"Close to You" is a song by German Eurodance band Fun Factory, released in March 1994 by various labels as the second single from the band's debut-album, NonStop (1994). The song is written by Bülent Aris, Rainer Kesselbauer and Toni Cottura, while Aris and Cottura produced it. It received positive reviews from music critics, peaking at number-one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart and at number 22 on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, the single peaked at number 46 on the BillboardHot 100 and number 14 on the BillboardHot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. In Europe, it reached number 19 in Germany and number 97 in the UK. Its music video was directed by Swedish director Stefan Berg[1] and filmed at a quarry. It was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in June 1994.[2] "Close to You" uses the same melody as the 1993 hit single "Hold On" by German group Loft.[3]
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "taking a cue from Snap, this European-flavored dance anthem mixes soaring vocals with house beats and a snazzy rap. Multiple synthesizer riffs, a booming bass, and an amorous melody should keep the dance floor jumpin'."[4] In 1995, "Close to You" was described as a "slick dance/pop ditty" and a "unabashedly gleeful twirler". Flick complimented the song's "contagious energy" and noted that "by the end of this toe-tapper, you will be singing along with the chorus as if it were second nature-the mark of a real hit."[5]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that "at 120+ bpm, Fun Factory's hard-edged techno experience is among the faster house tracks now storming charts everywhere." They added, "Thanks to a convincing chorus and a strong hook, its quick jump to number 22 in the German sales charts doesn't come as a surprise."[6] Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "Marie-Annette sings, Rod D raps and the hugely commercial chorus surfaces at frequent intervals to reinforce the message that this is yet another continental invader that is bound for UK glory."[7] Stephen Meade from The Network Forty declared it as a "high-energy dance track guaranteed to put a smile on your face."[8]James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update called it a "typical girl cooed and guy rapped cheesy German galloper".[9]
