"Try Again" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Aaliyah | ||||
from the album Romeo Must Die: The Album | ||||
B-side | "Come Back in One Piece" | |||
Released | March 21, 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
Studio | Manhattan Center (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
Aaliyah singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"Try Again" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for the soundtrack to Romeo Must Die (2000). After its initial release, it appeared as a bonus track on international editions of Aaliyah's eponymous third and final studio album (2001). The song was written by Static Major and Timbaland, while production was handled by the latter. "Try Again" was released to Rhythmic contemporary radio stations by Blackground and Virgin Records on March 21, 2000. Musically, it is an R&B, electro, dance-pop, and trip hop song. It also includes influences from hip hop, EDM, and acid house. The intro contains an interpolation from Eric B. & Rakim's song "I Know You Got Soul" (1987). Lyrically, the narrator (Aaliyah) encourages a potential partner not to give up when she initially rejects his advances.
The song received critical acclaim from music critics for its innovative futuristic production. In retrospective reviews, critics have credited the song for helping "smuggle the innovative techniques of electronic dance music onto the American pop charts". In 2001, Aaliyah earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song. Aside from its critical success, the song enjoyed commercial success as well. In the United States, it peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first single to reach number one based solely on airplay. Internationally, "Try Again" peaked within the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
An accompanying music video for "Try Again" was directed by Wayne Isham. It is a dance-heavy video that combines futuristic elements with re-created stunt scenes from the movie. In addition, Aaliyah's co-star Jet Li and producer Timbaland appear in the video. After its release, the video received acclaim from the music industry, winning Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The video also was nominated for Best R&B Clip and Maximum Vision Video at the 2000 Billboard Music Video Awards. In 2001, the video earned a nomination for Outstanding Music Video at the NAACP Image Awards. Throughout the years, critics have praised the video for its fashion and choreography, with many deeming Aaliyah's look iconic.
In 1999, Aaliyah landed her first movie role in Romeo Must Die (2000), a loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . Aaliyah starred opposite martial artist Jet Li, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families. It grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, reaching number two at the box office. [1] In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of the film soundtrack, to which she contributed four songs, including "Try Again". [2] Aaliyah revealed that the production team "actually talked about the soundtrack before we even shot the movie". [3]
"Try Again" was recorded at Sound on Sound Studios in New York City and was originally written as an inspirational song. [4] According to engineer Jimmy Douglass, it was "written to inspire young people, but Barry [Hankerson] heard it and told them, 'It's got to be about love'." [4] After all the changes were made to the song, the melody and hook remained the same but the lyrics became love-themed. [4] It was written by Stephen "Static Major" Garrett and Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, and produced by the latter. [5]
Timbaland created the beat by accident while playing around with a keyboard. In an interview he stated, "I was playing with this keyboard," he began. "And it was a mistake, and my engineer Jimmy Douglass caught it. I said, 'Jimmy did you catch that lil rhythm?, [and] he said, 'I sure did. So [after] he caught it and played it back, I put the beat on it. I said, 'Ooo, chop it right there,' and he chopped it right there." [6] During the production stages of the song, rapper Jay-Z was one of the few people to hear it and he declared that it was going to be a hit. "When Jay-Z came in the studio, he was like, 'Oh my God,' and that's when I was like, 'Yeah, we got one,'" said Timbaland. [6]
