Can We Talk

Summary

"Can We Talk" is a song performed by American R&B singer-songwriter Tevin Campbell. It was written and produced by Babyface and Daryl Simmons, and released in 1993 by Qwest Records as the lead single from Campbell's second studio album, I'm Ready (1993). The song hit top ten on the American pop charts, peaking at numbers nine and seven on the US Billboard Hot 100[1] and Cash Box Top 100.[2] It also spent a total of three weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart.[3] It sold 500,000 copies and earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4][5] The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Male.

"Can We Talk"
Single by Tevin Campbell
from the album I'm Ready
Released1993
Genre
Length4:45
LabelQwest
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
Tevin Campbell singles chronology
"One Song"
(1993)
"Can We Talk"
(1993)
"I'm Ready"
(1994)

Music video edit

The music video for "Can We Talk" was shot in NYC's Central Park. Tevin and friends traverse the park while he tries to catch the eye of his love interest.

Track listings edit

US single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Can We Talk" (Edit)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
4:21
2."Look What We'd Have (If You Were Mine)"
Walden4:40
US promo CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Can We Talk" (Remix Radio Version)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
3:53
2."Can We Talk" (Full Remix)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Def Def[a]
  • Wells[a]
4:55
3."Can We Talk" (Let's Talkstramental Mix)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Def Def[a]
  • Wells[a]
4:26
4."Can We Talk" (Backward Beats Mix)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Def Def[a]
  • Wells[a]
4:21
5."Can We Talk" (Album Radio Edit)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Def Def[a]
  • Wells[a]
4:21
European CD maxi-single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Can We Talk" (Edit)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
4:21
2."Strawberry Letter" (Club Mix)Shuggie Otis6:28
3."Strawberry Letter" (LP Version)Otis
  • Jones
  • Quincy D III[a]
4:07
4."Strawberry Letter" (QD III Mix With Rap)Otis
  • Jones
  • Quincy D III[a]
4:12

Notes

  • ^[a] denotes co-producer

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from liner notes.[6]

© MCMXCIII. Warner Records Inc.

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Code Red version edit

"Can We Talk"
Single by Code Red
from the album Scarlet
Released1997
GenrePop
Length4:04
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Babyface, Daryl Simmons
Producer(s)babyface, Simmons
Code Red singles chronology
"This Is Our Song"
(1996)
"Can We Talk"
(1997)
"Is There Someone Out There"
(1997)

The song was covered by many other artists, most successfully by British boy band Code Red in 1996 for their debut album Scarlet. It was released as the album's third single in 1997, reaching number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.[20]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ www.billboard.com Chart History (website has changed layout, link needs updating)
  2. ^ a b "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII. January 22, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 99.
  4. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. 106 (3). BPI Communications: 73. January 15, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "American certifications – Campbell, Tevin – Can We Talk". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. ^ Tevin Campbell - I'm Ready (CD liner notes) - Qwest/Warner Bros 9362-45388-2
  7. ^ "Tevin Campbell – Can We Talk". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2354." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Tevin Campbell – Can We Talk". Top 40 Singles.
  10. ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1994". Archived from the original on 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  17. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 48.
  19. ^ "American single certifications – Tevin Campbell – Can We Talk". Recording Industry Association of America.
  20. ^ "Music Video". Youtube.com. 2006-02-02. Archived from the original on 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2011-12-26.