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"'''Yeah!'''" is a song written by [[United States|American]] songwriters and producers [[Lil Jon]], [[Sean Garrett]], [[Patrick J. Que Smith]], [[Ludacris]], [[Robert McDowell]] and [[LRoc|James Elbert "LRoc" Phillips]] for [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]]'s fourth studio album ''[[Confessions (Usher album)|Confessions]]'' (2004). The track was produced by [[Lil Jon]] which he combined [[crunk]] and [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] genres, triggering positive reviews from music critics. The song features Lil Jon and rapper [[Ludacris]]. It is Usher's biggest hit to date, as well as Ludacris's and Lil Jon's.
"'''Yeah!'''" is a song written by [[United States|American]] songwriters and producers [[Lil Jon]], [[Sean Garrett]], [[Patrick J. Que Smith]], [[Ludacris]], [[Robert McDowell]] and [[LRoc|James Elbert "LRoc" Phillips]] for [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]]'s fourth studio album ''[[Confessions (Usher album)|Confessions]]'' (2004). The track was produced by [[Lil Jon]] which he combined [[crunk]] and [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] genres, triggering positive reviews from music critics. The song features Lil Jon and rapper [[Ludacris]]. It is Usher's biggest hit to date, as well as Ludacris's and Lil Jon's.


The song was released as the lead single from the album in early 2004, which reached number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] for twelve weeks. It performed equally well on international music markets, topping several charts. The single was certified platinum in various countries and the song received awards.
The song was released as the lead single from the album in early 2004, which reached number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] for twelve weeks. It performed equally well on international music markets, topping several charts. The single was certified platinum in various countries and the song received awards. It is one of the most commercially successful [[crunk]] or [[crunk&B]] songs ever.


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 22:44, 16 September 2008

For other uses, see Yeah.
"Yeah!"
Song

"Yeah!" is a song written by American songwriters and producers Lil Jon, Sean Garrett, Patrick J. Que Smith, Ludacris, Robert McDowell and James Elbert "LRoc" Phillips for Usher's fourth studio album Confessions (2004). The track was produced by Lil Jon which he combined crunk and R&B genres, triggering positive reviews from music critics. The song features Lil Jon and rapper Ludacris. It is Usher's biggest hit to date, as well as Ludacris's and Lil Jon's.

The song was released as the lead single from the album in early 2004, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for twelve weeks. It performed equally well on international music markets, topping several charts. The single was certified platinum in various countries and the song received awards. It is one of the most commercially successful crunk or crunk&B songs ever.

Background

After Usher thought his fourth studio album, Confessions, was already finished, he submitted it to his label Arista Records in 2003. However, when Usher and the company's then-president Antonio "LA" Reid listened to the songs, they felt the album needed a lead single. Although they had "Burn", the first song created early in the making of the album, as waiting list, Usher had to make few more tracks.[1][2]

Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

Usher went back to the studio and enlisted fellow Atlantians rapper-producer Lil Jon, alongside rapper-actor Ludacris, to produce songs for him. Lil Jon recalled: "He needed a single. They had 'Burn,' 'Burn' was hot, but they needed that first powerful monster. That's when I came in."[2]

Several months before Lil Jon came into the production of Confessions, he was commissioned by Jive Records to produce fifteen beats for rapper Mystikal. Mystikal would only choose two tracks which gave Lil Jon the chance to peddle the leftovers to other record labels. Beyond his awareness, Jive gave one of the tracks Mystikal passed on to hip hop artist Petey Pablo, who also records for the label. The track became Pablo's "Freak-a-Leek". At the same time, Lil Jon thought the track would not be used and gave the "Freak-a-Leek" beat to Usher for the original version of what became as "Yeah!". Lil Jon went to Pablo, who already heard the song similar beat to his own. Lil Jon tried to settle it with Jive by making another beat for Pablo; however, Pablo did not give up the track, considering it was already gaining responses from South radio. Lil Jon had to rework on the track and a new instrumental was employed for what became the present "Yeah!".[2] The song was co-written by Sean Garrett, Patrick J. Que Smith, Ludacris, Robert McDowell and James Elbert "LRoc" Phillips.

