Too Little Too Late
Encyclopedia
"Too Little Too Late" is a song written by Billy Steinberg
, Josh Alexander, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham
for JoJo's second studio album The High Road
. It was co-produced by Alexander, Vincent Herbert, and Billy Steinberg. "Too Little Too Late" was released as the album's first single
in North America on August 15, 2006 and in the UK on January 15, 2007. "Too Little Too Late" broke the record for the biggest jump into the top three on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, moving from number sixty-six to number three in one week; this record was previously held by Mariah Carey
, whose single "Loverboy
" rose from number sixty to number two in August 2001. However, the record was ultimately broken by Kelly Clarkson
's "My Life Would Suck Without You
", which jumped from number ninety-seven to number one on the issue dated February 7, 2009. It remains JoJo's biggest hit single in the US to date, and her only one to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
Executive VP of A&R Bruce Carbon, who placed a publishers ad in a trade journal saying that JoJo was looking for songs to be on her latest album. Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander sent their demo (sung by co-writer Ruth-Anne Cunningham) to Bruce's office in New York City
, who then arranged a meeting between Josh, Billy, and Vincent Herbert at Blackground Records
. Herbert agreed to co-produce it with Billy and Josh in September 2005.
Lyrically, the song is about disappointment and getting over your first love, according to JoJo. Radio Disney
played this song on their station but had to edit one short part of the song from "Come with me, stay the night" to "Come with me, stay awhile".
In late October 2007, Daniel Rossen
of Grizzly Bear
recorded a version of the song in honor of bandmate Ed Droste
's twenty-ninth birthday.
The company Wavegroup did a cover of the song for the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore
.
broadcast. She has also performed it on TRL
, The Today Show, The Tonight Show
, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
, The View, CD USA
, The Megan Mullally Show
, Live with Regis and Kelly
, Sessions@AOL
, and Music Choice
.
The single was released to iTunes
on September 12, 2006. Numerous mixes have been produced since the track's release in July 2006. Notable mentions are Full Phat, Josh Harris, and Raul Rincon. A remix of this song is featured on the dance video game Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
. A Spanish
version of the song was released on select non-US editions of The High Road.
praised the track calling it "One of the best byproducts of TV talent shows like American Idol", and "She could sing then, and she's just getting better with age as amply demonstrated on 'Too Little Too Late'." Matt Collar of Allmusic also gave the song a positive review, saying "Jojo is an assured and likeable performer who can somehow embody the yin-yang persona of a suburban cheerleader slinging hip-hop attitude, as she does in the video for the ridiculously overwrought and utterly addictive lead-off single, 'Too Little Too Late'."
Alex Macpherson from The Guardian
gave the song a positive review, saying "JoJo is, however, at her best when compulsively dissecting emotional situations straight out of high-school movies via the medium of big, heartfelt choruses: the wonderfully weepy pinnacle comes with the bleak resignation of 'Too Little Too Late'." Evan Sawdey from PopMatters
gave the song a mixed review, while the album as a whole got a negative one. "Certainly, the lead single 'Too Little Too Late' is appropriately melodramatic, covering the exact same ground that 'Leave (Get Out)' covered but without the angry chorus (if it ain't broke ...). It's something that Alanis Morrissette might have recorded for her last I'm-no-longer-angry-and-therefore-am-content-with-plain-ballads album. As repackaged as it is, it actually has something that the rest of the album is sorely lacking: personality."
the week of August 19, 2006, topping the chart the week after. The following week, it jumped to the Billboard Hot 100
at number ninety. By its fifth week, "Too Little Too Late" moved from number sixty-six to number three, making it one of the biggest jumps in Billboard history, especially for a top three entry. It is her first, and so far, only single to make it to the top ten and the top three of the Hot 100 chart. The single has sold 821,000 digital downloads as of March 2007.
