I can't get a variable to work in SQL statement. I can get it to work when I replace (username = $user) with (ID = 11) which is another column from database and a specific row (11), but I want to include a specific row matching $user from column 'username', along with other random results with a limit of $sn.
When using var_dump($user) I know that the variable has a value, but can't see why it doesn't work in SQL statement.
$photo=mysql_query("SELECT A. * FROM (
SELECT DISTINCT * FROM profile_images
WHERE approved='N'
ORDER BY (username = $user) DESC, RAND()
LIMIT $sn)
as A ORDER BY RAND()");
Getting error message: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '@googlemail.com) DESC, RAND() LIMIT 9) as A ORDER BY RAND()' at line 4
Any help appreciated.