Caught out There

Infobox Single
Name = Caught out There


Artist = Kelis
Album = Kaleidoscope
B-side = "Suspended"
Released = 1999 (U.S.)
February 21, 2000 (Europe)
Format = CD single, CD maxi single, 12" maxi single, cassette single
Recorded = 1999; Riff Raff Studios
Genre = R&B
Length = 4:51
Label = Virgin
Writer = Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo
Producer = The Neptunes
Certification =
This single = "Caught out There"
(1999/2000)
Next single = "Good Stuff"
(1999/2000)
Misc = Extra track listing
Album = Kaleidoscope
Type = studio
prev_track = "Good Stuff"
prev_no = 2
this_track = "Caught out There"
track_no = 3
next_track = "Get Along with You"
next_no = 4

"Caught out There" is the lead single from Kelis' debut album, "Kaleidoscope" (1999). The single was a moderate hit in the U.S., where it peaked at number fifty-four; it was a much bigger success in Europe, especially the UK, where it became her first top five hit, peaking at number four.

The song was used on MuchMusic's "Shortest Weddings" special.

ong information

The song is well-rumored to have been based on Kelis' real-life experience with a man. In the song, sung in third person, rather than a direct second-person confrontation, she finds out her man has been unfaithful to her and after explaining that "I break" (she dumps him for his infidelity), she sings, first about all the things she has done for the man (verse one), laments about how unfair the infidelity is (verse two) and finally blows a fuse, complete with gun cock (verse three). At the end of each verse, she sings "because you're caught out there", an urban slang for "being caught with your pants down" (the pun) and/or to be busted for cheating. At the beginning of the chorus, she switches from a light-soul/jazz singing voice of the verses to "belting" her frustration: "I hate you so much right now".

Music video

In the single's music video, directed by Hype Williams, Kelis, in her technicolor spiral afro, blond, gold, orange, red, and fuchsia hair, starts in a "confessionary" style, before opening to the chorus where she rips up the living room. Afterwards, Kelis and a group of fed-up women boycott and picket men. Finally, as she sings "got something for y'all", a gun cock is heard and the video finishes by alluding to her exacting revenge for her former lover's infidelity.

Track listings

;CD single
#"Caught out There" (UK Radio Edit) – 3:36
#"Caught out There" (The Neptunes Extended Mix) – 6:23
#"Suspended" – 4:53
#"Caught out There" (Video)

;Cassette single
#"Caught out There" (UK Radio Edit) – 3:36
#"Caught out There" (The Neptunes Extended Mix) – 6:23
#"Suspended" – 4:53

Charts

{| class="wikitable"!align="center"|Chart (2000)!align="center"|Peak
position
-
align="left"|Norwegian Singles Chart
align="center"|11
-
align="left"|Swedish Singles Chart
align="center"|10
-
align="left"|Swiss Singles Chart
align="center"|35
-
align="left"|UK Singles Chart [cite web |url=http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=28016 |title=Chart Stats – Kelis – Caught Out There |accessdate=2008-07-19 |work=Chart Stats]
align="center"|4
-
align="left"|UK R&B Singles Chart [cite web |url=http://www.mariah-charts.com/chartdata/PKelis.htm |title=Chart Data: Kelis |accessdate=2007-12-30 |work=Mariah-Charts.com]
align="center"|1
-
align="left"|United World Chart [cite web |url=http://www.mediatraffic.de/week10-2000.htm |title=United World Chart – singles & airplay – week 10 / 2000 |accessdate=2007-12-31 |work=Media Traffic]
align="center"|21
-
align="left"|U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100
align="center"|54
-
align="left"|U.S. "Billboard" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
align="center"|9

References