Musically, "Try Again" is an R&B, electro, and dance-pop song. [7] [8] It was also described as being "classic Aaliyah trip hop". [9] James Poletti from Dotmusic , stated that the song's sound is associated with Detroit techno. [10] Other genres that are utilized within the songs instrumental is hip hop, early EDM of the 2000s, and acid house. [11] [12] MusicNotes published this song in the key of C♯ minor in common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. Aaliyah's vocals range from G♯3 to G♯4. [5] Katie Atkinson from Billboard said its production "skews more toward the fuzzy electronic sounds of the future than the thumping hip-hop beats of the past". [13] The Guardian writer Alexis Petridis further explained that the production features "disembodied backing vocals, electronically treated string and flute samples, speaker-rumbling bass, and the sort of grinding synthesiser riff more usually found on late-1980s acid-house records". [14] While, Craig Jenkins from Complex mentioned that it incorporates, "programmed snares, kicks and shakers for drums" while also implementing "a wide array of synth sounds, sitars, horns, guitars, and a snaky, distorted bass line underneath it all". [15] The Buffalo News writer Craig Seymour felt that "the song announces itself with horn blasts straight out of a Renaissance processional and then it thrusts you onto a ripping electro-bass roller coaster with Aaliyah's airy voice serving as the wind blowing through your hair". [16] Vocally throughout the record, "Aaliyah's voice is as nimble as ever, slinkily sliding over the synth line and icing the techno-inspired beat with her R&B finesse". [13] As "the song nears the end, a haunting growling noise stalks the edges of the mix like a monster on the prowl". [15]
Lyrically, Aaliyah encourages "a potential partner not to give up on her". [17] Gil Kaufman from Billboard interpreted the lyrics as, "her step-by-step instructions on how to win your way into her shy heart despite what seems like a hard "no" on going forward…. until she crucially lets her guard down in the bridge and is like, "c'mon, man! you know how this game is played! Hang in there!." [18] In his analyses of the lyrics, Tom Brehian from Stereogum said, "Maybe she's stringing this other person along. Maybe she just hasn't made up her mind yet. Either way, it seems totally plausible that this other person would want to keep trying". [19] During the song's intro, Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim by interpolating the duo's opening verse from "I Know You Got Soul". [20] The song "doesn't really have a bridge, and it repeats its chorus a whole lot of times". [19] The chorus line "If at first you don't succeed, then dust yourself off and try again" is hypnotically repeated in a fashion similar to the sampling and vocal manipulation found in house music. [21]
On February 18, 2000, it was announced that "Try Again" would be released as the lead single from the Romeo Must Die: The Album soundtrack, while an accompanying music video would be directed by Wayne Isham. [22] Blackground Records and Virgin Records officially serviced it to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on March 21, and to contemporary hit radio on April 4. [23] [24] On May 22, a maxi CD single was issued in Europe. [25] In Australia, "Try Again" was released as a CD single on July 3, 2000, while in the United Kingdom, the single was released on July 10, 2000, via three formats: CD, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl. [26] [27]
In August 2021, it was reported that Aaliyah's recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital, and, for the first time ever, streaming services in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution. [28] Romeo Must Die was re-released on September 3, 2021, including "Try Again". [29]
To promote "Try Again" and Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah performed the song during numerous televised appearances. It was first performed alongside "Come Back in One Piece" on Romeo Must Die: The Kickoff Special, which aired on MTV in March 2000. [30] Aaliyah performed it again on The Rosie O'Donnell Show on April 17. [31] On April 26, she performed the song on both Total Request Live and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . [32] [33] Rap-Up ranked her at TRL performance as one of her 10 greatest live performances saying, "As her only song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, there was no shortage of Aaliyah performing 'Try Again,' but it was her 2000 live performance on MTV's "TRL"—with her sign-of-the-times bedazzled belt and signature belly dance (amidst that always seamless, almost liquid-like choreography)—that stayed in heavy rotation, and for good reason." [34] Yardbarker ranked the performance at number 1 on its "15 iconic TRL performances" list saying, "just one year before her tragic death in a 2001 plane crash, R&B sensation Aaliyah pulled off an engaging performance of her song "Try Again" in front of a spring break crowd that couldn't get enough". [35]
To promote "Try Again" in the United Kingdom, Aaliyah performed it via satellite on the July 21, 2000 episode of Top of the Pops . [36] Siân Pattenden from Mixmag said "she looked sultry, perhaps a little sulky", on her Top Of The Pops performance, and that even her "dancing was low-key". [37]
