Who Is She 2 U
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Who Is She 2 U" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Brandy | ||
| from the album Afrodisiac | ||
| Released | October 19, 2004 (North America) March 27, 2005 (Australia, Eurasia) |
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| Format | Vinyl single, CD single, digital download | |
| Recorded | 2003, Criteria Hit Factory, Miami, Florida | |
| Genre | R&B | |
| Length | 4:43 | |
| Label | Atlantic | |
| Writer(s) | Candice Nelson, Tim Mosley, Jacqueline Hilliard, Leon Wave, Walter Millsap | |
| Producer(s) | Timbaland | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Brandy North America singles chronology | ||
| "Talk About Our Love" (2004) |
"Who Is She 2 U" (2004) |
TBA (2007) |
| Brandy Australia/Eurasia singles chronology | ||
| "Afrodisiac" (2004) |
"Who Is She 2 U" (2005) |
TBA (2007) |
"Who Is She 2 U" is a R&B song written by American rapper-songwriter Tim "Timbaland" Mosley, Candice Nelson, Jacqueline Hilliard and Leon Wave for Brandy's fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004). Produced by Timbaland, the song was released as the album's second (third international) and final single in September 2004 (United States) and March 2005 (EU) respectively. The track was simultaneously picked to promote the release of Brandy's first single collection, The Best of Brandy (2005), outside the United States.
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[edit] Song information
"Who Is She 2 U" is one of a total of nine tracks Timbaland contributed to Afrodisiac and was one of the first songs Brandy, and the producer started working on in the Hit Factory Criteria recording studios in Miami, Florida. In opposition to Timbaland's preference for fancy, extravagant beats on Afrodisiac, "Who Is She 2 U" focuses on a comparatively urban arrangement, picking up subdued strings and piano sounds, while sampling a song called "Instant Love", written by Jacqueline Hilliard and Leon Ware. Lyrically, the song's protagonist describes a confrontation with her cheating boyfriend, who "tries to two-time, three-time and even four-time his way into multiple relationships". In an interview with MTV News Brandy revealed that semi-biographical "Who Is She 2 U" is a record, she made for the girls: "It's a song I'm sure so many females have experienced. And I've definitely experienced this before, just like, 'Who's that? Let me know what's going on!'" [1]
In late October 2003, an early version of the song was leaked alongside album cut "Finally" onto the Brandy Special Music Project on ratethemusic.com, a website that asks people's opinions on new tracks from various artists. The leaked version has featured a different vocal production and ending from the one on Afrodisiac; the final edit of the song was first played during an interview with Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97. Singer Usher, who was originally expected to appear on the album at one time or another, re-recorded the song for mixtapes a few weeks before the single's release in the United States, replacing parts of Brandy's vocals for the male's point of view. However, the unofficial duet version of "Who Is She 2 U" became even more popular than the album version or its official remix with rapper Fabolous.
As the second single released from Afrodisiac, expectations were lowered on "Who Is She 2 U" after the first single's failure - and unfortunately the single didn't perform well on the charts, even becoming Brandy's biggest flop on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 of all the videos she has ever released, with a peak of only number 85. If not cancelled (as happened in France and Germany), the single saw similar success in Europe.
[edit] Music video
The music video for "Who Is She 2 U" was directed by Jake Nava, and was filmed in various locations throughout Los Angeles, California in July 2004. Choreographed by Laurie Ann Gibson, the video harks back on authentic street sensibility, showing Brandy from a very ordinary side in normal neighborhood settings, all away from high-class lifestyle and designer clothes: "I wanted to be fashion-forward, so we're going to give the girl a little fashion," she said. "It's going to be young and fun and sexy, but not over the top — still down to earth."
In the video Brandy plays an all-seeing, all-knowing narrator, who gives the central male character pause with her wicked glances that let him know she's watching his every move. The pursuit starts with the singer performing the first lines of her song in the back of a cruising bus, while observing her boarding man next to a female, both discussing vehemently with each other. She's constantly moving and dancing, before the scene shifts to a scaffolding in front of a fenced building, where she performs the chorus in dusty backgrounds. The next scene shows her standing under a traffic light at a plied crossing, wearing a grey outfit and big glasses, wherefrom she enters a near barber shop and performs afresh in a hairdresser chair. At the same time the camera shows her man flirting with two girls. The video ends with a backflash on all locations Brandy was seen at, also catching the daytime in front of the sinking sun.
Fabolous and Timbaland were originally expected to sign on to shoot additional scenes for a remixed version of the clip; however, plans weren't put into practice. "Who Is She 2 U" worldpremiered at the end of BET's Access Granted on August 24, 2004.
[edit] Formats and tracklistings
These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Who Is She 2 U".
[edit] International CD Single
[edit] U.S. CD Single
[edit] Unreleased Remixes |
[edit] Vinyl single
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[edit] Credits and personnel
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[edit] Music charts
[edit] Worldwide
| Chart (2004-05) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart | 50 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 85 |
| U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 43 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 34 |
| U.S. Billboard Urban Top 40 | 25 |
[edit] References
- ^ Jennifer Vineyard (2004-08-06). "Brandy Scopes Out A Cheater". VH1.com. Retrieved on January 19, 2007.
[edit] External link
- Brandy music videos — watch "Who Is She 2 U" at LAUNCHcast
Albums: Brandy · Never Say Never · Full Moon · Afrodisiac · The Best of Brandy
Singles: "I Wanna Be Down" · "Baby" · Best Friend" · "Brokenhearted" · "Sittin' up in My Room" · "Missing You" · "The Boy Is Mine" · "Top of the World"
"Have You Ever" · "Angel in Disguise" · "Almost Doesn't Count" · "U Don't Know Me" · "Another Day in Paradise" · "What about Us?" · "Full Moon" · "He Is"
"Talk About Our Love" · "Who Is She 2 U" · "Afrodisiac"
