Cry for You (Jodeci song)

"Cry for You"
Single by Jodeci
from the album Diary of a Mad Band
ReleasedNovember 23, 1993
Recorded1993
Genre
Length5:01
LabelUptown/MCA
Songwriter(s)Donald DeGrate, Jr.
Producer(s)DeVante Swing
Jodeci singles chronology
"Lately"
(1993)
"Cry for You"
(1993)
"Feenin'"
(1994)
Music video
"Cry for You" on YouTube

"Cry for You" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their second album, Diary of a Mad Band (1993). The song was released as the album's lead single in November 1993 by Uptown/MCA. It peaked at numbers fifteen and nineteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. The song also spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart (the last of five Jodeci songs to hit number one on that chart), and number one on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of 500,000 units.

Critical reception

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Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song three out of five, writing, "An excellent dead slow, soul drenched ballad in much the same style as that purveyed by Boyz II Men. So slow, even in remixes, that club support is minimal, but specialist radio will love it."[1] John Mulvey from NME commented, "So Jodeci come all over all sultry and lonesome, look like rejects from the Dogg Pound and sound about as mean as Luther Vandross."[2]

Track listings

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  • US promo CD single
  1. "Cry for You" (Extended Version) - 4:58
  2. "Cry for You" (Radio Version) - 4:27
  3. "Cry for You" (Instrumental) - 4:27
  4. "Cry for You" (Acapella) - 4:58
  • US promo Vinyl and 12"
  1. "Cry for You" (Radio Version) - 4:27
  2. "Cry for You" (Extended Version) - 4:27
  3. "Cry for You" (Acapella) - 4:28

Personnel

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Information taken from Discogs.[3]

  • Co-Executive Producer: Buttnaked Tim Dawg
  • Executive Producer: Andre Harrell
  • Instruments: DeVante Swing
  • Lyrics: DeVante Swing
  • Producer: DeVante Swing
  • Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey - Lead and Background vocals
  • Joel "JoJo" Hailey - Lead and Background vocals
  • DeVante Swing - Background vocals
  • Mr. Dalvin - Background vocals

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover and sample versions

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The song was later sampled by hip hop artist Bun B for his 2008 single "You're Everything."[13]

The song was covered by J Valentine, Tank, Bobby Cash, & T. Nelson under the title "Cry 4 U". The song is available on the J Valentine mixtape "Love & Other Drugs".

The Isley Brothers interpolated the song on the cover version of the track "Warm Summer Night" from the 2001 album, Eternal.

Drake mentions the song in the chorus of his 2016 single, "Controlla".

Gerald Levert re-sung the song on the track "Hang in There" from his 2007 posthumous album, In My Songs.

Diddy references the song and the group on his 2010 single Hello Good Morning with the line "Your baby momma cry for me like Jodeci".

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jones, Alan (December 4, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Mulvey, John (January 21, 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 41. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "Jodeci - Cry For You (CD, Promo) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  4. ^ "Jodeci ARIA chart history complete". ARIA. Retrieved July 21, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  5. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 11, 1993. p. 22. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII, no. 17. December 18, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  11. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Jodeci – Cry for You". Recording Industry Association of America. January 26, 1994. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Bun B Set Track List For Return To 'Trill'". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 17, 2010.