Try Again

"Try Again"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album Romeo Must Die: The Album
Released May 22, 2000
Format CD single, 12"
Recorded 1999
Manhattan Center
(New York City, New York)
Genre Dance-pop, urban
Length 4:49
Label Blackground
Writer(s) Steve Garrett, Timothy Mosley
Producer Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology
"I Don't Wanna"
(2000)		 Try Again"
(2000)		 "Come Back in One Piece"
(2000)

"Try Again" is a Grammy nominated single by American recording artist Aaliyah. The song was written by Static Major and Timothy Mosley, and produced by Timbaland, for the soundtrack of the film Romeo Must Die (2000). It was released on May 22, 2000 as the lead single of the soundtrack. The dance-pop and urban song features an intro in which Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim by rapping the duo's opening verse off "I Know You Got Soul".

Contents

Background and composition

In 2000, Aaliyah landed her first major movie role in Romeo Must Die. A loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Aaliyah starred opposite martial artist Jet Li, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families. It grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office.[1] In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of the film soundtrack, where she contributed four songs.[2] Aaliyah revealed that the production team "actually talked about the soundtrack before we even shot the movie".[3] On February 18, 2000, it was announced that "Try Again" would be released as the lead single of Romeo Must Die: The Album (2000), while an accompanying music video would be directed by Wayne Isham.[4] It was physically released on May 22, 2000.[5] "Try Again" is an urban and dance-pop song written by Steve Garrett and Timothy Mosley, and produced by Timbaland.[6] According to the digital music sheet published at Music Notes, the song is composed in the key of E major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute, while Aaliyah's vocal range spans from G♯3 to G♯4.[6] In the song's intro, Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim by rapping the duo's opening verse off "I Know You Got Soul".[7]

Chart performance

"Try Again" debuted on Billboard Hot 100 on the week of March 18, 2000 at number fifty-eight,[8] reaching number one on the week of June 17, 2000.[8] It also peaked at number one on Radio Songs, number three on Pop Songs and number four on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[8] On the Year-End chart for 2000, the song reached number twelve.[9] In the United Kingdom, "Try Again" debuted at number five on the week of July 22, 2000,[10] while staying in the top seventy-five for twelve weeks.[10] The song reached number eight in Australia,[11] and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling over 75,000 units of the single.[12] It also peaked at number fifty-one on the Year-End chart of the country.[13] "Try Again" was also achieved commercial success in Europe, reaching the top five in Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.[5] In Germany, the song reached number five,[14] and was certified Gold by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).[15]

Music video

The music video was filmed at Hollywood Center Studios in early March 2000. It begins with Jet Li entering a hall of mirrors and Aaliyah stepping in, wearing a revealing low-cut bra and tight low-rise leather pants. Timbaland is also shown. The room is dim with a circle light in the center to resemble the moon shining over the ocean. The making of the video and the video itself was featured on the Romeo Must Die DVD. The video was directed by Wayne Isham, with Fatima Robinson creating the choreography. The "Hall of Mirrors" room was inspired by Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon. The video placed seventh on BET's year-end special Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2000, fifteenth on Channel V's Retro Top 20: 2000, ranks Aaliyah at number 29 on Channel V's Top 40: Ladies Of The 00s & 41st on Channel Max's Top 100 Sexiest Women.

Legacy

"Try Again" was the first song ever to reach number one on Billboard Hot 100 based solely on the strength of its radio airplay.[7] The song was also featured on Billboard's Hot 100 Songs of the Decade list at number ninety-eight,[16] while appearing at number eighty-six on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Best Songs of the Decade.[17] In January 31, 2005, Pitchfork Media ranked the song number thirty-seven on its list of the Top 100 Singles of 2000-04.[18] "Try Again" was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 43rd Grammy Awards,[7] while its music video won two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film.[19] The song was also nominated on the seventh annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in the category of Song of the Year; however, Aaliyah lost to gospel artist Yolanda Adams.[20] In September 2011, VH1 included "Try Again" in their list of 100 Greatest Songs of The 00s, placing it at #65.[21]

Track listings

  1. "Try Again" [Radio Edit] – 4:04
  2. "Try Again" [Timbaland Remix] – 4:59
  3. "Try Again" [D'Jam Hassan Remix] – 5:28
  4. "Try Again" [Instrumental] – 4:43
  1. "Try Again" [Radio Edit] – 4:04
  2. "Try Again" [Instrumental] – 4:43
  3. "Try Again" [Timbaland Remix] – 4:59

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2000–01) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[24] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[25] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[27] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 3
France (SNEP)[29] 26
Germany (Media Control AG)[30] 5
Italy (FIMI)[31] 19
New Zealand (RIANZ)[32] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[33] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 8
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[36] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 1
US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2000) Position
Australian Singles Chart[13] 51
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 12

Certifications

Country Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Australia Platinum[12]
Germany Gold[15]

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by
"Maria Maria" by Santana featuring The Product G&B		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
June 17, 2000		 Succeeded by
"Be with You" by Enrique Iglesias

