U Got It Bad

"U Got It Bad"
Single by Usher
from the album 8701
ReleasedAugust 21, 2001 (2001-08-21)
StudioSouthside (Atlanta, Georgia)
GenreR&B[1][2][3]
Length4:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jermaine Dupri
Usher singles chronology
"U Remind Me"
(2001) 		"U Got It Bad"
(2001) 		"U Don't Have to Call"
(2002)
Music video
"U Got It Bad" on YouTube

"U Got It Bad" is a song by American singer Usher. It was released through Arista Records as the second official single from his third studio album 8701 (2001). It was written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, and produced by Dupri, with Cox credited as co-producer. Released in the United States on August 21, 2001, "U Got It Bad" is an R&B ballad that, according to MTV, incorporates "digi-coustic" guitars, a "slow-burning bass line" and "sex funk" drums. The lyrics notably contain some quick direct allusions to other soul music ballads, mainly Maxwell's "Fortunate" and Prince's "Adore".

"U Got It Bad" was released to generally favorable reviews from critics. It became Usher's third song to top the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as the second consecutive single from 8701 to do so. Elsewhere, it entered the top five in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and reached the top 40 on most charts that it appeared on. The song's accompanying music video, directed by Little X, was filmed as a two-part story with "U Don't Have to Call" and features Usher's then-girlfriend, TLC's Chilli, as his love interest.

Background and writing

[edit]

"U Got It Bad" was written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, with production helmed by the former and co-production from the latter.[4] Recording was done by Brian Frye and mixing by Dupri and Phil Tan, at Southside Studios, Atlanta, Georgia in 2000.[4] John Horesco IV provided mixing assistance, William "Billy" Odum performed the Guitar and Usher provided all vocals.[4] Talking to Complex, Dupri stated that "U Got It Bad" was inspired by Usher's previous single "Nice & Slow", saying that he produced the song as he wanted to re-produce a track similar to the latter in terms of success, for Usher's 8701 (2001).[5]

The lyrics to the song were, according to Dupri, inspired by a true story after he and Usher had been in the studio trying to record some music for the album, but Usher was continually distracted by a girl he had brought into the studio. Following an argument, the girl left. A while later, they started on talking on the phone, which prompted Dupri to kick Usher out of the studio telling him, "We're going to do this [session] later on. You got it completely too bad right now. You got it bad." This ignited the inspiration for the song, and once Usher had left, Dupri started writing its lyrics, with the notion that it was going to be a big hit. Once Usher had returned to the studio, Dupri shared the story of the song with him.[6]

Composition and release

[edit]
Producer Jermaine Dupri used "digi-coustic" guitars and a "slow-burning bass line" on "U Got It Bad".[7]

"U Got It Bad" is an R&B ballad.[1][2][3] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, it is written in the key of B minor and has a tempo of 66 beats per minute.[3] Usher's vocal range spans from the low note of F♯4 to the high note of A5.[3] The song is actually a semitone lower in the key of B-flat minor, which would have the vocals span from F4 to A♭5. "U Got It Bad" is a slow jam, that makes use of "digi-coustic" guitars, a "slow-burning bass line" and "sex funk" drums.[7] Usher's vocals "floats and runs" between the song's melodies, before intensifying when entering the chorus.[7]

The Neptunes-produced track, "I Don't Know", was initially intended as the album's second single.[1] Rapper P. Diddy was to direct its music video in Los Angeles in July 2001.[1] The song was receiving radio play prior to the release of 8701's first single "U Remind Me".[8] However, Usher instead released "U Got It Bad" as the album's second single, as it presents his own unique sound, "If you wanna know what a Usher record is, then ["U Got It Bad" is] it," while using both Michael Jackson and Bobby Brown as examples of artists who "solidified" their music through their own unique music.[9] "U Got it Bad" was released as a CD single in the US on December 18, 2001.[10]

Reception

[edit]

"U Got It Bad" earned generally favorable reviews from music critics. NME called the song 8701's "stand-out track [that] deals with the spectre of first love with passion, honesty and some raw beats."[11] Kelefa Sanneh from The New York Times cited "U Got It Bad" as 2001's "best slow jam, coasting along on a double-time vocal line and a whisper of acoustic guitar."[12] Austin Williams from Vibe noted that "U Got It Bad" "isn't like most begging music that's celebrated. Though it certainly contains the fundamental elements of the subgenre – passionate singing, dramatic declarations of love, and a music video with a grand gesture of desperation – there's a generality to its writing that's preserved its resonance."[13]

