"U-Turn" is a song by American singer Usher. It written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox for his third studio album, 8701 (2001), while production was helmed by Dupri and Cox. The song also references Michael Jackson and Bobby Brown and also refers to the crunk style of rap making it one of the first mainstream R&B tracks to refer to that style.

"U-Turn"
Single by Usher
from the album 8701
ReleasedMarch 11, 2002 (2002-03-11)
Length3:09
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jermaine Dupri
Usher singles chronology
"I Need a Girl (Part One)"
(2002)
"U-Turn"
(2002)
"Can U Help Me"
(2002)
Music video
"U-Turn" on YouTube

The song was released as the album's fourth international single on March 11, 2002. "U-Turn" reached the top 10 in Australia, the top 20 in the UK and Switzerland and was a top 40 hit in the Netherlands. The single was not released in the US.

Background

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"U-Turn" was written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox, while production was helmed by Dupri and Cox. Originally written for what was supposed to be Usher's third album All About U, the song was among three candidates to be selected as the album's lead single before the album was partially re-recorded and retooled as 8701.[1] With much of All About U inspired by 1980s music, Usher called "U-Turn" a "reflection of the dances people did then – remember "The Bird" by The Time?"[2]

Music video

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A music video for "U-Turn" was directed by Little X.[3]

Track listing

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European maxi-CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."U-Turn" (album version)
3:12
2."U-Turn" (The Almighty mix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
  • Dupri
  • Cox[A]
  • Almighty Associates[B]
7:22
3."U-Turn" (The Almighty dub)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
  • Dupri
  • Cox[A]
  • Almighty Associates[B]
7:24
4."U R the One"Soulshock & Karlin3:56
5."U-Turn" (music video)  3:05
German maxi-CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."U-Turn" (album version)
3:12
2."U-Turn" (The Almighty mix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
  • Dupri
  • Cox[A]
  • Almighty Associates[B]
7:22
UK CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."U-Turn" (album version)
3:12
2."U-Turn" (The Almighty mix)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
  • Dupri
  • Cox[A]
  • Almighty Associates[B]
7:22
3."U-Turn" (The Almighty dub)
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Cox
  • Dupri
  • Cox[A]
  • Almighty Associates[B]
7:24
4."U-Turn" (music video / bonus footage)  4:15

Notes

  • ^[A] denotes co-producer
  • ^[B] denotes additional producer

Credits and personnel

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Charts

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for "U-Turn"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe March 11, 2002 Arista [9]
Denmark March 18, 2002 Maxi-CD [18]
Sweden [19]
United Kingdom April 8, 2002
  • CD
  • maxi-CD
[20]
Australia May 13, 2002 [21]

References

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  1. ^ Basham, David (August 1, 2000). "Usher Recuperates From Collapse, Talks "All About You"". MTV.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Lorez, Jeff (November 11, 2000). "Usher Pops Back With Third Album". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "Usher - U-Turn". MTV.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Usher – U-Turn". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. ^ "Issue 641" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "Usher – U-Turn" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Usher – U-Turn" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 18. April 27, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Usher – U-Turn" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Usher – U-Turn" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  13. ^ "Usher – U-Turn". Singles Top 100.
  14. ^ "Usher – U-Turn". Swiss Singles Chart.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 32. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Usher: Single". click2music.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on February 4, 2003. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  19. ^ "Usher: U Turn". click2music.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "Reviews – For Records Released on 8 April 2002" (PDF). Music Week. March 30, 2002. p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  21. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th May 2002" (PDF). ARIA. May 13, 2002. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2002. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
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