Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)
Encyclopedia
"Un-Thinkable" is a song performed by American recording artist Alicia Keys
and has backing vocals provided by Canadian singer, Drake
. According to Keys' official website it is the next single from her 2009 album, The Element of Freedom
. It was initially scheduled to be the fifth single but will now impact as the fourth single whilst "Put It in a Love Song
" will impact Summer 2010. It was her first single to reach number one single R&B chart in the United States
after 2007's "Like You'll Never See Me Again
".The official remix of the song featuring a verse by Drake was released on iTunes
on May 28, 2010."Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" spent twelve consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, the longest-running number-one single of 2010, when the single was in its 12th week on top of the chart, Keys has completed a total of 54 weeks at #1 on the chart.
song written by Alicia Keys, Aubrey Graham
, Kerry Brothers, Jr., Noah "40" Shebib in the key of B minor
. The vocal range spans from D3
to D5 with a moderately slow and simple chord progression
of Bm, D major and G major.
magazine was positive toward the song noting it as The Element of Freedom
s "standout track". Concepcion saud "the singer/pianist goes from entertaining puppy love to confessing deeper emotions. Keys sings nervously over extended piano strokes. She finally builds up the courage to share a serious desire with her lover ... atop a building, thumping beat. For an artist who has built her career on songs about love, lust and heartache, Keys has never sounded quite as vulnerable and exposed as she does here." Ashante Infantry from Toronto Star
also picked the song as the album's top track saying "Keys is as sexy as she's ever been on the sultry 'Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)'". Allison Stewart from The Washington Post
neither praised nor criticised the song but simple said that Drake
's appearance was pointless. "[It fulfills] some sort of unspoken requirement that every female R&B album contain an appearance by at least one cool-but-unthreatening hip-hop star."
Molly Lambert from Pitchfork
considered the song as the 64th best song of the year saying: "Alicia Keys always puts out one perfect song per album. It's an instant babymaking classic. Skittering beats, trembling synths, deep piano chord progressions, and floating drums. It sounds like it was recorded in a downtempo underwater sex chamber or inside a neon motel sign. It belongs on the Art Laboe Connection forever, with Sade and Minnie Riperton and other sensual heavyweights. It is the eye of the quiet storm".
" (2007). The single was also broke another R&B chart record, this time on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. On June 3, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" topped the Adult R&B chart, giving Keys her ninth leader on this chart and extended her lead ahead of Toni Braxton
, Whitney Houston
, Brian McKnight
and Luther Vandross
, all of whom rank in second place with six chart leaders each. The single also reached number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100
. To date the song's success on both the Hot 100 and R&B charts make "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" the most successful single from The Element of Freedom
. At the end of 2010, following its twelve week run leading the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" was named the number-one R&B/Hip-Hop song of the year on the end of year charts.
with director Jake Nava
. Although Drake
appears on background vocals Keys has stated that he won't appear in the video because she said "that would be too obvious". The video will tackle issues of interracial dating and as Keys told Rap Up magazine, "The promo clip will highlight the past and present stigmas surrounding the subject." Additionally Chad Michael Murray
, best known for playing Lucas Scott
in One Tree Hill
, plays Keys' love interest. One of the scenes depicted a blood-stained Murray fighting a gang of men. The video made its world premiere on May 12, 2010 on Vevo
and on BET
's 106 & Park
. The video features Keys in different decades, from the 50's to the present. The video was awarded Outstanding Music Video at the 42nd NAACP Awards.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
and has backing vocals provided by Canadian singer, Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
. According to Keys' official website it is the next single from her 2009 album, The Element of Freedom
The Element of Freedom
Keys began working on the album in May 2009. During this time, Keys and her audio engineer bought several vintage keyboards, describing the Moog as her "special best friend". Recording took place in The Oven Studios in Long Island, New York. Keys expressed that she "didn't know what to do" when she...
. It was initially scheduled to be the fifth single but will now impact as the fourth single whilst "Put It in a Love Song
Put It in a Love Song
"Put It in a Love Song" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys. The song, written and produced by Keys and Swizz Beatz, features guest vocals by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It was originally sent to radio on January 19, 2010 by J Records, as the fourth single from Keys' fourth...
" will impact Summer 2010. It was her first single to reach number one single R&B chart in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after 2007's "Like You'll Never See Me Again
Like You'll Never See Me Again
"Like You'll Never See Me Again" is a song by American R&B and soul singer–songwriter Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am . Written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers, Jr., it was released in November 2007 as the album's second single...
".The official remix of the song featuring a verse by Drake was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
on May 28, 2010."Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" spent twelve consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, the longest-running number-one single of 2010, when the single was in its 12th week on top of the chart, Keys has completed a total of 54 weeks at #1 on the chart.
Composition
"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" is a down-tempo R&BContemporary 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 written by Alicia Keys, Aubrey Graham
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
, Kerry Brothers, Jr., Noah "40" Shebib in the key of B minor
B minor
B minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The harmonic minor raises the A to A. Its key signature has two sharps .Its relative major is D major, and its parallel major is B major....
. The vocal range spans from D3
D (musical note)
D is a musical note a whole tone above C, and is known as Re within the solfege system.When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of middle D is approximately 293.665 Hz. See pitch for a discussion of historical variations in...
to D5 with a moderately slow and simple chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
of Bm, D major and G major.
