Can't Help but Wait
Encyclopedia
"Can't Help but Wait" is the second single from the Trey Songz
album Trey Day
. The song is written by Johntá Austin
, Mikkel S. Eriksen, and Tor Erik Hermansen. On the issue date of October 6, 2007, the single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100
at number 99. American actor Jackie Long
(ATL
) appears in the video as the abusive boyfriend. "Can't Help but Wait" peaked within the Top 20 of the Hot 100, at #14. The video was filmed in Jersey City, New Jersey
.
The song was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards
with its producers, Stargate
. It was sent for United States rhythmic contemporary
airplay on August 7, 2007 by Songbook and Atlantic Records
. Elsewhere, "Can't Help But Wait" was released as a one-track digital download
by WEA International on August 28, 2007. Additionally, Atlantic Records released a CD single
on March 17, 2008 in the United Kingdom. According to the sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
, "Can't Help But Wait" is an R&B
song set in common time
with a moderate R&B tempo
of 112 beats per minute. It is written in the key
of G minor
, and follows the chord progression
of Emaj7–Cm9–Gm9–Gm, and Songz' voice in the song spans from F4 to G5. "Can't Help But Wait" is about Songz wanting a woman who is mistreated by her boyfriend; he attempts to persuade the woman to leave her partner. Throughout the song, Songz gives examples of how women can be treated courteously. A remix of "Can't Help But Wait" features Lil Wayne
.
lauded the songwriting and production of the number, and praised the maturity that Songz showed on the tune. Writing for About.com
Mark Edward Nero commended Songz' vocal effort on "Can't Help But Wait", and the song's "nice balance of sensitivity and swagger". It was ranked at number twenty-three on MTV News
' list of the 27 Essential R&B Songs of 2007. "Can't Help But Wait" was nominated in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
category at the 51st Grammy Awards
, but lost to Ne-Yo
's "Miss Independent
".
"Can't Help But Wait" entered the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
at number seventy-two on the chart of August 25, 2008. On December 15, 2007 it reached its peak position of number two, where it remained the following week. During both weeks "Can't Help But Wait" was at number two, Alicia Keys
' "No One
" topped the chart. "Can't Help But Wait" remained on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for thirty-two weeks.
The song debuted at number ninety-nine on the Billboard Hot 100
on the issue dated October 6, 2007. "Can't Help But Wait" rose to number fourteen on the Hot 100, achieved during its second week at number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song fell off the Hot 100 in March 2008, having spent twenty-four weeks on the chart. "Can't Help But Wait" appeared on the Pop 100
and Rhythmic Top 40, and reached numbers seventy-four and six, respectively. "Can't Help But Wait" made its debut on the UK Singles Chart
at number 163 on March 29, 2008; it peaked at number 115.
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
album Trey Day
Trey Day
-Charts:-Personnel:*Tremaine Neverson : Background Vocals, Executive Producer, Vocal Producer*Troy Taylor : Background Vocals, Engineer, Executive Producer, Vocal Engineer, Vocal Producer*Taj Jackson, Candice Nelson : Background Vocals*Mikkel S...
. The song is written by Johntá Austin
Johnta Austin
Johntá Austin is an American singer-songwriter, who is currently signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. He is commonly known for collaborating with Producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri & The Production Team StarGate. Austin was awarded two Grammy Awards for his work on the songs...
, Mikkel S. Eriksen, and Tor Erik Hermansen. On the issue date of October 6, 2007, the single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at number 99. American actor Jackie Long
Jackie Long
Jackie Long is an American actor, writer, producer, singer, director, comedian, and musician from Pasadena, California...
(ATL
ATL (film)
ATL is a 2006 American drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
) appears in the video as the abusive boyfriend. "Can't Help but Wait" peaked within the Top 20 of the Hot 100, at #14. The video was filmed in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
.
The song was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards
Background and composition
"Can't Help But Wait" was written by Johntá AustinJohnta Austin
Johntá Austin is an American singer-songwriter, who is currently signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. He is commonly known for collaborating with Producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri & The Production Team StarGate. Austin was awarded two Grammy Awards for his work on the songs...
with its producers, Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
. It was sent for United States rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
airplay on August 7, 2007 by Songbook and Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Elsewhere, "Can't Help But Wait" was released as a one-track digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
by WEA International on August 28, 2007. Additionally, Atlantic Records released a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
on March 17, 2008 in the United Kingdom. According to the sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
, "Can't Help But Wait" is an R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
song set in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
with a moderate R&B tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 112 beats per minute. It is written in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of G minor
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
, and follows the chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
of Emaj7–Cm9–Gm9–Gm, and Songz' voice in the song spans from F4 to G5. "Can't Help But Wait" is about Songz wanting a woman who is mistreated by her boyfriend; he attempts to persuade the woman to leave her partner. Throughout the song, Songz gives examples of how women can be treated courteously. A remix of "Can't Help But Wait" features Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
.
Reception
"Can't Help But Wait" was selected as one of Trey Day best tracks in Allmusic's review of the album. A reviewer for BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
lauded the songwriting and production of the number, and praised the maturity that Songz showed on the tune. Writing for About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
Mark Edward Nero commended Songz' vocal effort on "Can't Help But Wait", and the song's "nice balance of sensitivity and swagger". It was ranked at number twenty-three on MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
' list of the 27 Essential R&B Songs of 2007. "Can't Help But Wait" was nominated in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male...
category at the 51st Grammy Awards
51st Grammy Awards
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, jointly winning five awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year...
, but lost to Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
's "Miss Independent
Miss Independent (Ne-Yo song)
"Miss Independent" is a 2008 single by American pop/R&B singer Ne-Yo. It is the second single from his album Year of the Gentleman and was produced by Stargate. It samples the song "Forget About Me" by Lil Bit. The song was written by Ne-Yo and co-written by Stargate...
".
"Can't Help But Wait" entered the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
at number seventy-two on the chart of August 25, 2008. On December 15, 2007 it reached its peak position of number two, where it remained the following week. During both weeks "Can't Help But Wait" was at number two, Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
' "No One
No One (Alicia Keys song)
"No One" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am. Written and produced by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and George M. Harry, and released as the album's lead single in September 2007...
" topped the chart. "Can't Help But Wait" remained on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for thirty-two weeks.
The song debuted at number ninety-nine on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on the issue dated October 6, 2007. "Can't Help But Wait" rose to number fourteen on the Hot 100, achieved during its second week at number two on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song fell off the Hot 100 in March 2008, having spent twenty-four weeks on the chart. "Can't Help But Wait" appeared on the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
and Rhythmic Top 40, and reached numbers seventy-four and six, respectively. "Can't Help But Wait" made its debut on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 163 on March 29, 2008; it peaked at number 115.
Track listing
CD Single- "Can't Help But Wait"
- "Can't Help But Wait" (instrumental)
Weekly charts
| Chart (2007–08) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
115 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
14 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
2 |
| US Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
74 |
| US Rhythmic Top 40 | 6 |
Year-end charts
| Chart | Rank |
|---|---|
| U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (2007) | 76 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (2008) | 86 |
| U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (2008) | 10 |
| U.S. Rhythmic Top 40 (2008) | 31 |
Radio and release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | August 7, 2007 | Rhythmic contemporary Rhythmic Contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may... airplay |
Songbook, Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| Australia | August 28, 2007 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
WEA International |
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| Switzerland | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| United Kingdom | March 17, 2008 | CD Single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
Atlantic Records |