Numb (Usher song)
"Numb" | ||||
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Single by Usher | ||||
from the album Looking 4 Myself | ||||
Released | August 21, 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2012; Silent Sound Studios (Atlanta); Glenwood Place Studios (Burbank) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Usher singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Numb" on YouTube |
"Numb" is a song recorded by American singer
"Numb" is a dance-pop and electropop song with house elements which contains revolutionary pop music influences. Lyrically, it is "an inspirational song about finding one’s destiny, and becoming numb to the negativity and just following your dreams".[1] The song received generally positive acclaim from contemporary music critics with many of them praising its club-oriented production. "Numb" was a moderate worldwide success and reached the top-forty in five countries including Belgium, Germany and Australia.
American directors Chris Applebaum and Grace Harry shot the music video for "Numb"; it premiered October 11, 2012 on Usher's Vevo channel. It represents footage of Usher's life in the near past and features several dramatic scenes of him including taking care of his sons, standing towards a microphone unable to perform and lying together with a sick woman in a hospital. Critics were divided on the video; although some of them praised the choreography, others criticized Usher's emotions. The singer performed the song during his American Express show on June 11, 2012 in London and at the 2012 American Music Awards.
Production and release
"It was a lot and they're three different DJs but when they come together, they are a production conglomerate. So tryna get them together at the same time, when I was in Atlanta, we made the most of our time and we cranked out two records"
—Usher talking about his collaboration with Swedish House Mafia.[2]
Usher co-wrote "Numb" with Ryon Lovett and
Mark "Exit" Goodchild recorded the song Silent Sound Studios in
Composition
"Numb" is a
Lyrically, it is "an inspirational song about finding one’s destiny, and becoming numb to the negativity and just following your dreams".
Reception
Critical
DeeKay of SoulCulture commented that "even with the straightforward, hugely predictable electro-pop on the Swedish House Mafia-produced 'Numb' and 'Euphoria', Usher is operating at a level above his David Guetta and RedOne-loving peers."[16] Meelz of ThisGoesIn concluded that "Numb" is a single quality track, "which we can see seeping through the radio in the latter half of 2012 – with the mantra of letting your problems go and dance."[17] The Lantern's Alex Antonetz wrote that both "Numb" and "Euphoria" are future Charlie Bear fare.[18] Trent Fitzgerald of PopCrush commented that the song is perfect for the clubs.[9] Ryan Hadfield of Consequence of Sound labeled "Numb" together with "Can't Stop Won't Stop" and "Sins of My Father" as essential tracks on Looking 4 Myself.[15] Andrew Unterberger of Popdust wrote that the single's production is appropriate for an Usher and Swedish House Mafia collaboration, though criticised its lack of originality. Despite this, Unterberger commended the song, writing "it does have the mind-numbing, body-activating effect the song is so explicitly searching for" and even though you can call it "an EDM cash-in [...] Usher was embracing club music way before most of his American pop star peers hopped on the bandwagon".[9]
Commercial
Upon the release of Looking 4 Myself, due to digital downloads, "Numb" entered the singles chart in South Korea. It debuted on the South Korea
Music video
An accompanying music video for "Numb" was shot by directors Chris Applebaum and Grace Harry, and edited by Jacquelyn London;[29] all three reprised their roles for the video as they had previously worked together on Usher's video for "Dive" (2012).[30] On October 9, 2012, a sneak peek of the video was posted on the singer's official Vevo channel on YouTube.[31] Subsequently, via his official Twitter account, he tweeted: "Sometimes we take for granted moments that allow us to make it thru, ability to just wakeup every morning&take a breath", together with the link from the sneak peek.[32] The sneak peek features Usher dancing in a glass box as different personal scenes including shots of his sons and footage from various concerts are projected towards the background.[32] The full music video premiered on his Vevo channel October 11, 2012.[33]
The video begins with a footage of Usher walking offstage during a show part of his
Zara Golden of
Live performances
Usher performed "Numb" for first time in a medley with "Euphoria" during his
Track listing
- CD single[7]
- "Numb" (Album version)
- "Numb" (Wideboys radio mix)
- "Numb" (Wideboys club mix) – 6:08
- "Numb" (Wideboys dub) – 5:53
- "Numb" (Wideboys radio mix) – 4:00
- "Numb" (Jakwob remix) – 4:15
- "Numb" (Mike Delinquent dub) – 4:23
- "Numb" (Mike Delinquent remix) – 5:34
Credits and personnel
- Recording and mixing
- Recorded at Silent Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia; Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, California; mixed at Larrabee Sound Studio, Universal City, California
- Personnel
|
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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Looking 4 Myself, RCA Records.[3]
Charts and certifications
Weekly
Chart (2012—2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[20] | 39 |
Australia Urban (ARIA)[41] | 10 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] | 18 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[22] | 2 |
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[22] | 29 |
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[22] | 13 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[23] | 13 |
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] | 20 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[28] | 41 |
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[42] | 37 |
France ( SNEP)[43]
|
179 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[44] | 24 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] | 61 |
