Alicia Keys
My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“My Boo” Single by Usher and Alicia Keys from the album Confessions (special edition) Released September 21, 2004 Format CD single, digital download Recorded Southside Studios (Atlanta, Georgia) Genre R&B Length 3:43 (Album/Single Version) Label LaFace Writer(s) Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Jr., Adonis Shropshire, Alicia Keys, Usher Raymond Producer Jermaine Dupri Usher singles chronology "Confessions Part II" (2004) "My Boo" (2004) "Caught Up" (2004) Alicia Keys singles chronology "Diary" (2004) "My Boo" (2004) "Karma" (2004) "My Boo" is a duet between American R&B singer Usher and Alicia Keys, written by Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Jr., Adonis Shropshire, Keys, and Usher. Set over a hip hop-style track, the song was produced by Dupri. It was included on the re-release of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions (2004). The song received mixed reviews from critics, and has garnered awards. The song was released as the album's fourth single in 2004. The single stayed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, making it the third most-successful single from the album after "Yeah!" and "Burn", respectively.
1 Background and composition 2 Release and reception 3 Chart performance 4 Music video 5 Versions 6 Track listing 7 Charts 8 References [edit] Background and composition Usher and American R&B/soul singer Alicia Keys had previously collaborated with the remix of Keys' 2004 single "If I Ain't Got You", which was released in the United Kingdom. During the production of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions, they thought for various female singers to pair him with the song. However, Jermaine Dupri, who co-wrote the song including Usher's number-one hits "Yeah!", "Burn", and "Confessions Part II", felt that he had established good relationship with Keys since she had worked with him and Usher.[1] Dupri based the concept of the song from the perspective of Keys and Usher had relationship in the past.[1] For him, Usher and Keys "talk about how they used to be in love and how those feelings are still lingering despite the two not being involved anymore."[2] For Keys, "The song is talking about the first person you ever really had feelings for. Even though you move on and meet new people, you always remember that first person."[3] "My Boo" is a hip hop-tinged R&B song with a mid-tempo melody. It is composed in the key of F major, in common time.[4] The lyrics are constructed in verse-chorus-chorus form. Usher starts the intro, and Keys followed her rap-intro, with background vocals from Usher. He proceeds to the first verse and chorus, leading to Keys singing another chorus, altering some of the lyrics of the original chorus to create a dialogue. Keys sings the second verse and Usher for the chorus, with background vocals from Keys. Keys repeats her
version for the chorus. The song breaks with Usher and Keys singing "My oh, My oh, My oh, My oh, My Boo", one after the other. Usher repeats the chorus again, and they sing the intro of Keys. [edit] Release and reception "My Boo" was among the songs that were not included in the final track listing of Confessions, including "Red Light" and songs recorded Usher recorded with P. Diddy and The Neptunes. "My Boo" and "Red Light" were leaked to the internet, along with other records that were not included during the first release.[5] The song was included in the expanded version of Confessions, alongside "Red Light" and "Sweet Lies" which were only released in the UK version of the album. Dupri thought of releasing "My Boo" as the fourth single from Confessions once "Confessions Part II" would be leaving the charts.[1] The single was released in the United States as a 12" single on September 21, 2004.[6] It was a double–A side with "Confessions Part II" when it was released in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2004.[7] "My Boo" was re-released in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2005.[8] The song received mixed reviews from critics. Azeem Ahmad of OMH Media proposed to ban "My Boo" because he felt that the collaboration was a competition among Usher and Alicia Keys "over the hip-pop like beat".[9] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone found the duet sentimental.[10] At the 2005 Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals; to which it won the latter and the former was awarded to Alicia Keys' song, "You Don't Know My Name".[11] Usher and Keys won for Best R&B/Soul Single by a Duo or Group during the 2005 Soul Train Music Awards.[12] [edit] Chart performance "My Boo" was successful in the United States, living up to the chart performances of "Yeah!", "Burn" and "Confessions Part II". The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 twenty-nine,[13] the highest U.S. entry among all singles released from the album. It entered the top ten, two weeks after, and peaked at number one during its eighth-week stay on the chart.[14] The single remained on the top for six weeks, beating its predecessor "Confessions Part II", which charted at number one for two weeks.[13] However, it failed to match the success of "Yeah!" and "Burn" for twelve- and eight-week run on the top, respectively. It stayed on the top ten for nineteen weeks, leaving the chart after twenty-six weeks.[13] The single was successful on Billboard component charts, topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Ringtones.[15] In Europe, the single had divided responses. The single reached the top five in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. It entered the top twenty in France, Finland and Switzerland, and top thirty in Austria.[13] On Media Traffic's United World Chart, the single debuted at number thirty-six. It reached number four after seven weeks, remaining on the chart for twenty-seven weeks. On the United World Chart 2004 Year Ender, "My Boo" was the thirty-sixth best-selling single for accumulating 2,573,000 points.[16] [edit] Music video Usher and Alicia cuddling amidst the Times Square, New York City in the music video of "My Boo"Directed by music video director Chris Robinson, "My Boo" clip was filmed in a New York City subway. The storyline of the video reflects to what the song is talking about.[3] The footage starts with Usher watching himself on TV; in a club setting while he sings "Bad Girl", a song from Confessions. He turns the set off, and lies in the sofa, whilst starting to sing the intro of "My Boo". The video then shows him and Alicia Keys in their separate quarters, preparing to head out, while singing their part of the song. Usher eventually steps out on streets of New York; likewise, Keys is riding aback of a taxi. She leaves the taxi and walks down the street, and meet up and in the middle of Times
