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I Choose You (Keyshia Cole song)

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"I Choose You"
Single by Keyshia Cole
from the album Woman to Woman
ReleasedAugust 23, 2013 (2013-08-23)
GenreR&B
Length4:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jack Splash
Keyshia Cole singles chronology
"Trust and Believe"
(2012) 		"I Choose You"
(2013) 		"Next Time (Won't Give My Heart Away)"
(2014)
Music video
"I Choose You" on YouTube

"I Choose You" is a song by American singer Keyshia Cole released for her fifth studio album, Woman to Woman (2012) as the album's third and final single. Written by Cole, Jack Splash, Elijah Blake, and Lundon Knighten, with production being handled by Splash, the song was sent to US urban contemporary radio stations as the album's third and final single on August 23, 2013 through Geffen Records and Interscope Records. A sentimental ballad, its lyrics revolve around a love triangle.

Critical response to "I Choose You" from music journalism was positive, many of whom applauded Cole's vocal performance and the song's concept. It reached number 18 on the official US Adult R&B Songs chart. To promote the song, a music video premiered through 106 & Park on October 2, 2013. The video displays a story of Cole being in love with two men and struggling to choose the one whom she ultimately wants to be with.

Background and composition

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"I Choose You" was written by Cole, Jack Splash, Elijah Blake, Lundon Knighten, while it was produced by Splash.[1] The vocals were produced by Kuk Harrell and recorded by Splash, with additional assistance from Josh Gudwin. The track was mixed by Jaycen Joshua, with assistance from Trehy Harris at Larrabee Sound Studios, and mastered by Chris Gehringer.[1] It was presented to both Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson before reaching Cole.[2] In the summer of 2012, the song was debated as the second single, opposed to the previous single "Trust and Believe".[3] Cole has cited "I Choose You" as one of her favorites from Woman to Woman.[4]

Musically, "I Choose You" is a sentimental ballad that lasts four minutes and 49 seconds.[1][5] The song's lyrics revolve around how Cole is forced to choose between two men that she is madly in love with.[6] The chorus includes Cole singing: "And if it ain’t you / then it's just not worth it."[7] Other lyrics include: "I tried hating you, but I just love you more / compared him to you, but he can't match your score".[8] Melody Charles of SoulTracks implied that in the song, "she toggles between two loves before breaking down why one has heart over the other".[9] Peneliope Richards of Singersroom interpreted that the song makes listeners understand that Cole was able to make that "grappling" decision.[10]

Reception and live performances

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Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe suggested the song's main concept as "making choices while staring down tough truths",[11] and a writer from Jet identified it as the strongest track from the album.[7] John Ricard of BET viewed "I Choose You" as a "slow song about an ex-flame" and praised Cole's "strong" vocals.[12] Keithan Samuels of Rated R&B compared Cole's vocals on the song to her vocals presented on her 2006 single "Love" and picked it as a standout track on the album.[8] Tamika Alexander of Southern News viewed "I Choose You" as a "soft song" compared to her usual work and praised Cole for "show[ing] off her vocals" throughout the track.[13] On November 2, 2013, "I Choose You" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and remained on the chart for a total of 18 weeks.[14]

On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Cole gave an encore performance of "I Choose You" on March 19, 2013.[15] During her Woman to Woman Tour, Cole visited the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on March 30 and sang the song following a couple's on-stage proposal.[16]

Music video

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The music video for "I Choose You" was filmed during August 2013 in Los Angeles, California.[17] On October 2, 2013, Cole made a guest appearance on BET's 106 & Park and provided an exclusive premiere of the video.[5] The video was made available on other digital platforms later that day.[18] Prior to its release, Cole had posted a photo of herself while filming the music video, which featured her wearing the shoes from her Steve Madden collection.[19]

In the black-and-white video directed by Ethan Lader, a story is displayed of Cole being in love with two men and struggling to choose the one whom she ultimately wants to be with.[5] Cole is seen wearing a "lovely laced" bikini and a "Versace-inspired" outfit while singing in an intimate setting alongside being shown wearing an origami dress designed by Bishme Cromartie as she sings to the two men separately.[20][21] The singer's hairstyle and looks were compared to the likes of fellow R&B singer K. Michelle.[2] Derrick Taylor of Essence declared the two men in the video as "hunks", interpreting one as being "more clean cut" and the other being "more urban in style".[22]

Credits and personnel

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Recording
  • Recorded at Jack's Jumpoff, Miami, Florida.
  • Vocals recorded at Platinum Sound, New York City, New York.
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Woman to Woman, Geffen Records.[1]

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "I Choose You"
Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[14] 18

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Ref
United States August 23, 2013 Urban contemporary radio
[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Woman to Woman (inlay cover). Keyshia Cole. Geffen Records. 2012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b Scott, Shani (December 16, 2013). "Keyshia Cole: I Choose You (Video)". 107.3 Kiss FM. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  3. ^ DJ Whoo Kid (August 9, 2012). Keyshia Cole vs DJ Whoo Kid on the Whoolywood Shuffle on Shade 45. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2015 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ @KeyshiaCole (July 30, 2012). ""Trust and believe" "zero" "I choose u" signature"" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 17, 2013 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b c "Keyshia Cole Debuts Video for I Choose You". ABC News Radio. October 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  6. ^ Matia (October 3, 2013). "Keyshia Cole Releases Video For I Choose You". The Source. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Album Review: Keyshia Cole's 'Woman to Woman'". Jet. December 9, 2012. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Samuels, Keithan (November 19, 2012). "Album Review: Keyshia Cole – Woman to Woman". Rated R&B. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  9. ^ Charles, Melody (December 9, 2012). "Keyshia Cole – Woman to Woman (2012) (Review)". SoulTracks. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014.
  10. ^ Richards, Peneliope (October 3, 2013). "Keyshia Cole – I Choose You". Singersroom. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. ^ "Keyshia Cole, 'Woman to Woman'". The Boston Globe. December 3, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "Keyshia Cole and Ace Hood Drop by 106 & Park". BET.com. October 12, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Alexander, Tamika (January 18, 2013). "Keyshia Cole, Woman to Woman". Southern News. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  15. ^ Samuels, Keithan (March 19, 2013). "Keyshia Cole Performs Trust and Believe on Jimmy Kimmel". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  16. ^ Samuels, Keithan (April 1, 2013). "Keyshia Cole Serenades Couple in DC, Performs 'I Choose You'". Rated R&B. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  17. ^ @KeyshiaCole (August 16, 2013). "#IChooseU will be shot this thursday in LA❤" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2015 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Video: Keyshia Cole – I Choose You". Uproxx. October 2, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  19. ^ @KeyshiaCole (August 22, 2013). "#IChooseYouClapper board #KeyshiaColeSteveMadden kinda dope to wear my own shoes in my video! Go cop yo pair 👌" (Tweet). Retrieved February 7, 2015 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent (October 3, 2013). "Keyshia Cole Faces a Tough Decision in 'I Choose You' Video". Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  21. ^ @KeyshiaCole (January 22, 2015). "Love that dress!! ❤️" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2015 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Tyler, Derrick. "Must-See: Keyshia Cole Debuts 'I Choose You' Video". Essence. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  23. ^ "Keyshia Cole – I Choose You". Play MPE. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
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