Composition

"Yeah!" is a combination of crunk and R&B genres. The presence of Lil Jon added new sound to the innate R&B songs of Usher, which he commented that he is "strictly R&B".[3] The song is composed in the key of B♭ major, in common time. The song is performed with a moderate groove.[4]

The lyrics of "Yeah!" are constructed in the traditional verse-chorus form. The song starts with brief introductions to Usher and Lil Jon. Usher repeatedly speaks "yeah" before starting the first verse. The chorus follows, then to the second verse and chorus. Lil Jon enters to introduce Ludacris who sings the third verse. Usher repeats the chorus, ending with a bridge performed by Ludacris.

According to Usher, the song addresses a situation. He explained: "The song is about [when] I realize, 'You and my girl used to be the best of homies and I'm about to go home with you?'"[1] According to Lil Jon, the song "Red Light", which he produced and was not included in the final trackslisting of the first release, is a continuation of "Yeah!".[5]

Release

Though "Yeah!" was already created, everybody in the label was scared to decide whether it will be released as the lead single, considering they had "Burn" on queue. Usher's friend and former A&R rep Kawan "KP" Prather commented: "'Burn' being a great song is one thing, but it's one of them things where people said, 'It's strong, but can we make history with that?' At the end of the day, you want an event." Usher was also skeptical if "Yeah!" was the right choice after he envisioned R&B records.[6] He liked the song but he wanted not to follow the latest trend of Lil Jon's record.[2]

The debate was over when Lil Jon leaked "Yeah!" to street DJs across the United States. After that, Usher opted "Burn" as the lead single of the album and was already looking for treatments of its accompanying music video.[7] The song was then not intended to be a proper single and only a teaser for Usher's fans after waiting for years.[3] However, it was changed when the responses of "Yeah!" were favorable.[6] "Yeah!" was released as the first single and "Burn" was pushed as its follow-up. The single was released in the United States on January 27, 2004 as a CD single and 12" single.[8] In the United Kingdom, it was released as a CD single, containing the album and instrumental version of the song, and two unreleased material from the album, "Red Light" and "Sweet Lies".[9]

Red Light

Red Light is one of the third tracks on British CD1. The music was not released as a single, but Usher released a music video that can be seen on YouTube.com.

Reception

"Yeah!" was lauded by contemporary critics for its production. Jem Aswad of Entertainment Weekly called it "irresistibly crunked-out", adding, "ensuing track glides smoothly between club-friendly hip-hop soul and ballads."[10] Laura Sinagra Rolling Stone commented that the song "creates sensual panic by combining Usher's jumpy attacks with Jon's sublime, frayed beats."[11] Jon Caramanica of Blender noted that "Yeah!" is the first song to mix "mainstream R&B and menacing Southern crunk."[12] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine the song has brought Usher to a "whole new level of crunk."[13] Andy Kellman of Allmusic described the song a "crunk-meets-R&B foundation" which features an "instantly addictive eight-note keyboard vamp".[14] He added that because it is "absorbing", Ludacris' voice cannot be noticed that much.[14] Matt Cibula of Popmatters characterized the song a "full-fledged club über-crunk salacious" but he added that it fails to be a "club banger".[15] Steve Jones of USA Today referred to "Yeah!" a "club-rattling" song from a combination of "Atlanta's vibrant music scene", Lil Jon's "insistent beats" and Ludacris' "racy rhymes".[16]

Critics complimented Usher for the song. Aswad called it the "grittiest song" Usher had sung for revealing his "newfound maturity".[10] Caramanica said that it is "probably the scariest record — in a good way — he's ever made" and Usher "smartly shares the spotlight."[12] Cibula stated that Usher's "smoove-ass" singing and Ludacris' presence contributes to the success of the single.[15]

