"Caught Up" | ||||
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Single by Usher | ||||
from the album Confessions | ||||
Released | November 30, 2004 | |||
Format | CD, digital download | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Genre | R&B, dance-pop | |||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Writer(s) | Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd | |||
Producer(s) | Dre & Vidal | |||
Usher singles chronology | ||||
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"Caught Up" is a song by American R&B singer Usher. It was written by Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis and Jason Boyd, and produced by Dre & Vidal for Usher's 2004 album Confessions. The song was released as the fifth and final single from the album on November 30, 2004. The single peaked at number eight in the United States, the only single released from Confessions without topping the Billboard Hot 100, and generally below top ten on most charts worldwide. It received positive reviews from contemporary critics.
Although Usher "didn't look too far" when starting working on his fourth studio album Confessions and decided to "continue building" with previous producers, he branched out with several musical collaborators. Usher enlisted Philadelphia producers Andre "Dre" Harris and Vidal Davis of Dre & Vidal, along with other musical collaborators. During the sessions, Usher asked them to create a "real up-tempo beat". When they worked on the track, they partied the whole time which Dre considered a "partly record". He recalled, "We had some women, some drinks, some music." After Dre created the beat, they decided to "make sure the mood was inspiring during recording." They went to club to take a break, and played the song in Usher's truck while on the way. Usher felt the collaboration was pleasing, seeing other people responded positively to the song.
"Caught Up" was the fifth and final single from Confessions. It was released in the United States on November 30, 2004 as a 12" single. It was also released in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom on February 21, 2005 and on March 8 in Germany. The Germany release contains the album version of the song, three of its remixes and the single's music video. The song impacted US contemporary hit radio on January 11, 2005, alongside a remix featuring rapper, Fabolous.
"Caught Up" received positive reviews from contemporary critics. Andrew McGregor of BBC called the song "meaty" and "hip-grinding". Jon Caramanica of Blender magazine referred to the song like a "Southern marching band performing late-'80s R&B". He characterized Usher's voice playing like a rhythm instruments. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine complimented Dre and Vidal for producing an old-sounding music without sampling records, calling it "super-tight" alongside "Follow Me", another song from the album. Andy Kellman of Allmusic complimented the song as one of Usher's best moments in the album, together with "Burn". Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times called it a "thunderous song" from the album, adding that it gave Usher "a chance to do two of the things he does best: strut and pander".