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"I Care 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, the song was originally recorded for Aaliyah's second studio album One in a Million (1996), but the recording was shelved. It was re-recorded in 2000 for Aaliyah (2001). A neo soul ballad, "I Care 4 U" features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals.

Following Aaliyah's death on August 25, 2001, "I Care 4 U" received heavy airplay in the United States despite not having been released as a single. It peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was then included on Aaliyah's posthumous compilation album of the same name and was released as its third single on April 8, 2003.

Writing and recording

"I Care 4 U" was written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and was produced by the latter. Aaliyah originally recorded the song for her second studio album One in a Million (1996), but it was completed after the album had finished post-production, and she chose to save it for her next album. She felt that it was "just one of those timeless songs. I also love the fact that it's a female saying:`Don't cry, I'll wipe your tears. I love you, just give me the chance to show you.' " In 2000, the song was re-recorded for Aaliyah at Magic Mix Studios and Music Grinder Studios in Los Angeles.

Music and lyrics

Musically, "I Care 4 U" is a neo soul ballad which has been compared to the work of singer Angie Stone. Graham Smith from musicOMH described "I Care 4 U" as a soft, romantic R&B ballad. The song includes an initially-uncredited sample of "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye" by The Newcomers. It features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals. Michael Odell from The Guardian called the song "the sort of 1970s style ballad that Aaliyah's aunt, Gladys Knight, would approve of – but again it's stripped down and rebuilt with layers of haunting keyboard and lo-tech vocal percussion". According to Musicnotes, it is composed in the key of C♯ minor and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 52 beats per minute, while Aaliyah's vocal range spans from F♯₃ to C♯₅.

Bob Waliszewski from Plugged In (publication), said the song "offers support to a guy stinging from a breakup". The Philippine Daily Inquirer had a similar interpretation in their analyses saying, "It talks about a girl trying to comfort a broken-hearted man, convincing him that she can make that man feel he's special and loved".

Release

Despite receiving heavy airplay in 2002, "I Care 4 U" was never officially serviced to radio stations in the United States. However, it was released as a double A-side single with "Don't Worry" on April 8, 2003, as the second US single from I Care 4 U, by Blackground Records and Universal Records.

In August 2021, it was reported that Aaliyah's recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital, and, for the first time ever, streaming services in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution. Aaliyah, including "I Care 4 U", was re-released on September 10.

Critical reception

Daryl Easlea from BBC praised Aaliyah's vocal performance, saying the song "would be a conventional ballad on a more obvious soul star's album. It's what Aaliyah doesn't do that make it still sound stunning – it would have been so easy to over-ladle the emoting here". Ross Scarano from Complex praised the production of "I Care 4 U", comparing it to the work of Angie Stone. He stated: "If it weren't from some low-in-the-mix beatboxing and complicated drum programming, "I Care 4 U" wouldn't register as a Timbaland production. The electric piano and extremely earnest multi-tracked vocals give off the sheen of neo-soul; this is Aaliyah doing Angie Stone". Michael Odell from The Guardian praised the song and compared it to the work of Gladys Knight.

MTV.com said "I Care 4 U", is "a slice of old-school R&B; that displays Aaliyah's sultry, fragile vocals to good advantage". Russell Baillie from The New Zealand Herald described the song as "soul-sass" and felt that "Aaliyah's voice weaves through the sparse but punchy arrangements with a mix of sultriness". Luke McManus from the Irish publication RTÉ felt that Aaliyah showcased her voice more on the song and that her newfound vocal ability matched the "brilliance of the backing tracks". In a retrospective review, Billboard, felt that "I Care 4 U" was different from other songs that had released, yet Aaliyah "demonstrates the ease with which she can slip into a neo-soul ballad – with just enough production eccentricities to establish that Timb is indeed behind the boards".

