"Climax" is a song by American singer-songwriter
Usher
Usher may refer to:
Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place:
* Usher (occupation)
** Church usher
** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony
** Fiel ...
. It was released on February 22, 2012, by
RCA Records as the
lead single from his 2012 studio album ''
Looking 4 Myself
''Looking 4 Myself'' is the seventh studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on June 8, 2012, by RCA Records; it is Usher's first album for RCA after the October 2011 merger of the Jive Records group which also included his label, ...
''. The song was written by Usher,
Ariel Rechtshaid,
Redd Stylez, and
Diplo
Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...
, who also produced the song. Usher and Diplo worked on the song for two months as part of their collaboration for the former's album. The song is a
quiet storm slow jam with
electronic influences, and lyrics about the turning point of a relationship. According to Usher, the song is primarily about the complications of a relationship, despite the lyrics' sexual overtones.
As a single, "Climax" debuted at number 81 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, with 31,000 digital units sold in its first week. It peaked at number 17 and charted for 20 weeks, and also reached number one on the ''Billboard''
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Usher's 12th number-one single on the chart. "Climax" was received with critic acclaim, who commended its musical direction, lyrics, Usher's singing, and Diplo's production. ''
Rolling Stone'' and ''
Entertainment Weekly'' named it one of the best singles of 2012. In 2013, "Climax" won Usher a
Grammy Award for
Best R&B Performance.
Writing and recording
"Climax" was written by Usher,
Redd Stylez,
Ariel Rechtshaid, and
Diplo
Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...
, who also produced the song.
Diplo introduced the song's concept to Usher, who was working with him on a new album.
Usher wanted to expand his music's style and depth by working with Diplo.
Diplo recounted the experience in an interview for ''
The Guardian'', saying that "I had explained to him about a moment I had with a girl where I felt like I could die with her and be content, but I didn't and life moved on, and that point in my life was over. It was a sad feeling but it was beautiful. He was relating with me about the idea and how many times you think things are perfect and feel that way but they can pass."
They discussed the concept throughout the song's development and how it relates to Usher's life, as Diplo "tried to help realise these lyrics and feelings."
After conceiving some melody lines, they wrote the song in about an hour.
Usher and Diplo worked on the song's production for two months, recording in studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta.
Diplo originally pursued a
house music
House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by Disc jockey, DJs and music producers from Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago' ...
sound based on a chord progression he wrote, but changed his direction after working in the recording studio alone on what he called a "wildfire" beat.
He later said of his direction for the song, "the idea of pushing cut-off on a
synth used so much in
progressive house music
Progressive house is a subgenre of house music. The progressive house style emerged in the early 1990s. It initially developed in the United Kingdom as a natural progression of American and European house music of the late 1980s.Gerard, Morgan; ...
but pulling back. I was making something like a minimal
techno record with
Atlanta strip club
A strip club is a venue where strippers provide adult entertainment, predominantly in the form of striptease or other Erotic dancing, erotic or exotic dances. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or Bar (establishment), bar style, and can also ...
s in mind."
According to Diplo, Usher proposed the idea of "tak
ngthe strip club to the stadium" with the song's production.
Classical music composer
Nico Muhly
Nico Asher Muhly (; born August 26, 1981) is an American contemporary classical music composer and arranger who has worked and recorded with both classical and pop musicians. A prolific composer, he has composed for many notable symphony orchestras ...
contributed with the song's string arrangement.
In April 2020, Canadian R&B singer
The Weeknd said in a cover story with
''Vanity Fair'' that "Climax" (and pop as a genre) was influenced by his debut mixtape, ''
House of Balloons
''House of Balloons'' is the debut mixtape by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media d ...
'' (2011). He stated, "I heard 'Climax' that
012 012 may refer to:
* Tyrrell 012, a Formula One racing car
* The dialing code for Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassie ...
Usher song, and was like, 'Holy
xpletive that's a Weeknd song'. It was very flattering, and I knew I was doing something right, but I also got angry. But the older I got, I realized it's a good thing". His comments sparked widespread debate online.
Diplo posted a series of
tweets soon after, praising ''House of Balloons'' and acknowledging its influence on his production for "Climax": "When I heard those early records
y The Weekndthey blew my mind – soulful in their silences, and a spacey iconic voice that felt uniquely internet. the idea of R&B having dark edges was what I wanted to bring to @usher".
He further reiterated it was a collaborative effort between himself, Usher, and the song's other producers.
Usher responded indirectly via Twitter, writing: "Have you ever seen the moon bark back at the dog?".
The Weeknd responded a shortly after on Twitter, saying he didn't mean any offense and was always inspired by Usher.
Music and lyrics
"Climax" is set in
common time.
