"Bust Your Windows" is a song recorded by American singer Jazmine Sullivan. It was written by Sullivan and Salaam Remi for her debut studio album Fearless (2008), while production was helmed by the latter. The song uses a sample from Remi's "Bad Man Waltz" and interpolates a lyric from American rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em's 2007 single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)." Due to the sample, Soulja Boy is also credited as a songwriter.
Released as the second single from Fearless, "Bust Your Windows" was made available as a digital download on Amazon on September 16, 2008, followed by a physical release on November 15, 2008. It became a top five hit on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and was nominated in the Best R&B Song category for 2009's Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 58th on its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.[1] The song also was listed at number 137 on National Public Radio's list of The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women.[2]
Background
"Bust Your Windows" was written by Jazmine Sullivan along with Salaam Remi for her debut studio album Fearless (2008).[3] Production was helmed by the latter.[3] The song uses a sample from Remi's "Bad Man Waltz."[3] It also interpolates the lyric "Now watch me you" from rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em's 2007 song "Crank That (Soulja Boy)."[3] When asked about her inspiration for the song and if she had ever busted the windows of a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend in real life, Sullivan replied: "We're just not gonna get into that. But, it definitely is a real situation, and I've run into a lot of men and women who've experienced that. It needed to be said, and I was the chick to do it. All you guys have to do is be honest, be faithful, and your windows won't get busted out."[4]
"Bust Your Windows" earned largely favorable reviews. Billboard gave it a positive review, describing Sullivan's performance as "one of the most challenging vocals from a female R&B artist this year. Sullivan's husky voice floats effortlessly over an eerie underlining violin score, originating from a sample of producer Salaam Remi's composition "Bad Man Waltz."[6]Slant Magazine also reviewed the song favorably: "Sullivan exposes the reality beneath the revenge fantasy: "Oh, but why am I the one who's still crying?"[7]
Jon Caramanica, writing for The New York Times noted that "Bust Your Windows" had Sullivan expresing "her feelings with the appropriate tool, a crowbar. "I bust the windows out your car/though it didn't mend my broken heart" she sings, over Hitchcockesque strings and a buoyant hip-hop beat [...] It's a stellar revenge tune, as sassy and unexpected as Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," and an indicator that unlike most soul divas, Ms. Sullivan cuts her misery with a dash of whimsy."[8] Jeff Ihaza from Rolling Stone magazine called the song a "timeless revenge fantasy."[9]
Commercial performance
Released as the second single from Fearless, "Bust Your Windows" was made available as a digital download on Amazon on September 16, 2008, followed by a physical release on November 15, 2008. Fueled by strong radio airplay, it managed to peak at number four on Billboard''s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[10] becoming her second consecutive top five hit on that chart."[10] "Bust Your Windows" also debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 issued for week 43 of 2008.[11] It became her second consecutive top 40 hit on the chart and spent a total of 5 weeks within the top 40, eventually peaking at number 31.[11] The success of the song on this chart continued for weeks on end and it eventually dropped out in early 2009, spending a total of 15 weeks charting.[11] Elsewhere, "Bust Your Windows" became Sullivan's second consecutive top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart as well as her second consecutive top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Songs chart, peaking at number 18 and number 22, respevtively. Towards the end of the single's promotion, Jazmine performed "Bust Your Windows" on CBS's The Late Late Show in January 2009.[12]
Music video
A music video for "Bust Your Windows" was directed by Chris Robinson.[13] On October 10, 2008, the music video for "Bust Your Windows" premiered on BET's 106 & Park. The video was also placed at 46th on BET's "Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008" countdown.
The visuals feature scenes of adultery involving Sullivan's boyfriend in the video mimicking the song and song lyrics. The video, however, does not feature Sullivan physically busting out car windows, as fans expected but instead the intense emotion of the song is displayed through Sullivan breaking wine glasses on a table; there is also a trail of glass leading up to the bedroom where she discovered what would bring out this feeling of rage within her.
The setting of the video is dark and features harsh coloured gases passing through the air whilst Sullivan is singing – adding the sense of anger and depression that the video is meant to bring out in the song. Other scenes feature her boyfriend's guilty conscience of what he's done – namely when he hesitantly looks himself in the mirror.
Covers and remixes
On September 16, 2009, Fox[14] featured "Bust Your Windows" in their new early fall hit Glee.[15] The show's teenage love triangle leads Mercedes (Amber Riley)[16] to break into her own dream-state music video singing Sullivan's 2008 hit. The song is also featured on the soundtrack album Glee: The Music, Volume 1.[17]The Independent'sAndy Gill praised Riley's rendition of "Bust Your Windows", calling it the album's "most compelling moment".[18]
Trey Songz has covered this song, releasing the underground track as a response from the male antagonist in the original song by Sullivan.
The official remix features The-Dream. This remix is also featured on the 12" Vinyl release of the song in the U.S.
Skillz has made a remix, which contains additional vocals by Sullivan (though is not the official remix).
Ace Hood has also recorded a freestyle over this song.
In 2011, Jesy Nelson of Little Mix sang the song for her audition for The X Factor (UK).
The song was also featured in the movie Step Up 3D. The song was covered by a contestant on The Voice UK in May 2013 and caused the song to enter the charts for the first time.
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