Who Is She 2 U

Infobox Single
Name = Who Is She 2 U
Artist = Brandy


from Album = Afrodisiac
Format = CD single, maxi single, 12" single, digital single
Released = August 2004
(North America)
March 27, 2005
(Australia, Eurasia)
Recorded = 2003, Criteria Hit Factory, Miami, Florida
Genre = R&B, pop
Length = 4:43 (album version)
3:46 (radio edit)
Label = Atlantic
Writer = Walter Millsap III, Candice Nelson, Timothy Mosley, Jacqueline Hilliard, Leon Ware
Producer = Timbaland; Walter Millsap III (co-producer)
Last single = "Talk About Our Love"
(2004)
This single = "Who Is She 2 U"
(2004)
Next single = "Afrodisiac"
(2004)

"Who Is She 2 U" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy. It was written by Walter Millsap III, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and Candice Nelson for the singer's fourth studio album, "Afrodisiac" (2004), and co-produced by Timbaland and Millsap. The song contains a sample from Jacqueline Hilliard's 1968 song "Instant Love", written by Hilliard and Leon Ware.

Released as the album's second and final single in North America in August 2004 (see 2004 in music), the song became one of Brandy's commercially least successful singles, never making it out of the lower half of the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100. "Who Is She 2 U" served as the album's third single in Australia and Eurasia in March 2005 (see 2005 in music) where it saw similar success.

Writing and recording

"Who Is She 2 U" was one of the first songs on the "Afrodisiac" album Brandy worked on with producer Timbaland, following her break-up with producer Robert "Big Bert" Smith in fall 2002. Described as "a caught-in-the-act tale set to throwback soul" by "Newsday", [cite web|author=Glenn Gamboa|title="The Cure finds one in its comeback CD"|work=Newsday| url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etdrops3870138jun29,0,2377938.column|accessdate=2008-04-26] the record incorporates a sample of the 1968 song "Instant Love," written by Jacqueline Hilliard and Leon Ware.

Lyrically, the song's protagonist describes a confrontation with her cheating boyfriend, who "tries to two-time, three-time and even four-time his way into multiple relationships." In an interview with "MTV News", Brandy revealed that semi-biographical "Who Is She 2 U" was basically written for her female audience: "It's a song I'm sure so many females have experienced. And I've definitely experienced this before, just like, 'Who's that? Let me know what's going on!'" [cite web|author=Jennifer Vineyard|title="Brandy Scopes Out A Cheater"|date=2004-08-06|work=VH1.com |url=http://origin.www.vh1.com/artists/news/1490001/08052004/brandy.jhtml|accessdate=2007-01-19 ] She also termed the song "reminiscent of a vintage Mary J. Blige. I was expressing my innermost feelings about life, love and relationships. It was me at my most raw [...] He [Timbaland] really encouraged me to do my best."cite web|title="Brandy's Biography"|work=SoulTracks|url=http://www.soultracks.com/brandy.htm|accessdate=2008-04-21]

In late October 2003, an early version of the song was presented alongside album cut "Finally" onto the "Brandy Special Music Project" on ratethemusic.com, a website that asks people's opinions on new tracks from various artists. The leaked version has featured a different vocal production and ending from the one on "Afrodisiac"; the final edit of the song was first played during an interview with Funkmaster Flex on "Hot 97". Singer Usher, who was originally expected to appear on the album at one time or another, re-recorded the song for mixtapes a few weeks before the single's release in the United States, replacing parts of Brandy's vocals for the male's point of view. However, the unofficial duet version of "Who Is She 2 U" became even more popular than the album version or its official remix with rapper Fabolous.

Chart performance

First released in the United States, "Who Is She 2 U" debuted at number 85 on the national "Billboard" Hot 100 chart in the week of August 28, 2004, the fifth-highest debut of the week. [Cite web|title=The Billboard Hot 100 (2004-08-28)|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Aug-28-2004&f=The_Billboard_Hot_100&model.chartId=3055081|work=Billboard|accessdate=2008-07-29] The single remained another three weeks on the chart, but as it failed to climb any higher during its run, the song eventually became Brandy's lowest-charting, video-accompanied single on the "Billboard" Hot 100 to date. Just as predecessor, "Talk About Our Love," the track was more successful on "Billboard"'s component charts: "Who Is She 2 U" reached number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart and number 31 on the Hot Singles Sales chart, as well as the top 50 of the on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The remix single once again peaked at number two on the Hot Dance Singles Sales. Outside North America, the single reached number 50 on the official UK Singles Chart and number 99 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, both positions also being Brandy's lowest-charting peaks on those particular charts yet. However, "Who Is She 2 U" managed to reach number 7 on the German Black Chart at least.

Music video

The music video for "Who Is She 2 U" was directed by Jake Nava, and was filmed in various locations throughout Los Angeles, California in July 2004. Choreographed by Laurie Ann Gibson, the video harks back on authentic street sensibility, showing Brandy from a very ordinary side in normal neighborhood settings, all away from high-class lifestyle and designer clothes: "I wanted to be fashion-forward, so we're going to give the girl a little fashion," she said. "It's going to be young and fun and sexy, but not over the top — still down to earth."

In the video Brandy plays an all-seeing, all-knowing narrator, who gives the central male character pause with her wicked glances that let him know she's watching his every move. The pursuit starts with the singer performing the first lines of her song in the back of a cruising bus, while observing her boarding man next to a female, both discussing vehemently with each other. She's constantly moving and dancing, before the scene shifts to a scaffolding in front of a fenced building, where she performs the chorus in dusty backgrounds. The next scene shows her standing under a traffic light at a plied crossing, wearing a grey outfit and big glasses, wherefrom she enters a near barber shop and performs afresh in a hairdresser chair. At the same time the camera shows her man flirting with two girls. The video ends with a backflash on all locations Brandy was seen at, also catching the daytime in front of the sinking sun.

Fabolous and Timbaland were originally expected to sign on to shoot additional scenes for a remixed version of the clip; however, plans weren't put into practice. "Who Is She 2 U" worldpremiered at the end of BET's "Access Granted" on August 24, 2004.

Formats and tracklistings

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Who Is She 2 U".

International CD Single

# "Who Is She 2 U" (Radio Edit)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Josh Harris Old School Edit)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Davidson Ospina Edit)

U.S. CD Single

# "Who Is She 2 U" (Radio Edit)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Josh Harris Old School Edit)

Unreleased Remixes

# "Who Is She 2 U" (Remix, featuring Fabolous)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Featuring Usher)

Vinyl single

# "Who Is She 2 U" (Hani Club Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Josh Harris Old School Club Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (FTL Club Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (E-Smoove Bump Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Johnny Budz Club Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Hani Dub)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Sugar Dip Solo Dub)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (FTL Dub Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Josh Harris Alternative Mix)
# "Who Is She 2 U" (Pull's Passionate Mix)

Credits and personnel

*Lead vocals: Brandy Norwood
*Audio mixing: Timbaland, Jimmy Douglass
*Engineers: Jimmy Douglass, Blake English
*Assistant engineers: Demacio Castellon, Jeremal Hicks, Halsey Quemere
*Keyboard: Parris Bowens
*Percussion: George McCurdy
*Bass: Thaddaeus Tribbett
*Conductor: Larry Gold
*Vocal producer: Brandy Norwood
*Recorded at Criteria Hit Factory in Miami, Florida, and Amerycan Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California

Charts

References

External links

* [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-286452---Brandy Brandy music videos] — watch "Who Is She 2 U" at LAUNCHcast

Brandy