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Confessions (Usher album)

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Confessions is the fourth album by American R&B singer Usher, released on March 23, 2004 via Arista Records. In the following week, it sold 1.1 million copies in the US, the most albums ever sold in one week by an R&B artist and sending to the top of the Billboard 200, R&B/Hip Hop and Internet album charts in the US. It has also topped the charts in the UK and Canada and reached number 2 in Australia. The lead single "Yeah!" featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris has topped singles charts around the world.

Making of the album

Usher told MTV that he was inspired by Augustine of Hippo to make the album sound as if he is confessing to something. "This album had to be a lot more personal than the last. It had to be something different than the last. For the most part, the topics, they're very much so personal. In a way, [I wanted] to play off the name Confessions, to make the entire album seem as if I'm confessing to someone or something. All of us have our Pandora's boxes or skeletons in our closets. I let a few of them out, you know. And with everything that's been happening in my life, I've got a lot to say. I've got a lot of stuff built in me that I just want to let go of."

As well, Usher wanted to continue with the traditions of R&B. The second song "Throwback" features a sample from a 1973 Dionne Warwick song written by the legendary Motown songwriting combination of Holland-Dozier-Holland. The album also features songwriting contributions by longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri and R&B hopeful Thicke. However, when Usher presented the songs from the album to Antonio Reid, then in charge of Arista Records, they agreed that the album needed a first single. Usher recorded a couple of tracks with fellow Atlanta, Georgia resident, Lil Jon, including "Yeah!" in the crunk style that he is known for.

Chart success

Usher released the Confessions album on March 23, 2004. Confessions sold 1.1 million records in its first week of release, the most sales in the first week by any R&B artist and the highest sales by any artist in three years. Along with the success of the Norah Jones album Feels Like Home, it was seen as a sign that record sales were slowly recovering after three straight years of decline in the US. The album topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic as well as topping US R&B charts and Internet albums charts and reaching number 2 in Australia. "Yeah!" features contributions by Ludacris and Lil Jon and was released as the first single. Confessions has so far spawned the following hits:

  • "Yeah!" has topped the Billboard Hot 100, European, World, US and World R&B charts, World Adult, Australian, Norwegian and Swiss charts and reached number 1 in Canada;
  • "Burn" has reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and US R&B/Hip Hop charts as well as number 1 on the Rhythmic Top 40 charts;
  • "My Boo" which has reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, European, World, US, R&B, and Adult Charts.
  • "Caught Up" peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 9 in the UK.

Confessions, combined with sales of the special edition/re-release, has sold 9,221,397 copies as of 2/15/06 in the U.S. Critics estimate sales of over 18 million in the U.S. if released prior to 2001, due to piracy and illegal file sharing. It has also managed to stay in the top 20 for 36 weeks, unseen since OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.The album its self has been nominated for 2 Grammy awards picking up 1.

Track listing (taken from re-release)

  1. "Intro" - 0:46
  2. "Yeah!" (featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris) - 4:10
  3. "Throwback" (featuring Jadakiss) - 4:46
  4. "Confessions" - 4:20
  5. "Confessions Pt. 2" - 3:31
  6. "Burn" - 3:51
  7. "Caught Up" - 3:44
  8. "Superstar (Interlude)" - 1:04
  9. "Superstar" - 3:11
  10. "Truth Hurts" - 3:37
  11. "Simple Things" - 4:40
  12. "Bad Girl" - 4:21
  13. "That’s What It’s Made For" - 4:37
  14. "Can U Handle It?" - 4:39
  15. "Do It to Me" - 3:34
  16. "Take Your Hand" - 2:45
  17. "Follow Me" - 3:13
  18. "My Boo" (Duet with Alicia Keys) - 3:43
  19. "Red Light" - 4:48
  20. "Seduction" - 4:33
  21. "Confessions Part II Remix" (featuring Shyne, Kanye West & Twista) - 4:29
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