Can't Leave 'em Alone
Encyclopedia
"Can't Leave 'em Alone" is a R&B
song recorded by American
singer Ciara
and rapper 50 Cent
for Ciara's second album, Ciara: The Evolution
(2006). Written by Ciara, LaShawn Daniels
, Rodney Jerkins
, and 50 Cent, it is the fourth release and official third single from the album (see 2007 in music
). It was solicited to Mainstream Urban
radio stations on June 12, 2007 and Rhythmic
stations on July 10, 2007.
The song is a 1980s-inspired mid-tempo ballad
, featuring the 808 drums
. Ciara described it as a "big record", and said that she invited 50 Cent for "some kind of flavor". It was originally titled "Dope Boys".
" was chosen over both songs. Later, "My Love" was confirmed to be the third US single, while "That's Right" would serve as the third internationally, but "Can't Leave 'em Alone", unexpectedly, replaced both songs.
published that it is "a very bad pop-lite song" and "50 Cent playing the role of a sexy dope boy, yuck". Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone
published "Ciara's still prone to diva blandness and silly little pop songs, which drags down the 50 Cent feature "Can't Leave 'em Alone"". Ken Barnes of USA TODAY
called the song "pop-soul confection". Contactmusic.com published "Can't Leave 'em Alone" is a "mouth-watering smouldering smoothed groove" and "why wasn't this the first single?". It has "cross over potential that we see from Nelly & Kelly Rowland
" and "simply another Darkchild classic".
. The song climbed Billboard charts slowly with moderate airplay and digital sales. It peaked forty. It peaked at twenty-four on the Hot 100 Airplay
. It became Ciara's tenth top ten single on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart and peaked in the top twenty of the Rhythmic Top 40. The single was never released to mainstream radio formats and failed to chart on the Pop 100
. Despite its lackluster performance at radio, the single sold well digitally and was eventually certified Gold
.
In international markets, "Can't Leave 'em Alone" debuted at number forty and peaked at four, becoming Ciara's fifth top ten single in New Zealand
. The song failed to chart in the United Kingdom
, reaching a disappointing #115. The single peaked at low positions in China
, Germany
, and Poland
.
. The video was scheduled to premiere on Yahoo! Music
on June 25, but it was changed to July 2, 2007.
The video reached #1 on 106 & Park
.
Itunes digital download EP
Itunes digital download #1
Itunes digital download #2
Itunes digital download #3
Itunes digital download #4
New Zealand CD
Promotional CD
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
song recorded by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
and rapper 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
for Ciara's second album, Ciara: The Evolution
Ciara: The Evolution
Ciara: The Evolution is the second studio album by American recording artist Ciara. It was released on December 5, 2006, by LaFace Records. The album is separated into five sections, with each showcasing a different side of Ciara's artistry...
(2006). Written by Ciara, LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Ameen Daniels is an American songwriter, best known for his work with longtime colleague Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Daniels has written several of the Darkchild Team's hit songs, among them "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy & Monica, "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child, "You...
, Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
, and 50 Cent, it is the fourth release and official third single from the album (see 2007 in music
2007 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
). It was solicited to Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
radio stations on June 12, 2007 and Rhythmic
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
stations on July 10, 2007.
The song is a 1980s-inspired mid-tempo ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, featuring the 808 drums
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
. Ciara described it as a "big record", and said that she invited 50 Cent for "some kind of flavor". It was originally titled "Dope Boys".
Background
"Can't Leave 'em Alone", along with "That's Right", was originally a contender to be the second US and first worldwide single from the album, and a poll was posted on Ciara's MySpace page to have fans help her decide, but the other contender "Like a BoyLike a Boy
"Like a Boy" is a song performed by American singer Ciara for her second album Ciara: The Evolution . Written by Ciara, Candice Nelson, Balewa Muhammad, J. Que, Ezekiel Lewis, and Calvin Kenon, it is the third release in the U.S...
" was chosen over both songs. Later, "My Love" was confirmed to be the third US single, while "That's Right" would serve as the third internationally, but "Can't Leave 'em Alone", unexpectedly, replaced both songs.
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| New Zealand |
Critical reception
"Can't Leave 'em Alone" received mixed reviews from music critics. Matt Cibula of PopMattersPopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
published that it is "a very bad pop-lite song" and "50 Cent playing the role of a sexy dope boy, yuck". Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
published "Ciara's still prone to diva blandness and silly little pop songs, which drags down the 50 Cent feature "Can't Leave 'em Alone"". Ken Barnes of USA TODAY
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
called the song "pop-soul confection". Contactmusic.com published "Can't Leave 'em Alone" is a "mouth-watering smouldering smoothed groove" and "why wasn't this the first single?". It has "cross over potential that we see from Nelly & Kelly Rowland
Dilemma (song)
"Dilemma" is a song by the American rapper Nelly, featuring R&B singer Kelly Rowland. The single was released in 2002 from the Nelly's album Nellyville, and Rowland's album Simply Deep...
" and "simply another Darkchild classic".
Chart performance
"Can't Leave 'em Alone" was a moderate success in the U.S. Six weeks after its official release, "Can't Leave 'em Alone" debuted at ninety on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The song climbed Billboard charts slowly with moderate airplay and digital sales. It peaked forty. It peaked at twenty-four on the Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Airplay
The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard...
. It became Ciara's tenth top ten single on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart and peaked in the top twenty of the Rhythmic Top 40. The single was never released to mainstream radio formats and failed to chart on the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
. Despite its lackluster performance at radio, the single sold well digitally and was eventually certified Gold
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
.
In international markets, "Can't Leave 'em Alone" debuted at number forty and peaked at four, becoming Ciara's fifth top ten single in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The song failed to chart in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, reaching a disappointing #115. The single peaked at low positions in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Music video
The Fat Cats directed video was shot on June 9, 2007 and June 10, 2007 in AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The video was scheduled to premiere on Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
on June 25, but it was changed to July 2, 2007.
The video reached #1 on 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Can't Leave 'Em Alone".Itunes digital download EP
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Main version) – 4:06
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Kookie remix) – 4:08
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Wildboys remix) – 7:11
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Reavers remix) – 3:40
Itunes digital download #1
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" – 4:06
Itunes digital download #2
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Kookie remix) – 4:08
Itunes digital download #3
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Wildboys remix) – 7:11
Itunes digital download #4
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (Reavers remix) – 3:40
New Zealand CD
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone" (featuring 50 Cent) – 3:55
- "Love You Better" – 4:29
Promotional CD
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone (album version)" (featuring 50 Cent) – 4:06
- "Can't Leave 'em Alone (instrumental)" – 4:04
Personnel
- Recorded by: Jeff Villanueva at 2nd Floor Studios, Atlantic City, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
& Joshua Charvokas at Chung King Studios, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... - Engineered by: Gilbert Fuentes
- Mixed by: Phil Tan at Soapbox Studios, Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
- Assisted by: Josh Houghkirk
- All music by: Rodney "Darkchild" JerkinsRodney JerkinsRodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
- Vocals produced by: Ciara Harris, LaShawn Daniels and Rodney Jerkins
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Singles Top 100 | 67 |
| Deutsche Black Charts | 7 |
| FMC Urban Top 50 | 11 |
| Germany Singles Top 100 | 44 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Top 40 | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
109 |
| UK R&B Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
25 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
40 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
10 |