"Solo" is a song performed by

British Virgin Islands ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = Territorial song , song = "Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands" , image_map = File:British Virgin Islands on the globe (Americas centered).svg , map_caption = , mapsize = 290px , image_map2 = Brit ...

recording artist

Iyaz Keidran Jones (born 15 April 1987), better known by his stage name Iyaz, is a British Virgin Islands singer and songwriter, formerly signed with the record label Beluga Heights Records. He is known for his singles " Replay", "Solo" and " Pretty ...

. It is the second single released from his album titled " Replay", released on 8 June 2010. The single "Solo" was produced by

J. R. Rotem Jonathan Reuven Rotem is a South African-born record producer, songwriter and music publisher. Biography Early life Rotem was born in South Africa to Jewish Israeli people, Israeli immigrant parents. He moved to Canada at the age of two an ...

and written by

August Rigo Dan August Rigo (born August 6, 1986) is a Filipino-Canadian recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician. August Rigo is signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV as a songwriter. Early life Rigo was born on August 6, 1986, in Toront ...

. It was released for digital download on 9 February 2010, became available for

mainstream Mainstream may refer to: Film * ''Mainstream'' (film), a 2020 American film Literature * ''Mainstream'' (fanzine), a science fiction fanzine * Mainstream Publishing, a Scottish publisher * ''Mainstream'', a 1943 book by Hamilton Basso Mu ...

radio on 8 February 2010, and was released in the UK on 23 May 2010. The song samples

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

's 1993 single "

Again Again may refer to: Entertainment * ''Again'' (video game), a 2009 adventure game for the Nintendo DS * '' Again!!'' manga * ''Again!'', a 2011 children's book by Emily Gravett * ''Again'' (film), a 2015 Japanese film Music * Again (band), a ...

", and because of it the co-writers of "Again" (Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) share writing credit.

Critical reception

Leah Greenblatt of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave a review noting that the song contains samples of Janet Jackson's song "

". Robert Copsey of ''

Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...

'' gave the song a positive review stating:

Following up his No.1 debut 'Replay', newcomer Keidran 'Iyaz' Jones launches a second assault on the charts with 'Solo'. However, this time his problems go deeper than a dodgy iPod – the Caribbean crooner's been ditched by his missus for reasons completely unknown to him. This, we presume, is almost as annoying as trying to work out where the niggling sample on the chorus comes from.
Of course, we didn't use Google to discover that it's actually the melody from Janet Jackson's 'Again' to which Iyaz laments: "I don't want to walk this earth if I gotta do it solo." J R Rotem is once again on production duties, and his trademark triple siren effect is sure to keep you awake on what is otherwise a thoroughly inoffensive – if perfectly pleasant – slice of summer reggae-pop. The hook may not be as infectious as 'Replay', but at the end of the day, who are we to turn down a bit of Janet?.

Music video

The music video was released to MySpace on 7 April 2010, and has over 30 million views on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

. The official music video for "Solo" was shot in

Tortola Tortola () is the largest and most populated island of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. It has a surface area of with a total population of 23,908, with 9,400 residents in ...

(Iyaz's hometown). Directed by Kai Crawford, it shows him walking around the neighborhoods of Tortola longing to find his lover. He is seen performing the song on cliffs overlooking the ocean, in a town, and on a beach, all looking very lonely and depressed. Black-and-white scenes also feature him and his girl recording the song in a studio. Every time he sees her, she disappears from his memory. Other scenes feature the pair as kids playing basketball together (a spot he eventually reaches and throws the ball alone in disbelief, missing his shot). He eventually finds her on a rock at a beach, and she accepts him back. It ends with the pair walking down the beach together again.

Formats and track listings

;Australian digital download # "Solo" – 3:14 ;UK digital EP Solo: Iyaz: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads
/ref> # "Solo" (Album Version) – 3:14 # "Solo" (Instrumental Version) – 3:14 # "Solo" (A Cappella Version) – 3:14 # "Solo" (Cahill Radio Mix) – 3:34 # "Solo" (

Dave Audé Dave Audé (born Oct 12, 1969) is an American Disc jockey, DJ, Record producer, producer and remixer. He operates his own label Audacious Records, and is known for having more number ones than any other producer on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club S ...

Radio Mix) – 3:59

Other versions

*"Solo" (Single version) – 3:25 *"Solo" (

Cahill Cahill (, or ) is a name of Irish origin. It is the anglicised version of the Gaelic "Ó Cathail" meaning "descendant of Cathal". "Cathal" consists of two parts: "cath" means battle; the second could be "val" (rule), so that the name as a who ...

Mixshow) – 5:08 *"Solo" (Dave Aude Club Mix) – 9:05

Chart performance

On 18 February 2010, "Solo" debuted at #43 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Chart. After its debut it fell to #72, but rebounded to #32. This is Iyaz's second Top 40 hit, following the success of previous single " Replay". On 30 May 2010, "Solo" entered both the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and the

UK R&B Chart The UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and the UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart (also known as The Official UK Hip Hop and R&B Charts, the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Singles and the Top 40 Hip Hop and RnB Albums, or simply the UK Urban Chart) are 40-posi ...

at number 3, marking Iyaz's second consecutive top three single on both charts. In it second week on the chart, "Solo" fell to number 10, marking its second week within the Top 10. On 13 June 2010, the single fell 10 places to number 20. The single also debuted on the

Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is the Republic of Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) and compiled on their behalf by the Official Charts Company. Chart rankings are bas ...

on 28 May 2010 at number 26, before falling to number 38 on its second week in the chart. On 11 June 2010, the single climbed 6 places to number 32.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Certifications

References

External links

IYAZ – Solo Music Video
{{Authority control 2010 singles Song recordings produced by J. R. Rotem Songs written by J. R. Rotem Iyaz songs Songs written by August Rigo Songs written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Songs written by Janet Jackson 2009 songs