Caught Up (Usher song)

"Caught Up"
Single by Usher
from the album Confessions
Released November 30, 2004
Format CD, digital download
Recorded 2003
Genre R&B, dance-pop
Length 3:44
Label Arista
Writer(s) Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, Jason Boyd
Producer(s) Dre & Vidal
Usher singles chronology
"Lovers and Friends"
(2004)		 "Caught Up"
(2004)		 "Same Girl"
(2007)

"Caught Up" is a song by American R&B singer Usher. It was written by Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis and Jason Boyd, and produced by Dre & Vidal for Usher's 2004 album Confessions. The song was released as the fifth and final single from the album on November 30, 2004. The single peaked at number eight in the United States, the only single released from Confessions without topping the Billboard Hot 100, and generally below top ten on most charts worldwide. It received positive reviews from contemporary critics.

Background and release

Although Usher "didn't look too far" when starting working on his fourth studio album Confessions and decided to "continue building" with previous producers, he branched out with several musical collaborators.[1] Usher enlisted Philadelphia producers Andre "Dre" Harris and Vidal Davis of Dre & Vidal, along with other musical collaborators. During the sessions, Usher asked them to create a "real up-tempo beat".[1] When they worked on the track, they partied the whole time which Dre considered a "partly record".[1] He recalled, "We had some women, some drinks, some music."[1] After Dre created the beat, they decided to "make sure the mood was inspiring during recording."[1] They went to club to take a break, and played the song in Usher's truck while on the way. Usher felt the collaboration was pleasing, seeing other people responded positively to the song.[1]

"Caught Up" was the fifth and final single from Confessions. It was released in the United States on November 30, 2004 as a 12" single. It was also released in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom on February 21, 2005 and on March 8 in Germany.[2][3][4] The Germany release contains the album version of the song, three of its remixes and the single's music video.[4] The song impacted US contemporary hit radio on January 11, 2005,[5] alongside a remix featuring rapper, Fabolous.[6]

Reception
"Caught Up"
The song was produced by Dre & Vidal, who also wrote the song.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Caught Up" received positive reviews from contemporary critics. Andrew McGregor of BBC called the song "meaty" and "hip-grinding".[7] Jon Caramanica of Blender magazine referred to the song like a "Southern marching band performing late-'80s R&B".[8] He characterized Usher's voice playing like a rhythm instruments.[8] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine complimented Dre and Vidal for producing an old-sounding music without sampling records, calling it "super-tight" alongside "Follow Me", another song from the album.[9] Andy Kellman of Allmusic complimented the song as one of Usher's best moments in the album, together with "Burn".[10] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times called it a "thunderous song" from the album, adding that it gave Usher "a chance to do two of the things he does best: strut and pander".[11]

Chart performance

"Caught Up" did not live up to the chart-topping performances of Confessions' previous four releases. In the United States, the single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number seventy-six.[12] It peaked at number eight for two non-consecutive weeks, fifteen weeks after its release. "Caught Up" was the only single to not top the Hot 100 compared to the album's four previous releases. The single stayed on the Hot 100 for twenty-seven weeks.[12]

Outside the United States, responses from music markets were relatively similar. "Caught Up" debuted and peaked at number nine on the United Kingdom, remaining on the chart for also nine weeks.[12] It reached number ten in the Netherlands, and under top ten on the rest of European countries; much lesser in Finland where it only stayed for one week compared to other charts, remaining for several weeks.[12] In Australia and New Zealand, the single reached number fifteen and twelve respectively.

Usher in the video, performing the song to a large crowd.

Music video

The music video for "Caught Up" was directed by Mr. X, who was behind the laser light treatment of Usher's 2004 video "Yeah!".[13] The video shows Usher and friends riding a car while heading to his live performance. On the way, they fist fight after Usher saves a woman from an antagonist. Usher realizes he is supposed to perform, and finally goes to the venue. The video ends with Usher performing the song in front of a large crowd. The music video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live on January 10, 2005 at number ten. The video remained on the countdown for thirty-four days.[14]

Track listing

Germany CD single[4]
  1. "Caught Up" (Album version) – 3:48
  2. "Caught Up" (Official Remix) (featuring Fabolous) – 4:39
  3. "Caught Up" (Bimbo Jones Remix) – 3:33
  4. "Caught Up" (Delinquent "Whistle Crew" Re-Fix) – 7:55
  5. "Caught Up" (Music Video) – 3:49

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004–05) Peak
position
scope="row"Australia (ARIA)[15] 15
scope="row"Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 48
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 23
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 26
scope="row"Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[19] 90
scope="row"Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 14
scope="row"Germany (Media Control Charts)[21] 26
scope="row"Ireland (IRMA)[22] 17
scope="row"Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 12
scope="row"New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 12
scope="row"Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 22
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 9
scope="row"US Billboard Hot 100[27] 8
scope="row"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 13
scope="row"US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 2

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[30] Gold 35,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Reid, Shaheem (February 7, 2005). "Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Usher's Confessions". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  2. ↑ "Caught Up [UK CD]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Caught Up, Pt. 2 [Holland]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Caught Up, Pt. 1 [Germany CD]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=01/11/2005&Format=1
  6. ↑ "Available for Airplay". FMQB. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ McGregor, Andrew (November 20, 2002). "Usher: Confessions". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Caramanica, Jon (April 2004). "Review: Confessions". Blender (Alpha Media Group): 132.
  9. ↑ Sal Cinquemani, Sal (2004). "Usher: Confessions". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  10. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Confessions: Usher". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  11. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefah (August 23, 2004). "R&B REVIEW; Knowing When to Strut, When to Pander". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 ""Caught Up" Global Positions and Trajectories". αCharts. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  13. ↑ Moss, Corey; Reid, Sway; Reid, Shaheem (February 10, 2005). "Usher To Release Music Videos, Concert Footage On DVD". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  14. ↑ "TRL Debuts". Popfusion. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  15. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Usher – Caught Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  16. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Usher – Caught Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Usher – Caught Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Usher – Caught Up" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  19. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200603 into search.
  20. ↑ "Usher: Caught Up" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  21. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Usher > Caught Up – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  22. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 8, 2005". Irish Singles Chart.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Usher – Caught Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Usher – Caught Up". Top 40 Singles.
  25. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Usher – Caught Up". Swiss Singles Chart.
  26. ↑ "Usher: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart.
  27. ↑ "Usher Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Usher.
  28. ↑ "Usher Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Usher.
  29. ↑ "Usher Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Usher.
  30. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.

External links