Moving Mountains (song)

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"Moving Mountains" was written by The-Dream, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Usher, and produced by The-Dream and Stewart. Recorded at Triangle Sound Studios and Chalice Recording Studios, it was leaked in February 2008,{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2008/page/249/ |title=New Music: Usher – 'I Can't Win' & 'Moving Mountains' |work=Rap-Up |date=February 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010061825/http://www.rap-up.com/2008/page/249/ |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2010}} before being officially released for sale on May 23, 2008.

"Moving Mountains" is a slow jam ballad, and contains synth beats and electronic influences.{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-05-27/music/usher-doesn-t-have-sex-anymore/ |title=Usher Doesn't Have Sex Anymore |first=Clover |last=Hope |work=The Village Voice |publisher=Village Voice Media |date=May 27, 2008 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629125635/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-05-27/music/usher-doesn-t-have-sex-anymore/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608232111/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=120EF0FED2562338&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Review: Here I Stand |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 27, 2008 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=120EF0FED2562338&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=October 23, 2010}} [http://www.jimdero.com/News2008/Usher.htm Alt URL] Portions of the song follow a chord progression used in OneRepublic's "Apologize".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2008/07/usher_moving_mountains.shtml |title=Usher – 'Moving Mountains' |first=Fraser |last=McAlpine |publisher=BBC Radio 1. BBC |date=July 17, 2008 |access-date=October 31, 2010}} Partway through the song the beat is adjusted, while the musical instruments are accentuated.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2008/05/20/album-preview-usher-here-i-stand/ |title=Album Preview: Usher – 'Here I Stand' |first=Angela |last=Barrett |location=New York |work=Rap-Up |access-date=November 6, 2010}} Usher's voice ranges from tenor to falsetto. The song's lyrics are of a "struggle to get through to his girl",{{cite web |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080603/33/21z3i.html |title=Usher – Here I Stand |publisher=Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! |date=June 3, 2008 |access-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613144021/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080603/33/21z3i.html |url-status=dead }} and contain an extended metaphor, relating his fight for love to that of moving mountains, wishing for the situation to change.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/05/24/usher-setting-record-straight/ |title=Usher: From His Wild Past to His Hot New CD |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Time Warner |issue=994 |date=May 30, 2008 |access-date=November 6, 2010 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020014312/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20201656_5,00.html |url-status=live }} Fraser McAlpine from BBC called it "a cold, sad song with cold, sad lyrics".

Leah Greenblatt called it "an easy pick" as a single,{{cite magazine|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/27/usher.review/ |title=Review: Usher makes his 'Stand' and delivers |first=Leah |last=Greenblatt |magazine=Entertainment Weekly (Time Warner) |publisher=CNN |date=May 27, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2010}} while Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine lauded it as "further evidence that Usher always delivers musically".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/usher-here-i-stand/1379 |title=Usher: Here I Stand |first=Sal |last=Cinquemani |magazine=Slant Magazine |date=May 24, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2010}} "Moving Mountains" was dubbed by The Guardian{{'s}} Rosie Swash "a marked improvement on the sex-pestery" of "Love in This Club",{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/24/singles.club.fleet.foxes |title=Songs that say 'Up yours, Radio 1!' |first=Rosie |last=Swash |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 24, 2008 |access-date=October 31, 2010}} and the AbsolutePunk reviewer called it "one of Usher’s most impressive efforts to date", likening the song to Usher's 2004 single "Burn".{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=360031 |title=Usher – Here I Stand |website=AbsolutePunk |date=June 22, 2008 |access-date=November 1, 2010}} However, while Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy was impressed with the technicalities of Usher's vocals, he found it "hard to take Usher completely seriously when he insists on wailing each line", advising Usher to "stick to party bangers in the future".{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a108825/usher-moving-mountains.html |title=Usher: 'Moving Mountains' |website=Digital Spy |first=Alex |last=Fletcher |date=July 21, 2008}}

"Moving Mountains" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number seventy-two on the chart date June 14, 2008.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045170/lil-wayne-fends-off-coldplay-perry-on-hot-100 |title=Lil Wayne Fends Off Coldplay, Perry On Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=prometheus Global Media |access-date=November 30, 2010}} It peaked at number sixty-seven on August 2, 2008, falling off the chart two weeks later, after spending a total of nine weeks on the chart.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=usher|chart=all}} |title=Moving Mountains – Usher |magazine=Billboard |publisher=prometheus Global Media |access-date=November 4, 2010}} The song is Usher's lowest-peaking song on the Hot 100. It fared better on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, where it peaked at number eighteen and spent seventeen weeks on the chart. It placed at number eighty-four on the end-of-year R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Moving Mountains" reached number fifty-six on the Pop 100.

The song appeared on the UK Singles Chart in July 2008 at number sixty-seven, rising to peak at number twenty-five. After thirteen charting weeks it fell off the chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/usher/ |title=Usher |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=March 25, 2011}} "Moving Mountains" was commercially well received in the rest of Europe, reaching the high point of number twenty-two on the European Hot 100 Singles. In individual countries, the song reached the top forty in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Slovakia and Sweden. It also appeared on the Ultratop charts in both Flanders and Wallonia at number twenty. The song also had chart success in Japan and Australia, reaching the high positions of thirty-three and thirty-six, respectively. "Moving Mountains" had the most impact in New Zealand, where it reached number six on the singles chart, and, on March 29, 2009, was certified gold by the RIANZ for over 7,500 sales.{{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=63 |title=Latest Gold / Platinum Singles |date=March 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195729/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=63 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2011}} The song ranked at number forty-seven on the New Zealand 2008 year-end Singles Chart.

