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.