So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.
This week we’ll give Aaliyah Haughton‘s first and only Hot 100 #1 single ‘Try Again’ a try. Join us inside:
After seeing her critically acclaim sophomore album, ‘One in a Million,’ deliver multiple top 40 hits and pass the double platinum threshold less than two years after its release, calls for its follow-up increased. Aaliyah’s answer for new material didn’t come in the form of a new album, but instead a contribution to the soundtrack of the 1998 Eddie Murphy family film, ‘Dr. Doolittle.’ Titled ‘Are You That Somebody,’ the slick Timbaland-produced cut (with its unforgettable bass line) – despite becoming one of the singer’s most memorable hits – only elevated fan impatience for a new LP. Almost two years later, the answer may have not come as a full body of work as desired but certainly acted as satiation to tide them over.
‘Try Again,’ penned by Static Major and Timbaland (who also handled production), came as a packaged deal of sorts as the song was selected to be the lead single from the soundtrack to the film, ‘Romeo Must Die’ (which also acted as the singer’s debut feature film). Released in March 2000, the uptempo tune quickly impacted the Hot 100’s upper half and served notice to the then-21-year-old’s camp that interest in her new projects had far from waned despite the lengthy time between releases.
By the time Haughton unveiled its highly stylized, Fatima-choreographed music video, fans were enthralled. The critical response was mirrored commercially as, this week in 2000, the tune topped the Billboard Hot 100 and made history for being the first song to do so on the strength of airplay alone. When the dust settled, ‘Try’ nabbed Aaliyah her second Grammy nod and earned a place – alongside its ‘Somebody’ predecessor – as one of fans’ favorites from her limited, yet impressive discography.
Look below to see who joined Baby Girl this week 19 years ago in the top 25 on TGJ’s ‘Chart Rewind’:
Hot 100 This Week in 2000
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to read this week’s full TGJ Chart Check: Hot 100 edition.
This song will forever be absolute ? ? ? Aaliyah was so young but had a maturity about her that you could hear in her voice…just raised right and classy!
Such a young legend!
Will never be forgotten.
Her impact is incredible!!!
I learned this entire dance and loved this movie, too. It was just on a few weeks ago. Aaliyah so amazing, so sad her and Janet never got to do that duet for “All for you”, that would have been so legendary.
That duet with Janet would’ve been so lit. If only she wasn’t so busy filming queen of the damned, it would’ve definitely happend. I don’t think I will ever get over her passing. ?❤️
Explain. All For You was supposed to be a duet?
No “All For You” was also the 7 times platinum album and World Tour name. Aaliyah was supposed to be on the album
Damn even aaliyah had a number 1. When would nicki?
Girl go get help u are obessed with Nicki Mibaj
What do you mean “even Aaliyah”? Most artists have at least one #1 on the hot 100. Ciara has like 3 I believe.
That chart week had some heat on it
Actually “Are You That Somebody was #1 as well
No it wasn’t.
In Europe it is tho
*was
Often imitated, never duplicated.
Eternal Queen ? of urban pop, I’m sad & p*** she got on that killer plane, but she will never be forgotten. Her uncle needs to quit f***** around and release her music ??
She probably would have had more #1s had the billboard rules not been so strange in the 1996-1999 era.
What I find so crazy about this is… (and yes, I’m about to add Beyonce to this convo lol) although Aaliyah is now respected beyond her knowledge, when she was alive, she was not the commercial success that her current praise would lead people to believe.
Note, Aaliyah was my first celebrity crush and one of my first favorite singer/dancers.
Saying that to say.. this comment isn’t to discredit her talent. Instead, it’s to speak to how much things have changed for artist now. The pressure to deliver at a high capacity.. at all times, is crazy now. Even when we have artist like.. BEYONCÉ, with crazy accolades and a consistent demonstration of performing arts mastery, we still act as if she’s undeserving. Or even for Ciara… if we compare her success with some of our favorite R&B artist from then … she’s not doing as bad as many make her out to be. Or.. since Aaliyah was still a fairly new artist.. Tinashe and Normani. Some of the current commentary about them is so negatively inflated. Again, Aaliyah didn’t get her 1st billboard 100 until after her second full length album yet some see her as a young legend.
Moral of this post..
We can deserve to fallback on today’s artist and give them more credit.
Long live baby girl?
Give people their roses while they’re still living.
Hi Aaliya,
Greetings to you in the name of the almighty God our lord and personal savior.It gives me great joy to write you this email.I want you to know that i love you so much with all my heart and i miss you so much.It is me your friend SHADOW BLONTO and today i stopped by to chat with you for awhile.I want you to know that forever will you be in my heart and i can’t wait to see you in the next life or now.I want you to know that i am currently at ALABAMA in the United States so maybe oneday we can meet vise versa.Let me know if you are available to chat with me again and again and again or so we can make sweet passionate love together.I love you so much with all my heart
Kisses and hugs for you
MU@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
DERRICK