Promise (Ciara song)

"Promise"
Song

"Promise" is a R&B song written by American singer-songwriter Ciara Harris, Jasper Cameron, Jamal Jones, and Elvis Williams. It is the official first single and second release in the U.S. from Ciara's second studio album, Ciara: The Evolution (2006). The song premiered on AOL Music on September 22, 2006.

Theme, reviews, and remixes

The mid-tempo falsetto ballad is about the protagonist finding the perfect man. She states that she has been single, lonely, and needs someone to love her. Without further ado, she is ready to commit to him and will do anything to spend her life with him.

The single has received mainly positive reviews. Clover Hope of Billboard Magazine described "Promise" as "a reinvention record (like what "When I Think of You" was to Janet Jackson)" and "also strangely appealing—particularly the changes in melody." Glenn Gamboa of Newsday wrote "she knocks out one potential hit" and called it a "Prince-ly ballad". Matt Cibula of PopMatters wrote "it is slow, it is weird, it is massive" and "it ain't genius, quite, but it’s close enough". Ken Barnes of USA Today wrote that Ciara has a "slight but sweetly tangy voice and budding emotional presence" as she plays a "demure temptress".

The official remix known as the "Go and Get Your Tickets Mix" features R. Kelly, who produced the track "Next to You" on Ciara's debut album Goodies. The remix has a few new edits on the instrumental and Ciara re-recorded most of her vocals. The remix also appears on the European edition of Ciara: The Evolution. Various unofficial remixes exist, including the "Nitti Remix", "Cory Bold Remix", remixes featuring Busta Rhymes and Grafh. Lil Wayne recorded a version of the song on the Da Drought 3 mixtape, which he declares his love for Ciara.

Record producer Bryan Michael Cox also produced a remix for "Promise".

Music video

The music video for "Promise" was shot on October 2 and October 3 2006 in Los Angeles, and was directed by Diane Martel. The video premiered on BET's Access Granted on Ciara's 21st birthday, October 25 and Canada's MuchMusic where she introduced it over the phone. The video has charted BET's 106 & Park and debuted on Friday November 3 2006 six days after its premiere. The video debuted on MTV's TRL at number ten on November 8, 2006 and peaked at number four. In addition, the video topped the 106 & Park at the number one position on November 27, 2006 for 23 nonconsecutive countdowns. Tina Landon, Janet Jackson's former choreographer, assisted in the choreography for the video.

The video begins with Ciara, wearing a brown hooded sweater and sweat pants, dancing by herself in a secluded area. The scene shows her singing the first verse into a gravity defying microphone, which can also support Ciara's entire body weight. During the chorus and second verse, Ciara is seen finessing seductively in a chair, which is mixed with footage of Ciara and her dancers dancing in hooded attire. Further on in the video we are introduced to a different setting in which Ciara and the dancers are seen sitting on the ground against a brick wall, exhibiting shoulder and hand movements. During the second chorus, a cabaret scene shows the silhouette of Ciara in front of a white screen, while the dancers move around on scaffolding.

The shot changes once more to a visualization of Ciara on the floor sporting a petite, brown wig, reciting the spoken part of the bridge. Afterwards, Ciara dances in front of a different brick wall, in a dark area, only lit by a red spotlight. The video fades out to a scene in which we see Ciara and the dancers in somewhat of a conga line, dancing out of view.

Chart performance

"Promise" debuted on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at twenty-four. After two weeks on the chart, the song debuted at #45 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the single Ciara's highest debut and the top debut of that week; the single peaked at #11 on the chart.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Promise".

• Itunes Canada and United States digital download

1. "Promise" (Main version)

• Promotional CD

1. "Promise" (Main)
2. 'Promise" (Instrumental)
3. "Promise" (Call Out Research Hook #1)
4. "Promise" (Call Out Research Hook #2)

Charts

Chart (2006/2007)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	11
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100	40
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	5
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	36
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40	32
United World Chart	28

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 2007 (USA)