In the UK, the single entered the UK Singles Chart
at number twenty-two based on downloads alone two weeks before its physical CD release. This is because from 2007, the UK has changed charting rules and downloaded singles can enter the UK Singles Chart at any time. When the song was released to physical CD, it went up the chart to number four, its peak position. This made it JoJo's second top five and third top ten single in the UK. The song also reached number one on the UK iTunes Top 100 Songs on January 10. With "Too Little Too Late" having spent six weeks in the top ten, and eleven weeks in the top forty, it has been named her most successful single in the UK, although "Leave (Get Out)" peaked at number two. The song also managed to stay in the top seventy-five until late April.
for HSI Productions represented by Robin Frank Management. It was filmed between May 19 and 23. Originally, a contest sponsored by JoJo's label and street team
would've allowed a fan onto the set of the video to interview her personally on May 19 in Los Angeles but was cancelled at the last minute. JoJo gave fans a sneak peek of the video on June 3 in a short behind the scenes segment on CD USA
.
On June 11, pictures from the set of the first scenes from the video leaked onto Wireimage.com.Robin Williams
and his daughter Zelda Williams
appeared in the photos and in footage featured in the "Lights, Camera, Action (Behind the Scenes of the Video Shoot)" section on the Target
exclusive The High Road bonus DVD. The full video can be accessed in "Visual Imagery (JoJo Videos)" on the DVD. The world premiere of "Too Little Too Late" was on July 17 on AOL
Music's First View.
The video was given a soccer theme because it was shot during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. On her MySpace
, JoJo said she wanted to use the video to expose soccer to an audience who may be unfamiliar with the sport. UCLA Bruins
men's team players Sean Alvarado
, Greg Folk, Maxwell Griffin
, Damon James, James Jaramillo, Jason Leopoldo, Edwige Ligonde, Mikey Meschures, Kyle Nakazawa
, Eric Reed
, Sal Zizzo
, and former goalkeeper Eric Conner were involved in the video shoot. Initially, everyone was told by their coaches that they were needed for a Lindsay Lohan
project. Lead male actor Mike Zaher
(who was 20 when the video was shot) commented that he would've earned over $8,000 for the three day shoot, but due to NCAA
regulations, him and his teammates' status as non-professional athletes prohibited them from accepting any charges for their work in order to stay eligible for the next season. Shooting took place on location at East Los Angeles College
's Weingart Stadium
for the soccer game scenes as well as at Universal Studios' Universal CityWalk
and a house off Interstate 10.
, after she spots him at a frat party flirting
with another girl, with a drink in his hand. In the dramatic opening scene, JoJo is very upset. The couple talk and David finally invites JoJo to an important soccer game for his team. As the video progresses, JoJo sings next to the window in her room. She walks around the room looking at photos, reminiscing about the time they spent together and how generally ungrateful he was. These shots are intercut with David playing at the important soccer game. In the video's finale, rain begins to pour on the game. We see JoJo taking down photographs of the couple and picking up a stuffed animal that David had bought her in happier times. She takes it outside and throws it in the garbage can. It is raining, proving that this is the same moment as the game and she has chosen not to attend. David's team is down one goal with 2:14 seconds remaining in the second half. As he makes the shot for the home team, JoJo sings in the rain. He is not quick enough, failing to score the tying goal and the game ends, suggesting that JoJo's absence from the game has had an unfavourable effect on his performance. The video ends with the camera zooming out and panning away from JoJo's window as the rain subsides. Noticeable in the video is a poster for the Rockcorps
Boost Mobile
concert at Radio City Music Hall
on September 24, 2005, an ad for Q-Tip's single "For the Nasty", and the book "Riding on a Blue Note: Jazz and American Pop" by Gary Giddins
, which she is reading on top of the car at the game. The fountain in front of the Universal City Hard Rock Cafe
is also visible.
The video for "Too Little Too Late" premiered in the UK on October 14, 2006 on The Box's Kopooka Hot. "Too Little Too Late" was released on CD on January 15, 2007, in the UK. The song was added to Radio 1's playlist, under the C-list on November 29, 2006, and was upgraded to the B-list at a later date.
European CD maxi single
Billy Steinberg
William Endfield "Billy" Steinberg is an American songwriter. He has achieved most of his success as part of a song writing team, most notably with Tom Kelly. He has also co-written several hit songs with Rick Nowels.-Biography:...
