Try Again
Encyclopedia
"Try Again" is a Grammy nominated single by American recording artist Aaliyah
. The song was written by Static Major
and Timothy Mosley
, and produced by Timbaland
, for the soundtrack of the film Romeo Must Die
(2000). It was released on May 22, 2000 as the lead single of the soundtrack. The dance-pop
and urban song features an intro in which Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim
by rapping the duo's opening verse off "I Know You Got Soul".
. A loose adaptation of William Shakespeare
's Romeo and Juliet
, Aaliyah starred opposite martial artist Jet Li
, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families. It grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office. In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of the film soundtrack, where she contributed four songs. Aaliyah revealed that the production team "actually talked about the soundtrack before we even shot the movie". On February 18, 2000, it was announced that "Try Again" would be released as the lead single of Romeo Must Die: The Album (2000), while an accompanying music video would be directed by Wayne Isham
. It was physically released on May 22, 2000. "Try Again" is an urban and dance-pop
song written by Steve Garrett and Timothy Mosley
, and produced by Timbaland
. According to the digital music sheet published at Music Notes, the song is composed in the key
of E major
and is set in time signature
of common time
with a tempo
of 92 beats per minute, while Aaliyah's vocal range spans from G3 to G4. In the song's intro, Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim
by rapping the duo's opening verse off "I Know You Got Soul".
on the week of March 18, 2000 at number fifty-eight, reaching number one on the week of June 17, 2000. It also peaked at number one on Radio Songs, number three on Pop Songs
and number four on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
. On the Year-End chart for 2000, the song reached number twelve. In the United Kingdom
, "Try Again" debuted at number five on the week of July 22, 2000, while staying in the top seventy-five for twelve weeks. The song reached number eight in Australia
, and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA), for selling over 75,000 units of the single. It also peaked at number fifty-one on the Year-End chart of the country. "Try Again" was also achieved commercial success in Europe, reaching the top five in Belgium
, Netherlands
, Norway
, and Switzerland
. In Germany, the song reached number five, and was certified Gold by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
in early March 2000. It begins with Jet Li
entering a hall of mirrors and Aaliyah stepping in, wearing a revealing low-cut bra and tight low-rise leather pants. Timbaland
is also shown. The room is dim with a circle light in the center to resemble the moon shining over the ocean. The making of the video and the video itself was featured on the Romeo Must Die
DVD. The video was directed by Wayne Isham
, with Fatima Robinson
creating the choreography. The "Hall of Mirrors" room was inspired by Bruce Lee
's Enter the Dragon
. The video placed seventh on BET
's year-end special Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2000, fifteenth on Channel V
's Retro Top 20: 2000 and ranks Aaliyah at 41 on Channel Max's Top 100 Sexiest Women.
based solely on the strength of its radio airplay. The song was also featured on Billboards Hot 100 Songs of the Decade list at number ninety-eight, while appearing at number eighty-six on the Rolling Stone
list of the 100 Best Songs of the Decade. In January 31, 2005, Pitchfork Media
ranked the song number thirty-seven on its list of the Top 100 Singles of 2000-04. "Try Again" was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
at the 43rd Grammy Awards, while its music video won two MTV Video Music Awards
for Best Female Video
and Best Video from a Film
. The song was also nominated on the seventh annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
in the category of Song of the Year; however, Aaliyah lost to gospel artist Yolanda Adams
. In September 2011, VH1 included "Try Again" in their list of 100 Greatest Songs of The 00s, placing it at #65.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
. The song was written by Static Major
Static Major
Stephen Ellis Garrett also known as Static Major, was a Grammy Award-Winning American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album Tha Carter III on the...
and Timothy Mosley
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, and produced by Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, for the soundtrack of the film Romeo Must Die
Romeo Must Die
Romeo Must Die is a 2000 martial arts film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah, Anthony Anderson, Delroy Lindo, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, and features action and fight choreography by Corey Yuen...
(2000). It was released on May 22, 2000 as the lead single of the soundtrack. The dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
and urban song features an intro in which Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
by rapping the duo's opening verse off "I Know You Got Soul".
Background and composition
In 2000, Aaliyah landed her first major movie role in Romeo Must DieRomeo Must Die
Romeo Must Die is a 2000 martial arts film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah, Anthony Anderson, Delroy Lindo, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, and features action and fight choreography by Corey Yuen...
. A loose adaptation of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, Aaliyah starred opposite martial artist Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families. It grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office. In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of the film soundtrack, where she contributed four songs. Aaliyah revealed that the production team "actually talked about the soundtrack before we even shot the movie". On February 18, 2000, it was announced that "Try Again" would be released as the lead single of Romeo Must Die: The Album (2000), while an accompanying music video would be directed by Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists; such as Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Roxette, Mötley Crüe, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Whitesnake, David Cook, Simple Plan, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys,...
