Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)

"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
An African-American man sits in a chair while being flaunted by an unknown woman behind him.
Single by Usher featuring Plies
from the album Raymond v. Raymond
ReleasedDecember 8, 2009
Recorded2009; Silent Sound Studios
(Atlanta, Georgia)
GenreR&B[1]
Length3:44 (original/album version)
4:16 (single/radio edit feat. Plies)
LabelLaFace
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • The Runners
  • Rico Love
Usher singles chronology
"Fed Up"
(2009) 		"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
(2009) 		"Lil Freak"
(2010)
Plies singles chronology
"Medicine"
(2009) 		"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
(2009) 		"Put Your Hands Up"
(2010)
Music video
"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" on YouTube

"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" is a song by American singer Usher. It was written by longtime Usher collaborator Rico Love, Usher, Plies as well as Andrew Harr and Jermaine Jackson from production duo The Runners for his sixth studio album Raymond v. Raymond (2010), while production was helmed by Love, Harr, and Jackson. "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" was released as the album's first single in the United States, following the buzz single "Papers". It peaked at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

The song was released as the album's first single in the United States, following the buzz single "Papers". A remix version of the song, featuring Plies, was released to radio stations on December 8, 2009, and subsequently made available for digital download on December 15, 2009. A second remix was released, featuring Jadakiss, on February 5, 2010 with a different beat that samples the 1997 hit by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (which in turn samples Steely Dan's "Black Cow").

Background and composition

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The song was leaked onto the internet in later October 2009 with several preliminary tracks from Raymond v. Raymond.[2] "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)", one of the tracks that follows-up Usher's divorce, and the change in content from Here I Stand, back to Confessions-style, was one of six tracks co-written by Rico Love for the album.[3] In an exclusive with Rap-Up, Love said of Usher's return to that style, "I feel like he’s got his mind right and it’s focused. He went through a lot. He had lost his father when he was creating the Here I Stand record, a lot of controversy with his marriage, he had kids, he parted ways with his mother’s management, and there were just a lot of things going on and he kind of lost focus. It’s not like Here I Stand wasn’t a good album. I just feel like he lost touch with his demographic."[3] According to MTV News, the song provides the reasons behind Usher's crumbling marriage as narrated in "Papers".[4] The remix version featuring Plies made its way onto the internet in late November, a few days before the song's radio and digital release.[1]

Critical reception

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"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
A 30-second sample of "Hey Daddy" featuring the chorus by Usher
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Mariel Concepcion of Billboard said that the song is "a clear indication that the R&B crooner is bringing sexy back," "atop a silky piano pattern and hand claps."[5] She also said, "Plies makes a nice addition to the already sexified track, as the self-proclaimed goon drops a raunchy verse in his raspy Southern drawl." The review went on to say, "'Hey Daddy' may not be a chart-topper-yet-but it sure will make the naysayers pay attention again."[5] Mark Edward Nero of About.com said that the song was "is not only the album's first official single," but "also a declaration." He goes on to say, "In the song, Usher's basically sending a message to his female fans that the Usher they knew and loved is back in their lives and that they don't need to stray any more: "You know your daddy's home, and it's time to play, so you ain't got to give my lovin' away." Nero calls 'Hey Daddy' "one of more than half a dozen sex songs on the album." Sara D. Anderson of AOL Music said that the song has a "catchy R&B tune" and "the song showcases Usher's role as the ladies' man as he croons: "You know your daddy's home (daddy's home) / And it's time to play (so it's time to play) / So you ain't got to give my loving away."[1] James Reed of The Boston Globe said that the track was one of the album's songs to showcase "Usher's signature loveman moves" however called them "hollow as a chocolate Easter bunny", as he pointed out the whole album had a lack of emotion[6] Andrew Rennie of Now Magazine said that on the song and on "Lil Freak" that Usher shows "he’s unafraid to get lewd".[7]

Chart performance

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After its release to digital download, the song debuted at number ninety-four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song fell off the chart its second week, but re-entered the chart four weeks later at number 100.[8] It then dropped out the chart again, before re-entering yet again, this time at eighty.[8] It has since peaked at twenty-four.[8] The song peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and was Usher's third consecutive top five R&B hit, and his fourteenth top three R&B title.[9] With the charting, Usher passed Ludacris for the most top three hits.[10] The song also peaked at number sixty-eight on the Austrian Singles Chart.[8]

Music video

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A man dances with women and stands in front of a brown wall with designs, with a female.
Usher doing choreography in a studio with dancers and in front of a backdrop with Lenoir

