Can't Help but Wait
{{Infobox song
| name = Can't Help But Wait
| cover = Treycanthelp.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Trey Songz
| album = Trey Day
| released = August 6, 2007
| recorded = 2007
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = R&B
| length = 3:27
| label = Atlantic
| writer = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = Stargate
| prev_title = Wonder Woman
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Last Time
| next_year = 2008
}}
"Can't Help but Wait" is the second single from the Trey Songz album Trey Day. The song is written by Johntá Austin, Mikkel S. Eriksen, and Tor Erik Hermansen.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/trey_songz/can_t_help_but_wait/19697745/lyrics.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024123955/http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/trey_songz/can_t_help_but_wait/19697745/lyrics.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 24, 2008 |title=Trey Songz Song Lyrics | Search for Free Trey Songz's Lyrics |publisher=MTV |date= |accessdate=2012-02-09}} On the issue date of October 6, 2007, the single debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 99. Canadian actress Rosemary De Los Santos appears in the video as the girlfriend and American actor Jackie Long (ATL) appears in the video as the abusive boyfriend. "Can't Help but Wait" peaked within the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100, at number 14 the week ending December 22, 2007. The video was filmed in Toronto, Ontario. The song was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
{{TOC limit|limit=2}}
Background and composition
{{Listen
| filename = Can't Help But Wait.ogg
| title = "Can't Help But Wait"
| description = A mid-tempo number, the song speaks of an abusive relationship.
| pos = left
}}
The duo of producers Stargate originally created the song's instrumental for a song titled "If", made for Beyonce's 2006 album B'Day, with lyrics written by Ne-Yo. Uploads of Ne-Yo's "If" demo can be found on YouTube.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DHT1VjdbW0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/4DHT1VjdbW0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=If By Ne-Yo (Beyonce Demo) |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=June 21, 2018}}{{cbignore}}
"Can't Help But Wait" was fully written by Johntá Austin. The song was sent for United States rhythmic contemporary airplay on August 7, 2007 by Songbook and Atlantic Records. Elsewhere, "Can't Help But Wait" was released as a one-track digital download by WEA International on August 28, 2007. Additionally, Atlantic Records released a CD single on March 17, 2008 in the United Kingdom.
According to the sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Can't Help But Wait" is an R&B song set in 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 E{{music|flat}}maj7–Cm9–Gm9–Gm, and Songz' voice in the song spans from F4 to G5.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0062608 |title=Trey Songz – Can't Help But Wait Sheet Music |publisher=Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing |accessdate=June 9, 2011}} "Can't Help But Wait" is about Songz wanting a woman who is mistreated by her boyfriend;{{cite web |url=http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/TreyDay.htm |title=Album Review: Trey Songz - 'Trey Day' |first=Mark Edward |last=Nero |publisher=About.com. The New York Times Company |accessdate=June 19, 2011 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622081646/http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/TreyDay.htm |url-status=dead }} he attempts to persuade the woman to leave her partner and gives examples of how women can be treated courteously. 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580337/mixtape-monday-lupe-fiasco-plans-viral-video.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116055514/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580337/mixtape-monday-lupe-fiasco-plans-viral-video.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |title=Mixtape Monday: Lupe Fiasco Plans His Cool Viral Video; Joe Budden Compares Jay-Z To A 'Bully' |first1=Shaheem |last1=Reid |first2=Jayson |last2=Rodriguez |first3=Rahman |last3=Dukes |publisher=MTV News. MTV |date=January 28, 2008 |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}
Critical reception
"Can't Help But Wait" was selected as one of Trey Day{{'s}} best tracks in Allmusic's review of the album.{{allMusic|id=r1069892 |class=album |label=Trey Day |accessdate=June 19, 2011}} A reviewer for Billboard lauded the songwriting and production of the number, and praised the maturity that Songz showed on the tune.{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rw4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61 |title=The Billboard Reviews - Singles |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=October 27, 2007 |volume=119 |issue=43 |page=61 |issn=0006-2510}} Writing for 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". It was ranked at number twenty-three on MTV News' list of the 27 Essential R&B Songs of 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1576858/tpain-beyonce-more-our-fave-rb-acts-07.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605193820/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1576858/tpain-beyonce-more-our-fave-rb-acts-07.