"Yeah!" was nominated at the 2005 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, and won the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration award.[17][18] At the 2005 Soul Train Music Awards, "Yeah!" was nominated for best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut.[19]

Commercial acclaim

"Yeah!" charted well on various charts worldwide. The single debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-three on January 13, 2004, prior its physical release.[20] Seven weeks after, it peaked on the chart at number one on March 2, staying there for twelve consecutive weeks.[21][22] "Yeah!" became Usher's fourth number-one single; Lil Jon's first; and second for Ludacris'. The single remained on Hot 100 for forty-five weeks.[22] "Yeah!" became the most-played song in 2004. Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems placed the song on the top for getting 496,805 total plays, above Hoobastank's single "The Reason" with 489,976 spins.[23] The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 11, 2006 for reaching one million shipments.[24] "Yeah!" became the 2004's best-selling single in the United States.[25]

Internationally, "Yeah!" received similar responses, topping many charts. The single reached number 1 in the Australia Singles Top 50, Austria Singles Top 75, Canadian Singles Chart, Denmark Singles Top 40, Dutch Top 40, France Singles Top 100, Germany Singles Top 100, Ireland Singles Top 50, New Zealand Top 40, Norway Singles Top 20, Swiss Singles Top 100, UK Singles Top 75 and World Singles Top 40. Overall, the single charted to different charts worldwide for a year, early in 2004 to early in 2005.[22][26] The single was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 70,000 units.[27] At the 2004 Year Ender charts, "Yeah!" became the twenty-eighth best-selling single in Australia.[28] It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. On the United World Chart 2004 Year Ender, "Yeah!" was the second best-selling single for accumulating 6,257,000 points, behind Maroon 5's single "This Love" which garnered 7,791,000 points.[29] On UWC's Top Achievements chart from 1999 to 2007, it placed as the thirtieth best-selling single.[30]

Music video

File:Usher Yeah.PNG
Usher in the music video of "Yeah!", using blue and green hues for laser beams

Mr. X, formerly Little X, had previously captured videos for Usher's single "U Don't Have to Call" and "U Got It Bad". Mr. X was inspired with the treatment of laser beams after listening to the song.[31] He felt the sound was a laser beam for him, referring to the beat as "distinctive".[31] Usher and Mr. X combined ideas to create a dance video for "Yeah!". The treatment was accompanied of how Usher wanted to be portrayed in the video, particularly showcasing his dance moves.

The music video was filmed in a vacant art gallery in Los Angeles over two days. When the shooting started, Mr. X recalled Michael Jackson's "low-tech" and "laser-flashing" 1979 "Rock With You" video, and used it as a reference.[31] Forty extras were commissioned to dance with Usher, and two ladies to tempt him in different scenes. They went through photo browsing and phone calling, opting for Destiny, a friend of Mr. X, who seduces Usher in the club ala Marilyn Monroe wardrobe to complement the lyrics.[31] Usher's other would-be seductress is portrayed by model Melyssa Ford. Lil Jon acted as an assistant director during the sessions. Usher took charge of his ideas on his wardrobe and choreography, with additional routines, specifically the Rockaway and the thunderclap, which Mr. X learned from Jamaica. The Rockaway influenced Fat Joe and Terror Squad's "Lean Back" video.[31]

Usher's dancing in front of the green and blue laser beams is prominently featured throughout the video. Lil Jon and Ludacris appeared on the video as well.[1] Ludacris protégé Chingy also appears near the end of the video, holding up his chain which shows his name. Sean "Diddy" Combs' former assistant, Farnsworth Bentley, made a cameo at the end of the video as well, when he was in Los Angeles and Mr. X begged him to dance in the video with his violin.

