3 Is Family

Critical reception

James Masterton described the song as "bright" and "an almost classic bit of summer pop" in his weekly UK chart commentary, noting that Dawson's voice sounded like Australian singer Kylie Minogue's. A reviewer from Music & Media wrote, "Coming from First Avenue in Hitsville, UK again, a hit is born almost per definition. Positioning her, she's the missing link between production stable mates Eternal and Dina Carroll." British magazine Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "Yankee Dana is big in Europe, and must be fancied to make her UK breakthrough with this. The radio edit is concise and catchy, while mixes by T-Empo and Dancing Divaz have pushed it to the top of the club chart."

James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update declared it as a "Janet Jackson-ishly gurgled and cooed anxious jiggler". Gina Morris from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, writing, "Soulful and life-affirming, '3 Is Family' is the perfect afternoon-in-the-park-having-your-sarnies-nicked-by-pigeons pop song. The next Dina Carroll or Michelle Gayle no less." Peter Larsen of Danish radio station VLR said of the song, "It's simply a great pop song, which fully serves its purpose to make the people feel happy," while Sandra Boussu of Belgian radio station Hit-FM 106.1 described it as "summery" and "cheerful".

Chart performance

Despite becoming a European radio hit, ending 1995 as European Hit Radio's 36th-most-successful hit, the song appeared on the official singles charts of only a few countries. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number 28. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 19 on July 9, 1995, then peaked at number nine two weeks later, spending a total of eight weeks in the top 100. On Music Weeks RM Club Chart, it reached number one on June 17, 1995. The song charted for a single week in Iceland, debuting and peaking at number 37 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 on the issue of August 26, 1995. "3 Is Family" spent 11 weeks on the German Singles Chart, climbing to number 59 on September 25. The same month, it debuted at number five in Italy, its peak. Outside Europe, the song managed to chart in Australia, where it peaked at number 54.

Track listings

• UK and Australian CD single

1. "3 Is Family"
2. "Freedom Calling"
3. "The Miracle of Your Love"
4. "3 Is Family" (T-Empo radio mix)

• UK 12-inch single :A1. "3 Is Family" (T-Empo club mix) :A2. "3 Is Family" (T-Empo dub) :A3. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. hip hop mix) :B1. "3 Is Family" (Dancing Divas club mix) :B2. "3 Is Family" (Dancing Divas dub mix) :B3. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. R&B mix)
• UK cassette single and European CD single

1. "3 Is Family"
2. "Freedom Calling"

• Japanese CD single

1. "3 Is Family" (radio version)
2. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. R&B mix)
3. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. hip hop mix)
4. "3 Is Family" (D.A.R.C. salsa mix)
5. "3 Is Family" (T-Empo radio edit)
6. "3 Is Family" (Dancing Divas club mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

References

1. Kops, Pieter. (July 29, 1995). "Airplay Action".
2. Tilli, Robbert. (September 16, 1995). "Only 21 Dawson Already Embarks on Her 2nd Career".
3. Masterton, James. (July 9, 1995). "Week Ending July 15th 1995". Chart Watch UK.
4. (June 24, 1995). "New Releases: Singles".
5. (June 24, 1995). "Reviews: Singles".
6. Hamilton, James. (July 1, 1995). "Dj directory".
7. Morris, Gina. (June 21, 1995). "Singles". [[Smash Hits]].
8. (December 23, 1995). "EHR Year -End Top 40".
9. (1995). "3 Is Family". [[EMI Records.
10. (1995). "3 Is Family". EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records.
11. (1995). "3 Is Family". EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records.
12. (1995). "3 Is Family". EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records.
13. (1995). "3 Is Family". EMI Records.
14. Ryan, Gavin. (2011). "Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010". Moonlight Publishing.
15. (August 5, 1995). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
16. (August 19, 1995). "European Dance Radio Top 25".
17. (September 9, 1995). "EHR Top 40".
18. (August 26, 1995). "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (26.8. '95 – 1.9. '95)". [[DV (newspaper).
19. (September 23, 1995). "Top National Sellers".
20. (September 16, 1995). "Major Market Airplay: Italy".
21. "Dana Dawson – 3 Is Family". [[Dutch Top 40]].
22. "Dana Dawson – 3 Is Family". [[MegaCharts]].
23. (August 5, 1995). "Top 50 Airplay Hits".
24. (June 17, 1995). "The RM Club Chart".
25. (December 23, 1995). "EHR Year-End Top 40—An Anglo-Yankee Affair".
26. (January 13, 1996). "Airplay Top 50 of 1995".
27. (June 24, 1995). "New Releases: Singles".
28. (July 8, 1995). "New Releases: Singles".
29. (September 3, 1995). "New Releases – Product Available from : 04/09/95: Singles".
30. "3・イズ・ファミリー {{!}} デイナ・ドーソン". [[Oricon]].
31. (November 19, 1995). "New Releases – Product Available from : 20/11/95: Singles".