Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective segments, ‘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 serves as a variation of our Retro Rewind assay to salute an entire era of music history.
This week, we’ll make our way to ‘My Way’ – the title track from Usher‘s breakthrough sophomore album. Join us inside:
After watching his 1994 self-titled debut album be widely ignored by music lovers, Usher Raymond (beter known mononymously) – repackaged as a teenage sex symbol just three years later – made major moves when his breakthrough single, ‘You Make Me Wanna,’ soared to #2 on the Hot 100. That hot streak continued with its chart-topping follow-up, ‘Nice & Slow,’ making the Chattanooga-born beau a bonafide star. The rising came as a double-edged sword, however, as its success only put pressure on the pinup to pin another hit to the chart’s upper rankings.
To respond to the challenge, Ush and team selected his sophomore set’s title track – ‘My Way’ – as the third single. On hype alone, the song managed to make an impressive #13 debut on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week in 1998). Becoming Raymond’s third top 20 hit, the promising premiere was the calm before the storm.
Upping the ante with its funhouse-inspired music video, the crooner tapped the song’s producer, Jermaine Dupri, and then-rising singer/model/ Tyrese to star opposite. Delivering his most cinematic offering to that date, the Paul Hunter-directed clip’s colorful set, high octane choreography, and elaborate costuming not only demonstrated Raymond’s artistic growth but also cemented the teenage heartthrob as the one to watch among his male contemporaries.
Helping to push ‘My Way’ to its ultimate Hot 100 peak of #2, the song was eventually certified Platinum and assisted its like-titled parent album to 6x Platinum status in the United States.
Hot 100 This Week in 1998
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to see this week’s full ‘TGJ Chart Check: Hot 100.’
My FAVORITE Usher song! Usher sang the hell outta this song with confidence and sexiness! 💯 Those runs at the end are sublime! ❤️ It’s still so fresh and modern! A close #2 is You Make Me Wanna of course then my #3 favorite is The Many Ways…if you listen to these three songs you will SEE why Usher is ON ANOTHER LEVEL!
Yes!! “You Make Me Wanna” was/is my favorite Usher song. IMO, Usher is soooo underrated. I know, he’s won a ton of awards and Grammys and sold millions of albums and all that however, I don’t believe he gets his due credit for being a VOCALIST.
@Karter, I agree and thanks for your comment ✅ 💯 Don’t get discouraged by the TROLL, singular chile 😂🤳🏽
https://tenor.com/view/usher-thumbs-up-good-good-job-battles-begin-gif-5687517
STFU clarkson!!!!!
^^ Now I remember why I stopped commenting on TGJ 😒.
These posts always remind me how great music was back then. Most of the music I still listen to today is from the 90s. I rarely have the radio on.
lol, I feel you ✅ 💯
Same here. I mean, look at the VARIETY on that chart! Pop, hip-hop, R&B, country…90s music is something special, I’m just glad I was alive to witness it in real time lol.
Same here!
I wonder why he was never considered for the new King of RnB title. First Teddy, then Bobby, then Chris? I love Chris but Usher should’ve come first then Chris. But I guess Usher is still competitive so Chris would have to wait for another decade or more lol
I don’t know where you’ve been, but Usher has definitely been considered the King Of R&B especially in the 2000s as he was the biggest male R&B act of the decade. He was labeled as the King Of R&B before Chris Brown because Usher opened the door for Chris. Most people list goes like this in order of King Od R&B
Bobby Brown – R.Kelly – Usher – Chris Brown