, Josh Alexander, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham
Ruth-Anne Cunningham
Ruth-Anne Cunningham is a singer/songwriter/producer from Donaghmede, Dublin, Ireland.- Songwriting :Ruth-Anne is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter/producer/vocal producer from Dublin, In Ireland, She is signed to Sony ATV as of May 2010...
for JoJo's second studio album The High Road
The High Road
The High Road is the second studio album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on October 17, 2006 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 2005 to mid 2006 in California, New York City, and Miami...
. It was co-produced by Alexander, Vincent Herbert, and Billy Steinberg. "Too Little Too Late" was released as the album's first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in North America on August 15, 2006 and in the UK on January 15, 2007. "Too Little Too Late" broke the record for the biggest jump into the top three on the 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...
chart, moving from number sixty-six to number three in one week; this record was previously held by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, whose single "Loverboy
Loverboy (Mariah Carey song)
"Loverboy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on July 16, 2001 by Virgin Records as the lead single from Carey's eighth studio album, Glitter . Written and produced by Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins, Clark Kent, "Loverboy" is built around a sample from...
" rose from number sixty to number two in August 2001. However, the record was ultimately broken by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
's "My Life Would Suck Without You
My Life Would Suck Without You
"My Life Would Suck Without You" is a song performed by American pop rock singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson. It is the first single from her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted. Dr. Luke and Max Martin, writers of her hit "Since U Been Gone", co-produced and co-wrote the song. Claude Kelly also...
", which jumped from number ninety-seven to number one on the issue dated February 7, 2009. It remains JoJo's biggest hit single in the US to date, and her only one to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
Recording history
"Too Little Too Late" was written by Josh Alexander, who composed the music in the verse and chorus. Billy Steinberg and Ruth-Anne Cunningham worked on the lyrics and the melody for the bridge. The beginnings of "Too Little Too Late" trace back to Universal RecordsUniversal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
Executive VP of A&R Bruce Carbon, who placed a publishers ad in a trade journal saying that JoJo was looking for songs to be on her latest album. Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander sent their demo (sung by co-writer Ruth-Anne Cunningham) to Bruce's office in 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...
, who then arranged a meeting between Josh, Billy, and Vincent Herbert at Blackground Records
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
. Herbert agreed to co-produce it with Billy and Josh in September 2005.
Lyrically, the song is about disappointment and getting over your first love, according to JoJo. Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
played this song on their station but had to edit one short part of the song from "Come with me, stay the night" to "Come with me, stay awhile".
In late October 2007, Daniel Rossen
Daniel Rossen
Daniel Rossen is a singer/songwriter/guitarist for the Brooklyn-based indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear. He is also a member of the duo Department of Eagles.-Biography:...
of Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
recorded a version of the song in honor of bandmate Ed Droste
Ed Droste
Edward "Ed" Droste is an original member of the Brooklyn-based indie-rock group, Grizzly Bear. The group began as the solo effort of Droste with the release of 2004's Horn of Plenty, originally released on Kanine Records. All songs were written and performed by Droste...
's twenty-ninth birthday.
The company Wavegroup did a cover of the song for the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore
Karaoke Revolution
Karaoke Revolution and its many sequels are video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, developed by Harmonix Music Systems and Blitz Games and published by Konami in its Bemani line of music games. The Original Concept for Karaoke Revolution was...
.
Musical structure
The song is in 4/4 time but can be analyzed as 9/8 alternating with 7/8. It is based around a 22-note rhythmic motif that can be broken down into three sets of triplets plus a half measure and another group of three and two, or 123-123-123-12-123-12 (3/8 + 3/8 + 3/8 + 2/8 + 5/8). It may be counted as 1-1-and-2 2-1-and-2 3-1-and-2 4-1-and 1-1-and-2 2-1-and. This device gives the song a push-pull feel which makes the beat seem like it is both falling behind and being rushed. The most recognizable change in meter occurs in the middle of the song before the scream where the upbeat is emphasized on "it's just too little, too late", which could be considered one bar of 3/8 (it's just too) and 5/8 (little too late).Promotion and release
The single was leaked to the Internet on June 29, 2006, having been buzzed about since December 2005. JoJo first performed the single on August 15 during the Miss Teen USAMiss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. The reigning titleholder is Danielle Doty of Texas....
broadcast. She has also performed it on TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
, The Today Show, The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
, The View, CD USA
CD USA
CD USA, which debuted in 2006, is an American music television show airing exclusively on DirecTV's" The 101" network in the United States. The show is an American version of CD:UK, a similarly themed music show on ITV in the UK. Its hosts are John Wynn, Becky Baeling, and formerly, Jonathan...
