Looking 4 Myself
Looking 4 Myself is the seventh studio album by American singer Usher. Released on June 8, 2012 by RCA Records, it is his first album for RCA after the October 2011 merger of the Jive Records group which also included his label, Arista Records, that resulted in both labels being consolidated into the RCA label group.[3][4] Many producers worked on the songs, and the album features appearances from Luke Steele and ASAP Rocky. Inspired by the electronic duo Empire of the Sun and listening to music originating from several locations, Usher intended the album to contain a more experimental sound, that remained relevant to the music of its time. Defined as "revolutionary pop" by the singer, critics noted that Looking 4 Myself is a dance-pop and R&B album that incorporates the genres pop, hip hop, electronic, Europop, and dubstep. Critic Barry Walters has noted how elements of some of its R&B songs were inspired by the emerging alternative R&B genre.[2]
Looking 4 Myself
June 8, 2012
2011–2012
56:56
- @Autorowhit
- Klas Åhlund
- Danja
- Diplo
- Earl & E
- @Flippa123
- Keith Harris
- Jim Jonsin
- Axwell
- Sebastian Ingrosso
- Steve Angello
- Alessandro Lindblad
- Rico Love
- Max Martin
- Pierre Medor
- Natural
- Omen
- Pharrell
- @Pop Wansel
- Ariel Rechtshaid
- Anthony Life
- Salaam Remi
- Frank Romano
- Noah "40" Shebib
- Shellback
- Luke Steele
- Swedish House Mafia
- Surahn
- will.i.am
The album debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 128,000 copies in its first week, becoming Usher's fourth number one album in the country. As of October 2014, Looking 4 Myself has sold 504,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[5] Worldwide, it attained top-ten positions in over eight other countries including Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Looking 4 Myself was supported by five singles: "Climax", "Scream", "Lemme See" featuring Rick Ross, "Numb", and "Dive". "Climax" peaked in the top-twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eleven weeks. "Scream" peaked in the top-ten on the Hot 100 and several other countries. "Numb" obtained moderate international chart success and peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Usher promoted for the Looking 4 Myself by performing in several shows; including the off-broadway show Fuerza Bruta: Look Up, Saturday Night Live and Good Morning America, among others. The tour has further be promoting the album, however, it was cancelled due to the singer's obligation as a coach on The Voice.
Singles[edit]
The album's lead single "Climax" was leaked on February 14, 2012 and digitally released on February 22.[39][40][29] "Climax" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number eighty-one with 31,000 digital units sold on the week of March 10, 2012 and has since peaked at number 17.[41][42] The song topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart marking Usher's twelfth number one single on the chart, and overtaking R. Kelly as the ninth artist with the most number one's. "Climax" sustained the number one position for eleven weeks, tying with his 1997 "You Make Me Wanna..." as his longest running number one single on the chart.[43] The accompanying music video was released on March 9, 2012, and was directed by Sam Pilling and filmed in Atlanta. The video shows Usher sitting in his car, contemplating on how to approach his ex-girlfriend inside her home, with numerous scenarios shown being thought out by Usher.[44] The video was nominated for Best Male Video at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, losing to Chris Brown's "Turn Up the Music".[45]
"Scream", the album's second single, premièred on SoundCloud on April 26, 2012. The song was produced by Savan Kotecha and Max Martin, the same duo who produced "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" (2010). "Scream" was made available for purchase as a digital download on April 27, 2012. It officially impacted the Top 40/Mainstream and rhythmic radio on May 1, 2012.[46] The song peaked in the top ten in several charts, including the Billboard Hot 100,[42] Canadian Hot 100,[47] Japan Hot 100,[48] Scottish Singles Chart[49] and UK Singles Chart.[50] An accompanying music video uses footage from Usher's performance in Fuerza Bruta in New York City.[51] In the video, Usher gets intimate with his love interest; his dancing and choreography was compared to Michael Jackson's.[52] The third single, "Lemme See" features rapper Rick Ross, and was made available for purchase as a digital download on May 4, 2012.[53] The song was released to urban radio on May 8, 2012 and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[54][55] Internationally, "Lemme See" peaked at number ninety in the United Kingdom,[56] and number eighty-eight in France.[57] The official music video for the song was released on June 14, 2012, and was directed by Philip Andelman.[58]