Oliver VanDervoort from AXS said the song has a "kind of futuristic beat" and that it has a "rather memorable line, having to do with hitting on a girl that goes , If at first you don't succeed, dust it off and try again". [38] Ed Masley from AZCentral called the song "Another avant-garde gem from the Timbaland school of future funk". [39] Chuck Taylor from Billboard felt that Aaliyah had another smash hit on her hands and praised her vocal styling by saying: "Aaliyah's sultry vocals slide all over the futuristic beat". However, he had a mixed response to the production, although he thought the synth sample and snare alternate lived up to his expectations, he ultimately felt that the synth sample "becomes grating as the song progresses." [40] Amy Mackelden from Bustle thinks that "Try Again", is Aaliyah's best song "because of its inspirational lyrics and flawless sound". [41] She also mentioned that the song has an "an unforgettable music video and an empowering message". [41] James Poletti from Dotmusic said the chorus "refuses to leave your brain after a couple of listens" and that it was a "class Timbaland product" which would be equally successful in Europe. [10]
Robert Hilburn from the Los Angeles Times gave a mixed review of the song saying, Toni Braxton "would have brought more vocal presence to this smash from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack, but Aaliyah does express the youthful optimism of co-writer-producer Timbaland's gently taunting ode to romantic resilience". [42] In his review of Romeo Must Die: The Album, Christopher O'Conner from MTV News said "It's been a long time/ We shouldn't have left you/ Without a dope beat to step to, Timbaland proclaims in his murky voice as the electronica fuzz bass of "Try Again" kicks off the album. He's not bold. He's not out of line. He's just honest. And he's right". [43] Music Week labeled the song as a "funky uptempo workout" and highlighted its early on radio support. [44] Stephen Dalton from NME mentioned that the songs production was "veering increasingly close to the far fringes of left-field electronica", and that it wouldn't "sound out of place in an underground German techno club". [45]
Renee Bell from Radio & Records said "Try Again" "shows a more mature Aaliyah", and explained that its "positive and encouraging lyrics move the single up the chart, and it continues to receive much love from radio. Who says sex sells? Not all the time". [46] Bell's colleague Rob Neal felt that Aaliyah "hasn't missed a beat" and that her "smooth vocals, along with Timbaland's trade-mark production, are a hit for the urban audience. Neal also praised the song's lyrical content saying, "An encouraging message with clean lyrics and an uptempo beat make this song a winner in three different areas". [47] While reviewing Romeo Must Die: The Album, The Ledger said that Aaliyah steals the show on the soundtrack and that she "makes Try Again and Are You Feelin' Me? soft and sexy" [48] Writers from Variety concluded that Aaliyah "demonstrates her confidence in love" on the song. [49]
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Teen Choice Award | Choice Music – Summer Song | Nominated | |
2000 | Soul Train Lady of Soul Award | Best R&B/Soul Single – Solo | Nominated | |
Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video | Nominated | |||
2000 | MTV Video Music Award | Best Female Video | Won | |
Best Video from a Film | Won | |||
Best Choreography | Nominated | |||
2000 | Billboard Music Video Award | Best R&B Clip | Nominated | |
Maximum Vision Video | Nominated | |||
Billboard Music Award | Top Airplay Single of the Year | Nominated | ||
2001 | Grammy Award | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated | |
2001 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Music Video | Nominated | |
Soul Train Lady of Soul Award | Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year | Nominated |
Year | Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | NME | The Top 50 Tracks of 2000 | 36 | |
2001 | The Village Voice | Pazz & Jop 2000 | 10 | |
2005 | Pitchfork | The Top 100 Singles of 2000–04 | 37 | |
2009 | The Daily Telegraph | 100 Pop Songs That Defined the Noughties | 42 | |
Pitchfork | The 200 Best Songs of the 2000s | 75 | ||
2010 | Slant Magazine | The 100 Best Singles of the Aughts | 60 | |
2011 | Rolling Stone | 100 Best Songs of the 2000s | 86 | |
VH1 | 100 Greatest Songs of the '00s | 65 | ||
2016 | Yahoo! | 15 Chart Toppers That Didn't Suck (2000s Edition) | – | |
2017 | Complex | The 100 Best Songs of the 2000s | 43 | |
2018 | Liveabout.com | The 100 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s | 4 | |
2019 | Rolling Stone | 20 Biggest Songs of the Summer: The 2000s | 18 | |
2020 | Billboard | The 100 Greatest Songs of 2000: Staff Picks | 14 | |