References

  1. ^ Wolk, Josh (March 26, 2000). "'Romeo' and Julia". Entertainment Weekly. Time. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,85088,00.html. Retrieved May 10, 2009. 
  2. ^ Pareles, Jon (August 27, 2001). "Aaliyah, 22, Singer Who First Hit the Charts at 14". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/27/arts/aaliyah-22-singer-who-first-hit-the-charts-at-14.html. Retrieved May 10, 2009. 
  3. ^ Farley, Christopher John (2001). Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. Simon and Schuster. p. 106. ISBN 9781416552154. 
  4. ^ Basham, David (February 18, 2000). "Aaliyah, DMX, Ginuwine Pitch In For "Romeo" LP". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424656/aaliyah-dmx-ginuwine-pitch-romeo-lp.jhtml. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "Aaliyag - Try Again (song)". Hung Medien. 2000. http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Aaliyah&titel=Try+Again&cat=s. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  6. ^ a b "Aaliyah Try Again – Digital Sheet Music". Music Notes. Universal Music Publishing Group. http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0035322. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  7. ^ a b c d Ramirez, Erika (August 25, 2011). "Aaliyah's Top 10 Billboard Hits". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/column/the-juice/aaliyah-s-top-10-billboard-hits-1005328352.story. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  8. ^ a b c "Try Again - Aaliyah". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/song/aaliyah/try-again/2269466. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  9. ^ a b "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 31, 2000. http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/2000.php. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  10. ^ a b "Chart Stats – Aaliyah – Try Again". UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=28360. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  11. ^ "Pandora Archive". Pandora.nla.gov.au. 2006-08-23. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue566.PDF. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 
  12. ^ a b "ARIA Charts — Accreditations – 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2000.htm. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  13. ^ a b "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2000". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2000.htm. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  14. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/Aaliyah/Try+Again/single. Retrieved August 18, 2011. 
  15. ^ a b AT LEAST ONE OF artist or title MUST BE PROVIDED for GERMAN CERTIFICATION.
  16. ^ "Hot 100 Songs of the Decade". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/hot-100-songs?year=2009&begin=91&order=position. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  17. ^ "100 Best Songs of the Decade". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31248926/100_best_songs_of_the_decade/4. 
  18. ^ Pitchfork Staff (January 31, 2005). "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 100 Singles of 2000-04". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5949-the-top-100-singles-of-2000-04-part-one/7/. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  19. ^ Basham, David (September 21, 2000). "Chili Peppers To Tape Show For Live DVD, Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1433642/chili-peppers-tape-show-live-dvd-video.jhtml. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  20. ^ vanHorn, Teri (August 29, 2001). "Aaliyah's Absence Felt At Lady Of Soul Awards". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448482/aaliyah-missed-at-lady-soul-awards.jhtml. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  21. ^ http://stereogum.com/826992/vh1-100-greatest-songs-of-the-00s/top-stories/lead-story/
  22. ^ (2000) Release notes for Try Again by Aaliyah (CD single liner notes). Blackground Entertainment (VUSCDF167, 7243 8 96835 2 3).
  23. ^ (2000) Release notes for Try Again by Aaliyah (Vinyl liner notes). Hostile Records (7243 8968356 1).
  24. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Aaliyah – Try Again". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  25. ^ "Aaliyah – Try Again – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Aaliyah – Try Again" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  27. ^ "Ultratop.be – Aaliyah – Try Again" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  28. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Aaliyah search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  29. ^ "Lescharts.com – Aaliyah – Try Again" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  30. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  31. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Aaliyah – Try Again". Top Digital Download. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  32. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Aaliyah – Try Again". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  33. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Aaliyah – Try Again". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  34. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Aaliyah – Try Again". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  35. ^ "Aaliyah – Try Again – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  36. ^ "Chart Stats – Aaliyah – Try Again" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
Aaliyah
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Other songs
Filmography
Related topics
  • Book:Aaliyah
  • Category:Aaliyah
  • Portal:R&B and Soul Music
Timbaland
Studio albums
Singles
"Here We Come" · "Lobster & Scrimp" · "Give It to Me" · "The Way I Are" · "Throw It on Me" · "Apologize" · "Scream" · "Morning After Dark"  · "Say Something" · "Carry Out" · "If We Ever Meet Again" · "Talk That" · "Marchin On" · "Pass at Me"
Featured singles
"Hot like Fire" · "Are You That Somebody?" · " Word Up!" · "Ryde or Die, Bitch" · "Try Again" · "Get on the Bus" · "We Need a Resolution" · "Ugly" · "Money Owners" · "Deliverance" · "Ching Ching" · "Cry Me a River" · "Headsprung" · "Are You Feelin' Me?" · "Promiscuous" · "SexyBack" · "Wait a Minute" · "Ice Box" · "Anonymous" · "Ayo Technology" · "Diddy Rock" · "Chop Me Up" · "Elevator" · "4 Minutes" · "Dangerous" · "Return the Favor" · "I Don't Need It" · "Long Gone" · "Scream" · "Krazy" · "Getaway" · "Fascinated"
Tours
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