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |title=T-Pain, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake And More Are Our Favorite R&B Acts Of 2007 |first1=Shaheem |last1=Reid |first2=Jayson |last2=Rodriguez |first3=Rahman |last3=Dukes |publisher=MTV News. MTV |date=December 20, 2007 |accessdate=June 17, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2008/01/24/new-music-trey-songz-f-lil-wayne-cant-help-but-wait-remix/ |title=New Music: Trey Songz f/ Lil Wayne – 'Can't Help But Wait (Remix)' |work=Rap-Up |date=January 24, 2008 |accessdate=June 19, 2011}} "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".{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/grammy-2009-winners-list.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315220109/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/grammy-2009-winners-list.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |title=Grammy 2009 Winners List |publisher=MTV News. MTV |date=February 8, 2009 |accessdate=January 22, 2011}}
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.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-08-25/r-b-hip-hop-songs?order=gainer |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=August 25, 2007 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} On December 15, 2007 it reached its peak position of number two,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-15/r-b-hip-hop-songs |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=December 15, 2007 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} where it remained the following week.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-22/r-b-hip-hop-songs |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=December 22, 2007 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} 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.{{cite magazine |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=trey songz|chart=all}} |title=Can't Help But Wait - Trey Songz |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |accessdate=June 26, 2011}}
The song debuted at number ninety-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated October 6, 2007.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-10-06/hot-100?order=gainer |title=Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=October 6, 2007 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} "Can't Help But Wait" rose to number fourteen on the Hot 100 on December 22, 2007. achieved during its second week at number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-22/hot-100?order=gainer |title=Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=December 22, 2007 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} The song fell off the Hot 100 in March 2008, having spent twenty-four weeks on the chart. "Can't Help But Wait" appeared on the Pop 100 and Rhythmic Top 40, and reached numbers seventy-four and six, respectively. "Can't Help But Wait" made its debut on the UK Singles Chart at number 163 on March 29, 2008;{{cite web |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/080329cluk.txt |title=Chart Log UK: New Entries Update |date=March 29, 2008 |publisher=Zobbel.de |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} it peaked at number 115.
Track listing
;CD single
- "Can't Help But Wait"
- "Can't Help But Wait" {{small|(instrumental)}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2007–2008)
!scope="col"|Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_T.HTM |title=Chart Log UK |publisher=Zobbel.de |accessdate=June 26, 2011}}
| style="text-align:center;"|115 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|14|artist=Trey Songz|accessdate=April 11, 2019|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|2|artist=Trey Songz|accessdate=April 11, 2019|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|US Pop 100 (Billboard){{AllMusic |id=r1069892 |class=album |label=Trey Day |accessdate=June 9, 2011 |tab=charts-awards/billboard-single}}
| style="text-align:center;"|74 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|6|artist=Trey Songz|accessdate=April 11, 2019|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2007/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |year=2007 |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}
| style="text-align:center;"|76 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2008)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2008/hot-100-songs |title=Hot 100 Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |year=2008 |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}
| style="text-align:center;"|86 |
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2008/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |year=2008 |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}
| style="text-align:center;"|10 |
| scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2008/hot-rhythmic-songs |title=Rhythmic Songs |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |year=2008 |accessdate=June 9, 2011}}
| style="text-align:center;"|31 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Trey Songz|title=Can't Help But Wait|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2014}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true | nosales=true}}
Radio and release history
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{YouTube|iF_JBlSh_G8|"Can't Help But Wait" music video}}
{{Trey Songz}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Can't Help But Wait}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Stargate (record producers)
Category:Songs written by Johntá Austin
Category:Songs written by Tor Erik Hermansen