Wikipedia

My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)

"My Boo" is a duet between American R&B singers Usher and Alicia Keys, written by the artists alongside Adonis Shropshire, Manuel Seal, and Jermaine Dupri, the latter of whom produced it with No I.D.—who is uncredited. It was included on the re-release of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions (2004). The song was released as the album's fourth single on August 29, 2004.[1]

"My Boo"
Single by Usher and Alicia Keys
from the album Confessions (Special Edition)
ReleasedAugust 29, 2004 (2004-08-29)[1]
Studio
Genre
Length3:42
LabelLaFace
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Usher singles chronology
"Confessions Part II"
(2004) 		"My Boo"
(2004) 		"Lovers and Friends"
(2004)
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"Diary"
(2004) 		"My Boo"
(2004) 		"Karma"
(2004)
Alternative cover
Music video
"My Boo" on YouTube

The song received positive reviews from critics, being considered one of the best R&B collaborations of the 2000s. At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards the song won for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and was nominated for Best R&B Song.

Commercially the single stayed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, becoming Usher seventh and Keys' second number one on the chart. "My Boo" marked the third-most-successful single from the album after "Yeah!" and "Burn", respectively. It was also ranked as the 36th-biggest song of the 2000s decade in the United States and it has been certified quintuple-platinum by RIAA.

Background

edit

Usher and Alicia Keys had previously collaborated with the remix of Keys' 2004 single "If I Ain't Got You", which was released in the United Kingdom. During the production of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions, they thought of various female singers to pair him with on the song. Usher and Kortney Kaycee Leveringston's rare demo version can be found floating on the Internet. Although it was and still is widely believed that it was Beyoncé.[3] However, Jermaine Dupri, who co-wrote the song including Usher's number-one hits "Yeah!", "Burn", and "Confessions Part II", felt that he had established good relationship with Keys since she had worked with him and Usher.[4]

The song is written from the perspectives of Keys and Usher, who play the role of an ex-couple.[4] For him, Usher and Keys "talk about how they used to be in love and how those feelings are still lingering despite the two not being involved anymore."[5] For Keys, "The song is talking about the first person you ever really had feelings for. Even though you move on and meet new people, you always remember that first person."[6][3]

Release

edit

"My Boo" was not included in the final track listing of Confessions (neither were Red Light" or the songs Usher recorded with P. Diddy and The Neptunes). Instead, "My Boo" and "Red Light" were leaked to the Internet, along with other songs not included on the first album release.[7] The song was included in the expanded version of Confessions, alongside "Red Light" and "Sweet Lies" (which were only released in the UK version of the album).

Dupri thought of releasing "My Boo" as the fourth single from Confessions once "Confessions Part II" would be leaving the charts.[4] LaFace Records sent "My Boo" to US contemporary hit radio on August 29, 2004,[1] and to US urban contemporary radio on August 30, 2004.[8] The single was released in the United States as a 12" single on September 21, 2004.[9] It was a double A-side with "Confessions Part II" when it was released in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2004.[10]

Composition

edit
 
"My Boo"
"My Boo" is a hip hop-tinged R&B song with a mid-tempo melody.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"My Boo" is a hip hop-tinged R&B song with a mid-tempo melody. It is composed in the key of D minor, in common time.[11] The song production was supervised by Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal, with uncredit works by No I.D., who sampled 1977 song "He's All I've Got" by Love Unlimited in the song.[12][13]

The lyrics are constructed in verse-chorus-chorus form. Usher starts the intro, and Keys followed her rap-intro, with background vocals from Usher. He proceeds to the first verse and chorus, leading to Keys singing another chorus, altering some of the lyrics of the original chorus to create a dialogue. Keys sings the second verse and Usher for the chorus, with background vocals from Keys. Keys repeats her version for the chorus. The song breaks with Usher and Keys singing "My oh, My oh, My oh, My oh, My Boo", one after the other. Usher repeats the chorus again, and they sing the intro of Keys.[3][12]

Critical reception

edit

Through years, the song received positive reviews from critics, considering it one of the best songs of both Usher and Keys' discographies.[14][15] In a 2004 review Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone described the duet "sentimental".[16] Heran Mamo of Billboard appreciated the singers "soaring harmonies" on the post-chorus.[17] In a 2022 review Stereogum wrote that Usher and Keys are both "a premium on conveying intimacy" singing the song "gracefully, getting tons of warmth and fondness across", praising the production for using " a string-loop, a sighing ahh-ahh effect, strutting drums and acoustic-guitar noodles".[12]

The collaboration was considered one of the best songs of 2000s and duets by critics. In 2011, Billboard ranked the song seventh on a special "The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time" listing.[18] In 2020 Billboard also listed it into "The 25 Greatest Love Song Duets".[19] In its "65 of the Best Songs from the 2000s" list, Harper's Bazaar wrote that the song "is the official puppy-love anthem centering on first kisses and playground flirtation".[20]

Accolades

edit
Award nominations for "My Boo"
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
2005 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won [21]
BET Awards Best Collaboration Nominated [22]
Grammy Awards Best R&B Song Nominated [23]
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Won
MTV Video Music Awards Best R&B Nominated [24]
MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best Collaboration Nominated [25]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Music Video Nominated [26]
Soul Train Music Awards Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo Won [27]
2006 ASCAP Pop Awards Most Performed Pop Songs Won [28]

Chart performance

edit

"My Boo" was successful in the United States, living up to the chart performances of "Yeah!", "Burn" and "Confessions Part II". The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 twenty-nine, the highest U.S. entry among all singles released from the album,[29] and entered the top ten, two weeks after. The song peaked at number one during its eighth-week stay on the chart, becoming Usher fourth song to achieve it in 2004 and seventh in his career, while Keys' second number one on the chart.[30] The single remained on the top for six weeks, beating its predecessor "Confessions Part II", which charted at number one for two weeks.[31] It stayed on the top ten for nineteen weeks, leaving the chart after twenty-six weeks.[29] The single was successful on Billboard component charts, topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Ringtones.[32]

In Europe, the single had divided responses. The single reached the top five in the UK Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks, becoming Usher's eight top-five and Keys' second. It also became a top five hit in Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland and entered the top twenty in France, Finland and Switzerland.[29]

Music video

edit
 
Usher and Alicia Keys in Times Square.

Directed by both Usher and music video director Chris Robinson, "My Boo" clip was filmed in New York City. The storyline of the video is a reflection of the song's lyrics.[6] The footage starts with Usher in a living room watching a video for "Bad Girl", a song from Confessions. The "Bad Girl" intro features Usher singing the song in a club setting while admiring a scantily-dressed woman. He turns the set off and slumps down on the sofa before laying on it with his foot propped up. After a moment of silent, nostalgic reflection, he starts to sing the intro of "My Boo". The video then shows him and Alicia Keys in their separate quarters, preparing to head out, while singing their part of the song. Usher eventually steps out on streets of New York; likewise, Keys is out in her car. She leaves the car and walks down the street, and the couple meet up in the middle of Times Square, cuddling each other and on the brink of kissing. The music video debuted on MTV's TRL at number nine on September 16, 2004. It remained on the countdown for twenty-seven days, becoming the only Confession video to chart.[33]

The music video on YouTube has received over 180 million views as of May 2024.[34]

Live performances

edit

The duo performed the song at the American Music Awards of 2004, with Keys playing piano alone singing for the first half of the song, and then she is joined by Usher.[35]

Usher and Keys performed the song at the former's Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.[36][37]

Track listings

edit

UK CD 1[38]

  1. "Confessions Part II"
  2. "My Boo" (Duet with Alicia Keys)

UK CD 2[39]

  1. "Confessions Part II"
  2. "My Boo" (Duet with Alicia Keys)
  3. "Confessions Part II" (Remix) (featuring Shyne, Kanye West & Twista)
  4. "Confessions Part II" (Music Video)

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications and sales for "My Boo"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[79] Platinum 10,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[80] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[81] Gold 150,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[82] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[83] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[84]
Mastertone 		Platinum 1,000,000*

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

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "CHR/Top 40: Week Of: August 29, 2004," R&R: Going for Adds. Archived October 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "NO ID: Godfather of Chicago R&B Still on Top". November 9, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Donovan, Thom (February 7, 2024). "The Meaning Behind "My Boo" by Usher and Alicia Keys". American Songwriter. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem. "Usher, Alicia Keys Record Duet". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on June 18, 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  5. ^ Reid, Shaheem (June 24, 2004). "More Duets For Usher As Solange, Brandy Grab The Mic". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on June 26, 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (September 14, 2004). "Alicia Keys Shoots Video With Usher, Wants To Do Live Album". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on September 17, 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  7. ^ Reid, Shaheem (July 29, 2004). "Usher/ Alicia Keys Video To Accompany Confessions Re-Release". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on August 28, 2004. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  8. ^ "Urban: Week Of: August 30, 2004," R&R: Going for Adds. Archived April 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "My Boo". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  10. ^ "Key Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 30, 2004. p. 15.
  11. ^ "Digital Sheet Music: My Boo". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. December 20, 2004. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (December 14, 2022). "The Number Ones: Usher & Alicia Keys' "My Boo"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "11 Usher songs that changed the game forever". Revolt. October 15, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  14. ^ BJosephs, Lauren Nostro (November 13, 2012). "The 25 Best Alicia Keys Songs". Complex. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Goffe, Nadira (August 17, 2023). "A Beginner's Guide to Usher, in 10 Songs". Slate Magazine. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Caramanica, Jon (November 11, 2004). "Usher: Confessions - Special Edition". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  17. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (February 7, 2024). "Usher's 50 Best Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  19. ^ Partridge, Kenneth (February 11, 2020). "The 25 Greatest Love Song Duets: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Maher, Natalie; Summers, Joan (October 31, 2023). "65 Songs from the 2000s That'll Make You Want to Dig Up Your iPod". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "EMI Publishing". June 12, 1999.
  22. ^ "2005 BET Awards Nominees". Billboard. May 15, 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (February 14, 2005). "Charles Tops Grammys With Eight Trophies". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  24. ^ "Ludacris, Shakira To Perform At Video Music Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  25. ^ "Connection Problems". Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  26. ^ "Alicia Keys, Usher, Kanye Win At NAACP Image Awards". Yahoo!. March 21, 2005. Archived from the original on June 15, 2007. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  27. ^ Robert (April 2, 2005). "Hip-Hop News: Soul Train Music Awards". Rapnewsdirect.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  28. ^ "Most Performed Songs". ASCAP. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  29. ^ a b c "Usher and Alicia Keys – My Boo – Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  30. ^ "'Boo!': Usher, Keys Scare Up No. 1 Single". Billboard. October 21, 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  31. ^ "Usher And Alicia's 'Boo' Still Strong At No. 1". Billboard. November 25, 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "Usher: Artist Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  33. ^ "TRL Debuts". Popfusion. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  34. ^ Usher, Alicia Keys - My Boo (Official Video).YouTube
  35. ^ Armstrong, Megan (October 26, 2017). "Best American Music Awards Performances No. 17: Alicia Keys & Usher Deliver Swoon-Worthy Performance of 'My Boo' at the 2004 AMAs". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  36. ^ McIntosh, Steven (February 12, 2024). "Usher joined by Alicia Keys and will.i.am at Super Bowl half-time show". BBC. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  37. ^ Daly, Rhian (February 12, 2024). "Usher brings out Alicia Keys during throwback Super Bowl Halftime Show performance". NME. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  38. ^ "Confessions/My Boo, Pt. 1 [UK CD]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  39. ^ "Confessions/My Boo Pt.2". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  40. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  41. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  42. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  43. ^ "Usher Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  44. ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1584. December 3, 2004. p. 27. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  45. ^ "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 47. November 20, 2004. p. 77.
  46. ^ "Usher feat. Alicia Keys: My Boo" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  47. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo" (in French). Les classement single.
  48. ^ "Usher – My Boo" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  49. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Confessions Part II / My Boo". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  50. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  51. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  52. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo". VG-lista.
  53. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 48, saptamina 29.11 – 5.12, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 22, 2005. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  54. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  55. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo". Singles Top 100.
  56. ^ "Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo". Swiss Singles Chart.
  57. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  58. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  59. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  60. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  61. ^ "Usher Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  62. ^ "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  63. ^ "Usher Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  64. ^ "Philippines Hot 100: Week of October 12, 2024". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  65. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2004" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  66. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2004". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  67. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jaaroverzichten – Single 2004" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  68. ^ "Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2004". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  69. ^ "UK Year-End Chart 2004" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  70. ^ "2004 Urban Top 30" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2005. p. 24. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  71. ^ "Year-end charts 2004". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  72. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2004". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  73. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005". Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  74. ^ "Year-end charts 2005". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  75. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2005". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  76. ^ "Decade End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  77. ^ "Decade End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 10, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  78. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  79. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Usher – My Boo". Music Canada.
  80. ^ "Danish single certifications – Usher – My Boo". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  81. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Usher feat. Alicia Keys; 'My Boo')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  82. ^ "British single certifications – Usher & Alicia Keys – My Boo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  83. ^ "American single certifications – Usher – My Boo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  84. ^ "American ringtone certifications – Alicia Keys & Usher – My Boo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=My_Boo_(Usher_and_Alicia_Keys_song)&oldid=1256904187"