"U Got It Bad" was nominated for several prizes, including the 2002 Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Male.[14] In 2002, it won the 2002 Teen Choice Love Song award,[15] and in 2003, the song was awarded an ASCAP Award for Publisher of the Year.[16] In 2016, Complex ranked the song number eight on their list of the 25 greatest Usher songs,[17] with editor Edwin Ortiz calling it a "slow-burning ballad meant to top anything Usher had released prior," further writing: "Whereas "Nice & Slow" delivered a slow jam vibe ripe for a late night rendezvous, "U Got It Bad" was the antithesis of an erotic fantasy, with Usher exploring a relationship he can't sensibly appreciate."[17] In 2021, American Songwriter ranked the song number five on their list of the 10 greatest Usher songs.[18]

Chart performance

[edit]

"U Got It Bad" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week of December 15, 2001, becoming Usher's third number-one song on the chart.[19] It was his second Hot 100 number one from 8701 after "U Remind Me", which reached the position in July of the same year.[19] "U Got It Bad" marked the first time he obtained two consecutive number one hits.[19] In December 2001, Usher became one of the few Arista acts to have more than one Hot 100 number one hit, with Whitney Houston having eleven, Barry Manilow and Milli Vanilli with three, and Monica with two.[19] "U Got It Bad" was also atop the Hot 100 Airplay chart that week, with an audience impression of 135 million.[19] The following week, the song was replaced by Nickelback's "How You Remind Me", moving it to number two.[20] Nickelback's single remained number one for four consecutive weeks, before being replaced by "U Got It Bad" on the week of January 8, 2002, which went on to top the Hot 100 for five weeks.[7] On the same week, the song broke the record for the highest audience impression on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, previously held by Alicia Keys, with 149,858,700 listeners.[21] The song's popularity helped 8701 rise from number twenty-three to eight on the US Billboard 200 on the week of October 11, 2001.[22]

Music video

[edit]
TLC member Chilli co-starred as Usher's love interest in the video.

A music video for "U Got It Bad" was directed by Canadian filmmaker Little X.[23] Co-starring TLC member Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas as the female lead, the video starts with Usher tossing and turning in bed, troubled by the thought of his ex-girlfriend (Thomas). After awakening, he turns on the TV, only to see his ex, a celebrity on her own, on every station. The video proceeds to introduce flashbacks of happier times between the two, suggesting that he still longs for his ex. In his desperation to find her, he braves the rain, bursting into her trailer to apologize and reconcile with her. However, this is revealed to be his imagination, and instead of opening the door of the trailer, he walks away ashamed. Disgusted, he makes his way home and lies in his bed, alone.[23]

The visuals for follow-up single "U Don't Have to Call", filmed in February 2002, served as a continuation from "U Got It Bad".[24] At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, the video was nominated for Best Male Video and Best R&B Video.[25] It also received a Video of the Year nod at the 2002 BET Awards.[26] In 2018, Little X told Billboard: "This one was a little more personal. I was young and was kind of venting through my own life experience through the song. Usher and I were around the same age, and it was just one of those [videos] that really clicked. I think there was something special about that video, having a really young director with a really young artist making this thing happen together."[27]

The music video on YouTube has received over 305 million views as of May 2024.[28]

Track listing

[edit]
CD single[10]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."U Got It Bad" (radio mix)
4:07
2."U Got It Bad" (Tee's Latin remix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
7:58
3."U Got It Bad" (Soulpower remix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
4:03
4."U Got It Bad" (Tee's Inhouse Club remix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
6:00
5."U Got It Bad" (Tee's dub)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
6:00
UK CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."U Got It Bad" (radio mix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
4:07
2."U Remind Me" (remix) (featuring Method Man and Blu Cantrell)
3:56
3."U Got It Bad" (Soulpower remix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
4:03
4."U Got It Bad" (Tee's Inhouse Club remix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
6:00

