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U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

| cover = Brandy Norwood – U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To).jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Brandy

| album = Never Say Never

| released = {{start date|1999|9|14}}{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds / AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1316|pages=54, 60, 67|date=September 10, 1999}}

| recorded = 1998{{snd}}July 12, 1999{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAEAEBF4B608087&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Press of Atlantic City, pressofAtlanticCity.com – Archives |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com |date=July 13, 1999 |access-date=December 16, 2010}}

| studio =

  • Enterprise Studios (Burbank, CA){{cite AV media notes|title=Never Say Never|others=Brandy|year=1998|publisher=Atlantic Records|type=booklet}}
  • Pacifique Recording Studios (North Hollywood, CA){{cite AV media notes|title=Never Say Never|others=Brandy|year=1998|publisher=Atlantic Records|type=booklet}}

| genre = Electrohop{{cite news|last=Seymour|first=Craig|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/the-boy-is-whose/|title=The Boy Is Whose?|newspaper=The Village Voice|date=August 4, 1998|access-date=August 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916065220/https://www.villagevoice.com/1998/08/04/the-boy-is-whose/|url-status=live|archive-date=September 16, 2018|quote=Tracks like the electrohop “U Don’t Know Me (Like U Used To)” ....}}

| length = 4:29

| label = Atlantic

| writer =

| producer = Rodney Jerkins

| prev_title = Almost Doesn't Count

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = (Everything I Do) I Do It for You

| next_year = 1999

| misc =

}}

"U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Isaac Phillips, Paris Davis, Sean Bryant, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Norwood for her second studio album Never Say Never (1998). Production was handled by Jerkins, with additional production from Norwood.

The song was released as the album's fifth US single and sixth overall single from Never Say Never in September 1999. The track peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, also reaching the top 20 of the UK Dance and UK R&B charts. A remix version of the track featuring female rappers Shaunta and Da Brat was accompanied by a remix EP entitled U Don't Know Me... Like U Used to – The Remix EP and a second music video, directed by Martin Weisz, featuring alternative visuals.

Critical reception

Billboard editor Chuck Taylor called "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" a "summery, you-can-sing-along-with-the-hook record." He compared the favorably to Norwood's debut single "I Wanna Be Down," citing it "hypnotic," and found that her "rougher-than-usual vocals styles at times even sound like Mary J. Blige."{{cite magazine|first=Chuck|last=Taylor|title=Singles|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nggEAAAAMBAJ|date=August 28, 1999|access-date=May 10, 2020}} Da’Shan Smith from Revolt declared the song one of Never Say Never{{'}}s "outstanding cuts" and found that it recalls "the '94 days of Brandy, but elevated it for the '98 present and subsequent future."{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/2018/5/30/20824929/master-class-a-comprehensive-history-of-the-electro-hop-amp-b-genre-in-the-90s-amp-2000s|title=Master Class: A comprehensive history of the Electro-Hop&B genre in the 90s & 2000s |website=revolt.tv|last=Smith|first=Da’Shan |date=May 30, 2018|access-date=May 10, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/2018/6/8/20824953/revisiting-brandy-s-never-say-never-20-years-later|title=Revisiting Brandy's 'Never Say Never' 20 years later |website=revolt.tv|last=Smith|first=Da’Shan |date=June 8, 2018|access-date=May 10, 2020}}

Music video

A music video for "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" was filmed by German director Martin Weisz. A Matrix-themed clip, it begins with people walking in front of a building and later on a sidewalk. They pause periodically and speed up as Norwood sings.{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9876562/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl |title = Brandy: U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) (Video 1999)| website=IMDb |access-date=May 10, 2020}} Weisz also directed a video for the remix version of the song, featuring Norwood, Shaunta, and Da Brat singing as people walk by on a pedestrian walk.{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9876576/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl |title = Brandy Feat. Shaunta & da Brat: U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To), Remix (Video 1999)| website=IMDb |access-date=May 10, 2020}}

Track listings

{{Track listing

| headline = US CD single

| title1 = U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

| note1 = remix radio edit

| length1 = 4:03

| title2 = U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

| note2 = album version

| length2 = 4:29

| title3 = U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

| note3 = remix instrumental

| length3 = 4:05

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = International CD single

| title1 = Never Say Never

| note1 = Jazz Animal Remix

| length1 = 4:25

| title2 = U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

| note2 = remix

| length2 = 3:59

| title3 = U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

| note3 = album version

| length3 = 4:27

| title4 = Never Say Never

| note4 = album version

| length4 = 5:09

}}

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Never Say Never|others=Brandy|year=1998|publisher=Atlantic Records|type=booklet}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • Brandy Norwood – writing, lead vocals, additional production
  • Rodney Jerkins – writing, all music, production
  • Sean Bryant – writing
  • Paris Davis – writing
  • Isaac Phillips – writing

{{col-2}}

  • LaShawn Daniels – recording
  • Brad Gilderman – recording
  • Victor McCoy – recording
  • Dexter Simmons – mixing

{{col-end}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_B.HTM|title=Chart Log UK - 1994–2010 |publisher=zobbel.de|access-date=June 13, 2022}}

|align="center"|180

{{single chart|UKdance|13|date=19991107|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2017}}
{{single chart|UKrandb|19|date=19991121|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|79|artist=Brandy|song=U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2011}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|25|artist=Brandy|song=U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2011}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" |Region

! scope="col" |Date

! scope="col" |Format

! scope="col" |Label

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

scope="row" |United States

|September 14, 1999

|{{hlist|Rhythmic contemporary|urban|urban adult contemporary radio}}

| rowspan="2"| Atlantic

|{{center|{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds / AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1316|pages=54, 60, 67|date=September 10, 1999}}{{cite magazine|title=Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2272|page=11|date=September 13, 1999}}}}

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| November 14, 1999

| {{hlist|CD|cassette}}

| {{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-11-06.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 8 November, 1999|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=November 6, 1999}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Brandy Norwood}}

{{Brandy Norwood singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1998 songs

Category:1999 singles

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:Brandy Norwood songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Rodney Jerkins

Category:Songs written by Brandy Norwood

Category:Songs written by Rodney Jerkins