It's All About Me

'It's All About Me' is a song by American singer Mýa. It served as her debut single from her self-titled debut studio album and recorded as a duet with R&B singer Sisqó. A contemporary R&B slow jam, "It's All About Me" was written and composed by Sisqó and Darryl Pearson, while the latter served as producer. It sampled an interpolation of the composition “Moments in Love” by Art of Noise.

"It's All About Me"
Single by Mýa and Sisqó
from the album Mýa
ReleasedFebruary 14, 1998 (1998-02-14)
Recorded1997, Silent Sounds Studios
(Atlanta, Georgia)
GenreR&B
Length4:26
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Darryl "Day" Pearson
Mýa singles chronology
"It's All About Me"
(1998)		 "Ghetto Supastar"
(1998)
Sisqó singles chronology
"It's All About Me"
(1998)		 "Got to Get It"
(1999)

Following its release, "It's All About Me" received generally mixed to positive reviews from contemporary music critics, whom compared Harrison to her contemporary peers Brandy and Monica. A commercial success, "It's All About Me" became a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 16, 1998 where it peaked and spent three consecutive weeks at number six. It fared better on the Hot R&B Singles chart, where it reached number two. Internationally, the single was a modest success; it reached the Top 20 in New Zealand and Top 40 in Canada.

The song's accompanying music video was filmed by director G. Thomas Ferguson and University Music CEO Haqq Islam. Given her artistic background, Harrison choreographed the dance routines and designed her own outfit - a red Chinese traditional wedding dress. The music video featured Harrison performing a strip tease and fencing with Sisqó after they meet following a concert from Sisqó's group, Dru Hill (Harrison, Sisqó, and Dru Hill were all label mates at the time on University Music).

Background

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Harrison described the concept behind "It’s All About Me": "It's not a conceited thing. Basically, I'm speaking for people who are in relationships but aren't getting their fifty percent. The song is about taking control. Personally, I'm not trying to get into relationships right now. But when I do, it's fifty-fifty."[1]

Critical reception

Billboard's Larry Flick gave "It's All About Me" a favorable review, writing, "Although It's All About Me can be too repetitive and thus unnecessarily tiring at times, it does have an interesting, catchy rhythm that's hard to miss. Undoubtedly, R&B listeners will find this highly appealing. The vocals have a great range, as well as a smooth, angelic tone. It's worth giving it a try."[2] Writing for Spin magazine, Charles Aaron described "It's All About Me" as a "G-rated version of Lil' Kim's pussy-power politics."[3] Music Week called "It's All About Me," a catchy R&B outing."[4]

Accolades
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
1998 Billboard Video Music Awards Best New R&B/Urban Clip Nominated [5]
1999 Washington Area Music Awards Song of the Year Nominated [6]
Video of the Year Nominated

Chart performance

In the United States, It's All About Me debuted at number eighty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the issue dated week of March 14, 1998.[7] It ascended from 82-62 in its second week for the issue dated week of March 21, 1998.[8] The song reached its peak at number six for issue dated week of May 16, 1998.[9] From the issue dated weeks of May 16–30, 1998; it spent 3 consecutive weeks at number six.[10][11] It spent a total of 20 consecutive weeks on the chart. The single became Harrison's first consecutive Top Ten hit (solo) on the chart and was certified gold by Recording Industry Association of America on June 4, 1998 selling 800,000 copies.[12] It became a Top Five hit on Billboard's component Hot R&B Singles chart. It debuted at number sixty-one for the issue dated week of March 14, 1998.[13] It rose from 61-31 in its second week for the issue dated week of March 21, 1998.[14] It's All About Me entered the coveted Top Ten at number eight for issue dated week of April 18, 1998.[15] It reached its peak at number two the issue dated week of May 9, 1998.[16] The song spent a total of 27 consecutive weeks on the chart. It's All About Me remains Harrison's biggest and highest charting single to date on the Hot R&B Singles chart.