"Numb" is the album's fourth single, and was released to contemporary hit radio on August 28, 2012.[59] It was produced by Swedish House Mafia, who also co-wrote the song with Usher. The song received generally positive acclaim from contemporary music critics with many of them praising its club-oriented production, labeling it as a potential success as a single. "Numb" was a moderate worldwide success, reaching the top-forty in five countries including Belgium,[60] Germany[61] and Australia.[62] Usher released "Dive" as the fifth single, releasing the song to urban radio on August 28, 2012.[63][64] The song was well received by critics, who lauded Usher's falsetto and overall vocals. Directed by Chris Applebaum, its music video shows Usher getting intimate with Victoria's Secret Angel model Chanel Iman, who plays as his love interest.[65] "Dive" peaked on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number fifty, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 34.[55][66]
Commercial performance[edit]
Looking 4 Myself was predicted to sell 120,000 – 130,000 units during its first-week in the United States, based upon first day sales.[99][100] The figure was under-weight compared to his previous effort Raymond vs. Raymond (2010), which sold 329,000 units during the same period and to date has sold over two million copies worldwide.[6] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart on the week ending June 17, 2012, selling 128,000 copies in its first week.[100] The album marks Usher's fourth consecutive number one album.[101] In its second week, the album dropped to number six on the chart, selling an additional 48,000 copies.[102] In its third week, the album dropped to number nine on the chart, selling 36,000 more units.[103] In its fourth week, the album dropped to number fifteen,[104] and in its fifth week rose to number fourteen, selling 20,178 copies.[105] As of October 2014, the album has sold 504,000 copies in the United States.[5]
In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart, selling 27,000 units, giving Usher his fifth consecutive top-three album in the country.[106] It sold sixteen units less than Amy MacDonald's third studio album Life in a Beautiful Light which debuted one place ahead at number 2.[106] On August 21, 2015, the album was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), for sales of 100,000 copies.[107]
In Australia, the album debuted at number three on the ARIA Albums Chart, giving Usher his fifth consecutive top-five album in the country.[108] The album debuted at number fifteen on the Japanese Albums Chart, selling 6,727 copies, on the week ending June 17, 2012.[109] It debuted at number four on the Dutch Albums Chart,[108] and number five on the Swiss Albums Chart.[108] In New Zealand, the album peaked at number eleven on the New Zealand Albums Chart, while only remaining on the chart for five weeks.[108] In Canada, the album also debuted and peaked at number seven on the Canadian Albums Chart and Taiwan at number seven,[110][111] in Germany at number eight and South Africa at number ten.[108][112]
Aftermath[edit]
Looking 4 Myself debuted with the smallest first-week figures since Usher's second studio album My Way (1997), which opened with 67,000 copies.[101] The album's debut was a significant decrease relative to his previous effort Raymond v. Raymond (2010), which opened with 329,000 units.[101] Gail Mitchell of Billboard contemplated on whether this was due to the pop material present on the album.[113] Derrick Corbett, operator of urban based radio stations under Clear Channel Communications, credited its underwhelming sales to the "alienation" of Usher's core audience.[113] Neke Howse of WKYS believes it is because of the music industry evolving, saying that both Usher and label mate Chris Brown—who also experienced lower first week sales with his fifth studio album Fortune—will "be fine, and their albums will do OK".[113]
On August 2, 2012 Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony Group Corporation (which owns its American branch's music division and Usher's label, RCA Records) revealed their Q1 earnings for the year, with Looking 4 Myself largely contributing to the company's $92 million in revenue for the music sector.[114] In an interview with singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger by Rap-Up, the former explained that he, along with Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Brian Alexander Morgan, were working on Usher's next album.[115] Bellinger compared the album's music to Usher's Confessions (2004), saying that it is "more R&B, more urban" than Usher's Looking 4 Myself.[115] The latter declared that his next album would show that he is "still Usher".[115] The singer's follow-up non-album single—"Good Kisser"—was released on May 5, 2014 through digital download.[116]
Notes