Russia (Airplay)[46] | 156 |
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[47] | 60 |
South Korea International Chart ( Gaon)[19]
|
40 |
34 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[27] | 69 |
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[49] | 13 |
US | 39 |
US | 21 |
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[52] | 24 |
Year-end
Chart (2013) | Position |
---|---|
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[53] | 97 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[54] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[55] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States[5] | August 21, 2012 | Contemporary hit radio | RCA Records |
United States[6] | August 28, 2012 | Rhythmic radio | |
Germany[7] | October 26, 2012 | CD single | |
Ireland[39] | November 4, 2012 | Digital remixes | |
United Kingdom[40] | November 11, 2012 |
References
- ^ a b Rose, Tichena. "Usher Album Review: 'Looking for Myself'". FWD Nation. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Whaley, Natelege (July 3, 2012). "Usher Reveals Missing Swedish House Mafia Song, Refutes 'R&B Is Dead,' Talks New Album". The Boombox. AOL. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Looking 4 Myself (inlay cover). Usher. RCA Records. 2012.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Swedish House Mafia Produce 'Numb & Euphoria' For Usher". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ Radio and Records. Archived from the originalon March 7, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ a b "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover > Future Releases". AllAccess. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Amazon.com(DE). Amazon Inc. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Looking 4 Myself (Deluxe Edition) by Usher". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. 12 June 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b c Fitzgerald, Trent. "Usher, 'Looking 4 Myself' – Album Review". PopCrush. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ DeeKay (June 7, 2012). "Usher – Looking 4 Myself". SoulCulture. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Corner, Lewis (June 11, 2012). "Usher: 'Looking 4 Myself' – Album review". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- The New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ Ramirez, Erika (June 8, 2012). "Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Unterberger, Andrew (June 5, 2012). "Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself' Reviewed: 'Numb' (feat Swedish House Mafia & Alesso". Popdust. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Hadfield, Ryan (June 15, 2012). "Usher – Looking 4 Myself". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ DeeKay (June 7, 2012). "Usher – 'Looking 4 Myself' – Album Review". SoulCulture. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Meelz (June 13, 2012). "Usher 'Looking 4 Myself' – Album Review". ThisGoesIn. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Antonetz, Alex (June 13, 2012). "Review: Usher finds new identity with 'Looking 4 Myself'". The Lantern. Ohio State University. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Gaon Chart. Archived from the originalon December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "Usher – Numb". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
- ^ a b "Usher – Numb" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
- ^ Ultratip. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ Ultratip. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ "Chart Highlights: Christina Aguilera's 'Body' Dances Onto Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. September 17, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- Pop Songsfor Usher. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ Hot 100for Usher. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Usher Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ London, Jacquelyn. "VIDEOSTATIC". VideoStatic.
- ^ a b Golden, Zara (October 12, 2012). "Usher Prevails In The Somber New 'Numb' Video". VH1. Viacom. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Usher - Numb (Official Teaser)". Vevo.YouTube. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Corner, Lewis (October 9, 2012). "Usher previews new single 'Numb' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Nat Mags. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Sneak Peek: Usher – 'Numb'". Rap-Up. Devine Lazerine. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Greenwald, David (October 12, 2012). "Usher Goes 'Numb' in New Video: Watch". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (October 12, 2012). "Usher Shatters His Insecure Past In 'Numb' Video". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Usher - Numb/Euphoria Medley (Amex Unstaged)". Vevo. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ^ "Awards opens with Usher, closes with PSY and MC Hammer". CBS News. CBS. November 19, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Numb (UK Remixes) by Usher". iTunes Store (IE). Apple Inc. 2 November 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ a b "Numb (UK Remixes) by Usher". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ "ARIA Report" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-13. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201250 into search.
- Les classement single. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ "Usher – Numb" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 02, 2012.
- ^ "Usher – Numb" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- Tophit. Archived from the originalon 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201246 into search. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "Chart Highlights: Ke$ha Climbs To No. 1 on Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 26, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "Usher Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN 2013". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Usher – Numb". Music Canada. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
External links
- "Numb" music video on YouTube