Train on a Track

{{Infobox song

| name = Train on a Track

| cover = Kellyrowland trainonatrack.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Kelly Rowland

| album = Simply Deep

| released = {{start date|2003|8|4}}

| recorded = 2002

| studio = The Hit Factory
(New York City, New York)

| genre = {{hlist|Acoustic|rock|soft rock{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article858930.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517040919/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article858930.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2011|title=Kelly Rowland: Simply Deep|first=Lisa|last=Verrico|date=January 31, 2003|newspaper=The Times|accessdate=September 9, 2023|quote=the slightly more adventurous Train on a Track, which dips a toe in soft rock.}}}}

| length = 3:43

| label = {{hlist|Columbia|Music World}}

| writer = {{hlist|Rob Fusari|Sylvester Jordan Jr.|Balewa Muhammad|Tiaa Wells}}

| producer = Rob Fusari

| prev_title = Can't Nobody

| prev_year = 2003

| next_title = Une femme en prison

| next_year = 2003

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|C3Sj8Z1pb3k|"Train on a Track"}}|header=Music video}}

}}

"Train on a Track" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written by Rob Fusari, Sylvester Jordan Jr., Balewa Muhammad, and Tiaa Wells and recorded by Rowland for her solo debut album Simply Deep (2002), while production was helmed by Fusari. A light and breezy pop rock song that is built around an acoustic guitar-driven instrumentation, the love song has Rowland singing about a person whom she considers her equal in every manner. The song's musical composition, as well as Rowland's harmonies and the poetic wordplay of its lyrics, positively surprised critics.

The song was released as the third international and final single from Simply Deep in August 2003. A moderate commercial success, it became Rowland's fourth consecutive the top twenty entry on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number twenty. In addition, "Train on a Track" charted in Australia, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Switzerland. An accompanying music video was directed by Antti Jokinen and filmed in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney in mid-2003. In support of its single release, Rowland made the song part of her Simply Deeper Tour (2003) setlist and performed it at the TMF Awards. It was also featured on the soundtracks to the romantic comedy films The Seat Filler (2004) and Maid in Manhattan (2002).

Background

After the release of her former group Destiny's Child's 2001 album Survivor, Rowland launched a solo career when American rapper Nelly asked her to appear as a feature volalist on his song "Dilemma". The record originally appeared on his album Nellyville (2002) and was released as its third single. An instant success, it became a worldwide number-one hit that year and prompted Rowland's label Columbia Records to advance the release date of her solo album from 2003 to late 2002 to capitalize on the success of "Dilemma".{{Cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Destiny's Child's Long Road To Fame (The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' For Nothing)|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1504044/20050613/destinys_child.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050616030354/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1504044/20050613/destinys_child.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2005|work=MTV News|date=June 13, 2005 |accessdate=December 24, 2019}} Rowland was forced to complete the album within a month.{{Cite news|first=Joanna |last=Chaundy |title=Kelly Rowland: Single Black Female |url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/100/kelly_rowland/ |work=Blues & Soul |date=July 2, 2007 |accessdate=December 25, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705040558/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/100/kelly_rowland |archive-date=July 5, 2012}}{{Cite news|last=Moss |first=Corey |title=Nelly Hit Forces Change In Plans For Destiny's Child LPs |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1456206/20020722/destinys_child.jhtml |work=MTV News |date=July 22, 2002 |accessdate=December 24, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022134409/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1456206/destinys-child-solo-lps-shift-dates.jhtml |archive-date=October 22, 2012 }} "Train on a Track" was contributed by producer and songwriter Rob Fusari with whom Rowland had previously worked with on Survivor. Fusari co-wrote the song along with Balewa Muhammad, Tiaa Wells, and Sylvester Jordan Jr. While chief production was overseen by Fusari, vocal production was handled by Wells and Jordan. Commenting on his involvement with Simply Deep, Fusari said: "I really liked working on Kelly’s album, because it gave me the opportunity to stretch a bit musically. "Train on a Track" [...] has a more folk/acoustic sound, more in the vein of Natalie Imbruglia than pure R&B. Kelly was also fun to work with. She's very nice and caring, and she's also a star."{{cite web|first= Dale |last=Kawashima|url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/fusari.htm|title=Rob Fusari Co-Writes & Produces Top Hits For Destiny's Child, Will Smith And Other Artists|website=songwriteruniverse.com|date=4 December 2013 |accessdate=January 4, 2020}}

