Sins of My Father (song)
"Sins of My Father" | |
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Usher | |
from the album Looking 4 Myself | |
Recorded | 2012; Jungle City Studios (New York City); Doppler Studios (Atlanta); Glenwood Place Studios (Burbank); Instrument Zoo (Miami) |
Genre | Soul |
Length | 3:56 |
Label | RCA |
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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"Sins of My Father" is a song recorded by American recording artist
"Sins of My Father" is a
Writing and recording
"But I’m adding to the statistic that there are fathers out there who are there for their children, who are there to raise them, who understand that they have to take that time and really make sure that they make that connection. And understand that these kids are future adults – they’re not kids – so if you don’t give them the time and attention they need now, then they’ll be running around and somebody else will be knocking them upside the head or they’ll be incarcerated."
—Usher talking about the inspiration of "Sins of My Father".[1]
"Sins of My Father" was written by Usher, Rico Love, Salaam Remi and Terry Lewis. The production of the song was helmed by Remi, with Love also serving as its co-producer. Remi has previously produced songs such as "Made You Look" (God's Son, 2002) for American rapper Nas and "You Know I'm No Good" (Back to Black, 2006) for late English singer Amy Winehouse.[2]
In an interview with SoulCulture, Usher told that the inspiration for writing "Sins of My Father" is about dealing with things that people can't understand. He further stated that the past can bring people "down a road" because they are not aware of it.[1] According to him, "The time spent with a father will teach you a certain understanding of live and how to cope and deal with things. The lack of a father being there can also teach you how to deal with life – and that’s what 'Sins Of The Father' is about ... That statement was made because that’s something that I felt." Usher added that the song itself is a "kind of testament" for the father he is.[1]
Gleyder "Gee" Disla and Mark "Exit" Goodchild recorded "Sins of My Father" at Jungle City Studios in New York City, Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank and Instrument Zoo in Miami.[3] Alex Fremin, Jacob Dennis, Max Unruh and Ramon Rivas served as recording assistants. It was mixed by Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Sound Studio in Universal City, while Chris Galland and Delbert Bowers served as a mixing assistant. The track's producer Remi together with Vincent Henry and Czech Film Orchestra, provided the "Sins of My Father" instrumentation.[3]
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Sins of My Father" is a
Lyrically, "Sins of My Father" dramatic narrative has been compared to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean (1983).[9] The song begins with Usher gasping "My sons, Keep them ... please forgive me." Unterberger of Popdust concluded that the track gets more intense, as Usher sings in the song's opening verse: "I think this woman went and put a hex on me / Oh now, why’d I let her go and put that sex on me?". The pre-chorus features Usher yelping in falsetto: "But she didn’t make me pay for it with my money! / OWWWW!!!".[2] According to Erika Ramirez of Billboard magazine, "Usher soulfully pays for his father's promiscuous ways over melodic soundcapes".[4]
Critical reception
"Sins of My Father" received universal acclaim from music critics. Nathan S. of DJBooth called the "openly autobiographical" song the most affecting track he has "done in years". He concluded by stating: "I can't think of any other artist of Usher's status who would tie his cheating ways to an absent father, and for that he deserves some applause".[10] Eric Arredondo of Beats Per Minute stated that in "Sins of My Father", Usher shows "more bite in his voice" than he has ever heard before, and that "it helps to make a song that is both fun and slightly sinister".[11] Natalie Shaw of BBC Music called "Sins of My Father" outstanding, commenting that Usher's "slink here sounds sinister, for the first time, fearing he'll fall under a demon woman's deathly voodoo while slack, deep beats play out".[12]
Credits and personnel
- Recording and mixing
- Recorded at Jungle City Studios, New York City; Miami, Florida; 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
Upon the release of Looking 4 Myself, due to digital downloads, "Sins of My Father" charted in lower regions on the singles chart in South Korea. It debuted on the South Korea
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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South Korea Gaon International Chart[15]
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62 |
References
- ^ a b c d Verse (June 5, 2012). "Usher – 'Sins Of My Father' (prod by Salaam Remi): Music". SoulCulture. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Unterberger, Andrew (June 5, 2012). "Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself' Reviewed, 'Sins of My Father'". Popdust. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Looking 4 Myself (inlay cover). Usher. RCA Records. 2012.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d Ramirez, Erika (June 8, 2012). "Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself': Track-by-Track Review - The Juice". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "Looking 4 Myself (Deluxe Edition) by Usher". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Enderson, Eric (June 18, 2012). "Usher: Looking 4 Myself". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Trent (June 19, 2012). "Album Review: Usher – 'Looking 4 Myself'". The Lava Lizard. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "Usher's Classic R&B Dances On The Cutting Edge". KRVS. June 10, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ S, Nathan. "Usher - Looking 4 Myself". DJ Booth. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Arredondo, Eric (June 18, 2012). "Usher - Looking 4 Myself". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Shaw, Natalie (June 11, 2012). "Review of Usher - Looking 4 Myself". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ "Review: Round Up, Usher Looking 4 Myself". Rap-Up. Devine Lazerine. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Gaon Chart. Archived from the originalon December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
External links
- Sins Of My Father official audio on YouTube