Spin | The 50 Best Songs of the Year 2000 | 6 | ||
2021 | Cleveland.com | Every No. 1 song of the 2000s ranked from worst to best | 9 |
"Try Again" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of March 18, 2000, at number 59. [75] During the week of June 17 the song jumped 6-1, becoming the first song ever to peak atop the chart based solely on airplay, as it was not commercially released in the United States. [75] [76] At the time of "Try Again" reaching the top spot, it gained 5.5 million listeners, in total reaching 92 million audience impressions. [76] On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks listing, the song entered the chart at 47 during the week of March 11, 2000. [77] 12 weeks later on May 27, the song reached its peak of number two; it remained on the charts for 27 weeks. [78] The song also peaked at numbers three and one on the Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic Top 40 charts, respectively. [79] [80] On the year-end Billboard Hot 100 chart for 2000, the song placed 12th. [81] It placed 98th on the 2000s decade-end Billboard Hot 100. [82] Following its 2021 digital release, the song debuted and peaked at number 19 on the US Digital Song Sales chart for the week of September 25, 2021. [83] In Canada "Try Again" entered the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart at number 24 on May 1, 2000. [84] 13 weeks later it reached its peak of number five and remained on the charts for 28 consecutive weeks. [85] [86]
In Europe, "Try Again" achieved great success. In Belgium, the song peaked at number five and six respectively in Flanders and Wallonia. [87] [88] It also peaked within the top 10 in Denmark, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland. [89] [90] In the United Kingdom, it debuted and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart, selling 38,000 copies on the week ending July 15, 2000―July 21, 2000. [91] The song spent 15 consecutive weeks on the singles chart and has sold over 209,000 copies; to date it remains Aaliyah's best-selling single in the country. [92] [93] In Australia, the song reached number eight on the ARIA Singles Chart. [94] It became the country's 51st best-selling single of 2000. [95]
The accompanying music video for "Try Again" was directed by Wayne Isham, while choreography was orchestrated by Fatima Robinson. [22] [96] The theme for the video is "a combination of the futuristic vibes of the song mixed with re-created scenes from the movie, along with clips of some actual scenes". [97] Certain scenes includes Jet Li "shadowboxing through a hall of mirrors, with Timbaland in the cut mouthing lines and beatboxing against those same mirrors. [97] According to author-journalist Kathy Iandoli, "There are moments throughout the video where Aaliyah is dancing but also a part where she mimics a fight scene." Iandoli also mentioned that, "since she was already a master of wirework during the filming of the movie, she even climbs the side of the wall while guided by Jet Li". [98]
The video begins with Jet Li entering a hall of mirrors and Aaliyah stepping in, wearing a revealing low-cut bra and tight low-rise leather pants, Timbaland is also shown. The room is dim with a shallow pool and circle light in the center to resemble the moon shining over the ocean represented by said pool. Throughout the video Aaliyah and her backup dancers perform a routine in the dimly lit room. In between the dance scenes, individual scenes of Aaliyah, Jet li and Timabland are shown simultaneously. It ends with Aaliyah "dancing with a black cane, a visual reference to the step shows held by black fraternities". [96]
In an interview with Nylon, Aaliyah's former stylist Derek Lee mentioned that he knew "Try Again" was going to be a dance video and that she was going to "wear one outfit for the entire thing". [99] For the music video Aaliyah wore a crystal bra top with a matching choker by Dolce & Gabbana. [100] Prior to the video Lee had a working relationship with Dolce & Gabbana , and saw an ad for the top, in Vogue . At that time it was "for something that was coming out for pre-order", says Lee. [99] After seeing the ad he knew that outfit would be the look for the video "Because if we needed to level up on her little bra tops with the baggy pants, maybe we should go this route". [99] Dolce & Gabbana had multiple colors and variations of the bra but Lee opted for the plain crystal one because it came with a matching belt and choker. [99] According to Lee, "the crystal bra top offered so little coverage that LeGrand had to add some extra rows of rhinestones so Aaliyah felt more comfortable". [100]
