Can't Help but Wait

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"Can't Help But Wait"
Single by Trey Songz
from the album Trey Day
ReleasedAugust 6, 2007
Recorded2007
GenreR&B
Length3:27
Label
Songwriter(s)
Stargate
Trey Songz singles chronology
"Wonder Woman"
(2007)
"Can't Help But Wait"
(2007)
"Last Time"
(2008)

"Can't Help but Wait" is the second single from the

Toronto, Ontario. The song was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2009 Grammy Awards
.

Background and composition

The duo of producers

B'Day, with lyrics written by Ne-Yo. Uploads of Ne-Yo's "If" demo can be found on YouTube.[2]

"Can't Help But Wait" was fully written by Johntá Austin.[3] The song was sent for United States rhythmic contemporary airplay on August 7, 2007 by Songbook and Atlantic Records.[4][5] Elsewhere, "Can't Help But Wait" was released as a one-track digital download by WEA International on August 28, 2007.[6] Additionally, Atlantic Records released a CD single on March 17, 2008 in the United Kingdom.[7]

According to the sheet music published by

common time with a moderate R&B tempo of 95 beats per minute. It is written in the key of G minor, and follows the chord progression of Emaj7–Cm9–Gm9–Gm, and Songz' voice in the song spans from F4 to G5.[8] "Can't Help But Wait" is about Songz wanting a woman who is mistreated by her boyfriend;[9] he attempts to persuade the woman to leave her partner and gives examples of how women can be treated courteously.[3] Lil Wayne and Plies have each remixed "Can't Help But Wait", with the latter's remix being featured on the soundtrack album for the 2008 film Step Up 2: The Streets.[10]

Critical reception

"Can't Help But Wait" was selected as one of Trey Day's best tracks in

About.com Mark Edward Nero commended Songz' vocal effort on "Can't Help But Wait", and the song's "nice balance of sensitivity and swagger".[9] It was ranked at number twenty-three on MTV News' list of the 27 Essential R&B Songs of 2007.[12][13] "Can't Help But Wait" was nominated in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category at the 2009 Grammy Awards, but lost to Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent".[14]

Chart performance

"Can't Help But Wait" entered the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number seventy-two on the chart of August 25, 2007.[15] On December 15, 2007 it reached its peak position of number two,[16] where it remained the following week.[17] During both weeks "Can't Help But Wait" was at number two, Alicia Keys' "No One" topped the chart. "Can't Help But Wait" remained on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for thirty-two weeks.[18] The song debuted at number ninety-nine on the

UK Singles Chart at number 163 on March 29, 2008;[22] it peaked at number 115.[23]

Track listing

CD single
  1. "Can't Help But Wait"
  2. "Can't Help But Wait" (instrumental)

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[4][5] August 7, 2007 Rhythmic contemporary airplay
Australia[6] August 28, 2007 Digital download WEA International
Austria[32]
Belgium[33]
Canada[34]
Denmark[35]
Finland[36]
France[37]
Germany[38]
Ireland[39]
Italy[40]
Japan[41]
Netherlands[42]
New Zealand[43]
Norway[44]
Mexico[45]
Portugal[46]
Spain[47]
Sweden[48]
Switzerland[49]
United Kingdom[50]
United Kingdom[7] March 17, 2008 CD single Atlantic

References

  1. ^ "Trey Songz Song Lyrics | Search for Free Trey Songz's Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  2. ^ "If By Ne-Yo (Beyonce Demo)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. ^
    ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  4. ^ a b "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Rhythmic". Radio & Records. August 7, 2007. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Available for Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  7. ^
    Amazon.co.uk
    . Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  8. Sony/ATV Music Publishing
    . Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  9. ^
    About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original
    on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  10. ^ Reid, Shaheem; Rodriguez, Jayson; Dukes, Rahman (January 28, 2008). "Mixtape Monday: Lupe Fiasco Plans His Cool Viral Video; Joe Budden Compares Jay-Z To A 'Bully'". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  11. AllMusic
    . Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  12. ^ Reid, Shaheem; Rodriguez, Jayson; Dukes, Rahman (December 20, 2007). "T-Pain, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake And More Are Our Favorite R&B Acts Of 2007". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  13. ^ "New Music: Trey Songz f/ Lil Wayne – 'Can't Help But Wait (Remix)'". Rap-Up. January 24, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  14. ^ "Grammy 2009 Winners List". MTV News. MTV. February 8, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  15. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. August 25, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  16. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. December 15, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  17. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. December 22, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  18. ^ a b "Can't Help But Wait - Trey Songz". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  19. ^ "Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. October 6, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  20. ^ "Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. December 22, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  21. ^
    AllMusic
    . Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  22. ^ "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update". Zobbel.de. March 29, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  23. ^ a b "Chart Log UK". Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  24. ^ "Trey Songz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  25. ^ "Trey Songz Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  26. ^ "Trey Songz Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  27. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  28. ^ "Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  29. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  30. ^ "Rhythmic Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  31. ^ "American single certifications – Trey Songz – Can't Help But Wait". Recording Industry Association of America.
  32. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  33. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  34. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  35. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  36. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  37. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in French). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  38. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in German). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  39. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  40. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in Italian). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  41. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in Japanese). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  42. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in Dutch). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  43. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  44. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  45. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in Spanish). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  46. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  47. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in Spanish). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  48. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  49. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single" (in German). iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  50. ^ "Can't Help But Wait - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2011.

External links