The music video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live at number ten on February 19, 2004.[32] "Yeah!" topped the countdown, and retired on May 3 at number six after appearing on the countdown for fifty days.[33][34] "Yeah!" became one of the most successful music video by Usher, alongside "Confessions Part II", which also remained for fifty days.[32] At the 2005 Soul Train Music Awards, the video was nominated for Michael Jackson Award for best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video.[19]

Track listing

UK CD 1
  1. "Yeah!" (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris) – 4:10
  2. "Red Light" (Smith, Patrick J Que/Smith, Jonathan/Hilson, Keri/McDowell, Robert/Garrett, Sean) – 4:48
  3. "Yeah!" (Reggaeton remix)
UK CD 2
  1. "Yeah!" – 4:10
  2. "Red Light" – 4:48
  3. "Sweet Lies" (Williams, Pharrell/Hugo, Chad) – 4:09
  4. "Yeah!" (Instrumental) – 4:09

Charts

Template:Succession box one to twoTemplate:Succession box two to two
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one single
March 6 2004 		Succeeded by
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
February 28 2004 – May 15 2004 		Succeeded by
"Burn" by Usher
Preceded by RIANZ (New Zealand) number-one single (second run)
April 26 2004 – May 17 2004
Preceded by UK Singles Chart number-one single
March 27 2004 – April 9 2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by RIANZ (New Zealand) number-one single (first run)
April 18 2004 – April 19 2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number-one single of the year
2004 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem (March 31, 2004). "The Road To Confessions: How Usher 'Shook A Million'". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Reid, Shaheem. "Usher: King Me – Part 3". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  3. ^ a b "Usher Lets Skeletons Out Of The Closet On Confessions". MTV News. February 17, 2004. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Usher: Yeah!". Sheet Music Direct. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  5. ^ Ried, Shaheem (May 25, 2004). "'Yeah!' Follow-Up On The Way, Says Lil Jon". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (February 07, 2005). "Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Usher's Confessions". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 07, 2005). "Usher To Share His Confessions In March". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Yeah [US 12"]". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  9. ^ "Yeah [UK CD]". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  10. ^ a b Aswad, Jem (March 26, 2004). "Confessions (2004): Usher". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Sinagra, Laura. "Usher: Confessions". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  12. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon. "Usher: Confessions". Blender. Alpha Media Group Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  13. ^ Sal Cinquemani, Sal (2004). "Usher: Confessions". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  14. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Confessions: Usher". Allmusic. Macrovision Company. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  15. ^ a b Cibula, Matt (April 06, 2004). "Usher: By the Numbers!". Popmatters. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Jones, Steve (March 22, 2004). "'Confessions' time: Usher continues his ascendancy". USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Jeckell, Barry (December 07, 2004). "Kanye West Leads Grammy Nominees". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "47TH GRAMMY AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED". ASCAP. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  19. ^ a b MTV News Staff (February 01, 2005). "For The Record: Quick News On Usher, TLC, Ciara, Beck, Alice In Chains, C-Murder, Beyonce, Cher & More". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". αCharts. January 13, 2004. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". αCharts. March 02, 2004. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ a b c d "Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon - Yeah". αCharts. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  23. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (January 05, 2005). "Usher's 'Yeah!' Was Most Played Song Of 2004". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  25. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100: 2004". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  26. ^ "Usher: Yeah". Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles". ARIA. Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2004". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  29. ^ "United World Chart: Tracks - Countdown 2004". United World Chart. Media Traffic. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  30. ^ "United World Chart: Top Achievements - Track, 1999-2007". United World Chart. Media Traffic. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  31. ^ a b c d e Kaufman, Gil (August 24, 2004). "Usher's 'Yeah!' A Nod To That Other Laser-Filled Video: VMA Lens Recap". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-03-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ a b "TRL Debuts". Popfusion. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  33. ^ "TRL Number Ones". Popfusion. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  34. ^ "TRL Hall of Fame". Popfusion. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  35. ^ "Usher: Billboard Singles Chart". Allmusic. Macrovision Company. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
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