, The Megan Mullally Show
The Megan Mullally Show
The Megan Mullally Show is an American talk show hosted by Megan Mullally that debuted in syndication on September 18, 2006, and was cancelled in January 2007 due to its low ratings. Early promotions for the program featured Mullally as herself and as her Will & Grace character, Karen Walker...
, Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
, Sessions@AOL
Sessions@AOL
Sessions@AOL is a special avenue of programming conducted by AOL Music. Originally an AOL exclusive, Sessions@AOL can now also be seen as an avenue for non-AOL users as well. Sessions@AOL consists of exclusive and intimate performances of songs by popular musicians, with likes of bands such as...
, and Music Choice
Music Choice
Music Choice is a United States company that programs music and produces music-related content for digital cable, cell phones, and cable modem subscribers in the US. Music Choice programs dozens of audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, as well as programs and produces music-related...
.
The single was released to iTunes
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
on September 12, 2006. Numerous mixes have been produced since the track's release in July 2006. Notable mentions are Full Phat, Josh Harris, and Raul Rincon. A remix of this song is featured on the dance video game Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party, known as Dancing Stage Hottest Party in the European and Oceanic regions, is a video game released by Konami in and to several countries for the Wii console. Konami took the game beyond the traditional setup of Dance Dance Revolution by incorporating the Wii...
. A Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
version of the song was released on select non-US editions of The High Road.
Critical reception
The track received mainly positive reviews. Bill Lamb from About.comAbout.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....
praised the track calling it "One of the best byproducts of TV talent shows like American Idol", and "She could sing then, and she's just getting better with age as amply demonstrated on 'Too Little Too Late'." Matt Collar of Allmusic also gave the song a positive review, saying "Jojo is an assured and likeable performer who can somehow embody the yin-yang persona of a suburban cheerleader slinging hip-hop attitude, as she does in the video for the ridiculously overwrought and utterly addictive lead-off single, 'Too Little Too Late'."
Alex Macpherson from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
gave the song a positive review, saying "JoJo is, however, at her best when compulsively dissecting emotional situations straight out of high-school movies via the medium of big, heartfelt choruses: the wonderfully weepy pinnacle comes with the bleak resignation of 'Too Little Too Late'." Evan Sawdey from PopMatters
PopMatters
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,...
gave the song a mixed review, while the album as a whole got a negative one. "Certainly, the lead single 'Too Little Too Late' is appropriately melodramatic, covering the exact same ground that 'Leave (Get Out)' covered but without the angry chorus (if it ain't broke ...). It's something that Alanis Morrissette might have recorded for her last I'm-no-longer-angry-and-therefore-am-content-with-plain-ballads album. As repackaged as it is, it actually has something that the rest of the album is sorely lacking: personality."
Chart performance
"Too Little Too Late" initially debuted at number thirteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 SinglesBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
the week of August 19, 2006, topping the chart the week after. The following week, it jumped to the 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...
at number ninety. By its fifth week, "Too Little Too Late" moved from number sixty-six to number three, making it one of the biggest jumps in Billboard history, especially for a top three entry. It is her first, and so far, only single to make it to the top ten and the top three of the Hot 100 chart. The single has sold 821,000 digital downloads as of March 2007.
In the UK, the single entered the 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 ...
at number twenty-two based on downloads alone two weeks before its physical CD release. This is because from 2007, the UK has changed charting rules and downloaded singles can enter the UK Singles Chart at any time. When the song was released to physical CD, it went up the chart to number four, its peak position. This made it JoJo's second top five and third top ten single in the UK. The song also reached number one on the UK iTunes Top 100 Songs on January 10. With "Too Little Too Late" having spent six weeks in the top ten, and eleven weeks in the top forty, it has been named her most successful single in the UK, although "Leave (Get Out)" peaked at number two. The song also managed to stay in the top seventy-five until late April.
