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Weak (SWV song)

{{Short description|1993 single by SWV}}

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

{{Infobox song

| name = Weak

| cover = Weak (SWV song).gif

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = SWV

| album = It's About Time

| B-side = I'm So into You

| released = {{Start date|1993|4|16}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

  • 4:51 (album version)
  • 4:21 (single version)

| label = RCA

| writer = Brian Alexander Morgan

| producer = Brian Alexander Morgan

| prev_title = I'm So into You

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Right Here/Human Nature

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|976b8TPPFJU|"Weak"}}}}

}}

"Weak" is a song by American R&B vocal trio SWV from their debut studio album, It's About Time (1992). It was written and produced by Brian Alexander Morgan, who composed the lyrics based on a young person falling in love for the first time.{{cite web|last1=Frederick|first1=Brendan|title=Interview: Brian Alexander Morgan, the '90s Mastermind Behind SWV, on His History & Return to Music|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/09/brian-alexander-morgan-swv-interview|website=complex.com|publisher=Complex Magazine|access-date=March 29, 2015}} Inspired by his crush on singer Chanté Moore,{{cite web|first=Brendan|last=Frederick|title=Interview: Brian Alexander Morgan, the '90s Mastermind Behind SWV, on His History & Return to Music|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/brendan-frederick/brian-alexander-morgan-swv-interview|work=Complex|date=September 22, 2014|access-date=August 2, 2023}} Morgan originally wrote the song for Charlie Wilson, but he later decided to give the song to SWV. Morgan later revealed that lead singer of SWV, Coko, did not like the song and gave him attitude during the recording of the single.{{cite magazine|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=The WTF Comeback of SWV|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-wtf-comeback-of-swv-20140220|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2015}} Coko, in turn, said that she did not like the song because she found it difficult to sing initially because the song forced her to do things she was not used to.{{cite web |title=0:01 / 5:53 SWV "Weak" Official Lyrics & Meaning - Verified |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRpUMM5D8b0 |website=Genius | date=March 31, 2023 |publisher=Youtube |access-date=18 October 2024 }}

A partially re-recorded version of "Weak" was released in April 1993 by RCA Records as the third single from the album. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July 1993, as well as the Cash Box Top 100, and sold over one million copies domestically and was awarded a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. Outside the US, the single reached number six on the New Zealand Singles Charts and number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. Billboard ranked the song at number 72 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|title=100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7857816/100-greatest-girl-group-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 11, 2017}}

Composition

Sheet music for the song "Weak" shows the key of D minor with a tempo of "slow groove" at 63 beats per minute.[https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0101375 Weak] Musicnotes.com

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Weak" as a "lush ballad".{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-06-12.pdf|title=New Releases: Albums|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=24|date=June 12, 1993|page=11|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}

Track listings

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  • US 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=RCA Records|id=07863-62585-7}}

:A. "Weak" (radio version) – 4:20

:B. "I'm So into You" (radio version) – 4:07

  • US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=RCA Records|id=07863-62521-1}}

:A1. "Weak" (extended radio version) – 4:54

:A2. "Weak" (Down mix) – 4:30

:B1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00

:B2. "Weak" (R-N-B extended mix) – 5:10

  • US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=RCA Records|id=07863 62521-4}}

:A1. "Weak" (radio version) – 4:20

:A2. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix) – 4:43

:B1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00

  • Australasian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1994|type=Australasian CD single liner notes|publisher=RCA Records|id=07863625212}}
  1. "Weak" (radio edit) – 4:20
  2. "Weak" (Bam Jam Jeep mix) – 5:00
  3. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix) – 4:43
  4. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00
  5. "Weak" (Down mix) – 4:30
  6. "Weak" (album version) – 4:51

{{col-2}}

  • UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=RCA Records|id=74321 15335-7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=RCA Records|id=74321 15335-4}}
  1. "Weak" (R-N-B mix)
  2. "Weak" (Bam Jam Jeep mix)
  • UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=RCA Records|id=74321 15335 1}}

:A1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix)

:A2. "Weak" (R-N-B mix)

:B1. "SWV (In the House)"

:B2. "I'm So into You" (original mix)

  • UK and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=UK & European CD single liner notes|publisher=RCA Records|id=74321 15335-2}}
  1. "Weak" (R-N-B mix)
  2. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix)
  3. "SWV (In the House)"
  4. "I'm So into You" (original mix)
  • Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Weak|author=SWV|year=1993|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=RCA Records|id=BVDP-86}}
  1. "Weak" (radio edit)
  2. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix)

{{col-end}}

Charts

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=Weekly charts=

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

!Chart (1993–1994)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=273}}

| 92

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|42|chartid=2200|rowheader=true|access-date=August 6, 2019}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-07-03.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=27|date=July 3, 1993|page=35|access-date=July 3, 2020}}

| 81

scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-08-28.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=35|date=August 28, 1993|page=21|access-date=November 5, 2021}}

| 20

{{single chart|New Zealand|6|artist=SWV|song=Weak|rowheader=true|access-date=October 5, 2017}}
{{single chart|UK|33|date=19930626|rowheader=true|access-date=August 6, 2019}}
scope="row"|UK Airplay (ERA){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Hit-Music/1993/Hit-Music-1993-07-10.pdf|title=Airplay 100|magazine=Hit Music|date=July 10, 1993|page=18|access-date=May 6, 2024}}

| 87

scope="row"|UK Dance (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-06-26.pdf|title=Top 60 Dance Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=28|date=June 26, 1993|access-date=April 9, 2021}}

| 8

{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=SWV|rowheader=true|access-date=October 5, 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|22|artist=SWV|rowheader=true|access-date=December 10, 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=SWV|rowheader=true|access-date=October 5, 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|2|artist=SWV|rowheader=true|access-date=October 5, 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=SWV|rowheader=true|access-date=October 5, 2017}}
scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-07-17.pdf|title=Top 100 Pop Singles|magazine=Cash Box|volume=LVI|issue=45|date=July 17, 1993|page=10|access-date=April 20, 2024}}

| 1

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=Year-end charts=

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

!Chart (1993)

!Position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/1993-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1993|website=Billboardtop100of.com|access-date=August 6, 2019}}

| 6

scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=105|issue=52|page=YE-29|date=December 25, 1993}}

| 6

scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-12-31.pdf#page=14|title=Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles|magazine=Cash Box|volume=LVII|issue=19|date=December 31, 1993|page=14|access-date=June 4, 2025}}

| 3

=Decade-end charts=

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

!Chart (1990–1999)

!Position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA20|title=Hot 100 Singles of the '90s|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=52|page=YE-20|date=December 25, 1999|access-date=October 15, 2010}}

| 59

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=SWV|title=Weak|award=Platinum|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=19 January 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=SWV|title=Weak|award=Platinum|number=3|digital=true|relyear=1993|certyear=2022|refname="uscert"|access-date=September 14, 2022}}

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

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

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

scope="row"|United States

|April 16, 1993

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|cassette}}

|rowspan="3"|RCA

|

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|June 14, 1993

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|title=SWV: Weak|magazine=Record Mirror Dance Update|page=1|date=June 19, 1993}}

scope="row"|Japan

|July 21, 1993

|Mini-CD

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/22741/products/58808/1/|title=ウィーク・ポイント {{!}} SWV|trans-title=Weak Points {{!}} SWV|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{SWV}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1992 songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Songs written by Brian Alexander Morgan

Category:SWV songs