era."[2]
Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "Gabrielle has been away for some time and may have lost a little impetus but she certainly hasn't lost her talent, as her new single 'Give Me a Little More Time' amply demonstrates. She sings like an angel against a slowed-down Sixties Stax-style backing, with punchy brass and silky strings underpinning her charismatic vocals."[4] Daisy & Havoc from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave the song five out of five, adding, "Gabrielle is back singing soul again, and old soul at that. She does it beautifully on the Album mix, which hums with some very old school atmosphere."[5]
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | 70 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] | 24 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[8] | 21 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[9] | 14 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 12 February 1996 | Go! Beat | [11] | ||
| Japan | 17 May 1996 | CD | [12] | ||
| United States | 13 August 1996 | Contemporary hit radio | [13] |
