"We Need a Resolution" is a song performed by American recording artist Aaliyah. It was written by Static Major and Timbaland, who also produced and contributed a featured rap. The song was released on April 13, 2001, as the lead single for Aaliyah's self-titled 2001 album Aaliyah.[2]
The song was a moderate success internationally. "We Need a Resolution" reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and the top 30 in Canada. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 119 on its list 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years.[3] It was placed 21st on Slant Magazine's Best of the Aughts: Singles list and 30th on Stylus Magazine's Top 50 Singles: 2000–2005.[4][5] The single and the music video was also ranked 8th and 6th, respectively, on Slant Magazine's Best Singles and Music Videos of 2001 list.[6]Yahoo! Music formally known as "Launch" felt that this song was another classy slice of experimental R&B produced by Aaliyah.[7]
Composition
"We Need a Resolution" has a sparse arrangement with stop-start drum patterns, hand claps,[8] and a clarinet sample from John Ottman's "Tricks of the Trade" from the score to the 1998 film Incognito. While this particular part goes through meter changes, Timbaland used quantization to make the "We Need a Resolution" beat completely in 4/4.[9] The song's lyrics maturely present two perspectives in a passive-aggressive relationship.[10] Aaliyah's sinuously sung concerns are playfully dismissed in Timbaland's featured rap.[8] The song leaves its hook unresolved, plays backwards after Timbaland's rap, and concludes with a reversed loop of the vocal "where were you last night", which echoes the female protagonist's sentiment.[11]
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Paul Hunter[12] in April 2001 in Los Angeles,[13] it premiered on BET's106 & Park and MTV's TRL on April 26, 2001. The video placed at #77 on the BET: Notarized top 100 videos of 2001, and at number 30 on MTV's top 50 videos of 2001.
The video opens with Aaliyah sitting in a dark room in a black dress and also appearing on a TV screen performing the first verse. She is also shown sitting on a large question mark as it moves through a blue tunnel. Leading up to the chorus Aaliyah can be seen laying on a glass bed with headphones on. During the second verse and the next chorus she is in a scene with a snake around her neck in a snake pit, wearing snakeskin underwear. As Timbaland's rap verse begins he can be seen in a dark room wearing shades. Aaliyah performs a dance routine with other dancers during Timbaland's verse, wearing a dragon T-shirt. The video closes with Aaliyah in the dark bedroom scene again and Aaliyah with one of the male dancers.
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor from Billboard gave the song a mixed review, although he praised Aaliyah's vocal delivery by saying ,"Aaliyah's light but direct delivery complements the hectic track well" he ultimately felt that the overall song was classic Aaliyah and he expressed that he hoped that she would show more growth and variety just as well as she is building her budding acting resume.[14]
Damien Scott from Complex felt that the song was one of the strongest cuts from Aaliyah's self titled album and that it shows her being more grown and confident. He also felt that the song was both one of Aaliyah's best vocal performance and Timbland's best guest rap verses.[15]
Formats and track listings
UK CD single
"We Need a Resolution" (album version featuring Timbaland) - 4:03
