Could've Been (H.E.R. song)

Last updated
"Could've Been"
Single by H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller
from the album I Used to Know Her and I Used to Know Her: The Prelude
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2018
Genre R&B
Length4:08
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) D'Mile
H.E.R. singles chronology
"This Way"
(2018)
"Could've Been"
(2018)
"Hard Place"
(2019)

"Could've Been" is a song by American singer H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller. It impacted urban adult contemporary radio on September 25, 2018 as the first and only single from her EP I Used to Know Her: The Prelude . It was later included on the singer's second compilation album I Used to Know Her published in 2019.

Contents

Music video

The music video for "Could've Been", directed by Lacey Duke, was published in November 2018. [1]

Accolades

"Could've Been" was nominated for the BET Award for Best Collaboration at the BET Awards 2019 but lost to "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott featuring Drake. [2] It was also nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to "Waves" by Normani featuring 6lack. [3]

"Could've Been" received additional nominations at the 62nd Grammy Awards including Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. [4]

Controversy

Wilson and her co-writers paid an undisclosed amount in a March 2023 settlement, concerning their unauthorized sampling of the award-winning Take 6 song "Come Unto Me" in the making of "Could've Been". [5]

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [6] 31
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 76
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [8] 39
US Adult R&B Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 2

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [10] 2× Platinum80,000
Canada (Music Canada) [11] Gold40,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [12] Silver200,000
United States (RIAA) [13] 2× Platinum2,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. Bennett, Jessica. "H.E.R. & Bryson Tiller Set the Mood With ‘Could’ve Been’". Ebony . November 6, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. Warner, Denise. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 BET Awards". Billboard . June 23, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  3. Warner, Denise. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 MTV VMAs". Billboard . August 26, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2019-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Geffen, JoAnn (2023-03-09). "H.E.R. AND CO-WRITERS OF "COULD'VE BEEN" SETTLE ACTION WITH MEMBERS OF 10X-GRAMMY WINNING TAKE 6 FOR "COME UNTO ME"". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  6. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  7. "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  8. "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  9. "H.E.R. Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  10. "Brazilian single certifications – H.E.R. – Could've Been" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  11. "Canadian single certifications – H.E.R. – Could've Been". Music Canada . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  12. "British single certifications – H E R ft Bryson Tiller – Could've Been". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  13. "American single certifications – H.E.R. – Could've Been". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 11, 2021.