What About Us?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"What About Us?"
"What About Us?" cover
Single by Brandy
from the album Full Moon
Released February 11, 2002
Format Vinyl single
CD single
Recorded 2001
Genre R&B
Length 4:10
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Rodney Jerkins
Brandy Norwood
Kenisha Pratt
LaShawn Daniels
Nora Payne
Producer(s) Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
Chart positions
Brandy singles chronology
"Another Day In Paradise"
(2001)
"What Abous Us?"
(2002)
"Full Moon"
(2002)

"What About Us?" is a R&B song written by American singer-songwriter Brandy, LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Kenisha Pratt and Nora Payne for Brandy's third studio album Full Moon (2002). The song was produced by Darkchild and released as the album's lead single in February 2002. "What About Us?" managed to enter the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching a peak position of #7 on the U.S. Billboard 100 and #4 on the UK single chart.

Contents

[edit] Song information

Screenshot of the music video.
Enlarge
Screenshot of the music video.

In comparison with previous singles "What About Us" marked the first time Brandy confronted listeners with an edgy up-tempo track. The original version of the single was produced during a studio visit in Los Angeles. After playing it to her, Brandy asked Jerkins to keep "this offbeat, aggressive high-tech track" for her new album and as a result, she ordered her writers Pratt, Payne and Daniels to provide some "sexy and edgy" lyrics to the futuristic arrangement. In the end the single's lyrics dealed with the aftermathes of an untrue love, facing would-be Mr. Right with the current point of the one-sided relationship. [1]

With the release of "What About Us" Brandy also showed a comletely different vocal colour, singing in a deeper contralto voice instead of sopran after months of hard vocal training. The singer herself declared, the change depended on image alternations, representing herself as a more mature artist and vocalist thenceforwards.

[edit] Chart performance

Expectations were high on "What About Us", the first (solo) single after Brandy's successful sophomore album Never Say Never, its final release "U Don't Know Me" in 1999 and the European #1 hit duet "Another Day in Paradise" in 2001. Despite enormous image and vocal changes and the song's unconventional sound, the track managed to become a major hit all around the globe, reaching the top 10 in several European countries like Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Great Britain and peaking at number 7 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. "What About Us?" also reached the top 3 of the European 100 and the official World Singles Top 100 in February 2002.

[edit] Formats and tracklistings

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "What About Us?".

[edit] Europe CD single
  1. "What About Us? (Radio Version)"
  2. "What About Us? (Boogiesoul Remix)"
  3. "What About Us? (Simon Vegas Remix)"
  4. "What About Us? (Album Instrumental)"
  5. "What About Us? (Boogiesoul Remix Instrumental)"
  6. "What About Us? (Simon Vegas Remix Instrumental)"

[edit] Remixes
  1. "What About Us? (Boogiesoul Remix)"
  2. "What About Us? (Simon Vegas Remix)"
  3. "What About Us? (Massive Funky House Mix)"
  4. "What About Us? (Speed Garage Mix)"
  5. "What About Us? (Qualifide Remix)"
  6. "What About Us? (Jay Hannan Vocal/Dub Remix)"
  7. "What About Us? (Drum & Bass Mix)"
  8. "What About Us? (E-Smoove Remix)"

[edit] Music charts

[edit] Worldwide

Chart Position
Australian Singles Chart 6
Austrian Singles Chart 8
Belgian Singles Chart 20
Brazil Hot 100 Chart 26
Canadian Singles Chart 16
Danish Singles Chart 7
Dutch Singles Chart 18
French Singles Chart 24
German Singles Chart 13
Irish Singles Chart 17
Italian Singles Chart 26
Japanese Singles Chart 18
Netherlands Singles Chart 11
New Zealand Singles Chart 8
Norwegian Singles Chart 11
Philippine Top 40 Singles Chart 4
Philippine R&B/Soul Top 20 Singles Chart 1
Swedish Singles Chart 16
Swiss Singles Chart 8
U.K. Singles Chart 4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 7
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay 9
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 3
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales 2
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay 2
Europe Official Top 100 2
World Music Chart 3
World Singles Official Top 100 3
World Airplay Official Top 100 3
World R&B Top 30 Singles 3