Single Review: Sophie B. Hawkins – “Right Beside You (Acoustic)”

Sophie B. Hawkins has long been celebrated as one of the defining voices of the 1990s, and with her new acoustic rendering of “Right Beside You,” she offers a compelling meditation on memory, artistry, and renewal. Originally released in 1994 as part of her landmark sophomore album Whaler, the song achieved international success, praised for its urgent vocal delivery and sleek dance-pop production. Three decades later, Hawkins returns to the piece not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as a demonstration of the timelessness of her songwriting.

Where the original embraced momentum and glossy production, this acoustic interpretation pares the track back to its essential elements. Hawkins’ voice—raw, unfiltered, and still brimming with emotional intensity—takes center stage. By allowing silence and space to guide the arrangement, she amplifies the song’s lyrical themes of longing, devotion, and vulnerability. What once felt like a declaration across a crowded dance floor now resonates as an intimate confession.

This release forms part of WHALER – RE-EMERGING, Hawkins’ ambitious 30th anniversary project that revisits and reinvents the material that helped cement her place in pop history. It follows the momentum of her 2023 album Free Myself, which introduced her artistry to a new generation of listeners, underscoring her remarkable ability to evolve while remaining faithful to her creative essence.

With a career that spans platinum hits, acclaimed stage and screen appearances, and a reputation for artistic fearlessness, Hawkins continues to embody the rare combination of commercial success and enduring artistry. “Right Beside You (Acoustic)” is not simply a reimagining of a beloved classic; it is a poignant testament to Hawkins’ capacity to revisit her own work with fresh insight, offering listeners both a renewed perspective and a reminder of the emotional resonance that first captivated audiences in the 1990s.