Diplo called the style "
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...
quietstorm", and both ''Spin'' and ''Rolling Stone'' agreed that the song was a mix of
quiet storm style and
electronic music.
It is written in the
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
of
C minor, and Usher's voice ranges from B
2 to D
5.
The music is built around a haunting
riff, complemented by sparse
drum machine and some
musical accompaniment.
Its varying soundscape incorporates
electronic effects such as clicks, hisses, whooshes, and low-frequency synths,
as well as subtle strings and scattered piano notes.
Music writers have noted Diplo's production as uncharacteristically reserved and understated.
The song's musical structure is characterized by intervals in which the music builds to a potential
break, but softly
decrescendos instead.
As each verse concludes, the song's snapping, electronic rhythm track gradually softens and rippling synth chords repeat throughout the song.
Marc Hogan of ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' writes that Diplo "teases us with the sort of wubba-wubba
subwoofer noises that have become inescapable in the past year or so of pop radio. But he never actually gives in with the full
dubstep drop
Drop, DROP, drops or DROPS may refer to:
* Drop (liquid) or droplet, a small volume of liquid
** Eye drops, saline (sometimes mydriatic) drops used as medication for the eyes
* Drop (unit), a unit of measure of volume
* Falling (physics), allowi ...
... the song keeps swelling to one big wave after another, without ever really reaching a single, song-stopping crescendo."
Hogan cites the
bridge at around the three-minute mark as "the closest thing to a climax" on the song, "when the track gets as quiet as it ever has before becoming as lush as it ever gets."
''
Pitchfork Media''s Carrie Battan calls the song "an exercise in the power of restraint", commenting that "Diplo shows uncharacteristic subtlety behind Usher's sentiment, with a beat that seems to hang suspended in midair."
The song is a breakup lament dealing with the theme of commitment.
Its title refers to the turning point of a relationship.
The lyrics address a relationship in a state of tension and uncertainty: "We've reached the climax / We're together / Now we're undone / Won't commit so we choose to run away / Do we separate?"
Usher sings in a pleading falsetto and a plaintive tone on the song,
alternating restrained vocals and anguished howls.
In an interview for
V-103
WVEE (103.3 FM, "V-103") is a commercial radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an urban contemporary radio format. WVEE is one of the highest-rated stations of the Atlanta radio market according to Nielsen Aud ...
, Usher stressed that "Climax" focuses more on the complication of relationships rather than sex, saying that "it's really about the ultimate experience or lack thereof. Or the finale of an experience of love and life. When you're in a relationship and it has kinda reached the climax of where it can go, you gotta let it go if you are not going to commit."
He viewed that his falsetto vocals and the song's tone give the song a sexual feel with music that works as a "
double entendre".
Release
The song was first released onto the internet on
Valentine's Day 2012 through
SoundCloud.
Upon its release, Diplo commented on
Twitter: "Seriously the best record I've been part of ... I'm pretty sure in 9 months there are gonna be a lot of new babies that this song is responsible for".
It was released as the
lead single for Usher's 2012 album ''
Looking for Myself''.
"Climax" debuted on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart at number 81, with 31,000 digital units sold in the week of March 10, 2012.
It peaked at number 17 and spent 20 weeks on the chart.
The song also reached number one on the ''Billboard''
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, on which it charted for 33 weeks, and became Usher's 12th number-one single on the chart.
It peaked at number three on the
Dance/Club Play Songs
Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as th ...
, on which it charted for 13 weeks.
In the United Kingdom, "Climax" debuted and peaked at number four on the
UK Singles Chart, selling 41,617 units.
It charted for seven weeks and peaked at number 29 in Australia.
Critical reception
"Climax" has received widespread acclaim from
music critics, who have lauded it as one of Usher's best-written and best-produced songs, and named the 2012's best song by several magazines. In ''
Rolling Stone'',
Jody Rosen gave the song four out of five stars and stated, "Quiet storm gets a freaky
sci-fi makeover",
while
Will Hermes hailed it as "spring's best quiet-storm jam". ''
FWRD'' writer Aiden Harmitt-Williams regarded its mix of quiet storm with EDM as "a genius move". ''
Pitchfork'' journalist Carrie Battan deemed it "a doubly satisfying departure from
sher and Diplo'srespective strains of club-ready fare."
Jason Lipshutz of ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' called the song "an ode to the bewildering thoughts and feelings of relationship purgatory" and wrote that it is "a sound that Usher should explore more often."
Marc Hogan of ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' felt that the song is "as vividly communicative as it is decoratively beautiful" and praised its
articulation, calling it "a tour de force of pacing and dynamics, giving listeners more and more, but then always easing up just enough to keep us begging for one more verse."
