Differences (song) explained

Differences
Cover:Differences (song).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Ginuwine
Album:The Life
Released:August 8, 2001
Recorded:2001
Genre:R&B[1]
Length:4:25 (album version)
4:08 (radio edit)
Label:Epic
Producer:Troy Oliver
Prev Title:There It Is
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Take Away
Next Year:2001

"Differences" is an R&B song by American singer Ginuwine. It was written by the artist alongside producer Troy Oliver and recorded for his third studio album, The Life (2001). Released as the album's second single, the ballad spent four weeks at number-one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It was ranked at number 50 and number 68 in the 2001 and 2002 on Billboard Year-End lists, respectively, and was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). American rapper Pop Smoke sampled the song on his hit track released in 2020, "What You Know Bout Love".[2]

Background

"Differences" was written by Ginuwine along with Troy Oliver, while production was helmed by the latter.[3] In an interview with Blogcritics, Ginuwine commented on the background to the track: "That song was really during a time when I was going through a depressed state because of my dad and my mom had passed. We're writing a whole bunch of songs [...] I said, 'I'm going to write a song about [my wife]', and it happened to be a song that a lot of people wanted to sing to their wives when they were getting married. It's just one of those songs that will always be here. I'm just happy I'm the one that did it."[4]

Chart performance

Released as the second single from The Life, "Differences" peaked at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the week ending October 6, 2001, becoming his second single to do so.[5] A precedent on the chart, it became the first track on the chart to reach the summit without a physical single being available at retail in a configuration.[5]

Music video

A music video for "Differences" was directed by Hype Williams. A special effects-heavy clip, Ginuwine elaborated on the video shooting in an interview with MTV News: "Actually, the game plan going into [the shoot] was [to] talk to God. Williams was like, 'Look man this gotta be heartfelt. People gotta know you mean this.' He was saying, 'The only way they're gonna know you're meaning it is if you close your eyes and you just talk to God.' I was very skeptical about it 'cause I was just [in front of] a green screen all day. I just had to imagine – he was just telling me what is gonna be where."[6]

Track listing

Notes

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 50
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] 13
Chart (2002)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 68
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 54

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 'Pony' is forever — but Ginuwine hopes you remember him for another song . 2019-02-13 . Chris Richards . . Washington, D.C. . 0190-8286 . 1330888409.
  2. Pop Smoke's Endless Summer Continues on 'Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon'. Rolling Stone. Schwartz. Danny. July 6, 2020. October 11, 2020.
  3. The Life. Ginuwine. 2001. Epic Records. booklet.
  4. Web site: Differences. songfacts.com. September 17, 2021.
  5. Single Minded. Billboard. October 6, 2001. September 17, 2021.
  6. Web site: Shaheem. Reid. Ginuwine's Career Peaking Just When He Needed It Most . MTV News. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115024321/http://www.mtv.com/news/1450545/ginuwines-career-peaking-just-when-he-needed-it-most/. dead. November 15, 2020. June 11, 2001. September 17, 2021.
  7. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 6, 2002. Dutch Top 40. January 14, 2023.
  8. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2001. Billboardtop100of.com. March 3, 2021.
  9. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2001. Billboard. 2 January 2013. March 3, 2021.
  10. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2002. Billboardtop100of.com. March 3, 2021.
  11. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2002. Billboard. 2 January 2013. March 3, 2021.