The music video for "Try Again" made its official television debut on MTV during the week of March 5, 2000. [101] On the week of March 12, the video debuted on the cable network channel VH1. [102] Meanwhile, during the week of April 1, the video debuted on The Box, and for the week of April 3 on BET. [103] [104] During its chart run, the video received heavy television airplay on multiple music oriented network channels. For the week ending May 8, the video was the most played video on BET. [105] On MTV, the video was the third most-played video during the week ending on May 22. [106] In the UK the video debuted on MTV UK during the week of July 21, 2000 at number 3 [107]
Time writer Christopher John Farley praised the choreography saying, "As with a woman in her boyfriend's dress shirt, there's something sexy about it." [96] Randall Roberts from the Los Angeles Times said of the choreography, that "Aaliyah moves gracefully and with such natural ease, her arms floating along with the synthesizer lines, her legs stepping to the Roland 303 beat". [108] According to Steffanee Wang from Nylon , "Not only is Aaliyah slaying choreography in a diamond-encrusted bra and choker combo, she also manages to nail some insane gravity-defying stunts with help from none other than martial arts legend Jet Li. Talk about a collab!." [109] Zoë Kendall from i-D said the outfit from the video "is widely considered to be the most iconic of Aaliyah's career". [110] Shama Nasinde from Teen Vogue wrote, "Aaliyah's iconic look from her "Try Again" music video still has a hold on pop culture today". [111] Over the years Several celebrities have recreated the Try Again look for halloween including Keke Palmer in 2015 and Kim Kardashian in 2017. [111] While briefly highlighting the video Tom Breihan from Stereogum mentioned Aaliyah's change in style, saying, "But Aaliyah, rocking an extremely sparkly bra/choker situation, brings her strange angular star power to every frame she's in. She'd come a long way from the baggy leather jeans and skullies that she'd been rocking a few years earlier. Here, her swagger comes across as pure glamor". [19]
"Try Again" helped smuggle the innovative techniques of electronic dance music onto the American pop charts, and it established Aaliyah as pop music's most futuristic star.
"Try Again" became the first airplay track to reach No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 without the benefit of a retail single. [112] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian felt that the song was "one of the most remarkable and forward-thinking pop singles of 2000". [14] While, Jonathan Keefe from Slant Magazine , stated that it has "influenced hip-hop, dance, and pop over the nine years that followed". [66] He also felt that after "Try Again", much of the decade's rhythmic music rested on the shoulders of thin-voiced, icily detached singers like Rihanna, Alison Goldfrapp, Ciara, and Annie, none of whom have been able to match the presence or the lived-in soulfulness Aaliyah conveyed with her ethereal wisp of a voice". [66]
George Michael sampled "Try Again" in his 2002 song "Freeek!". [113] German NDH band Knorkator covered the song on their album Ich hasse Musik . [114] In a 2013 episode of The Mindy Project , Dr. Danny (portrayed by Chris Messina) showed Mindy (portrayed by Mindy Kaling) the choreography from the song's music video. [115] [116] The song was also featured in the coming-of-age drama film Boyhood (2014). [117] [118] Billboard ranked the song at number 225 on their Greatest of All Time Songs of the Summer chart. [119] On August 21, 2019, the Madame Tussauds Las Vegas revealed a wax figure of Aaliyah. The life-sized figure was modelled on Aaliyah's appearance in the music video for "Try Again". It was unveiled by Aaliyah's brother Rashad Haughton to an invited audience. [120] [121] [122] Rapper Bia recalled that "rap was introduced to her with some R&B flavor" through Try Again. [123] According to her, "I remember during childhood that the song really stuck out to me, I knew every dance move. I emulated that song. ... I was like 'This is me.'" [123]
|
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [179] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Belgium (BEA) [180] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark | — | 4,598 [159] |
Germany (BVMI) [181] | Gold | 250,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [182] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI) [183] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | March 21, 2000 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | ||
April 4, 2000 | Contemporary hit radio | |||
Germany | May 22, 2000 | Maxi CD | EMI | |
Australia | July 3, 2000 | CD | ||
United Kingdom | July 10, 2000 |
| Virgin | |
France | July 11, 2000 | CD | Hostile |
Aaliyah Dana Haughton, known as Aaliyah, was an American singer, actress, dancer, and model. She has been credited with helping to redefine contemporary R&B, pop, and hip hop, earning her the nicknames the "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop".
