So Sick
Encyclopedia
"So Sick" is an R&B
–pop
song by American
singer-songwriter Ne-Yo
. The track was produced by Norwegian production team Stargate
for Ne-Yo's debut album In My Own Words
.
The song was released as the second single from the album. It was successful on charts worldwide, reaching #1 in the United States and the United Kingdom
. It's also Ne-Yo's biggest hit so far although the single also battled through controversy. It won the race to the UK #1 spot, scoring Ne-Yo his first UK No.1 and beating "Nature's Law
" by Embrace, which only reached #2 due to a large count of legal download sales of "Nature's Law
" that did not register in the official charts.
production team, Stargate
, consisting of Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, in a hallway at Sony Music Studios
on West 54th Street
, New York City
after the duo had settled there in the spring of 2005. After finding out they produced R&B-oriented tracks, among others, they started on writing songs for his debut album In My Own Words
. They produced six songs, including "So Sick".
Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of Stargate composed the music for the song, while Ne-Yo composed the lyric. "So Sick" centers on a character, who is tired of hearing love songs playing on the radio, as they remind him of his last relationship and breakup.
Ne-Yo has said he got the idea for the song from an old girlfriend he used to have. He really did love her but he listened to the advice of his friends and wound up cheating on her. They broke up when she found out but shortly after he started repeatedly hearing a song on the radio that she used to love, which was unusual because the song wasn't new and it hadn't had much airplay until that point. Every time he heard the song he was reminded of how he lost his girlfriend and wanted to turn the radio off but he would always keep listening to it because it also reminded him of how much he loved her and all the good times they shared.
stated that the smooth instrumental of the song makes it stand out and appropriate to listen during mid-winter season. He was pleased with the vocals of Ne-Yo, but noted that "more emotional involvement would have made his performance more memorable", while calling it "restrained". A review from Contactmusic.com
echoed the latter's comment, saying that his vocal rendition is "stunning", while complimenting the production a "melodic masterpiece".
. The video was released in December of 2005, and saw heavy rotation on BET
and MTV
. Two versions of the song's video were shot. The original version of the music video ended up being scrapped for various reasons. The newer version appealed to the current weather conditions of the winter season with the video being filmed in the snowy mountains.
There are currently five remixes of "So Sick":
UK Vinyl:
Side A
Side B
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...
–pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
. The track was produced by Norwegian production team Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
for Ne-Yo's debut album In My Own Words
In My Own Words
- Chart positions :- External links :* at Discogs* at Metacritic* at The Washington Post...
.
The song was released as the second single from the album. It was successful on charts worldwide, reaching #1 in the United States and 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...
. It's also Ne-Yo's biggest hit so far although the single also battled through controversy. It won the race to the UK #1 spot, scoring Ne-Yo his first UK No.1 and beating "Nature's Law
Nature's Law
"Nature's Law" is a song by English band Embrace and is featured on their fifth album, This New Day. It was released 20 March 2006 as the lead single from the album, charting at number two in the UK Singles Chart, the band's highest chart entry to date .-Track listing:7" ISOM103S# "Nature's Law" -...
" by Embrace, which only reached #2 due to a large count of legal download sales of "Nature's Law
Nature's Law
"Nature's Law" is a song by English band Embrace and is featured on their fifth album, This New Day. It was released 20 March 2006 as the lead single from the album, charting at number two in the UK Singles Chart, the band's highest chart entry to date .-Track listing:7" ISOM103S# "Nature's Law" -...
" that did not register in the official charts.
Background
Ne-Yo met NorwegianNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
production team, Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, consisting of Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, in a hallway at Sony Music Studios
Sony Music Studios
Sony Music Studios was a well-known former music recording and mastering facility in New York City. The music and broadcasting complex was located at 460 W. 54th St., at 10th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan...
on West 54th Street
54th Street (Manhattan)
54th Street is a two-mile-long, one-way street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan.-West Side Highway:*The route begins at the West Side Highway . Opposite the intersection is the New York Passenger Ship Terminal and the Hudson River...
