Why (3T song)

"Why"
"Why"
Single by 3T featuring Michael Jackson
from the album Brotherhood
B-side	"Didn't Mean to Hurt You"; "What Will It Take"; "Tease Me";
Released	January 11, 1996
Recorded	1994–1995
Genre	Soul
Length	5:20 (album version); 4:10 (radio edit);
Label	Epic; MJJ;
Songwriter(s)	Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds; Michael Jackson;
Producer(s)	Michael Jackson
3T singles chronology
Michael Jackson singles chronology
Music video
	"Why" on YouTube

"Why" is a song by American R&B group 3T featuring their uncle Michael Jackson. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Jackson, who also produced it. The song was released as the fourth single from the group's debut album, Brotherhood (1995). "Why" was well received on European and Asian music charts.

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week rated the song five out of five, adding, "This smoochy soul ballad bringing together the family is a dead cert for the top three, with the older Jackson's vocals making it possible number one material."^[2]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It features 3T and Jackson and is shot in black and white. The music video was released on the Michael Jackson's box set, Michael Jackson's Vision.

Track listing

CD single

"Why" (radio edit) – 4:10
"Didn't Mean to Hurt You" ('96) – 4:30

CD single #2

"Why" (radio edit) – 4:10
"Tease Me" (single edit) – 4:25

CD maxi

"Why" (radio edit) – 4:10
"Tease Me" (single edit) – 4:25
"Didn't Mean to Hurt You" – 5:45
"What Will It Take" – 5:16

CD maxi #2

"Why" (album version) – 5:28
"Tease Me" (Todd Terry's Tease club mix) – 6:49
"Tease Me" (Todd Terry's TNT Tease dub) – 6:11
"Tease Me" (acapella) – 4:40

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	46
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[4]	21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[6]	10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[7]	14
France (SNEP)^[8]	9
Germany (GfK)^[9]	29
Hungary (Mahasz)^[10]	8
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[11]	27
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[13]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	9
Poland (Music & Media)^[16]	8
Scotland (OCC)^[17]	4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[18]	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[19]	11
UK Singles (OCC)^[20]	2
UK R&B (OCC)^[21]	1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[22]	12
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)^[23]	71

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)^[24]	63
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[25]	72
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	67
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	94
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[28]	68
UK Singles (OCC)^[29]	70

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)^[30]	Gold	250,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (2018). "History". Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London, England: Cassell. ISBN 978-1-78840-057-2.
^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 3, 1996. p. 21. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ Billboard - Google Books. September 7, 1996. Retrieved April 22, 2014 – via Google Books.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 39. September 28, 1996. p. 31. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 194 Vikuna 31.10. - 6.11. '96)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 21, 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^ Jaclyn Ward (October 1, 1962). "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 36/1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 38. September 21, 1996. p. 27. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 18 August 1996 - 24 August 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
^ "3T | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
^ "3T - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Sep 14, 1996 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
^ "Rapports Annuels 1996". Ultratop. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^ Billboard - Google Books. January 1, 2000. Retrieved April 22, 2014 – via Google Books.
^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "Top 100 Singles 1996" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
^ "French single certifications – 3 T – Why" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 21, 2022.

[AllSongs-1] Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (2018). "History". Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London, England: Cassell. ISBN 978-1-78840-057-2.

[2] "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 3, 1996. p. 21. Retrieved September 1, 2021.

[sc_Australia_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-3] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_Austria_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-4] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_Flanders_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-5] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_Wallonia_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-6] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[7] Billboard - Google Books. September 7, 1996. Retrieved April 22, 2014 – via Google Books.

[sc_France_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-8] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_Germany_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-9] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[10] "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 39. September 28, 1996. p. 31. Retrieved February 17, 2024.

[11] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 194 Vikuna 31.10. - 6.11. '96)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 21, 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

[12] Jaclyn Ward (October 1, 1962). "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved April 22, 2014.

[sc_Dutch40_-13] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_Dutch100_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-14] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_New_Zealand_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-15] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[16] "Major Market Airplay – Week 36/1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 38. September 21, 1996. p. 27. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

[17] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 18 August 1996 - 24 August 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2021.