Critical reception

"Train on a Track" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Sal Cinquemani of Slant complimented the track for its "light and breezy" nature and named it, along with "(Love Lives In) Strange Places", Simply Deep{{'}}s best tracks. He found that both records "infuse the singer’s lush harmonies with acoustic guitars and poetic wordplay."{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/kelly-rowland-simply-deep/214|title=ALBUM REVIEW: Kelly Rowland – Simply Deep|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|date=November 2, 2002|publisher=Slant|accessdate=December 25, 2019}} Houston Chronicle journalist Michael D. Clark called the song "a daring singer-songwriter rock departure."{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Album-review-Simply-Deep-by-Kelly-Rowland-2097121.php|title=Album review: 'Simply Deep' by Kelly Rowland|date=October 27, 2002|publisher=Houston Chronicle|accessdate=December 25, 2019|quote=a daring singer-songwriter rock departure.}} AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien wrote in his review, that "gorgeous "Train on a Track," an acoustic-driven lament to the first flourishes of love [...] deviates from the late-night slow jam pastiche formula."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/simply-deep-r613495|title=Simply Deep – Kelly Rowland|website=AllMusic|accessdate=December 24, 2019|quote= "Train on a Track," an acoustic-driven lament to the first flourishes of love.}} BBC Music editor Joy Dunbar found that "Rowland makes a faint break from the Destinys Child ethos as "Train on a Track" attempts to rebel against her former sound with the occasional, edgy rock chords and heavy use of guitars. However, this uninspiring, longing love song tries too hard to promote her shift away from the group and interferes with the structure of the album."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/qj63|title=The Release Of Kelly Rowland's Debut Album Simply Deep, Firmly Fixes The Spotlight On...|date=March 31, 2003|publisher=BBC Music|accessdate=December 25, 2019}}

Music video

Image:Manly Beach.jpg's Northern Beaches.]]

The accompanying music video for "Train on a Track" was directed by Finnish director Antti Jokinen and filmed in the suburb of Palm Beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches region at the end of Rowland's Australian tour in mid-2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8412210/3|title=Kelly Rowland: Train on a Track (2003)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=December 26, 2019}} In the clip, a red-haired Rowland is seen dancing barefoot in the sand, wearing pink and blue pastel-colored dresses, while holding a pair of golden stilettos in her hands. Intercut are scenes of the singer sitting on the rocks by night and her laying on a lush sofa in a calm cave.

Upon its release, the music video for "Train on a Track" was included on the European maxi-single as an enhanced video element. It was later also included on the Japanese edition of Destiny's Child's Destiny's Child World Tour concert DVD, released in 2003, as well as the 2005 Wal-Mart exclusive edition of Destiny's Child's Fan Pack II DVD which was released along before the release of Number 1's (2005), and the 2007 Wal-Mart-exclusive DVD BET Presents Kelly Rowland.

Track listing and formats

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

International CD single I

  1. "Train on a Track" (album version)
  2. "Train on a Track" (HR Crump Remix)
  3. "Emotion" (live from Rotterdam audio version)
  4. "Train on a Track" (music video)

International CD single II

  1. "Train on a Track" (album version)
  2. "Can't Nobody" (Ced Solo NYC Remix)
  3. "Can't Nobody" (Ron G Remix)

{{col-2}}

Australian CD single{{cite web |url=http://www.sonymusic.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=674356.2 |title=Sony Music Entertainment :: Australia :: CD Releases |accessdate=2010-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019095406/http://www.sonymusic.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=674356.2 |archive-date=2009-10-19 }}

  1. "Train on a Track" (album version)
  2. "Train on a Track" (HR Crump Remix)
  3. "Train on a Track" (Rob Fusari Remix)
  4. "Can't Nobody" (Ron G Remix)

German Pock It-CD (2 track CD single)

  1. "Train on a Track" (album version)
  2. "Train on a Track" (Rob Fusari Remix)

{{col-end}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Simply Deep.{{cite AV media notes |title=Simply Deep|others=Kelly Rowland |date=2002|type=liner notes |publisher=Columbia Records}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

  • Nick Moroch – electric guitar
  • Flip Osman – instruments assistance
  • Kelly Rowland – vocals
  • Tiaa Wells – vocal production

{{col-end}}

Charts

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

!Chart (2003)

!Peak
position

{{singlechart|Australiapandora|61|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20031106130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20031107-0000/Issue714.pdf|urltitle=ARIAnet Week Commencing: 27th October 2003 Issue No: 714 |rowheader=true}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{single chart|Australiaurban|17|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222426/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20031207-0000/Issue717.pdf|urltitle=Issue 717|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2022}}
{{singlechart|Flanders Tip|16|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|accessdate=2018-06-01|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|Germany|93|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|songid=5770|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|Ireland3|44|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2003/week-40|title=Kelly Rowland- Train on a Track|language=nl|publisher=top40.nl}}

|align="center"|16

{{singlechart|Dutch100|83|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|Scotland|21|date=2003-08-15|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|Switzerland|67|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=258|20|artist=Kelly Rowland|song=Train on a Track|songid=31088|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|UKrandb|6|artist=Kelly Rowland|date=20030810|rowheader=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Train on a Track"

scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label(s)

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

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| August 4, 2003

| Two maxi CDs

| rowspan="3"| Columbia

| {{center|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-08-02.pdf|title=Key Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=August 2, 2003|access-date=September 8, 2021}}}}

scope="row"| Germany

| September 22, 2003

| {{hlist|CD|maxi CD|mini CD}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Kelly-Rowland/dp/B0000C433S|title=Kelly Rowland – Train on a Track|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment|accessdate=November 5, 2022}} Different formats can be selected among formats.}}

scope="row"| Australia

| October 20, 2003

| CD

| {{center|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue713.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20/10/2003|publisher=ARIA|page=25|date=October 20, 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222435/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20031107-0000/Issue713.pdf|archive-date=February 22, 2008|access-date=April 16, 2025}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}}}

References