Nobody's Supposed to Be Here

"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"
Single by Deborah Cox
from the album One Wish
B-side	"Sentimental" "It's Over Now" (club mix)
Released	September 15, 1998 (1998-09-15)[1]
Genre	R&B soul
Length	4:22
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Montell Jordan Anthony "Shep" Crawford
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

"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 Singles & Tracks chart. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song at number five on its "Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" chart.^{[citation needed]}

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

"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of December 5, 1998, and remained there for eight consecutive weeks, making it one of the longest stays at number two in Billboard history.^[3] The song ranked at number nine on the Billboard year-end chart for 1999. The song reached number one on Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart on the week of November 7, 1998, and remained there for 14 weeks.^[4] At the end of 1999, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" ranked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks year-end chart.^[5] 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.^[6] 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).^[7][8][9]

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

US CD and cassette single, European CD single[10][11][12] "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" – 4:10 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (dance mix) – 4:13 US maxi-CD single[13] "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex Hector's club mix) – 10:07 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (dance radio mix) – 4:13 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex's dub) – 6:17 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (original version) – 4:21 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (original version instrumental) – 4:21 US 12-inch single[14] A1. "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex Hector's club mix) – 10:07 A2. "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (original version) – 4:21 B1. "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex's dub) – 6:17 B2. "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex's beats) – 4:02 B3. "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (dance radio mix) – 4:13

UK CD1[15] "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Club 69 radio mix) – 3:49 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (album version) – 4:21 "Sentimental" (album version) – 4:26 UK CD2[16] "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Club 69 radio mix) – 3:49 "It's Over Now" (Hex Retro-Future club mix) – 7:27 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex Hector dance radio mix) – 4:13 Australian CD single[17] "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (original version) – 4:21 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex Hector's club mix) – 10:07 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (dance radio mix) – 4:13 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (Hex's dub) – 6:17 "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (original version instrumental) – 4:21

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 62 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 21 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[20] 7 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[21] 3 Germany (GfK)[22] 51 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] 34 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[24] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 84 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 55 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[27] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[3] 2 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[28] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[29] 2 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[4] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[30] 32 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[31] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[32] 56 Canada Dance (RPM)[33] 23 US Billboard Hot 100[34] 99 US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[35] 18 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[36] 38 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[35] 18 Chart (1999) Position Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[37] 41 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 9 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[5] 2 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[39] 20 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 42 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[41] 60

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9]	Platinum	1,900,000[7][8]

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	August 7, 1998	Radio	Arista	[42]
	September 15, 1998	12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[1]
United Kingdom	September 27, 1999	CD cassette	Arista BMG	[43]

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1998 (USA)
• R&B number-one hits of 1999 (USA)
• Number-one dance hits of 1998 (USA)

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. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-57.
6. "Dance Club Songs Chart". Billboard.
7. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. January 30, 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
8. "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 22, 2000. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
9. "American single certifications – Deborah Cox – Nobody's Supposed to Be Here". Recording Industry Association of America.
10. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13550-2.
11. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US cassette single sleeve). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13550-4.
12. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (European CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records, BMG. 1998. 74321-64465-2.
13. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13551-2.
14. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (US 12-inch single sleeve). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13551-1.
15. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (UK CD1 liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321-70210-2.
16. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (UK CD2 liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321-70211-2.
17. Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (Australian CD single liner notes). Deborah Cox. Arista Records. 1998. 74321632912.
18. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6996." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
20. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7002." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
21. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6976." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
22. "Deborah Cox – Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
23. "Íslenski Listinn (22.1–29.1. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 22, 1999. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
24. "Tipparade-lijst van week 10, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
25. "Deborah Cox – Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
27. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
28. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
29. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
30. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
31. "Deborah Cox Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
32. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved April 24, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
33. "RPM's Top 50 Dance Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved April 24, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
34. "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
35. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-54.
36. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-51.
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. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-61.
40. "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 53.
41. "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
42. 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.
43. "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles". Music Week. September 25, 1999. p. 25.