| I Choose You | |
| Border: | yes |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Keyshia Cole |
| Album: | Woman to Woman |
| Genre: | R&B |
| Producer: | Jack Splash |
| Chronology: | Keyshia Cole |
| Prev Title: | Trust and Believe |
| Prev Year: | 2012 |
| Next Title: | Rick James |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
"I Choose You" is a song recorded by American singer Keyshia Cole for her fifth studio album, Woman to Woman (2012). The track was written by Cole, Sean Fenton, Lundon Knighten, and its producer Jack Splash. It was released to urban contemporary radio stations in the United States on August 23, 2013, as the album's third and final single. The song is an R&B ballad which discusses a love triangle.
Following its release, "I Choose You" was met with positive reviews from music critics, who praised its lyrics and Cole's vocal delivery. Commercially, the song peaked at number 18 on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. To promote the song, Cole premiered its music video through BETs 106 & Park on October 2, 2013.
"I Choose You" was written by Cole, Jack Splash, Sean Fenton, Lundon Knighten, while it was produced by Splash. The vocals were produced by Kuk Harrell and recorded by Splash, with additional assistance from Josh Gudwin. The track was mixed by Jaycen Joshua, with assistance from Trehy Harris at Larrabee Sound Studios, and mastered by Chris Gehringer. It was presented to both Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson before reaching Cole. Cole has cited "I Choose You" as one of her favorites from Woman to Woman.[1]
Musically, "I Choose You" is an R&B ballad that lasts four minutes and 49 seconds. The song's lyrics revolve around how Cole is forced to choose between two men that she is madly in love with.[2] The chorus includes Cole singing: "And if it ain’t you / then it's just not worth it."[3] Other lyrics include: "I tried hating you, but I just love you more / compared him to you, but he can't match your score".[4] Melody Charles of SoulTracks implied that in the song, "she toggles between two loves before breaking down why one has heart over the other".[5] Peneliope Richards of Singersroom interpreted that the song makes listeners understand that Cole was able to make that "grappling" decision.[6]
Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe suggested the song's main concept as "making choices while staring down tough truths",[7] and a writer from Jet identified it as the strongest track from the album.[3] John Ricard of BET viewed "I Choose You" as a "slow song about an ex-flame" and praised Cole's "strong" vocals.[8] Keithan Samuels of Rated R&B compared Cole's vocals on the song to her vocals presented on her 2006 single "Love" and picked it as a standout track on the album.[4] Tamika Alexander of Southern News viewed "I Choose You" as a "soft song" compared to her usual work and praised Cole for "show[ing] off her vocals" throughout the track.[9] On November 2, 2013, "I Choose You" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and remained on the chart for a total of 18 weeks.
The music video for "I Choose You" was filmed during August 2013 in Los Angeles, California.[10] On October 2, 2013, Cole made a guest appearance on BET's 106 & Park and provided an exclusive premiere of the video.[11] In the black-and-white video directed by Ethan Lader, a story is displayed of Cole being in love with two men and struggling to choose the one whom she ultimately wants to be with.[11] Cole is seen wearing a "lovely laced" bikini and a "Versace-inspired" outfit while singing in an intimate setting alongside being shown wearing an origami dress designed by Bishme Cromartie as she sings to the two men separately.[12] [13] The singer's hairstyle and looks were compared to the likes of fellow R&B singer K. Michelle.[14] Derrick Taylor of Essence declared the two men in the video as "hunks", interpreting one as being "more clean cut" and the other being "more urban in style".[15]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Woman to Woman, Geffen Records.[16]