Music video
The music video was directed by Chris RobinsonChris Robinson (director)
Chris Robinson is an American film director working mostly with music videos and commercials. He has directed commercials for brands such as iPod, Coca Cola and Verizon and music videos for songs like "Fallin'" and "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, "Roc Boys" by Jay-Z, the grammy nominated...
for HSI Productions represented by Robin Frank Management. It was filmed between May 19 and 23. Originally, a contest sponsored by JoJo's label and street team
Street team
A street team is a term used in marketing to describe a group of people who 'hit the streets' promoting an event or a product. 'Street Teams' are a powerful promotional tool that has been adopted industry wide as a standard line item in marketing budgets by entertainment companies, record labels,...
would've allowed a fan onto the set of the video to interview her personally on May 19 in Los Angeles but was cancelled at the last minute. JoJo gave fans a sneak peek of the video on June 3 in a short behind the scenes segment on CD USA
CD USA
CD USA, which debuted in 2006, is an American music television show airing exclusively on DirecTV's" The 101" network in the United States. The show is an American version of CD:UK, a similarly themed music show on ITV in the UK. Its hosts are John Wynn, Becky Baeling, and formerly, Jonathan...
.
On June 11, pictures from the set of the first scenes from the video leaked onto Wireimage.com.Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
and his daughter Zelda Williams
Zelda Williams
Zelda Rae Williams is an American actress and the daughter of actor and comedian Robin Williams and Marsha Garces. She was named after Princess Zelda of The Legend of Zelda series of video games. Her first big role was that of Melissa Loggia, the main character's teenage love interest in the 2004...
appeared in the photos and in footage featured in the "Lights, Camera, Action (Behind the Scenes of the Video Shoot)" section on the Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
exclusive The High Road bonus DVD. The full video can be accessed in "Visual Imagery (JoJo Videos)" on the DVD. The world premiere of "Too Little Too Late" was on July 17 on AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
Music's First View.
The video was given a soccer theme because it was shot during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. On her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, JoJo said she wanted to use the video to expose soccer to an audience who may be unfamiliar with the sport. UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
men's team players Sean Alvarado
Sean Alvarado
Sean Conrad Alvarado is an American soccer player who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, Greg Folk, Maxwell Griffin
Maxwell Griffin
Maxwell Griffin is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes on loan from Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
, Damon James, James Jaramillo, Jason Leopoldo, Edwige Ligonde, Mikey Meschures, Kyle Nakazawa
Kyle Nakazawa
Kyle Nakazawa is an American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
, Eric Reed
Eric Reed (soccer player)
Eric Reed is an American soccer player currently playing for Syracuse Silver Knights in the MISL.-College and Amateur:...
, Sal Zizzo
Sal Zizzo
Salvatore "Sal" Zizzo is an American soccer player who plays for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-Youth and Amateur:...
, and former goalkeeper Eric Conner were involved in the video shoot. Initially, everyone was told by their coaches that they were needed for a Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
project. Lead male actor Mike Zaher
Mike Zaher
Michael Rory Zaher is an American soccer player, currently playing for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
(who was 20 when the video was shot) commented that he would've earned over $8,000 for the three day shoot, but due to NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
regulations, him and his teammates' status as non-professional athletes prohibited them from accepting any charges for their work in order to stay eligible for the next season. Shooting took place on location at East Los Angeles College
East Los Angeles College
East Los Angeles College is a community college of the Los Angeles Community College District in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park. Fourteen communities comprise its primary service area...
's Weingart Stadium
Weingart Stadium
Weingart Stadium is a 20,355-seat multipurpose stadium located at East Los Angeles College, in Monterey Park, California. It was built in 1951 at a cost of $3.1 million, and following renovations in 1984 it was renamed....
for the soccer game scenes as well as at Universal Studios' Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
and a house off Interstate 10.
