Tru Love (song) explained

Tru Love
Cover:Tru Love.JPG
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Faith Evans
Album:The First Lady
Released:October 25, 2005
Length:3:41
Label:Capitol
Producer:
  • Dupri
  • Cox
Prev Title:Mesmerized
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:Got 2 Be Down
Next Year:2007

"Tru Love" is a song by American recording artist Faith Evans. It was written by Evans along with Johnta Austin, Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri for her fourth studio album The First Lady (2005), while its production was handled by the latter two. The contemporary R&B ballad was released as the album's third and final single in October 2005 and reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Background

"Tru Love" was penned by Evans along with singer Johnta Austin and producers Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri.[1] Phil Tan and Dupri mixed the track, while Brad Todd handled the recording of "Tru Love".[1] Built along a harp, the song is a contemporary R&B ballad reminiscent of other Cox/Dupri collaborations at that time, including Usher’s "Burn," which was released a year prior.[2]

Critical reception

The song garnered a generally mixed to positive reception from music critics. MusicOMH's Sam Shepherd stated that "Tru Love" was "an understated love song, and it allows Evans to show off an impeccable timing in her delivery." He however felt that "sadly there is little weight or edge to the song and it fails to impress."[3] Michael Benning from Blogcritics ranked "Tru Love" among those tracks which showed "off [Evan's] ability to drive slower numbers with sultry relaxed vocals."[4] On the other hand, Raymond Fiore from Entertainment Weekly found that the album was "blemished by a few toothless slow jams" such as "Tru Love" and album cut "Ever Wonder."[5]

Track listings

Promo 12" single[6]

  1. "Tru Love" (album version) – 3:41
  2. "Tru Love" (instrumental) – 3:41
  3. "Tru Love" (a cappella) – 3:41
  4. "Mesmerized" (Desert Storm remix radio edit, featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:56
  5. "Mesmerized" (Desert Storm remix instrumental) – 3:56
  6. "Mesmerized" (Desert Storm remix a cappella, featuring Snoop Dogg) – 3:56

Promo CD single[7]

  1. "Tru Love" (radio version) – 3:41
  2. "Tru Love" (instrumental) – 3:41
  3. "Tru Love" (a cappella) – 3:41

Credits and personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. The First Lady . Capitol Records. . The First Lady (Faith Evans album) . 2005 .
  2. Web site: Top 10: Favorite Faith Evans Songs (Guest Editor). YouKnowIGotSoul.com. January 1, 2011. June 1, 2013.
  3. Web site: Faith Evans – The First Lady. musicOMH. MusicOMH.com. December 23, 2012. May 16, 2005. Sam. Shepherd.
  4. Web site: Faith Evans – The First Lady. Blogcritics. Technorati, Inc.. May 23, 2013. April 22, 2005. Michael. Benning. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111101084438/http://blogcritics.org/music/article/cd-review-faith-evans-the-first/. November 1, 2011.
  5. The First Lady Review. https://archive.today/20130122132038/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1043984,00.html. dead. January 22, 2013. Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. July 21, 2011. April 8, 2005. 63. Raymond. Fiore.
  6. Web site: Faith Evans – Tru Love / Mesmerized (Desert Storm Remix). . May 15, 2013.
  7. Web site: Faith Evans – Tru Love (CD, Maxi-Single, Promo). . May 15, 2013.
  8. Web site: Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Titles – 2006. Billboard.biz. 2006. September 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20121003173555/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2006/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs-titles. October 3, 2012.