Weak (SWV song) explained

Weak
Cover:	Weak (SWV song).gif
Type:	single
Artist:	SWV
Album:	It's About Time
B-Side:	I'm So into You
Recorded:	1991
Length:	4:51 (album version) 4:21 (single version)
Label:	RCA
Producer:	Brian Alexander Morgan
Prev Title:	I'm So into You
Prev Year:	1992
Next Title:	Right Here/Human Nature
Next Year:	1993

"Weak" is a song by American R&B vocal trio SWV from their debut studio album, It's About Time (1992). It was written and produced by Brian Alexander Morgan, who composed the lyrics based on a young person falling in love for the first time.^[1] Inspired by his crush on singer Chanté Moore,^[2] Morgan originally wrote the song for Charlie Wilson, but he later decided to give the song to SWV. Morgan later revealed that lead singer of SWV, Coko, did not like the song and gave him attitude during the recording of the single.^[3]

"Weak" was released in April 1993 by RCA Records as the third single from the album. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July 1993, as well as the Cash Box Top 100, and sold over one million copies domestically and was awarded a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. Outside the US, the single reached number six on the New Zealand Singles Charts and number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. Billboard ranked the song at number 72 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".^[4]

Composition

Sheet music for the song "Weak" shows the key of D minor with a tempo of "slow groove" at 63 beats per minute.^[5]

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Weak" as a "lush ballad".^[6]

Track listings

• US 7-inch single^[7]

A. "Weak" (radio version) – 4:20

B. "I'm So into You" (radio version) – 4:07

• US 12-inch single^[8]

A1. "Weak" (extended radio version) – 4:54

A2. "Weak" (Down mix) – 4:30

B1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00

B2. "Weak" (R-N-B extended mix) – 5:10

• US cassette single^[9]

A1. "Weak" (radio version) – 4:20

A2. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix) – 4:43

B1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00

• Australasian CD single^[10]

1. "Weak" (radio edit) – 4:20
2. "Weak" (Bam Jam Jeep mix) – 5:00
3. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix) – 4:43
4. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00
5. "Weak" (Down mix) – 4:30
6. "Weak" (album version) – 4:51

• UK 7-inch and cassette single^{[11] [12]}

1. "Weak" (R-N-B mix)
2. "Weak" (Bam Jam Jeep mix)

• UK 12-inch single^[13]

A1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix)

A2. "Weak" (R-N-B mix)

B1. "SWV (In the House)"

B2. "I'm So into You" (original mix)

• UK and European CD single^[14]

1. "Weak" (R-N-B mix)
2. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix)
3. "SWV (In the House)"
4. "I'm So into You" (original mix)

• Japanese mini-CD single^[15]

1. "Weak" (radio edit)
2. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1994)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[16]	92
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[17]	81
Europe (European Dance Radio)^[18]	20
UK Airplay (ERA)^[19]	87
UK Dance (Music Week)^[20]	8
US Cash Box Top 100^[21]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[22]	6
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)^[23]	6

Decade-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	April 16, 1993		RCA
United Kingdom	June 14, 1993			^[25]
Japan	July 21, 1993	Mini-CD		^[26]

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1993 (USA)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1993 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Frederick. Brendan. Interview: Brian Alexander Morgan, the '90s Mastermind Behind SWV, on His History & Return to Music. complex.com. Complex Magazine. March 29, 2015.
2. Web site: Brendan. Frederick. Interview: Brian Alexander Morgan, the ’90s Mastermind Behind SWV, on His History & Return to Music. Complex. September 22, 2014. August 2, 2023.
3. Web site: Greene. Andy. The WTF Comeback of SWV. Rolling Stone. March 29, 2015.
4. 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks. Billboard. July 11, 2017.
5. https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0101375 Weak
6. New Releases: Albums. Music & Media. 10. 24. June 12, 1993. 11. October 29, 2021.
7. Weak. SWV. 1993. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. RCA Records. 07863-62585-7.
8. Weak. SWV. 1993. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. RCA Records. 07863-62521-1.
9. Weak. SWV. 1993. US cassette single sleeve. RCA Records. 07863 62521-4.
10. Weak. SWV. 1994. Australasian CD single liner notes. RCA Records. 07863625212.
11. Weak. SWV. 1993. UK 7-inch single sleeve. RCA Records. 74321 15335-7.
12. Weak. SWV. 1993. UK cassette single sleeve. RCA Records. 74321 15335-4.
13. Weak. SWV. 1993. UK 12-inch single sleeve. RCA Records. 74321 15335 1.
14. Weak. SWV. 1993. UK & European CD single liner notes. RCA Records. 74321 15335-2.
15. Weak. SWV. 1993. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. RCA Records. BVDP-86.
16. 273.
17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 10. 27. July 3, 1993. 35. July 3, 2020.
18. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 10. 35. August 28, 1993. 21. November 5, 2021.
19. Airplay 100. Hit Music. July 10, 1993. 18. May 6, 2024.
20. Top 60 Dance Singles. Music Week. 28. June 26, 1993. April 9, 2021.
21. Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. LVI. 45. July 17, 1993. 10. April 20, 2024.
22. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1993. Billboardtop100of.com. August 6, 2019.
23. The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles. Billboard. 105. 52. YE-29. December 25, 1993.
24. Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. 111. 52. YE-20. December 25, 1999. October 15, 2010.
25. SWV: Weak. Record Mirror Dance Update. 1. June 19, 1993.
26. Web site: ウィーク・ポイント SWV. Weak Points SWV. Oricon. ja. March 16, 2024.