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I Care 4 U (song)

"I Care 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, the song was originally recorded for Aaliyah's second studio album One in a Million (1996), but the recording was shelved. It was re-recorded in 2000 for Aaliyah (2001). A neo soul ballad, "I Care 4 U" features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals.

Following Aaliyah's death on August 25, 2001, "I Care 4 U" received heavy airplay in the United States despite not having been released as a single. It peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was then included on Aaliyah's posthumous compilation album of the same name and was released as its third single on April 8, 2003.

Writing and recording

"I Care 4 U" was written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and was produced by the latter. Aaliyah originally recorded the song for her second studio album One in a Million (1996), but it was completed after the album had finished post-production, and she chose to save it for her next album. She felt that it was "just one of those timeless songs. I also love the fact that it's a female saying:`Don't cry, I'll wipe your tears. I love you, just give me the chance to show you.' " In 2000, the song was re-recorded for Aaliyah at Magic Mix Studios and Music Grinder Studios in Los Angeles.

Music and lyrics

Musically, "I Care 4 U" is a neo soul ballad which has been compared to the work of singer Angie Stone. Graham Smith from musicOMH described "I Care 4 U" as a soft, romantic R&B ballad. The song includes an initially-uncredited sample of "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye" by The Newcomers. It features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals. Michael Odell from The Guardian called the song "the sort of 1970s style ballad that Aaliyah's aunt, Gladys Knight, would approve of – but again it's stripped down and rebuilt with layers of haunting keyboard and lo-tech vocal percussion". According to Musicnotes, it is composed in the key of C♯ minor and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 52 beats per minute, while Aaliyah's vocal range spans from F♯₃ to C♯₅.

Bob Waliszewski from Plugged In (publication), said the song "offers support to a guy stinging from a breakup". The Philippine Daily Inquirer had a similar interpretation in their analyses saying, "It talks about a girl trying to comfort a broken-hearted man, convincing him that she can make that man feel he's special and loved".

Release

Despite receiving heavy airplay in 2002, "I Care 4 U" was never officially serviced to radio stations in the United States. However, it was released as a double A-side single with "Don't Worry" on April 8, 2003, as the second US single from I Care 4 U, by Blackground Records and Universal Records.

In August 2021, it was reported that Aaliyah's recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital, and, for the first time ever, streaming services in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution. Aaliyah, including "I Care 4 U", was re-released on September 10.

Critical reception

Daryl Easlea from BBC praised Aaliyah's vocal performance, saying the song "would be a conventional ballad on a more obvious soul star's album. It's what Aaliyah doesn't do that make it still sound stunning – it would have been so easy to over-ladle the emoting here". Ross Scarano from Complex praised the production of "I Care 4 U", comparing it to the work of Angie Stone. He stated: "If it weren't from some low-in-the-mix beatboxing and complicated drum programming, "I Care 4 U" wouldn't register as a Timbaland production. The electric piano and extremely earnest multi-tracked vocals give off the sheen of neo-soul; this is Aaliyah doing Angie Stone". Michael Odell from The Guardian praised the song and compared it to the work of Gladys Knight.

MTV.com said "I Care 4 U", is "a slice of old-school R&B; that displays Aaliyah's sultry, fragile vocals to good advantage". Russell Baillie from The New Zealand Herald described the song as "soul-sass" and felt that "Aaliyah's voice weaves through the sparse but punchy arrangements with a mix of sultriness". Luke McManus from the Irish publication RTÉ felt that Aaliyah showcased her voice more on the song and that her newfound vocal ability matched the "brilliance of the backing tracks". In a retrospective review, Billboard, felt that "I Care 4 U" was different from other songs that had released, yet Aaliyah "demonstrates the ease with which she can slip into a neo-soul ballad – with just enough production eccentricities to establish that Timb is indeed behind the boards".

Commercial performance

In the United States, "I Care 4 U" debuted at number 75 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs due to heavy airplay on June 1, 2002, despite not having been released as a single yet. It peaked at number three on the chart dated September 28, spending a total of 44 weeks charting. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 16 on October 26; it spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. "I Care 4 U" also charted for 20 weeks on the Radio Songs chart, peaking at number 15. Along with "Rock the Boat" and "More Than a Woman", the song helped give Aaliyah a strong presence on the radio following her August 25, 2001 death.