Commercial performance

In the United States, "I Care 4 U" debuted at number 75 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs due to heavy airplay on June 1, 2002, despite not having been released as a single yet. It peaked at number three on the chart dated September 28, spending a total of 44 weeks charting. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 16 on October 26; it spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. "I Care 4 U" also charted for 20 weeks on the Radio Songs chart, peaking at number 15. Along with "Rock the Boat" and "More Than a Woman", the song helped give Aaliyah a strong presence on the radio following her August 25, 2001 death. After the 2021 rerelease of I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah, "I Care 4 U" debuted and peaked at number 11 on the US R&B Digital Song Saleschart.

Track listing

US 12-inch vinyl

1. "I Care 4 U" (album version) – 4:34
2. "Don't Worry" – 3:55

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Aaliyah.

• Aaliyah – vocals
• Tank - backing vocals
• Homer Banks – writing
• Jimmy Douglass – engineering, mixing
• Missy Elliott – writing
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• Carl Hampton – writing
• Timbaland – production, writing

Charts

Release history

Notes

1. "I Care 4 U" was originally recorded for Aaliyah's second studio album One in a Million in 1996 but was not included on the album. It was re-recorded for Aaliyah in 2000.
2. ^ "I Care 4 U" contains a sample from "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye" by The Newcomers. Homer Banks and Carl Hampton, who wrote "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye", were uncredited prior to the 2021 reissue of Aaliyah.

References

1. ^ Hall, Rashaun (July 11, 2001). "Blackground Readying Aaliyah's Return". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 29. New York. pp. 16, 18. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
2. ^ Aaliyah (2021). Aaliyah (CD liner notes). Blackground Records, Empire Distribution. ERE673.
3. ^ "The 25 Best Aaliyah Songs". Complex. May 19, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
4. Alexander, Brenda (July 12, 2021). "Aaliyah's 'I Care 4 U' Was Recorded for an Earlier Project". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
5. Smith, Graham. "Aaliyah - I Care 4 U (Independiente)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
6. "Aaliyah I Care 4 U". Spotify. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
7. ^ Odell, Michael (July 12, 2001). "Sex on the menu". The Guardian. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
8. "Aaliyah – I Care 4 U – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
9. "Aaliyah-Aaliyah". Plugged In (publication). Retrieved December 30, 2018.
10. Papa, Emmnauel V. (October 17, 2001). "A Warrior and a princess". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
11. "I Care 4 U/Don't Worry". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
12. ^ I Care 4 U (Media notes). Aaliyah. Blackground Records. Universal Music Distribution. 2003. B0000241-11. Retrieved December 27, 2012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. ^ Strong 2004, p. 4
14. McIntyre, Hugh (August 5, 2021). "20 Years After Her Passing, Aaliyah's Music Is Finally Coming To Streaming Services". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
15. Legaspi, Althea (September 10, 2021). "Stream Aaliyah's Self-Titled Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
16. "Review of Aaliyah". BBC. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
17. "Aaliyah (Blackground Enterprises)". MTV. Archived from the original on October 15, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
18. "Aaliyah: Aaliyah". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
19. "Aaliyah - Aaliyah". RTÉ. August 2, 2001. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
20. "Aaliyah's 20 Best Songs: Staff List". Billboard. August 25, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
21. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. June 1, 2002. p. 43. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
22. "Aaliyah". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
23. "Hot 100". Billboard. New York. October 16, 2012. p. 71. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
24. ^ "I Care 4 U - Aaliyah". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
25. "Picks and Pans Review: I Care 4 U". People. 58 (26). December 23, 2002. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
26. "R&B Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. October 20, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
27. "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
28. "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
29. "R&B Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. October 20, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
30. "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 2002 Year End Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
31. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
32. Aaliyah (2003). I Care 4 U/Don't Worry (12-inch single). United States: Blackground Records, Universal Records. B0000241-11.

Bibliography

• Strong, Martin C. (November 30, 2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate Books. ISBN 1841956155 – via Google Books.

External links

• Official website Archived 2020-10-03 at the Wayback Machine

• 2001 songs
• 2002 songs
• 2003 singles
• Aaliyah songs
• Contemporary R&B ballads
• Soul ballads
• Song recordings produced by Timbaland
• Songs written by Missy Elliott
• Songs written by Timbaland
• 2000s ballads
• Neo soul songs