. It was physically released on May 22, 2000. "Try Again" is an urban and dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
song written by Steve Garrett and Timothy Mosley
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, and produced by Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
. According to the digital music sheet published at Music Notes, the song is composed in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
and is set in time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
of common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
with a tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 92 beats per minute, while Aaliyah's vocal range spans from G3 to G4. In the song's intro, Timbaland pays homage to Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
by rapping the duo's opening verse off "I Know You Got Soul".
Chart performance
"Try Again" debuted on 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...
on the week of March 18, 2000 at number fifty-eight, reaching number one on the week of June 17, 2000. It also peaked at number one on Radio Songs, number three on Pop Songs
Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)
The Mainstream Top 40 is an airplay chart from Billboard magazine, and is also known as Pop Songs on billboard.com. It was often mistaken for and confused with the now discontinued Pop 100 Airplay chart...
and number four on 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,...
. On the Year-End chart for 2000, the song reached number twelve. 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...
, "Try Again" debuted at number five on the week of July 22, 2000, while staying in the top seventy-five for twelve weeks. The song reached number eight in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
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...
(ARIA), for selling over 75,000 units of the single. It also peaked at number fifty-one on the Year-End chart of the country. "Try Again" was also achieved commercial success in Europe, reaching the top five in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Norway
Norway
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...
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In Germany, the song reached number five, and was certified Gold by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
Music video
The music video was filmed at Hollywood Center StudiosHollywood Center Studios
Hollywood Center Studios is a company based in Los Angeles, California that provides stage facilities to television and movie production companies. Its sound stages, located at 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood, California, are steeped in Hollywood history...
in early March 2000. It begins with Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
entering a hall of mirrors and Aaliyah stepping in, wearing a revealing low-cut bra and tight low-rise leather pants. Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
is also shown. The room is dim with a circle light in the center to resemble the moon shining over the ocean. The making of the video and the video itself was featured on the Romeo Must Die
Romeo Must Die
Romeo Must Die is a 2000 martial arts film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah, Anthony Anderson, Delroy Lindo, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, and features action and fight choreography by Corey Yuen...
DVD. The video was directed by Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists; such as Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Roxette, Mötley Crüe, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Whitesnake, David Cook, Simple Plan, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys,...
, with Fatima Robinson
Fatima Robinson
Fatima Robinson is a noted music video director and choreographer. Robinson's choreography résumé includes many Aaliyah's Videos, and Mary J. Blige's "Family Affair"...
creating the choreography. The "Hall of Mirrors" room was inspired by Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
's Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts co-production with Golden Harvest and Warner Bros. studios, directed by Robert Clouse; starring Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly and John Saxon. This is Bruce Lee's final film appearance before his death on July 20, 1973...
. The video placed seventh 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...
's year-end special Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2000, fifteenth on Channel V
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
's Retro Top 20: 2000 and ranks Aaliyah at 41 on Channel Max's Top 100 Sexiest Women.
Legacy
"Try Again" was the first song ever to reach number one on 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...
based solely on the strength of its radio airplay. The song was also featured on Billboards Hot 100 Songs of the Decade list at number ninety-eight, while appearing at number eighty-six on the 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...
list of the 100 Best Songs of the Decade. In January 31, 2005, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
ranked the song number thirty-seven on its list of the Top 100 Singles of 2000-04. "Try Again" was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
at the 43rd Grammy Awards, while its music video won two MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
for Best Female Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video is one of the original general awards that has been handed out every year since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. In 2007, however, the award was briefly renamed Female Artist of the Year, and it awarded the artist's whole body of work...
and Best Video from a Film
MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film was first awarded in 1987, recognizing the best videos whose songs were a part of a movie soundtrack or featured in a film. As time went on, though, music videos taken from movie soundtracks became more rare, and so the last of this award was...
. The song was also nominated on the seventh annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
in the category of Song of the Year; however, Aaliyah lost to gospel artist Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
. In September 2011, VH1 included "Try Again" in their list of 100 Greatest Songs of The 00s, placing it at #65.
Track listings
- CD single
- "Try Again" [Radio Edit] – 4:04
- "Try Again" [Timbaland Remix] – 4:59
- "Try Again" [D'Jam Hassan Remix] – 5:28
- "Try Again" [Instrumental] – 4:43
- 12" Vinyl
- "Try Again" [Radio Edit] – 4:04
- "Try Again" [Instrumental] – 4:43
- "Try Again" [Timbaland Remix] – 4:59
Weekly charts
| Chart (2000–01) | 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... |
1 |
| US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 51 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|
| 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... |
Platinum |
| Germany | Gold |