Think of You (Usher song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Think of You

| cover = Think of You (Usher song).png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Usher

| album = Usher

| released = November 10, 1994

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| length = 3:45 (album mix)

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = Can U Get wit It

| prev_year = 1994

| next_title = The Many Ways

| next_year = 1995

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|mtv3iZ_wRis|"Think Of You"}}}}

}}

"Think of You" is a song by American musician Usher. It was co-written by Usher alongside LaFace Records labelmate Donell Jones and Bad Boy singer Faith Evans for his self-titled debut album (1994). The song samples a groove from the instrumental track "Tidal Wave" (1975) by American jazz musician Ronnie Laws, also featuring vocals from rapper Biz Markie's "Just Rhymin' With Biz" (1987). Lyrically, "Think of You" finds the protagonist going through a breakup and dealing with conflicting feelings about his ex.

The song was released as the album's second single in November 1994 and emergd as Usher highest-charting song up to then: It became his first top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, reaching number eight, while also peaking at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's accompanying music video, directed Hype Williams, features a young Taral Hicks and depicts Usher dancing and performing against an industrial backdrop.

Background

"Think of You" was written by Usher along with labelmates Donell Jones and Faith Evans. Production was overseen by Chucky Thompson and Sean "Puffy" Combs. The song contains a sample from the 1975 instrumental "Tidal Wave" by American jazz musician Ronnie Laws. It further samples the vocals "yes, yes y'all [...] to the beat y'all" from rapper Biz Markie's 1987 Big Daddy Kane collaboration "Just Rhymin' With Biz." Markie is credited as a special guest on the track.

Thompson later commented on the creation of the song: "I did a record for Usher called "Think of You" and [Evans] came in and wrote, Donell Jones wrote. I actually made that record before I met Puff as well. When I sent it up there, I had no idea what was gonna happen to it. He just had writer sessions or whatever, next thing I know they pressed play and here comes "Think of You"."{{cite web|title=Chucky Thompson Talks Creating Faith Evans’ Debut “Faith” and the History Behind the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Big Poppa” (Part 2)|url=https://youknowigotsoul.com/interview-chucky-thompson-part-2|website=youknowigotsoul.com|date=June 1, 2011|access-date=February 12, 2024}} In 2023, Usher further remarked that "Can U Get Wit It" was "cool. But "Think of You" was "okay, I’ve got enough to hook. I got enough skin in the game to stay. They can’t get rid of me yet." You know what I’m saying?"{{cite web|first=Mya|last=Abraham|title=Outtakes From Our Conversation With Usher|url=https://www.vibe.com/lists/usher-digital-cover-outtakes/on-the-foundation-of-rb/|website=Vibe|date=August 5, 2023|access-date=February 12, 2024}}

Music video

A music video for "Think of You" was directed by Hype Williams. It features a young Taral Hicks that Usher is singing to.{{cite web|title=Usher: Think of You|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8641134/?ref_=tt_ch|website=IMDb|access-date=February 12, 2024}}

Track listing

All tracks written by Usher Raymond, Donell Jones, and Faith Evans.

{{Track listing

| headline = US CD single{{cite web|title=Usher, Think of You (CD, Maxi-Single)|url=https://www.cdandlp.com/de/usher/think-of-you/cd/r2402188089/|website=cdandlp.com|access-date=February 12, 2024}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Think of You

| note1 = album version

| extra1 = {{hlist|Sean "Puffy" Combs|Chucky Thompson}}

| length1 = 3:48

| title2 = Think of You

| note2 = So So Def remix

| extra2 = {{hlist|Combs|Thompson|Jermaine Dupri{{ref|a|[a]}}|Shannon Houchins{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length2 = 3:45

| title3 = Think of You

| note3 = So So Def extended mix

| extra3 = {{hlist|Combs|Thompson|Dupri{{ref|a|[a]}}|Houchins{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 5:10

| title4 = Think of You

| note4 = album instrumental

| extra4 = {{hlist|Combs|Thompson}}

| length4 = 3:48

| title5 = Think of You

| note5 = Bad Boy remix

| extra5 = {{hlist|Combs|Thompson}}

| length5 = 4:16

}}

Notes

{{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} denotes remix producer(s)
{{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} denotes co-producer(s)

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of Usher.

"Prince Charles" Alexander – mixing, recording
Sean "Puffy" Combs – mixing, producer
Faith Evans – background vocals, lyrics

Donell Jones – lyrics
Usher Raymond – lyrics, vocals
Chucky Thompson – music, producer

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Think of You"

! scope="col"| Chart (1994–1995)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|UK|70|date=19950312|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2021}}

{{single chart|UKdance|33|date=19950312|rowheader=true|access-date=May 22, 2022}}

{{single chart|UKrandb|10|date=19950312|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2022}}

{{single chart|Billboardhot100|58|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|8|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|23|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 22, 2022}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "Think of You" ! scope="col"\| Chart (1995) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=May 1, 2021}} \| 36

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Think of You"

! scope="col"| Chart (1995)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 1, 2021}}

| 36

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release history for "Think of You" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\|United States \|November 10, 1994 \|{{hlist\|12-inch vinyl\|CD\|cassette}} \|LaFace \|{{citation needed\|date=March 2023}}
scope="row"\|United Kingdom \|March 6, 1995 \|{{hlist\|12-inch vinyl\|CD}} \|{{hlist\|LaFace\|Arista}} \|{{cite magazine\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=31\|date=March 4, 1995}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history for "Think of You"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|November 10, 1994

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|LaFace

|{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}