Critical reception
Mariel Concepcion from BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine was positive toward the song noting it as The Element of Freedom
The Element of Freedom
Keys began working on the album in May 2009. During this time, Keys and her audio engineer bought several vintage keyboards, describing the Moog as her "special best friend". Recording took place in The Oven Studios in Long Island, New York. Keys expressed that she "didn't know what to do" when she...
s "standout track". Concepcion saud "the singer/pianist goes from entertaining puppy love to confessing deeper emotions. Keys sings nervously over extended piano strokes. She finally builds up the courage to share a serious desire with her lover ... atop a building, thumping beat. For an artist who has built her career on songs about love, lust and heartache, Keys has never sounded quite as vulnerable and exposed as she does here." Ashante Infantry from Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
also picked the song as the album's top track saying "Keys is as sexy as she's ever been on the sultry 'Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)'". Allison Stewart from The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
neither praised nor criticised the song but simple said that Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
's appearance was pointless. "[It fulfills] some sort of unspoken requirement that every female R&B album contain an appearance by at least one cool-but-unthreatening hip-hop star."
Molly Lambert from Pitchfork
Pitchfork
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines used to lift and pitch loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines...
considered the song as the 64th best song of the year saying: "Alicia Keys always puts out one perfect song per album. It's an instant babymaking classic. Skittering beats, trembling synths, deep piano chord progressions, and floating drums. It sounds like it was recorded in a downtempo underwater sex chamber or inside a neon motel sign. It belongs on the Art Laboe Connection forever, with Sade and Minnie Riperton and other sensual heavyweights. It is the eye of the quiet storm".
Chart performance
In the chart week dated May 22, 2010, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" topped the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, having already been present on the chart for eighteen weeks. It remained at the top of the summit for twelve consecutive weeks this becoming her longest running Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart leader, beating her previous best of ten weeks with "No OneNo One (Alicia Keys song)
"No One" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am. Written and produced by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and George M. Harry, and released as the album's lead single in September 2007...
" (2007). The single was also broke another R&B chart record, this time on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. On June 3, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" topped the Adult R&B chart, giving Keys her ninth leader on this chart and extended her lead ahead of Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
and Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, all of whom rank in second place with six chart leaders each. The single also reached number twenty-one 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...
. To date the song's success on both the Hot 100 and R&B charts make "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" the most successful single from The Element of Freedom
The Element of Freedom
Keys began working on the album in May 2009. During this time, Keys and her audio engineer bought several vintage keyboards, describing the Moog as her "special best friend". Recording took place in The Oven Studios in Long Island, New York. Keys expressed that she "didn't know what to do" when she...
. At the end of 2010, following its twelve week run leading the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" was named the number-one R&B/Hip-Hop song of the year on the end of year charts.
Music video
Keys filmed the music video in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with director Jake Nava
Jake Nava
Jake Nava was born on 17 August and grew up in northern London. He currently lives in eastern London.He graduated from the University of WestministerJake Nava is an English-born music video and film director.-Filmography:MUSIC VIDEOS...
. Although Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
appears on background vocals Keys has stated that he won't appear in the video because she said "that would be too obvious". The video will tackle issues of interracial dating and as Keys told Rap Up magazine, "The promo clip will highlight the past and present stigmas surrounding the subject." Additionally Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax...
, best known for playing Lucas Scott
Lucas Scott
Lucas Eugene Scott is a fictional character and formerly the main protagonist from The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray. Lucas is a talented basketball player and writer. He is rival to half-brother Nathan Scott, before the two eventually become close friends...
in One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, plays Keys' love interest. One of the scenes depicted a blood-stained Murray fighting a gang of men. The video made its world premiere on May 12, 2010 on Vevo
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
and 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 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...
. The video features Keys in different decades, from the 50's to the present. The video was awarded Outstanding Music Video at the 42nd NAACP Awards.
Track listing
-
- Digital download (remix)
- "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (remix) featuring DrakeDrake (entertainer)Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
– 4:42
-
- UK / Ireland Digital single
- "Wait Til You See My Smile" – 3:12
- "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (remix) featuring Drake – 4:42
Chart positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| 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... |
21 |
| U.S. 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,... |
1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 78 |
| U.S Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 1 |
| U.S. Hot Radio Songs | 35 |
Chart procession and succession
Radio adds
| Region | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| United States | March 15, 2010 | Urban mainstream 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... |
| March 30, 2010 | Urban AC Urban Adult Contemporary Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast... |
|
| April 13, 2010 | 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... |
Release date
| Region | Date | Format (version) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | May 28, 2010 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... (remix) |
Universal Music Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... |
| Netherlands | |||
| United States | J Records J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:... |
||
| Finland | May 31, 2010 | Universal Music | |
| France | |||
| Norway | |||
| Sweden | |||
| Canada | June 1, 2010 | ||
| Italy | June 4, 2010 | ||
| Switzerland | |||
| Ireland | June 11, 2010 | ||
| Germany | September 14, 2010 | ||
| Ireland | November 19, 2010 | Digital single | |
| United Kingdom | September 12, 2010 | RCA Records RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |