Tru Love (song)

"Tru Love"
Single by Faith Evans
from the album The First Lady
Released October 25, 2005
Genre R&B
Length 3:41
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Johnta Austin, Bryan Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Faith Evans
Producer(s) Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox
Faith Evans singles chronology
"Mesmerized"
(2005)		 "Tru Love"
(2005)		 "Got 2 Be Down"
(2007)

"Tru Love" is a song by American recording artist Faith Evans. It was written by Johnta Austin, Evans, Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri for her fourth studio album The First Lady (2005), while its production was handled by the latter two. The contemporary R&B ballad was released as the album's third and final single in October 2005 and reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Background

"Tru Love" was penned by Evans along with singer Johnta Austin and producers Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri.[1] Phil Tan and Dupri mixed the track, while Brad Todd handled the recording of "Tru Love".[1] Built along a harp, the song is a contemporary R&B ballad reminiscent of other Cox/Dupri collaborations at that time, including Usher’s "Burn," which was released a year prior.[2]

Critical reception

The song garnered a generally mixed to positive reception from music critics. MusicOMH's Sam Shepherd stated that "Tru Love" was "an understated love song, and it allows Evans to show off an impeccable timing in her delivery." He however felt that "sadly there is little weight or edge to the song and it fails to impress."[3] Yahoo! Music writer Justin Lewis noted that the song reflected The First Lady‍ '​s "true nature and sound of the record" and while he remarked, it sounded "like the last 133 ballads JD's produced for other artists," he found it "still has a hint of something different to make it unique. The overall structure of the song from the smooth melody to the endearing lyrics to Faith's pitch-perfect and controlled vocal performance make is definitely more understated and therefore, more beautiful."[4] Michael Benning from Blogcritics ranked "Tru Love" among those tracks which showed "off [Evan's] ability to drive slower numbers with sultry relaxed vocals."[5] On the other hand, Raymond Fiore from Entertainment Weekly found that the album was "blemished by a few toothless slow jams" such as "Tru Love" and album cut "Ever Wonder."[6]

Formats and tracklistings

Promo 12" single[7]
  1. "Tru Love" (Album Version) – 3:41
  2. "Tru Love" (Instrumental) – 3:41
  3. "Tru Love" (A Cappella) – 3:41
  4. "Mesmerized" (Desert Storm Remix Radio Edit, featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:56
  5. "Mesmerized" (Desert Storm Remix Instrumental) – 3:56
  6. "Mesmerized" (Desert Storm Remix A Cappella, featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:56
Promo CD single[8]
  1. "Tru Love" (Radio Version) – 3:41
  2. "Tru Love" (Instrumental) – 3:41
  3. "Tru Love" (A Cappella) – 3:41

Credits and personnel

  • Faith Evans – vocals
  • Jermaine Durpi – production, mixing
  • Todd Russaw – executive producer
  • Andrew Shack – executive producer
  • Phil Tan – mixing
  • Brad Todd – recording

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[9] 10
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] 27

Year-end charts

Chart (2006) Position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[9] 22

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The First Lady (Media notes). Faith Evans. Capitol Records. 2005.
  2. ↑ "Top 10: Favorite Faith Evans Songs (Guest Editor)". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  3. ↑ Shepherd, Sam (2005-05-16). "Faith Evans - The First Lady". musicOMH. MusicOMH.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  4. ↑ Lewis, Justin (2006-09-06). "Faith Evans - The First Lady". Yahoo! Music. Voices.Yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  5. ↑ Benning, Michael (2005-04-22). "Faith Evans - The First Lady". Blogcritics. Technorati, Inc. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  6. ↑ Fiore, Raymond (2005-04-08). "The First Lady Review". Entertainment Weekly (EW.com): 63. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  7. ↑ "Faith Evans – Tru Love / Mesmerized (Desert Storm Remix)". Discogs. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  8. ↑ "Faith Evans – Tru Love (CD, Maxi-Single, Promo)". Discogs. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Faith Evans Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult R&B Songs for Faith Evans. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Faith Evans Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Faith Evans. Retrieved 2012-07-13.

External links