Synopsis
The video starts with an acting sequence in which JoJo confronts her boyfriend David, played by junior defender Mike ZaherMike Zaher
Michael Rory Zaher is an American soccer player, currently playing for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
, after she spots him at a frat party flirting
Flirting
Flirting is a playful, romantic, or sexual overture by one person to another subtly indicating an interest in a deeper relationship with the other person, and can involve verbal communication as well as body language...
with another girl, with a drink in his hand. In the dramatic opening scene, JoJo is very upset. The couple talk and David finally invites JoJo to an important soccer game for his team. As the video progresses, JoJo sings next to the window in her room. She walks around the room looking at photos, reminiscing about the time they spent together and how generally ungrateful he was. These shots are intercut with David playing at the important soccer game. In the video's finale, rain begins to pour on the game. We see JoJo taking down photographs of the couple and picking up a stuffed animal that David had bought her in happier times. She takes it outside and throws it in the garbage can. It is raining, proving that this is the same moment as the game and she has chosen not to attend. David's team is down one goal with 2:14 seconds remaining in the second half. As he makes the shot for the home team, JoJo sings in the rain. He is not quick enough, failing to score the tying goal and the game ends, suggesting that JoJo's absence from the game has had an unfavourable effect on his performance. The video ends with the camera zooming out and panning away from JoJo's window as the rain subsides. Noticeable in the video is a poster for the Rockcorps
Rockcorps
RockCorps is a pro-social production company that uses music to inspire people to volunteer and get involved in their community. To date, over 80,000 volunteers have attended more than 30 live concert events...
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is a brand of wireless prepay service run by Sprint Nextel, operating within the Sprint Prepaid Group along with Virgin Mobile USA, Assurance Wireless, and payLo by Virgin Mobile. Boost Mobile uses GSMand iDEN networks...
concert at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
on September 24, 2005, an ad for Q-Tip's single "For the Nasty", and the book "Riding on a Blue Note: Jazz and American Pop" by Gary Giddins
Gary Giddins
Gary Giddins is an American jazz critic, author, and director, best known for his longtime work with The Village Voice. Born in Brooklyn, and raised on Long Island, Giddins graduated from Grinnell College, Iowa, in 1970...
, which she is reading on top of the car at the game. The fountain in front of the Universal City Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
is also visible.
The video for "Too Little Too Late" premiered in the UK on October 14, 2006 on The Box's Kopooka Hot. "Too Little Too Late" was released on CD on January 15, 2007, in the UK. The song was added to Radio 1's playlist, under the C-list on November 29, 2006, and was upgraded to the B-list at a later date.
Track listings
UK and Australian CD single- "Too Little Too Late" (Album Version) – 3:39
- "Get It Poppin'" – 3:41
European CD maxi single
- "Too Little Too Late" – 3:47
- "Too Little Too Late" (Full Phatt Remix featuring Tah MacTah MacTah Mac , known professionally as Tah Mac, is an American rapper and songwriter, who rose to fame as a producer of various Hip hop and R&B acts, before releasing his first solo album in 2009.-History:...
) – 4:24 - "Too Little Too Late" (Full Phatt Remix) – 3:53
- "Too Little Too Late" (Instrumental) – 3:47
- "Too Little Too Late" (Video) – 4:04
Official mixes
- Album Version – 3:41
- Full Phatt Remix – 3:53
- Full Phatt Remix featuring Tah MacTah MacTah Mac , known professionally as Tah Mac, is an American rapper and songwriter, who rose to fame as a producer of various Hip hop and R&B acts, before releasing his first solo album in 2009.-History:...
– 4:24 - No Puedes Volver (Spanish Version) – 3:41
- Sarkhan (English & Spanish Mix)
- Josh Harris Radio Mix – 3:55
- Josh Harris Club Mix – 7:19
- Josh Harris Dub – 7:34
- Raul Rincon Vocal Version – 7:44
- Raul Rincon Dub Version – 7:44
- Raul Rincon Late Nite Dub Version – 7:44
- DJ Rufato's Remix
Personnel
- Lead and background vocals: JoJo
- Vocal arrangement: Ruth-Anne Cunningham and JoJo
- Engineers: Josh Alexander, Paul Foley
- Mixing: Dave Russell
- Assistant engineer: Katia Lewin
Weekly charts
| Chart (2006–07) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US 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... |
3 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Gold |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2006) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 72 |
| Chart (2007) | Position |
| Australian Singles Chart | 82 |
| UK Albums Chart | 45 |