One in a Million is the second studio album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released on August 13, 1996, by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records. After facing allegations of an illegal marriage with her mentor R. Kelly following the success of her debut studio album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994), Aaliyah severed all ties with him as Blackground ended its partnership with Jive Records and signed a new distribution deal with Atlantic. Throughout that period of turmoil, Aaliyah began recording her second studio album with Sean Combs, who soon abandoned the project, prompting Aaliyah and her management to seek new collaborators. She subsequently began recording with producers such as Jermaine Dupri, Vincent Herbert, and Craig King, before meeting the previously unknown Timbaland and Missy Elliott, who quickly became the album's primary contributors.
Aaliyah is the third and final studio album by American R&B singer Aaliyah. It was released on July 7, 2001, by Blackground Records and Virgin Records. Because of its packaging design, it is also known as "The Red Album". Aaliyah started to work on the album in 1998, but rescheduled its recording around her developing film career. She resumed recording in 2000 at Sing Sing Studios in Australia, where she shot her role for the 2002 film Queen of the Damned during the day and recorded songs at night. Additional recording took place at Manhattan Center and Sony Music Studios in New York and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, among other locations. Through her recording contract with Blackground, the singer worked primarily with the record label's in-house crew of writers and producers, including Bud'da, J. Dub, Rapture, and Eric Seats, as well as longtime collaborator Timbaland.
Blackground Records 2.0 is an American record label founded and owned by Jomo and Barry Hankerson. Initially named Blackground Enterprises, the label switched its name to Blackground Entertainment then later Blackground Records in 2000. In 2021, the label rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0, reviving its company and catalogue onto streaming services, with a partnership with Empire Distribution. It co-operated with a publishing company founded by Hankerson, named Black Fountain Music.
I Care 4 U is a posthumous compilation album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released on December 10, 2002, by Blackground Records and Universal Records. Following Aaliyah's death on August 25, 2001, Blackground decided to release a posthumous record in collaboration with Universal Music Group. The album compiles eight of Aaliyah's previously released songs alongside six previously unreleased recordings which were discarded from sessions for her eponymous third and final studio album (2001).
Romeo Must Die: The Album is the soundtrack to Andrzej Bartkowiak's 2000 action film Romeo Must Die, composed of hip hop and R&B music. It was released on March 14, 2000 through Blackground Records and Virgin Records in association with Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took time between May 1999 and January 2000.
Ultimate Aaliyah is a posthumous box set and second posthumous album overall by American singer Aaliyah. It was released in selected countries on April 4, 2005, by Blackground Records. The box set consists of three discs–the first disc is a greatest hits collection, the second, entitled Are You Feelin' Me?, contains material from soundtracks and Timbaland's studio albums, while the third is a DVD with the documentary The Aaliyah Story.
American singer Aaliyah has released three studio albums, two compilation albums, and 31 singles. Aaliyah was born in Brooklyn, New York City and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At age 10, she appeared on Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At age 12, Aaliyah signed a deal with Jive Records and Blackground Records. During that time, she met R. Kelly through her uncle Barry Hankerson; eventually, he became her mentor, sole lead songwriter, and producer for her debut album. Released in 1994, Aaliyah's debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold three million copies in the United States. Months after the release of her album, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records due to allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly.
"(At Your Best) You Are Love" is a song by R&B group the Isley Brothers. It was originally released on their album Harvest for the World. The song was dedicated to their mother, Sally. Although not a single, the song was a radio hit in 1976, and later became a hit for R&B singer Aaliyah in 1994.
