When We

{{Infobox song

| name = When We

| cover = TankWhenWe.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Tank

| album = Savage

| released = {{Start date|2017|6|16}}

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=5|s=09}}

| label = Atlantic

| writer = {{hlist|Durrell Babbs|Carl McCormick|Johnnie Newt}}

| producer = Cardiak

| chronology = Tank

| prev_title =

BDAY

| prev_year = 2016

| next_title = Dream About You

| next_year = 2017

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|QRF9TgkBCjc|"When We"}}}}

}}

"When We" is a song by American singer Tank. It was released on June 16, 2017, as the first single from his eighth studio album, Savage (2017).{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/am/album/when-we/1246910448?i=1246910755|title=When We - Single by Tank|work=iTunes|access-date=October 13, 2017}} Tank co-wrote the track with J. Valentine and Cardiak, the latter also produced it. The music video premiered in August 2017.

Tank performed "When We" at the Soul Train Music Awards in November 2017. The official remix of the song featuring American singers Trey Songz and Ty Dolla Sign was released in February 2018, with the music video premiered in the next month.

Background

While talking about the inspiration behind the song in an interview with Genius, Tank said;

"The track really did it for me. I met Cardiak at Rooftop at a party in LA. He’s like, "I got that fire." I said, "You got the fire?" He said, "I got that fire." He’s talking about, "I’ll be on your album." I said, "Hm, interesting." Let me hear your work. He sent me a load of maybe five or six tracks, and this was one of ‘em. I went to the studio, Jerry Wonda Studio Platinum Sound. I just turned the track on. I said, "This sounds like the soundtrack to when some fucking starts happening." You don’t necessarily wanna play trap music if you trying to have a sexy moment, but you do wanna get mildly aggressive. You know what I’m saying?."{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Tank-when-we-lyrics|title=Tank – When We Lyrics|work=Genius|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}

Critical reception

Sydney Scott from Essence wrote that the song "feels like a sexy return to pure R&B, a soundtrack to a romantic evening that ends in the bedroom".{{cite web|url=http://www.essence.com/entertainment/exclusive-tank-new-single-when-we|title=EXCLUSIVE: Tank Premieres New Single "When We"And Talks DC Pride Performance: 'The LGBT Community Is Part Of Our Community Too'|work=Essence|date=June 16, 2017|accessdate=October 13, 2017}} Courtney Bryant of Parle gave a positive review to the song saying it "has a sensual vibe to it" and "definitely delivers just as much as his past work, if not better".{{cite web|url=https://www.parlemag.com/2017/06/tank-when-we-new-single/|title=Tank Explores Romance On Sexy New Single, "When We"|work=Parle|date=June 27, 2017|accessdate=October 13, 2017}}

Promotion

The music video for "When We" premiered via Tank's YouTube channel on August 16, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/08/tank-when-we-video/|title=Premiere: Tank Lets The Freaky Flag Fly In "When We" Visual|work=Vibe|date=August 16, 2017|accessdate=October 13, 2017}} While talking about the video in an interview with Billboard, Tank said: "Well, I wanted the song to sound literal. But, I also wanted people to explore their horizons, in terms of their sexuality. I think sometimes people can be basic in these moments. And, it is not because they are trying to be basic. Sometimes, you just get accustomed to doing a certain thing all the time. And it works for you. Sometimes we forget to be creative [in bed]. We forget to use our imagination. So, even though the song has a very literal word, that word can go so many different ways. That is what I wanted to show. How deep, and how dark this word can be. And, how beautiful at the same time."{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8078558/tank-interview-new-album-savage-when-we-song|title=Tank Speaks on Success of New Single 'When We,' Working With Aaliyah & Grooming His Artists|work=Billboard|date=December 26, 2017|accessdate=January 23, 2018}}

Tank performed the song live at the Soul Train Music Awards in November 2017.{{cite web|url=https://bossip.com/1605170/tanks-spicy-soul-train-awards-performance-sizzled-seasoned-poon-meats-everywhere/|title=Tank's Spicy Soul Train Awards Performance Sizzled Seasoned Poon Meats Everywhere|work=Bossip|date=November 27, 2017|accessdate=January 23, 2018}} On February 2, 2018, in an Instagram livestream Tank teased the remix of "When We" featuring American singers Trey Songz and Ty Dolla Sign.{{cite web|url=http://hiphopweeklyradio.com/the-when-we-remix-is-on-the-way-and-youd-never-guess-who-tanks-recruited/|title=The "When We Remix" Is On The Way And You'd Never Guess Who Tank's Recruited|work=Hip Hop Weekly Radio|date=February 2, 2018|accessdate=February 14, 2018}} He released it on February 13, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://onsmash.com/music/tank-when-we-remix-trey-songz-and-ty-dolla-sign-song-stream/|title=Tank – When We (Remix) (feat. Trey Songz & Ty Dolla $ign)|work=OnSMASH|date=February 14, 2018|accessdate=February 14, 2018}} The music video for the remix, directed by J Valentine and BenMarc, premiered on March 16, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/tank-video-when-we-remix-trey-songz-ty-dolla-sign|title=Tank Drops The Steamy New Video For 'When We Remix' Featuring Trey Songz And Ty Dolla $ign|work=Essence|date=March 16, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

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

|+ Weekly chart performance for "When We"

! scope="col"| Chart (2017)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|78|artist=Tank|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 27, 2018}}

{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|35|artist=Tank|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 12, 2017}}

{{singlechart|Billboardadultrandbsongs|1|artist=Tank|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 6, 2017}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "When We" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2017) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/adult-r-and-b-songs\|work=Billboard\|title=2017 Year End Chart: ADULT R&B SONGS\|accessdate=January 30, 2019}} \|align="center"\|18
scope="col"\| Chart (2018) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/adult-r-and-b-songs\|work=Billboard\|title=2018 Year End Chart: ADULT R&B SONGS\|accessdate=January 30, 2019}} \|align="center"\|1

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

|+ Year-end chart performance for "When We"

! scope="col"| Chart (2017)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/adult-r-and-b-songs|work=Billboard|title=2017 Year End Chart: ADULT R&B SONGS|accessdate=January 30, 2019}}

|align="center"|18

scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/adult-r-and-b-songs|work=Billboard|title=2018 Year End Chart: ADULT R&B SONGS|accessdate=January 30, 2019}}

|align="center"|1

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Tank|title=When We|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2018|access-date=28 July 2018|digital=true}}

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

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release history and formats for "When We" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\|United States \| June 16, 2017 \| Digital download \| Atlantic \| {{Cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-we-single/1246922898\|title=When We – Single\|website=Apple Music\|accessdate=October 25, 2022}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history and formats for "When We"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label

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

scope="row"|United States

| June 16, 2017

| Digital download

| Atlantic

| {{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-we-single/1246922898|title=When We – Single|website=Apple Music|accessdate=October 25, 2022}}