Case of the Ex

"Case of the Ex" is an R&B/Dance Pop song by American singer-songwriter Mýa. The track was produced by Tricky Stewart for Harrison's sophomore studio album Fear of Flying. Case of The Ex was written by Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Traci Hale, and Tab. The lyrics speak about an ex lover who will not go away. It became Harrison's breakthrough hit and generally considered her signature song.

Case of The Ex was released August 28, 2000 in the United States as the second single from Harrison’s sophomore studio album Fear of Flying. The single was a critical and commercial success; it reached number two on Billboard’s Hot 100 and number ten on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single was a commercial success internationally topping the Australian Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks and reaching the Top 10 in United Kingdom and Netherlands. "Case of the Ex" was certified platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association.

Writing & Recording

"Case of the Ex" was a dominant radio hit, featuring its unmistakable, keyboard hook and its unique, lyric theme (about a strong woman who will not tolerate her man returning to his ex-girlfriend).

It was in fall that Stewart co-wrote "Case of the Ex" with Traci Hale and Tab:

"Traci and Tab are two of my writing partners, and we got together to write a song specifically for Mya. We kicked around some subjects which Mya could potentially sing. We wanted to create a lyric theme that would keep her young, yet would show that she was growing up. Then Traci came up with the lyric idea, which was inspired by a relationship she was going through at the time. Traci and Tab wrote most of the lyrics, and I wrote most of the music and played all of the tracks, with Traci singing on the original demo." said Stewart.

The initial demo also featured the compelling, percussive, keyboard hook which became the song's musical trademark. "I followed an old philosophy, which is to try to catch the listener's attention," explained Stewart. "I wanted to make a statement with that hook, creating a special sound that people would react to and remember. It was like a loud, horn blast, which was derived from a sampled sound, and then enhanced with my K-25 keyboard." Soon after completing the demo, Stewart played the song for Mýa, and she immediately loved it. The following day, Mýa recorded her vocals at Stewart's studio for the master version. "Mýa did a great job with her vocals; she truly brought the song to life," said Stewart.^[1]

Reception

NME gave the song a mixed review:

No-good boyfriend anthem number four thousand eighty time, y'all. We've had some choice cuts about guys who think going Dutch means travelling to Holland. About guys who live at home, don't see their kids and still think they have something to offer you in recent times. Bringing up the rear of this manifesto is former 'Ghetto Superstar' vocalist Mýa. Culled from her second album, 'Fear of Flying', 'Case...' is a lot more jovial than, say, Lauryn Hill's 'Ex-Factor' because the ex in question isn't Mýa's man, but her man's ex, who's constantly a-ringing her home and a-bugging her man prompting her to pose the dodgy question: "do you want her back?!" The stuttering arrangement of the original is cool and suits Mýa's brooding mood, but after a while it simply sits in the wind - there's no real build into a bassline leaving the track to run along a continuos pop/r&b vibe. The Sovereign remix is broader in its intent, and was created to appeal to the UK garage contingent, but the more you listen to it, bolstered as it is by a throbbing club bassline and its sheer clutter, you realise that the weight it adds to Mýa's delicate vocals adds real depth to the song. Anyway, we all know what to do when ex-girlfriends re-emerge don't we? Round up your girls and give the wench a beat-down.^[2]

Chart performance

"Case of the Ex" is Mýa's biggest hit in the United States; it debuted at number seventy-two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number two in its 16th week. It spent 3 weeks at number two and 29 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single became Mýa's second non-consecutive top 10 hit (solo) and longest running single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart to date. It stayed in the top ten for 12 weeks and the top forty for 24 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became a top ten hit on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart peaking at number ten and spent 28 consecutive weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. The single became Mýa's third non-consecutive top ten hit and fifth consecutive top forty hit (solo) on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. It reached number one on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart; spending one week at number one.

Internationally the single was successful as well; it reached the top spot in Australia; spending two weeks at number one and was certified platinum by ARIA selling over 70,000 copies. It reached the top ten in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and the top forty in Beligum, Canada, France, Germany, and New Zealand.

Music video

Background and Development

The music video for Case of the Ex was directed by Diane Martel. Harrison worked with legendary choreographer Tina Landon who won an American Choreography Award for Best Hip Hop Music Video for Case of the Ex.

Synopsis

The video opens in a Mad-Maxish desert setting, where a posse of well-muscled girls stands before a group of somewhat nonplussed boys. At first they look like they're going to perform for the boys, like the Spice Girls in "Say You'll Be There" or maybe taunt them a bit, like Janet Jackson and her crew in "You Want This". But there's another story here, having to do with the juxtapositions of the post-apocalyptic environment, the athletic survivor-girls wielding their martial-arts sticks, and the song's lyrics. These last concern Mýa's query to her man, wondering why another girl is calling his phone "after midnight." This caller, says narrator Mýa, is "Saying come over / Cause she's all alone. / I could tell it was your ex / By your tone." At first it might appear that boyfriend's busted, straight up. But it's more complicated than that, especially as you see Mýa and her girls engaged in their own energetic calisthenics, then (apparently) commanding their male admirers to hit the ground and perform push-ups, constructing a kind of reciprocal relationship that, for instance, Christina Aguilera's video for "What A Girls Wants" can not do, in its celebration of the most excellent boyfriend whose job is to be endlessly appreciative of his girlfriend's super-gloriousness (see also, Christina's video for Genie in a Bottle," in which she also dances seductively with a group of girls for a group of boys). Director Diane Martel has done her share of conventionally alluring Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera videos, but here the terms are shifted. Mýa and her girls — in moves recalling Janet's — don't pretend to be charming or enticing. Instead, they present themselves as young women with demands and desires, proudly hard-bodied and self-possessed. Mýa can rock the midriff tops like any other pop star, but as always, she remains slightly offbeat, neither apologetic nor solicitous. Sexy and self-assured without being coy, she knows who she is and what she wants, and she says it out right: "What'cha gonna do / When you can't say no / And your feelings start to show? / Boy I really need to know / And how you gonna act?" In Mýa's world, it's not the girl who turns emotional and unsure of herself when a question of integrity arises, but the more fragile, less stable boy. She warns, "There's no need to / Reminisce about the past, / Obviously, cause that shit did not last." The video's imagery underlines her admonition, as the camera shoots up at her looking unafraid and austere, backed by her crew as the dust flies from their work-out: "She don't know me. / She's about to know me. / I'm in your life. / That's how its gon' be." And if you want to mess around, you're free to choose, but it will cost: "If you want her back / You can take her back. / Cause game recognize game. / I could do the same thing." And she does. At video's end, Mýa and her dancers exit, leaving their audience dusty and on their own.^[3]

Tracklisting

U.S. CD single

1. "Case of the Ex" (radio edit)
2. "Case of the Ex" (album version)
3. "Case of the Ex" (instrumental)

European maxi single

1. "Case of the Ex" (radio edit)
2. "Case of the Ex" (2-step mix)
3. "Take Me There"
4. "Ghetto Superstar"

UK CD single

1. "Case of the Ex" (radio edit)
2. "Case of the Ex" (Sovereign remix)
3. "Case of the Ex" (main version)
4. "Case of the Ex" (video)

Charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Personnel

• Produced by: Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
• Music by: Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
• Lyrics by: Traci Hale, Tab, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
• Keyboards and programming by: Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
• Recording engineer: Brian "B-Luv" Thomas
• Mix engineer: Kevin "KD" Davis

References