The music video was directed by Chris Robinson, and was shot in West Hollywood at "The London".[11] It premiered on MTV on January 28, 2010.[4] French fashion model Noémie Lenoir portrays Usher's love interest. Like the album version of the song, the music video does not feature Plies or his verse. In the video, Usher struggles to get home to his wife, however due to several obligations and his partying, he cannot make it. Previous shots are given of Usher and Lenoir in a brown backdrop, and assumed previous situations of their love life and Usher coming home. Scenes are seen with Usher in a boardroom setting, and then teaching dance to a group of women in a studio, then in a club. Several instances in the video are unknown as in the scene in which Usher takes a phone call, unknown to the viewer for "business or pleasure," as explained by James Montgomery of MTV News. In describing the video, he went on to say, "...you can kind of see why it'd be about both. Such is the life he's chosen, and now he must deal with the repercussions."[4] In following scenes the threat of infidelity is seen even clearer as Usher gets close to the "over-friendly dancers" and "sipping — and spitting — champagne in a place that looks very much like a strip club."[4]

Montgomery went on to say that the video is full of "temptation, love and lust," and "about distance and the effect it has on all those things."[4] He goes on to say that in the video "All Ush wants to do is make it back to her, to do all those things that husbands and wives tend to do. The only problem is he can't." At the end of the video, Lenoir has enough, and walks out. Montgomery notes that it is not clear whether Usher even makes it home, or if the song was even referring to the wife character, and not "someone special stashed in a nearby suite."[4] In resolving the video's review, Montgomery said, "Distance may make the heart grow fonder, but there are limits to everything. Usher may want to be no place but home, but there's a big, wide world out there with pitfalls aplenty. He's a superstar, a businessman, a father and an (ex-) husband, but at the end of the day, Ush is also human, and "Hey Daddy" is proof of that."[4] In a review of the video, Rap-Up said that "Even though it’s been a minute since his last video, the ladies man still knows how to bust a move."[12]

The music video on YouTube has received over 135 million views as of May 2024.[13]

Live performances

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Usher performed the song on Lopez Tonight and the Late Show with David Letterman.[14][15] In promoting Raymond v. Raymond, he performed the song along with a medley of the songs from the album on Good Morning America.[16]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[17]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea — 187,053[25]
United States (RIAA)[26] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release history and formats for "Hey Daddy"
Region Date Format(s) Ref.
United States December 8, 2009 Digital download [27][28]
Urban and rhythmic airplay
United Kingdom March 20, 2011
  • CD single
  • digital download
 [29][30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Anderson, Sara (November 30, 2009). "Usher 'Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)' - New Song". AOL Music Blog. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  2. ^ "New Music: Usher – 'Daddy's Home'". Rap-Up. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Rico Love: Usher's New Album Is 'Classic'". Rap-Up. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Montgomery, James (January 28, 2010). "Usher's 'Hey Daddy' Video: Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Concepcion, Mariel (February 12, 2010). "Usher featuring Plies, "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  6. ^ Reed, James (March 29, 2010). "Usher puts emotional material to little use". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  7. ^ Rennie, Andrew. "Usher - Raymond v. Raymond (LaFace)". Now Magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d "Usher and Plies - Hey Daddy (daddy's Home) - Music charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ^ Trust, Gary (March 25, 2010). "Chart Beat Thursday: Marvin Sapp, Lady Antebellum, J-Lo". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  11. ^ "Sneak Peek: Usher – 'Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)'". Rap-Up. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  12. ^ "Video: Usher – 'Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)'". Rap-Up. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  13. ^ Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) (Official Music Video).YouTube
  14. ^ "Spotted: Usher Goes To Meet David Letterman". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  15. ^ "Usher Performs "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"". Lopez Tonight Online. Turner Broadcasting System. April 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  16. ^ "Video: Usher Performs Raymond V. Raymond Tracks On Good Morning America". Neon Limelight. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  17. ^ Usher 'Raymond v. Raymond Liner notes. LaFace Records (2010)
  18. ^ "Usher feat. Plies – Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  19. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  21. ^ "Usher Chart History (Indonesia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 7 (09/02/2024-15/02/2024)". RIM. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Facebook.
  23. ^ "Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  24. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  25. ^ "Gaon - 2010 Year-end International Download Chart". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – Usher – Hey Daddy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  27. ^ "Forthcoming US Singles". Radio 1. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  28. ^ "*** Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) Ringtone -Usher -Download Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) Ringtone". PRlog. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  29. ^ "New Releases U.K. - Forthcoming Singles". Radio1. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  30. ^ "Usher - Hey Daddy". Female First. February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
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