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So Sick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see So Sick (disambiguation).

"So Sick"
Single by Ne-Yo
from the album In My Own Words
ReleasedNovember 21, 2005 (2005-11-21)
GenreR&B
Length3:27
LabelDef Jam
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stargate
Ne-Yo singles chronology
"Stay"
(2005) 		"So Sick"
(2005) 		"Back Like That"
(2006)

"So Sick" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, written alongside Norwegian production duo Stargate for Ne-Yo's debut studio album, In My Own Words (2006). Produced by Stargate, the song was released as the second single from the album on November 21, 2005, and received favorable reviews from music critics. "So Sick" peaked at number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. In Europe, the single topped the Eurochart Hot 100 and entered the top 20 in 10 countries, including Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland. In Australasia, the single reached number two in New Zealand and number four in Australia.

Background

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Ne-Yo met Norwegian production team Stargate, consisting of Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, in a hallway at Sony Music Studios on West 54th Street, New York City after the duo had settled there in the early 2005.[1] After finding out they produced R&B-oriented tracks, among others, they started on writing songs for his debut studio album In My Own Words (2006) for which they produced six songs, including "So Sick".[2]

While Eriksen and Hermansen composed the music for the song, Ne-Yo penned the song's lyrics. "So Sick" centers on a character, who is tired of hearing love songs playing on the radio, as they remind him of his last relationship and breakup.[1] Ne-Yo later confirmed that he got the idea for the song from a former girlfriend: "It's about the first time I fell in love with a girl in a way that I completely screwed it up. So it was a story that I didn't have to think really hard about putting it together. A lot of heartbreak went into that song, so that's why I think a lot of people dug it the way they did – because you can feel it."[1][3]

Reception

[edit]

"So Sick" received generally positive responses from contemporary music critics. Bill Lamb of About stated that the smooth instrumental of the song makes it stand out and appropriate to listen during the mid-winter season. He was pleased with Ne-Yo's vocals but noted that "more emotional involvement would have made his performance more memorable", calling them "restrained".[4] A review from Contactmusic.com echoed the latter's comment, saying that his vocal rendition is "stunning", while complimenting the Stargate production, defining it as a "melodic masterpiece".[5] Rolling Stone listed "So Sick" as the 41st best R&B song of the 21st century.[6]

Music video

[edit]
The music video for "So Sick" was filmed in various locations throughout Aspen, Colorado[1]

The music video for "So Sick" was directed by Hype Williams and filmed in Aspen, Colorado.[1] Shot in the snow as well as inside a mansion, Ne-Yo commented on filming: "The house we rented out was ridiculous. The walls turned, and there were heated floors. It was crazy."[1] It saw heavy rotation on music video networks BET and MTV.[1]

Two music videos were shot for the song, the discarded version featured an urban imagery different to the winter-snow scenario of the original one.[7]

The music video on YouTube has received over 365 million views as of July 2024.[8]

Remixes

[edit]

There are five "So Sick" remixes. The official remix was produced by Trackmasters and features rap vocals by LL Cool J and sampled Michael Jackson's song "Human Nature". This remix first appeared on LL Cool J's eleventh album, Todd Smith. One features Jin. Another remix features labelmate Jay-Z. There is also a remix with rapper Joe Budden. Another remix is sung by Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, who has also been known to cover the song.

Track listings

[edit]
UK CD single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."So Sick" 
2."Sign Me Up" 
European 12-inch single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."So Sick" (album version) 
2."So Sick" (instrumental) 
3."Get Down Like That" (remix) 
Australian and New Zealand CD single[11]
No.TitleLength
1."So Sick" 
2."So Sick" (instrumental) 
3."Sign Me Up" 
4."So Sick" (video) 

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56] Gold 35,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[57] 3× Platinum 180,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[58] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[59] Gold 150,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[60]
Ringtone 		2× Platinum 500,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[61]
Full-length ringtone 		Gold 100,000*
Portugal (AFP)[62] Platinum 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[64] Gold 500,000*
United States (RIAA)[65]
Mastertone 		Platinum 1,000,000*
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[66] Gold 900,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 21, 2005
Def Jam [67]
December 19, 2005 Contemporary hit radio [68]
January 30, 2006 Urban adult contemporary radio [69]
United Kingdom March 20, 2006 CD [70]
Australia April 10, 2006 [71]

Covers and samples

[edit]

In 2020, Australian rapper The Kid Laroi released a reworking of the song called "Need You Most (So Sick)", from his debut mixtape, F*ck Love.[72] The song was sampled by Pop Smoke for his 2021 song "Woo Baby" (featuring Chris Brown) contained in his second album Faith.[73]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ Sisario, Ben (May 6, 2007). "Wizards in the Studio, Anonymous on the Street". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "So Sick by Ne-Yo Songfacts". songfacts.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Ne-Yo - So Sick". About. About, Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  5. ^ "So Sick, Single Review". Contactmusic. Contactmusic.com Ltd. February 2, 2006. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  6. ^ "The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century". Rolling Stone. January 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Ne-Yo - So Sick (Alternate Version) (VIDEO)". YouTube. September 21, 2020.
  8. ^ Ne-Yo - So Sick (Official Music Video).YouTube
  9. ^ So Sick (UK CD single liner notes). Ne-Yo. Def Jam Recordings. 2006. 9854185.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ So Sick (European 12-inch single sleeve). Ne-Yo. Def Jam Recordings. 2006. 9854186.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ So Sick (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Ne-Yo. Def Jam Recordings. 2006. 9852863.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  58. ^ "Danish single certifications – Ne-Yo – So Sick". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  59. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ne-Yo; 'So Sick')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  60. ^ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Ne-Yo – So Sick" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 14, 2021. Select 2007年8月 on the drop-down menu
  61. ^ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Ne-Yo – So Sick" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 14, 2021. Select 2007年6月 on the drop-down menu
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  66. ^ "Danish single certifications – Ne-Yo – So Sick". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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  72. ^ Higgins, Keenan (July 24, 2020). "The Kid LAROI Gets In His Feelings On Debut Album "F*CK LOVE"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  73. ^ "The True Meaning Behind 'Woo Baby' by Pop Smoke Featuring Chris Brown". July 28, 2021.
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