There's Nothing Like This (song)

Classically trained multi-instrumentalist Omar first released "There's Nothing Like This" on his dad's independent Kongo Dance label in 1990. The song, written by him, was entirely self-recorded on an eight-track and managed to shift 35,000 copies. By the end of 1990, British club, radio and sound system DJ Norman Jay of Talkin' Loud signed him and plans to repeat the London phenomenon on a national scale were laid. In 1991, the single was re-released and an album by the same name was also released. Omar told Louise Golbey in 2020 that the song was inspired by "Heaven Must Be Like This", a song off Ohio Players' 1974 album Skin Tight, and its lyrics were written under the influence of marijuana. ==Critical reception==

Upon the 1990 release, Paul Lester from Melody Maker complimented "There's Nothing Like This" as "a tasty slice of mellifluous ragga-soul shuffling and Stevie Wonder-ful crooning. So laidback it's upside down, or something." Dorian Silver from NME said, "Believe the hype, there's nothing like this." A reviewer from Newcastle Evening Chronicle wrote, "His cool jazzy title track is one of the best recent chart singles and it's certainly no flash in the pan." Ralph Tee from the Record Mirror Dance Update felt the song is "one of the finest masterpieces in innovative soul ever to come out of the UK." Lindsay Baker from Spin declared it as "achingly pure, gut-wrenching soul." ==Impact and legacy==

In 1994, NME featured "There's Nothing Like This" in their "top ten vibin' modern soul-jazz masterstrokes that every 'face' should own", writing, "It floated into the charts like a dream; a gossamer-winged lullaby articulating the fragility and fleeting wonder of love. Much like Omar's career, it lasted only three minutes." In 2004, Q magazine featured the song in their list of "The 1010 Songs You Must Own". ==Cover versions==

British reggae singer Maxi Priest covered the song in 2004 from his album 2 the Max. British R&B singer Beverley Knight released a version of the song on her 2011 covers album Soul UK. ==Track listings==

• 7" single, UK (1990) • "There's Nothing Like This" — 4:35 • "Don't Mean a Thing" — 3:45 • 12" single, UK (1990) • "There's Nothing Like This" — 6:10 • "There's Nothing Like This" (radio mix) — 4:35 • "Don't Mean a Thing" — 3:45 • CD single, UK & Europe (1991) • "There's Nothing Like This" (7" edit) — 4:01 • "There's Nothing Like This" (12") — 6:38 • "There's Nothing Like This" (7" remix edit) — 5:15 • "I Don't Mind the Waiting" (7" edit) — 3:48 ==Charts==