Notes

  • ^[A] denotes co-producer

Sample credits

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "U Got It Bad"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[68] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[71]
Digital 		5× Platinum 5,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[71]
Mastertone 		Gold 500,000*
United States (RIAA)[72]
Video single 		Gold 25,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "U Got It Bad"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 21, 2001
[73]
September 18, 2001 Rhythmic contemporary radio [74]
United Kingdom October 8, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
 [75]
Sweden October 22, 2001 CD [76]
United States October 30, 2001 Contemporary hit radio [77]
Australia December 3, 2001 CD [78]
United States January 18, 2002 Hot adult contemporary radio [79]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Reid, Shaheem (July 11, 2001). "P. Diddy Directing Video For Usher's 'I Don't Know'". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Top Ten Usher Songs". PopCrush. July 6, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "Usher "U Got It Bad" Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. April 21, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c 8701 (CD liner). Usher. Arista Records. 2001. 74321 87471 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Drake, David. "Usher "U Got It Bad" (2001)". Complex. Complex Mediaa. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  6. ^ Bronson, Fred; Clark, Dick (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 980. ISBN 0823076776. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d Anderson, Kyle (September 12, 2010). "Usher Makes The Top Of The Hot 100 Look 'Bad': Wake-Up Video". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  8. ^ Reid, Shaheem (April 18, 2001). "Usher Turns U Into 8701". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on April 28, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  9. ^ "Usher Rolls With 'U Got It Bad' As Next Single". Top40-Charts.com. August 10, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "U Got It Bad: Music". Amazon. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  11. ^ "Usher: 8701". NME. September 12, 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (June 17, 2002). "POP REVIEW; Turning the Outdoors Into the House of Usher". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Williams, Austin (April 21, 2022). "Singers Just Don't Beg Like Usher On 'U Got It Bad' Anymore". Vibe. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  14. ^ "Aaliyah, India.Arie and Alicia Keys nominated for Soul Train Awards". QC Times. February 8, 2002. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "2002 Teen Choice Award Winners". AllYourTV.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 50. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 15, 2001. p. 79. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "The 25 Best Usher Songs". Complex. October 14, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Uitti, Jacob (December 18, 2021). "Top 10 Usher Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 25. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 21, 2003. p. 5. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  20. ^ "Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 22, 2001. p. 8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  21. ^ "Usher's 'U Got It Bad' Sets All-Time 1-Week Audience Chart Record With 149.85 Million Listeners, and Returns to #1". Arista Records through PR Newswire. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  22. ^ Reid, Shaheem (October 11, 2001). "Usher Lets Fans Title Upcoming Tour". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  23. ^ a b "9 of Usher's most cinematic music videos". revolt.tv. June 27, 2020.
  24. ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 6, 2002). "P. Diddy, Usher Shoot Clip For 'The-Not-About-J.Lo' Song". MTV.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "2002 MTV Video Music Award nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  26. ^ "Aaliyah Tops BET Awards Nominations". Billboard. May 15, 2002. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  27. ^ "Director X Breaks Down His Signature Videos For Rihanna, Drake, Sean Paul and More". Billboard. July 25, 2023.
  28. ^ Usher - U Got It Bad (Official Video).YouTube
  29. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  30. ^ "Issue 633" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  32. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  33. ^ "Usher Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. June 10, 2018.
  34. ^ "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  35. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on February 9, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  36. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. October 27, 2001. p. 15. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  37. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad" (in French). Les classement single.
  38. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  39. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Usher". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  40. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  41. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  42. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad". Top 40 Singles.
  43. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  44. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad". Singles Top 100.
  45. ^ "Usher – U Got It Bad". Swiss Singles Chart.
  46. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  47. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  48. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  49. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  50. ^ "Usher Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  51. ^ "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  52. ^ "UK Official Singles Downloads Chart on 16 February 2024". Official Charts. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  53. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  54. ^ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-44.
  55. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 48.
  56. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002". ARIA. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  57. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2002". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  58. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004.
  59. ^ "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  60. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2002" (in German). Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  61. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  62. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  63. ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 12.
  64. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 22.
  65. ^ "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-97. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  66. ^ "The Decade in Music: Hot 100 Songs" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 50. December 19, 2009. p. 158. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  67. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  68. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  69. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Usher – U Got It Bad". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  70. ^ "British single certifications – Usher – U Got It Bad". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  71. ^ a b "American single certifications – Usher – U Got It Bad". Recording Industry Association of America.
  72. ^ "American videosingle certifications – Usher – U Don't Have to Call / U Got It Bad". Recording Industry Association of America.
  73. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1415. August 17, 2001. p. 56. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  74. ^ "Crossover Nation: New Releases - Going For Adds 9/18" (PDF). Hits. September 7, 2001. p. 62. Retrieved January 14, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  75. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting October 8, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 6, 2001. p. 31. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  76. ^ "Usher: U Got It Bas". click2music.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  77. ^ "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1425. October 26, 2001. p. 39. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  78. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd December 2001" (PDF). ARIA. December 3, 2001. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  79. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1436. January 19, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=U_Got_It_Bad&oldid=1258642613"