Square, cuddling each other and on the brink of kissing. The music video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live at number nine on September 16, 2004. It remained on the countdown for twenty-seven days, becoming Confession video to chart.[17] [edit] Versions Usher recorded "My Boo" aside from Keys with various female artists. He collaborated with fellow R&B singer Solange who sung Keys' part, although it was widely believed at the time that it was her sister Beyoncé. Brandy and Usher recorded their own version as well, which appeared on her fourth album Afrodisiac. Brandy changed some of the lyrics, singing like having a conversation. However, neither of the two was included in the album.[2] A remix of "My Boo" was also produced, featuring guest vocals from Nelly; however, Keys' part was omitted.[18] [edit] Track listing UK CD 1 "My Boo" "Confessions Part II" "Confessions Part II" (Remix) "Confessions Part II" UK CD 2 "My Boo" "Confessions Part II" (Album Version) "Confessions Part II" (Remix) "Confessions" [edit] Charts Chart (2004)[15][13][19] Peak position Ö3 Austria Top 40 29 Belgian Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) 21 Dutch Top 40 5 Euro 200[20] 6 Finnish Singles Chart 14 German Singles Chart 4 Irish Singles Chart 7 Swedish Singles Chart 18 Swiss Singles Chart 3 UK Singles Chart 5 Chart (2004) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1 U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 1 Chart (2005) Peak position Belgian Ultratop 40 Singles (Wallonia) 24 Canadian Singles Chart 1 French SNEP Singles Chart 19 Norwegian Singles Chart 4 [edit] References ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem. "Usher, Alicia Keys Record Duet", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-03-04. ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (June 24, 2004). "More Duets For Usher As Beyonce, Brandy Grab The Mic", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-03-04. ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (September 14, 2004). "Alicia Keys Shoots Video With Usher, Wants To Do Live Album", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-03-04. ^ "Digital Sheet Music: My Boo". Musicnotes. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ Reid, Shaheem (July 29, 2004). "Usher/ Alicia Keys Video To Accompany Confessions Re-Release", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ "My Boo". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ "Confessions/My Boo, Pt. 2 [UK CD]". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ "Confessions/My Boo, Pt. 1 [UK CD]". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ Ahmad, Azeem. "Usher & Alicia Keys - My Boo (Zomba)". OMH. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ Caramanica, Jon (November 11, 2004). "Usher: Confessions - Special Edition". Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (February 14, 2005). "Charles Tops Grammys With Eight Trophies", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ Kaufman, Gil (March 1, 2005). "Usher, Alicia Keys Win Big At Soul Train Awards", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ a b c d e "Usher and Alicia Keys – My Boo – Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". αCharts (November 2, 2004). Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ a b "Usher: Artist Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ "United World Chart: Tracks - Countdown 2004". United World Chart. Media Traffic. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ "TRL Debuts". Popfusion. Retrieved on 2008-03-05. ^ MTV News Staff (November 22, 2004). "For The Record: Quick News On Usher And Nelly, Fantasia, Nine Inch Nails, Maroon 5, Nick Lachey & More", MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-03-04. ^ "Usher and Alicia Keys – Confessions Part II / My Boo – Music Charts". αCharts.us.
Retrieved on 2008-09-16. ^ "Euro 200 archives". APC-stats. Retrieved on 2008-04-15. Preceded by "Goodies" by Ciara featuring Petey Pablo U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one single October 23, 2004 – November 6, 2004 Succeeded by "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single October 30, 2004 – December 4, 2004 Preceded by "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid 20 Canadian Singles Chart number-one single January 15, 2005 – February 12, 2005 Succeeded by "All Because of You" by U2 [show]v • d • eUsher Studio albums Usher · My Way · 8701 · Confessions · Here I Stand Live albums Live Singles "Call Me a Mack" · "Can U Get Wit It" · "Think of You" · "The Many Ways" · "You Make Me Wanna" · "Nice & Slow" · "My Way" · "Bed Time" · "Pop Ya Collar" · "U Remind Me" · "U Got It Bad" · "U Don't Have to Call" · "U-Turn" · "Yeah!" · "Burn" · "Confessions Part II" · "My Boo" · "Caught Up" · "Love in This Club" · "Love in This Club, Part II" · "Moving Mountains" · "Trading Places" · "Here I Stand" Featured singles "I Need a Girl (Part One)" · "Lovers & Friends" · "Same Girl" Related articles Discography · Awards [show]v • d • eAlicia Keys Studio albums Songs in A Minor · The Diary of Alicia Keys · As I Am Other albums Unplugged Singles "Fallin'" · "A Woman's Worth" · "How Come You Don't Call Me" · "Girlfriend" · "You Don't Know My Name" · "If I Ain't Got You" · "Diary" · "Karma" · "Unbreakable" · "Every Little Bit Hurts" · "No One" · "Like You'll Never See Me Again" · "Teenage Love Affair" · "Superwoman" Other singles "Gangsta Lovin'" · "My Boo" · "Ghetto Story Chapter 2" · "Another Way to Die" Filmography Smokin' Aces · The Nanny Diaries · The Secret Life of Bees Related articles Discography · Awards and nominations Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Boo_(Usher_and_Alicia_Keys_song)" Categories: 2000s ballads | 2004 singles | Alicia Keys songs | ARC Weekly Top 40 number-one singles | Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles | Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles | Music videos directed by Chris Robinson | Number-one singles in Canada | Rhythm and blues ballads | Usher songs | Vocal duets
Jamaal Al-Din
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