[sc_Sweden_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-18] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[sc_Switzerland_3T_feat._Michael_Jackson-19] "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

[20] "3T | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved April 22, 2014.

[21] "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.

[22] "3T - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2014.

[23] "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Sep 14, 1996 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 22, 2014.

[24] "Rapports Annuels 1996". Ultratop. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

[25] Billboard - Google Books. January 1, 2000. Retrieved April 22, 2014 – via Google Books.

[26] "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

[27] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

[28] "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

[29] "Top 100 Singles 1996" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 6, 2022.

[France3_TWhysingleCertRef-30] "French single certifications – 3 T – Why" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 21, 2022.

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v t e 3T
Taj Jackson Taryll Jackson T. J. Jackson
Studio albums	Brotherhood Identity Chapter III
Singles	"Anything" "Tease Me" "24/7" "Why" (featuring Michael Jackson) "I Need You" "Gotta Be You" (featuring Herbie Crichlow) "Stuck on You"
Guest appearances	"2300 Jackson Street" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
Related articles	Jackson family Michael Jackson

v t e Michael Jackson songs
Singles Songs Unreleased songs
1970s	"Got to Be There" "Ain't No Sunshine" "I Wanna Be Where You Are" "Rockin' Robin" "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" "You've Got a Friend" "Ben" "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" "My Girl" "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" "We've Got a Good Thing Going" "With a Child's Heart" "Morning Glow" "All the Things You Are" "Happy" "Too Young" "Music and Me" "We're Almost There" "Just a Little Bit of You" "You Can't Win" "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" "Rock with You" "Working Day and Night" "It's the Falling in Love"
1980s	"Off the Wall" "Girlfriend" "She's Out of My Life" "One Day in Your Life" "The Girl Is Mine" "Billie Jean" "Beat It" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" "Human Nature" "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" "Thriller" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" "Lonely Teardrops" "That's What Love Is Made Of" "Farewell My Summer Love" "Girl You're So Together" "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" "Bad" "The Way You Make Me Feel" "Speed Demon" "Liberian Girl" "Just Good Friends" "Another Part of Me" "Man in the Mirror" "Dirty Diana" "Smooth Criminal" "Leave Me Alone" "Twenty-Five Miles"
1990s	"Black or White" "Jam" "In the Closet" "Remember the Time" "Heal the World" "Who Is It" "Give In to Me" "Will You Be There" "Gone Too Soon" "Dangerous" "Come Together" "Scream" "Childhood" "They Don't Care About Us" "Stranger in Moscow" "This Time Around" "Earth Song" "D.S." "You Are Not Alone" "Tabloid Junkie" "HIStory" "Smile" "Mind Is the Magic" "Blood on the Dance Floor" "Ghosts" "Is It Scary" "On the Line"
2000s	"Speechless" "You Rock My World" "Heaven Can Wait" "Butterflies" "Cry" "One More Chance" "Cheater" "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" "Fall Again" "This Is It"
2010s	"Hold My Hand" "Hollywood Tonight" "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" "Behind the Mask" "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" "I'm So Blue" "Price of Fame" "Love Never Felt So Good" "Chicago" "Loving You" "A Place with No Name" "Slave to the Rhythm" "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" "Blue Gangsta"
2020s	"She's Trouble"
Other	"We Are the World" "What More Can I Give" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" "Blood on the Dance Floor x Dangerous" "Diamonds Are Invincible"
Featured	"A Brand New Day" "Ease on Down the Road" "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" "Night Time Lover" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "State of Independence" "Muscles" "Say Say Say" "Somebody's Watching Me" "Don't Stand Another Chance" "Centipede" "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" "Eaten Alive" "Get It" "2300 Jackson Street" "Do the Bartman" "Whatzupwitu" "Why" "I Need You" "We Be Ballin'" "Girls, Girls, Girls" "All in Your Name" "There Must Be More to Life Than This" "Low" "Don't Matter to Me"
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