Jump to content

Stole (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Piouali (talk | contribs) at 04:25, 24 June 2020. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Stole"
Single by Kelly Rowland
from the album Simply Deep
ReleasedSeptember 21, 2002
Recorded2002
StudioHenson Recording Studios
(Hollywood, Los Angeles, California)
GenrePop rock
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Dane Deviller
  • Sean Hosein
  • Steve Kipner
Kelly Rowland singles chronology
"Dilemma"
(2002) 		"Stole"
(2002) 		"Can't Nobody"
(2003)

"Stole" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written and produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner for her debut solo album Simply Deep (2002). A rock-tinged mid-tempo pop song, "Stole" discusses three different scenarios with teenagers whose lives have been stolen away because they have made bad decisions as a result of being misunderstood, involving topics such as gun violence, bullying, suicide, adolescent pregnancy, and depression. Following "Dilemma" (2002), Rowland's worldwide number-one hit with rapper Nelly, it was released as the album's lead single in mid to late–2002.

The song initially divided critics; some complimented the song's social commentary, Rowland's vocal performance as well as her willingness to breakaway from the contemporary R&B sounds of her former band Destiny's Child, while others criticized the musical direction and considered it an unusual single choice. A commercial success, "Stole" entered the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching the top five in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it remains one of her highest-charting solo singles to date. In the United States, it peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Inspired by its lyrics, a music video for "Stole" was directed by Sanaa Hamri. In it, Rowland is portrayed as a narrator who comments on the deaths of two male teenagers and their impact on their schoolmates, particularly a female student who discovers that she is pregnant. In further promotion of the song, Rowland performed "Stole" on television shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CD:UK, and Top of the Pops and the TMF Awards. She also made it part of the setlist of her Simply Deeper Tour (2003) and further concert tours.

Background

During recording their third album, Survivor (2001), Destiny's Child announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest to Destiny's Child.[1] With different types of music for each member to produce, Rowland and her bandmates Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams were not intended to compete on the charts, and thus, Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger every year each member's album.[2] Whilst Williams was the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours (released in April 2002),[2] the unexpected success of Rowland's collaboration with American rapper Nelly on the song "Dilemma" caused the label to advance the release date of her debut solo album, Simply Deep, to late 2002, replacing it with Knowles' solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003).[3] As a result, Rowland was requested to rush the recording of the album within three weeks to get done, and as no time was left to produce any new material, "Stole" — as with many songs on the album — was selected out of Sony Music's song pool of demo tapes.[3][4]

Music and lyrics

A portion of the song's sheet music.

"Stole", written and produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner,[5] is a midtempo pop rock ballad, which incorporates elements of contemporary R&B music.[6] It is composed in the key of C major, and is in common time at ninety-six beats per minute.[7] It is written in the common verse-chorus form and features four instruments: electric guitar, drums, guitar, and keyboards.[7] Rowland's vocal range covers close to two octaves; she performs her highest pitch (D5) during the chorus, and her lowest pitch (E3) at the beginning of the verses.[7] "Best Thing I Never Had" is thematically a social commentary as well as a lament for unfulfilled potential.[8]

"It tells a story about each of their lives and what they go through and how their lives were taken away from them," Rowland remarked in an interview with CNN's The Music Room,[9] "I loved the song when I heard the lyrics and I hoped it would hopefully touch young people and inspire. I don't mean to sound preachy 'cos it's still got a great melody and a great musical feel behind it but it was just such a great song [...]."[10]

Critical reception

"Stole" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien named the song one of the album's highlights along with "Can't Nobody", "Dilemma" and "Everytime You Walk Out That Door" and called it a "rock-tinged [...] emotive tale of school shootings and suicides."[11] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian found that the "silky" song emphasized that Rowland's "speciality is the slightly funky party number with a moralising overtone."[12] Chuck Taylor from Billboard found that it was proving "that Rowling is willing to take a risk to prove a point [...] She will likely gain a whole new fan base with her combination of social commentary and impressive vocal talent."[8] British morning newspaper The Independent called "Stole" Simply Deep's "strongest track [...] a lament for unfulfilled potential, especially that of smart kids victimised by dumb thug culture."[6]

