Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
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.
Next, we only have eyes for Ashanti Douglas’ 2004 hit, ‘Only U.’ Released October that year, the tune – penned by Douglas, Irv Gotti, and more with production credited to 7 Aurelius – was tapped to launch the singer’s third LP, 2004’s ‘Concrete Rose.’ A sonic departure from the lighter R&B offerings of her first two albums, ‘Only’ – though decorated with a rhythmic undertone – was a darker, rock-tinged effort that prominently featured a ringing guitar riff at its intro and outro. Accented by an equally dark video that saw the then 24-year-old not only unveil her sexiest fashion ensembles to date but also experiment with choreography in measures absent from her previous offerings, ‘Only’ shone as a turning point in the singer’s career manyfold.
Sadly, the risky experiment did not prove lucrative. Peaking at #13 this week in 2005, the song became the first lead single of an Ashanti album to miss the top 10 of the Hot 100. Some 14 years later it remains her last appearance in the tally’s top 20. Going on to push past the RIAA’s Gold certification threshold, ‘Only’ can at least boast status as a fan favorite in the singer’s impressive discography.
Look inside to see who joined her in the top 25 on this week’s ‘Chart Rewind’:
