Caught Up (Usher song)

Infobox Single
Name = Caught Up


Artist = Usher
from Album = Confessions
Released = November 30, 2004 (United States)
February 21, 2005 (Holland, United Kingdom)
March 8, 2005 (Germany)
Format = CD single
Recorded = 2004
Genre = R&B, Pop
Length = 3:44
Label = Arista
Writer = Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, Jason Boyd
Producer = Dre & Vidal
Last single = "My Boo"
(2004)
This single = "Caught Up"
(2004)
Next single = "Same Girl"
(2007)

"Caught Up" is an R&B song by American singer Usher. The song was written by Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis and Jason Boyd, and was produced by Dre & Vidal for Usher's 2004 album "Confessions".

The song was released as the fifth and final single from the album. 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 composition

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.Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Usher's Confessions |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496656/20050207/usher.jhtml |work=MTV News |date=February 7, 2005 |accessdate=2008-02-29] 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". When they worked on the track, they partied the whole time which Dre considered a "partly record". He recalled, "We had some women, some drinks, some music." After Dre created the beat, they decided to "make sure the mood was inspiring during recording." 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.

"Caught Up" is an upbeat R&B song. The lyrics are constructed in the traditional verse-chorus form.

Release and reception

"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.Cite web |title=Caught Up [US 12"] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=singles&pid=36758&aid=662049 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |accessdate=2008-03-03] It was also released in Holland and the United Kingdom on February 21, 2005 and on March 8 in Germany. The Germany release contains the album version of the song, three of its remixes and the single's music video. [Cite web |title=Caught Up, Pt. 1 [Germany CD] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp?tp=singles&pid=36758&aid=672262 |work=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |accessdate=2008-03-03]

"Caught Up" received positive reviews from contemporary critics. Andrew McGregor of BBC called the song "meaty" and "hip-grinding". [Cite web |last=McGregor |first=Andrew |title=Usher: Confessions |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/gnhj/ |publisher=BBC |date=November 20, 2002 |accessdate=2008-03-02] Jon Caramanica of "Blender" magazine referred to the song like a "Southern marching band performing late-'80s R&B".Cite web |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |title=Usher: Confessions |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1993 |work=Blender |publisher=Alpha Media Group Inc |accessdate=2008-03-02] He characterized Usher's voice playing like a rhythm instruments. 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. [Cite web |last=Sal Cinquemani |first=Sal |title=Usher: Confessions |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=431 |publisher=Slant Magazine |date=2004 |accessdate=2008-03-02] Andy Kellman of Allmusic complimented the song as one of Usher's best moments in the album, together with "Burn". [Cite web |last=Kellman |first=Andy |title=Confessions: Usher |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:anfoxqlald6e |work=Allmusic |publisher=Macrovision Company |accessdate=2008-03-03] 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". [Cite web |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefah |title= R&B REVIEW; Knowing When to Strut, When to Pander |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E5D7173EF930A1575BC0A9629C8B63&scp=4&sq=confessions+by+usher&st=nyt |work=The New York Times |date=August 23, 2004 |accessdate=2008-03-16]

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.Cite web |title="Caught Up" Global Positions and Trajectories |url=http://acharts.us/song/656 |publisher=αCharts |accessdate=2008-03-03] 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.

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. 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. In Australia and New Zealand, the single reached number fifteen and twelve respectively. In the aggregate tally of the United World Chart, "Caught Up" reached number six, becoming its highest position.

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!". 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. [Cite web |title=TRL Debuts |url=http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/db.html |publisher=Popfusion |accessdate=2008-03-03]

Track listing

;Germany CD single
#"Caught Up" (Album version) – 3:48
#"Caught Up" (Remix) (Feat. Fabolous) – 4:39
#"Caught Up" (Bimbo Jones Remix) – 3:33
#"Caught Up" (Delinquent "Whistle Crew" Re-Fix) – 7:55
#"Caught Up" video

Chart

References