Manchild

The first time Neneh Cherry encountered her own sound was while composing Manchild. She did so seated in front of a Casio keyboard, using an automatic chord function, and suddenly found herself with seven distinct chords just in the verse section. Her stepfather, jazz musician Don Cherry, commented that the structure reminded him of a jazz piece. To shape the song, Neneh took it to her future husband, Cameron McVey, who helped her make sense of the different parts. The lyrics, in turn, are directed at an adult man who still needs to mature.

Manchild was released in May 1989 by Virgin and Circa, becoming the second single from her debut album, Raw Like Sushi. The song was recorded in 1988 at studios such as Abbey Road, Blackwing, and Eastcote in London. The beat was created by Nellee Hooper, who also co-wrote the rap section with Robert Del Naja. Commercially, Manchild reached the top 10 in the UK, New Zealand, and several European countries, though it did not chart in the United States or Canada. The music video, directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, was nominated for "Best Video" at the 1990 Brit Awards. Critics described it as an accusatory yet compassionate ballad, with a "graceful sweep" and a chorus that lingers after multiple listens, highlighting its "curious keyboard wizardries" and hypnotic atmosphere.