Priya Elan of ''
NME'' cited "Climax" as Usher's "best song in absolutely years" and stated, "Goodbye cringe factor, hello Diplo, subtle electronic nuances and an expectation-defying vocal performance which is more
Prince falsetto than depth-free showman. The results are jaw dropping." He also compared it to the work of
The Weeknd and commended its "lack of smut" in the lyrics, stating "it's just Usher playing it fast and loose in falsetto. The result is as subtle as it is unbelievable."
Eric Arredondo of
Beats Per Minute viewed the song as an improvement over Usher's 2010 album ''
Raymond v. Raymond
''Raymond v. Raymond'' is the sixth studio album by American singer Usher, released on March 26, 2010, by LaFace Records. Production for the album took place in 2009 and was handled by several producers, including Jermaine Dupri, The Runners, Est ...
'' and addressed the comparisons to The Weeknd, writing that, "though it still doesn't hold much of the innovations and risks of something like The Weeknd's ''
House of Balloons
''House of Balloons'' is the debut mixtape by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media d ...
'', 'Climax' can do something that most songs on that album can't do without losing most of their fun: be played on the radio."
''Rolling Stone'' ranked "Climax" number 15 on their year-end best songs list for 2012. ''
Entertainment Weekly'' ranked it number 14 on their year-end list of best singles. It was voted as the third best single of 2012 by ''
The Village Voice''s 40th annual
Pazz & Jop critics' poll and the official best single of 2012 by
''Time'' magazine.
At the
2013 Grammy Awards
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012. The show was broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. E ...
, "Climax" won Usher a
Grammy Award for
Best R&B Performance.
Accolades
Music video
The music video for "Climax" was directed by Sam Pilling, filmed in Atlanta, and released on March 9, 2012. Director of photography was Adam Frisch. After filming, the video was given to the studio Surround for
post-production
Post-production is part of the process of filmmaking, video production, audio production, and photography. Post-production includes all stages of production occurring after principal photography or recording individual program segments.
The ...
, including editing its structure, title animation, and effects. The video shows Usher sitting in a car contemplating on whether to go inside his ex-girlfriend's home and rekindle their once-passionate love affair or leave and never return again. It shows different scenarios played out in Usher's mind, including him confronting his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend with a gun.
In the video, Usher sits in a car outside a house where his ex-girlfriend is being intimate with another man. He pulls a gun out of his glove compartment and agonizes over whether or not to enter the house. After ruminating over the different scenarios, Usher drives off at the end of the video. Jason Lipshut of ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' found the "narrative arc" for the video to be "a bit perplexing". Jeff Lapointe of
MTV News
MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
viewed that it "depicts the darker side of human nature as Usher drives up to his girlfriend/ex-girlfriends house to discover another vehicle, another man, another side of his love. In the realization of fury and anger, images distort Usher's reality with thoughts of taking his gun and shooting the intruder. Thoughts of running away with the girl. Thoughts of driving off to never be seen."
Live performances
Usher first performed the song on the show "Off-Broadway's 'Fuerza Bruta'". In the show, he entered from the dark in a white suit and black tie, and walked across a conveyor belt in beat to "Climax". As the song's tempo increased, he clutched his stomach as a gunshot fired and blood spread across his torso.
Usher appeared on ''
Saturday Night Live'' on May 12, 2012, to perform "Scream" and "Climax".
Personnel
Credits are adapted from
Tidal.
* Usher – vocals, lyricist
*
Diplo
Thomas Wesley Pentz (born November 10, 1978), known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with ...
– production
* Natural – vocal production, arrangement
*
Ariel Rechtshaid – production, synthesizers, keyboards, lyricist
*
Sean "Redd Stylez" Fenton lyricist
*
Nico Muhly
Nico Asher Muhly (; born August 26, 1981) is an American contemporary classical music composer and arranger who has worked and recorded with both classical and pop musicians. A prolific composer, he has composed for many notable symphony orchestras ...
– piano, strings, string arrangement
* Mark "Exit" Goodchild – recording
* Ramon Rivas – recording assistance
* Kory Aaron – recording assistance
* Jorge Velasco – recording assistance
* Jacob Dennis – recording assistance
* Manny Marroquin – mixing
* Chris Galland – mixing assistance
* Delbert Bowers – mixing assistance
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Certifications
Release history
See also
*
List of number-one R&B/hip-hop songs of 2012 (U.S.)
References
{{authority control
2010s ballads
Usher (musician) songs
2012 songs
2012 singles
Songs written by Ariel Rechtshaid
Songs written by Diplo
Song recordings produced by Diplo
RCA Records singles
Contemporary R&B ballads
Songs written by Elijah Blake
Quiet storm songs