In Canada, the song reached its peak at number thirty-nine for the issue dated week of April 25, 1998. It spent a total of 6 consecutive weeks on the chart. It's All About Me debuted at number twenty-seven during the week of June 21, 1998 in New Zealand.[17] It reached its peak at number thirteen during the week of July 19, 1998.[18] It spent a total of 15 consecutive weeks on the chart.

Music video

In an interview with MTV News, Mýa talked about the concept behind the video for "All About Me," on which Sisqó reprises his smooth-talkin', ladies man role. "Sisqó pulls me out of the crowd," Mýa explained, "because I guess I look uninterested, and that's not common, y'know to have people uninterested in such big stars. So, he pulls me out thinking he's gonna make me his lady of the night." "Through the dance and the whole video," she continued, "I tease him and say, 'No, I'm not that kind of girl and if you wanna be with me, you have to make it all about me.'"[19]

Legacy

Rolling Stone editor Rob Sheffield ranked "It's All About Me" number nineteen on their 98 Best Songs of 1998 list.[20]

Formats and track listings

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[36] Gold 800,000[12]

Release history
Country Release date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States February 24, 1998 CD single Interscope  · Polydor [37]
March 17, 1998 Urban [38]
May 12, 1998 CHR/Pop [39]
United Kingdom September 4, 1998 CD Single [40]
Germany September 25, 1998 [41]
United Kingdom November 2, 1998 Radio [42]

See also

References
  1. "On The Radio". EBSCO Publishing. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  2. Flick, Larry (April 18, 1998). "Singles & Previews". Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 16. p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  3. Aaron, Charles (August 1998). "Singles". Spin. Vol. 14 no. 8. p. 141. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. "Reviews" (PDF). American Radio History. October 24, 1998. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. "Imbruglia Leads Billboard Music Vid Nomintions". 17 October 1998. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  6. "1998 Wammies". Washington Area Music Association. Archived from the original on 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  7. "Hot 100 Week of March 14, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  8. "Hot 100 Week of March 21, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  9. "Hot 100 Week of May 16, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  10. "Hot 100 Week of May 23, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  11. "Hot 100 Week of May 30, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  12. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 111 (5): 75. January 30, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  13. "Hot R&B Singles Week of March 14, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  14. "Hot R&B Singles Week of March 21, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  15. "Hot R&B Singles Week of April 18, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  16. "Hot R&B Singles Week of May 9, 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  17. "New Zealand Top 50 Week of June 21, 1998". charts.nz. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  18. "New Zealand Top 50 Week of July 19, 1998". charts.nz. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  19. "Mya On The Sisqo Kid And "All About Me"". MTV. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  20. "The 98 Best Songs of 1998: Pop's Weirdest Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  21. "Mya – It's All About Me(CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  22. "Mya – It's All About Me(Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  23. "Mya – It's All About Me(CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  24. "Dance/Urban - Volume 67, No. 24 Sep 07, 1998". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  25. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mýa with Sisqó – It's All About Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  26. "Mya-It's All About Me" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  27. "Charts.nz – Mýa with Sisqó – It's All About Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  28. "Mya Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  29. "Mya Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  30. "Mya Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  31. "Mya Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  32. "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Longboredsurfer. Archived from the original on 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  33. "1998 Hot 100 Singles". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  34. "1998 Hot R&b Singles". AllBusiness. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  35. "1998 Hot R&B Singles". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  36. "American single certifications – Sisqo – It's All About Me". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  37. "Mya - It's All About Me - Amazon.com". Amazon. February 24, 1998. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  38. "Urban Action" (PDF). American Radio History. March 13, 1998. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  39. "CHR/Pop" (PDF). American Radio History. May 8, 1998. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  40. "Mya - It's All About Me - Amazon.com". Amazon UK. September 4, 1998. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  41. "Mya - It's All About Me - Amazon.com". Amazon Germany. September 25, 1998. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  42. "Universal seeks local rosier growth" (PDF). American Radio History. October 10, 1998. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
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