, New York City
New York City
New 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...
after the duo had settled there in the spring of 2005. After finding out they produced R&B-oriented tracks, among others, they started on writing songs for his debut album In My Own Words
In My Own Words
- Chart positions :- External links :* at Discogs* at Metacritic* at The Washington Post...
. They produced six songs, including "So Sick".
Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of Stargate composed the music for the song, while Ne-Yo composed the lyric. "So Sick" centers on a character, who is tired of hearing love songs playing on the radio, as they remind him of his last relationship and breakup.
Ne-Yo has said he got the idea for the song from an old girlfriend he used to have. He really did love her but he listened to the advice of his friends and wound up cheating on her. They broke up when she found out but shortly after he started repeatedly hearing a song on the radio that she used to love, which was unusual because the song wasn't new and it hadn't had much airplay until that point. Every time he heard the song he was reminded of how he lost his girlfriend and wanted to turn the radio off but he would always keep listening to it because it also reminded him of how much he loved her and all the good times they shared.
Reception
"So Sick" received generally positive responses from contemporary critics. Bill Lamb of AboutAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
stated that the smooth instrumental of the song makes it stand out and appropriate to listen during mid-winter season. He was pleased with the vocals of Ne-Yo, but noted that "more emotional involvement would have made his performance more memorable", while calling it "restrained". A review from Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com is a Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine. The site was launched in April 2000 by a small team and has now expanded to 12 fulltime staff and many freelance contributors from across the globe...
echoed the latter's comment, saying that his vocal rendition is "stunning", while complimenting the production a "melodic masterpiece".
Music video
The video for "So Sick", directed by Hype WilliamsHype Williams
Harold "Hype" Williams , previously known as HYPE, is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child....
. The video was released in December of 2005, and saw heavy rotation on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Two versions of the song's video were shot. The original version of the music video ended up being scrapped for various reasons. The newer version appealed to the current weather conditions of the winter season with the video being filmed in the snowy mountains.
Covers and remixes
- CanadianCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born singer-songwriter Justin BieberJustin BieberJustin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
covered the song in a home video taken by his mother, which was later posted on his official YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account and became one of the main videos that led to his mainstream discovery.
There are currently five remixes of "So Sick":
- The official remix was produced by TrackmastersTrackmastersThe Trackmasters are the successful production duo of Poke and Tone , sometimes credited as Poke & Tone, best known for their commercial hit records in the late 90s and early 2000s. Throughout their career they have worked with various hip-hop and R&B artists including R...
and features rapper LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
. It also samples Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's song "Human NatureHuman Nature (Michael Jackson song)"Human Nature" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written and composed by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the fifth single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller . Initially, Porcaro had recorded a rough demo of the song on a...
". This remix had been included on LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd SmithTodd SmithTodd Smith is LL Cool J's 11th studio album, released on April 11, 2006 by his label Def Jam Recordings. It includes collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari, Ginuwine, Mary J...
(2006). - The second remix features Jin.
- The third remix features labelmate Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. - The fourth remix, which is sung by Patrick StumpPatrick StumpPatrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
, lead singer of Fall Out BoyFall Out BoyFall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
, has also been known to cover the song. - In 2007, saxophonist Kim Waters covers the song on Track #1 on You Are My Lady.
- A fifth, unofficial cover of the song is featured in the 2008 open-world video game Saint's Row 2. It is sung by one of the principal characters, Pierce Washington, during a car chase.
Formats and track listings
UK CD:- "So Sick" (Album version)
- "Sign Me Up"
UK Vinyl:
Side A
- "So Sick" (Album version)
- "So Sick" (instrumental)
Side B
- "Get Down Like That" (remix)
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peakposition |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2006) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 28 |
| Hungarian Airplay Chart | 37 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 20 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 46 |
| UK Singles Chart | 32 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 17 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs | 3 |
| US Pop 100 | 28 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| Australia | Gold |
| United States | Platinum |
See also
- List of European number-one hits of 2006
- List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2006 (U.S.)