Lisa Verrico of The Times noted the song "tells stories of shattered dreams through a series of fictional characters, has a naggingly catchy chorus and [...] shows Rowland as a strong, smooth, versatile singer."[13] BBC Music editor Joy Dunbar found that the "Sade-influenced "Stole" which is about universal life experiences highlights Kelly's soulful, spine tingling singing voice."[14] The Torch's Frank DeBellis remarked that "Stole" is a "single that truly expresses Rowland’s talent and represents the sounds of the entire album."[15] Less impressed, Houston Chronicle journalist Michael D. Clark felt that "with minimalist vibrato, [...] "Stole" tells the tragic stories of characters who never realize their dreams of stardom. The drama unfolds at the pace of Xanax."[16] Vibe journalist Craig Seymour caleld "Stole" a "dreadfully overwrought first single."[17]

Commercial performance

The song was initially released in the United States in September 2002 once the popularity of "Dilemma" began to fade.[2] On September 28, 2002, the song debuted at number seventy-six on the US Billboard Hot 100, with former still remaining on number-one.[18] It took another nine weeks until the single reached its peak position at number twenty-seven on November 30, 2002.[19] It would remain Rowland's highest-charting single as a leading solo artist on the US Hot 100 until the release of her 2011 single "Motivation".[19] More successful on Billboard's component charts, "Stole" reached the top twenty on the Top 40 Tracks and the Mainstream Top 40 charts, while its remixes peaked at number twenty-four on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[20]

In Norway, it became Rowland's second top ten entry as a solo artist, debuting at number ten and peaking at number six the next week, and staying on the chart for nine weeks. In Switzerland, the single debuted on February 9, 2003 at number twenty-four and jumped to the twelfth position the next week, reaching a peak position of nine for a single week, and remaining on the chart for fifteen weeks. Scoring its highest peaking position in Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number three and two respectively, the song would remain Rowland's biggest-charting solo success Europe-wide until the release of her equally successful 2008 single "Work", excluding "Dilemma" and "When Love Takes Over".[21] The song became Rowland's fifth best selling solo single in the United Kingdom with 210,000 copies being sold as of November 2011.[22]

Music video

Portions of the "Stole" were filmed at the Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles (pictured).[23]

A music video for "Stole" was filmed by Moroccan-American director Sanaa Hamri in Los Angeles, California in mid-2002 and depicts a group of students who have their lives stolen through teenager issues.[24] With the song touching on the topic of school violence, portions of the visuals were shot at the Alexander Hamilton High School in the Castle Heights neighborhood within the Westside of Los Angeles.[23] Production was helmed by Melissa Larsen for Anonymous Content, with Tina Knowles serving as Rowland's stylist.[23] Filming was tracked by BET series Access Granted.[24] Rowland is seen wearing a shirt that has a picture of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. on the left side and another picture of rapper Tupac Shakur on the right side.[24]

In the clip, Rowland is seen acting as an unseen character singing to the audience, while explaining what is going on. The first scene is of a young man getting up to go to school, then he goes downstairs to see his sister and distraught mother with a black eye, who had obviously been beaten by his father. Thoroughly depressed, he goes to school, walks into one of the bathroom stalls and shoots himself. Mary, a girl who is an aspiring actress and is alluded to have known the boy, walks by and hears the shooting, goes into the bathroom, finds his body and calls the police. Rowland explains that after his death many of his classmates mentioned either never talking to the boy or treating him like an outsider. Another sequence of the video shows Mary going to a doctor's appointment and finding out that she is pregnant. As the song explains, that unexpectedly ends her once promising dream of movie stardom. Next we see a group of young boys on a basketball court, one boy in particular, Greg, who, as Rowland explains, dreamed of becoming a star basketball player. Then the boys glance over at a group of their classmates, obviously not on good terms, then Greg is shot and dies. Mary is later seen with her newborn child, writing "Think before you act" on a class mural dedicated to the two deceased boys.