"Are You That Somebody?" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack (1998). It was written by Static Major and Timbaland, with the latter producing it, in addition to performing a guest rap. It was sent to urban contemporary radio stations in the United States on May 26, 1998, by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records. Musically, it is an R&B, pop, and avant-funk song with hip hop influences. Its production also incorporates other instrumentals such as staccato guitars, beatboxing, and drum and bass. Lyrically, it is about the narrator (Aaliyah) keeping an intimate relationship a secret due to her celebrity status.
"Miss You" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written by Johntá Austin, Ginuwine and Teddy Bishop in 1998, the song was initially recorded in 1999 for Aaliyah's eponymous third studio album (2001). However, it did not make the final cut for Aaliyah and remained unreleased until after Aaliyah's death in 2001. It was then included on the posthumous compilation album I Care 4 U (2002) and was released as its lead single on October 28, 2002, by Blackground Records and Universal Records.
"If Your Girl Only Knew" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. It was released to radio on July 15, 1996, by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records as the lead single for her second studio album, One in a Million (1996). It was physically released in August 1996. Written by both Missy Elliott and Timbaland, with the latter producing the song, it focuses on a guy who receives a scolding from the female narrator (Aaliyah) for hitting on her when he already has a girlfriend. Musically, "If Your Girl Only Knew" is a "bouncing" funk, pop and hip hop song. Its production also incorporates other instruments ranging from keyboards, organs, and guitar licks.
"Hot Like Fire" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her second studio album One in a Million (1996). The song was written by both Missy Elliot and Timbaland, with the latter producing the song. In 1997 it was re-recorded and released as the fifth and final single from One in a Million with "The One I Gave My Heart To" on September 16, 1997 by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records.
"One in a Million" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her second studio album of the same title (1996). It was written by both Missy Elliott and Timbaland with the latter producing the song. It was released to Rhythmic contemporary radio as the third single from One in a Million by Blackground and Atlantic Records on November 12, 1996. Musically, the song is an R&B and club ballad with trip hop and drum and bass influences. While Lyrically, it is about the narrator (Aaliyah) professing her love for a man whom she identifies as being her "one in a million".
"4 Page Letter" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her second studio album, One in a Million (1996). Released as the album's fourth single by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records on April 8, 1997, it was written by both Missy Elliott and Timbaland with the latter producing it. Musically, it is an R&B ballad in which the protagonist is expressing feelings for her crush in the form of a letter.
"Come Back in One Piece" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah, featuring a guest appearance by American rapper DMX, for the soundtrack to the 2000 film Romeo Must Die. It was written by DMX, Stephen Garrett, Irv Gotti, Rob Meys, George Clinton, Bernie Worrell and William Collins, while the production was handled by Gotti and Lil Rob. The song was released as the second single from Romeo Must Die on June 6, 2000, by Blackground Records and Virgin Records.
"I Care 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, the song was originally recorded for Aaliyah's second studio album One in a Million (1996), but the recording was shelved. It was re-recorded in 2000 for Aaliyah (2001). A neo soul ballad, "I Care 4 U" features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals.
"We Need a Resolution" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah, featuring a guest appearance by American producer–rapper Timbaland for her eponymous third and final studio album (2001). Written by Static Major and Timbaland, with the latter producing it, it was released as the album's lead single by Blackground Records and Virgin Records on May 15, 2001. Musically, it is a "bouncing" alternative R&B, hip hop, and electro-funk song with Middle Eastern influences. Lyrically, "We Need a Resolution" speaks about a passive-aggressive relationship that has hit a rough patch in which the narrator (Aaliyah) asks for solutions while her partner dismisses her feelings.
"More Than a Woman" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her eponymous third and final studio album (2001). It was written by Static Major and Timbaland, with the latter producing it. Initially chosen as the album's second single, Aaliyah began promoting it with televised performances on Live with Regis and Kelly and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in July 2001. Due to premature radio support, "Rock the Boat" instead became the second single. "More Than a Woman" was ultimately released as the album's third single. In France, it was released as a double A-side with "I Refuse".
"I Don't Wanna" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written and composed by Johntá Austin, Jazze Pha, Donnie Scantz, and Kevin Hicks, it appears on both the Next Friday (1999) and Romeo Must Die (2000) soundtracks.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)