The music video to "Moving Mountains" was released on May 21, 2008. Directed by the Brothers Strause,{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/usher/235341/moving-mountains.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105120734/http://www.mtv.com/videos/usher/235341/moving-mountains.jhtml#id=1598539 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2008 |title=Usher – Moving Mountains |publisher=MTV. Viacom|access-date=October 7, 2013}} it is a continuation of the video for "Love in This Club".{{cite web |url=http://www.kovideo.net/moving-mountains-video-usher-778222.html |title=Moving Mountains Video – Usher |publisher=KOvideo.net |access-date=October 31, 2010 |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804144735/http://www.kovideo.net/moving-mountains-video-usher-778222.html |url-status=dead }} The video was shot in front of a green screen.{{cite web |url=http://idolator.com/392949/usher-braves-the-green+screen-elements |title=Usher Braves The Green-Screen Elements |publisher=Idolator. (Buzz Media) |date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=November 7, 2010}}

The video begins with Usher exiting the club in which the "Love in This Club" video takes place, then shows a fiery transition into the next scene, showing the burnt-down club. As the song begins, Usher inspects the smoking ruins and imagines a woman in a shard of a broken mirror. He travels through a desert, and takes off his jacket to reveal a tight-fitting t-shirt,{{cite web |url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/06/25/newish-video-usher-moving-mountains/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406160634/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/06/25/newish-video-usher-moving-mountains/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |title=New(ish) Video: Usher, 'Moving Mountains' |publisher=MTV |date=June 25, 2008 |access-date=November 30, 2010}} and again imagines the woman, this time in a desert pond. Upon reaching a mountain on which his love interest appears, Usher climb the mountain and rain starts to fall. When he reaches the top of the mountain, the rain clears to be replaced by snowfall. Usher finds that the woman is, yet again, merely an illusion. He opens a locket to reveal a portrait of himself and his partner, which freezes over and cracks. As the video ends, Usher kneels, and the mountains breaks around him, leaving a sole pillar for him to stand on.

Idolator noted similarities in some scenery between the music video and Madonna's "Frozen" video. It was placed at number eight on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008 list.{{cite web |url=http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/notarized_2008_+article.htm |title=Top 100 Video List |publisher=Black Entertainment Television |date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224233903/http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/notarized_2008_+article.htm |archive-date=December 24, 2008}} The music video on YouTube has received over 110 million views as of May 2024.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQr-HmfXZ-Q Usher - Moving Mountains].YouTube

Credits lifted from the liner notes of Here I Stand.{{cite AV media notes |title=Here I Stand |title-link=Here I Stand (Usher album) |others=Usher |year=2008 |publisher=LaFace Records}}

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• Kuk Harrell – writing, recording
• The-Dream – writing, production
• Christy Hall – assistant production
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing

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• Dave Pensado – mixing
• Christopher "Tricky" Stewart – writing, production
• Usher – writing, vocals
• Andrew Wuepper – assistant mixing

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;CD single

1. "Moving Mountains"
2. "Moving Mountains" (instrumental)
3. "Moving Mountains" (FP remix)
4. "Moving Mountains" (J Remy & BobbyBass Remix)
5. "Moving Mountains" (music video)

;Japanese Remixes CD{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=448341 |title=Usher Moving Mountains – Remixes Japan CD |publisher=eil.com |access-date=October 23, 2010}}

1. "Moving Mountains" (radio edit) – 4:00
2. "Moving Mountains" (FP Remix) – 3:05
3. "Moving Mountains" (J Remy & BobbyBass Remix) – 4:33
4. "Moving Mountains" (Pokerface Remix) – 5:07
5. "Moving Mountains" (23 Deluxe) – 5:58

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;UK CD Single{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/images/B001B1QU06?img=1 |title=Moving Mountains: Usher |website=Amazon |access-date=November 29, 2010}}

1. "Moving Mountains" – 5:01
2. "Love in This Club Part II" (featuring Beyoncé) – 4:19

;Digital EP{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/moving-mountains-ep/284679370 |title=Moving Mountains – EP |date=13 May 2008 |publisher=iTunes Store. Apple.com |access-date=November 29, 2010}}

1. "Moving Mountains" – 4:57
2. "Moving Mountains" (Full Phatt Remix) – 3:06
3. "Moving Mountains" (Pokerface Remix) – 5:09
4. "Moving Mountains" (23 Deluxe Remix) – 5:58

;Finnish Digital EP

1. "Moving Mountains" – 4:57
2. "Moving Mountains" (instrumental) – 4:57
3. "Moving Mountains" (FP Remix) – 3:05
4. "Moving Mountains" (Pokerface Remix) – 4:33

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Moving Mountains"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|title=Moving Mountains|artist=Usher|award=Gold|certyear=2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|title=Moving Mountains Up|artist=Usher|award=Gold|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|source=archive}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Moving Mountains|artist=Usher|award=Platinum|certyear=2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true | streaming=true}}

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{{Usher singles}}

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Category:2008 singles

Category:Usher (musician) songs

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Songs written by Tricky Stewart

Category:Song recordings produced by Tricky Stewart

Category:Songs written by The-Dream

Category:Songs written by Kuk Harrell

Category:Songs written by Usher (musician)

Category:2008 songs

Category:2000s ballads

Category:LaFace Records singles