Track listing and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Simply Deep.[5]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[56] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Silver 293,000[57]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, release format, and label
Region Date Format(s) Label(s)
Australia September 21, 2002
Sony Music
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
Europe January 20, 2003 Sony Music

References

  1. ^ van Horn, Teri (2000-12-08). "Destiny's Child Solo CDs Won't Compete With Group, Each Other". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  2. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (2005-06-13). "Destiny's Child's Long Road To Fame (The Song Isn't Called Survivor For Nothing)". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  3. ^ a b Moss, Corey (2002-07-22). "Nelly Hit Forces Change In Plans For Destiny's Child LPs". MTV News. VH1. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  4. ^ Chaundy, Joanna (2007-07-02). "Kelly Rowland: Single Black Female". Blues & Soul. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  5. ^ a b Simply Deep (liner notes). Kelly Rowland. Columbia Records. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b "Album: Kelly Rowland". The Independent. February 7, 2003. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "Product Information on 'Stole'". Musicnotes. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  8. ^ a b Taylor, Chuck (March 22, 2003). "Reviews: Pop". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  9. ^ CNN (2003-01-23). "Kelly Rowland pursues her own destiny". CNN/Entertainment (The Music Room). Retrieved 2008-03-26. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Kelly chatted on 9th January 2003". BBC. 2003-01-09. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  11. ^ "Simply Deep – Kelly Rowland". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  12. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (February 7, 2003). "Kelly Rowland: Simply Deep". The Guardian. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  13. ^ Verrico, Lisa (January 31, 2003). "Kelly Rowland: Simply Deep". The Times. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  14. ^ "The Release Of Kelly Rowland's Debut Album Simply Deep, Firmly Fixes The Spotlight On..." BBC Music. March 31, 2003. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  15. ^ DeBellis, Frank (February 6, 2003). "Singer steps away from group to show solo talents". The Torch. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "Album review: 'Simply Deep' by Kelly Rowland". Houston Chronicle. October 27, 2002. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  17. ^ Seymour, Craig (December 1, 2002). "Revolutions". Vibe. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  18. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 (2002-09-28)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  19. ^ a b "The Billboard Hot 100 (2002-11-30)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  20. ^ "Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (2002-11-30)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  21. ^ a b "Kelly Rowland – Stole". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. ^ "Unreality TV: The UK's BIGGEST Reality TV Blog". Unreality TV. Archived from the original on 2011-12-10.
  23. ^ a b c "Production information on "Stole" music video". MVD Base. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  24. ^ a b c "BET's Access Granted "Stole"". Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  25. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  26. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  27. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  28. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole" (in French). Ultratip.
  29. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole". Tracklisten.
  30. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. February 15, 2003. p. 42. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  31. ^ "Kelly Rowland: Stole" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  32. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole" (in French). Les classement single.
  33. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stole". Irish Singles Chart.
  34. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole". Top Digital Download.
  35. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kelly Rowland" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  36. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  37. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole". Top 40 Singles.
  38. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole". VG-lista.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  40. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Stole". Singles Top 100.
  41. ^ "Kelly Rowland: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  43. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  45. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  46. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  47. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  48. ^ "Australian Top 100 Singles of 2003". ARIA Charts (ARIA). Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  49. ^ "Australian Top 50 Urban Singles of 2008". ARIA Charts (ARIA). Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  50. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2003". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  51. ^ "Dutch Singles Year-End Chart 2008". Media Control AG/Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  52. ^ "End of Year Charts 2003". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  53. ^ "Swiss Year-End Chart 2003". Media Control AG/Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 4 February 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  54. ^ "UK Year End Chart 2003" (PDF). BPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  55. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  56. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Kelly Rowland – Stole". Recorded Music NZ.
  57. ^ Copsey, Rob (April 17, 2020). "Kelly Rowland's Official Top 10 biggest songs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  58. ^ "British single certifications – Kelly Rowland". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Kelly Rowland in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stole_(song)&oldid=964204255"