Bust Your Windows

Composition

"Bust Your Windows" is a midtempo R&B ballad with a moderate Latin beat and a tango rhythm. It is set in common time with a moderate tempo of 107 beats per minute and is written in the key of F harmonic minor. It follows the chord progression Fm–C#–Bbm–C. Sullivan's vocal range spans from F₃ to Eb₅.

Salaam Remi contributes to the song's emotional weight with his maudlin, noir-style string samples taken from Bad Man Waltz. Epinions described the song's composition: "The musical layers are deceptively intricate, with a unison string/woodwind line that continually evolves throughout the song and a very simple vocal harmony mix that moves into a call and response against Jazmine's pleas. Neither of the facets scream for attention but repeated listens bear out just how well they framed this song."

The song interpolates the lyric "Now watch me you" from Soulja Boy Tell 'Em's signature song "Crank That (Soulja Boy)". The song features Jazmine on both lead and backing vocals.

Critical reception

Billboard gave it a positive review, describing Sullivan's performance as "one of the most challenging vocals from a female R&B artist this year. Sullivan's husky voice floats effortlessly over an eerie underlining violin score, originating from a sample of producer Salaam Remi's composition "Bad Man Waltz." Slant Magazine also reviewed the song favorably: "Sullivan exposes the reality beneath the revenge fantasy: "Oh, but why am I the one who's still crying?"

Commercial reception

The single, fueled by strong radio airplay, managed to peak at #4 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart, becoming her second consecutive Top 5 single on that chart. "Bust Your Windows" debuted at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100 issued for week 43 of 2008. The single also became her second consecutive Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it spent a total of 5 weeks within the top 40. It peaked at #31 and holds the record for Jazmine's highest-peaking single on the chart, so far. The success of the song on this chart continued for weeks on end and it eventually dropped out in early 2009, spending a total of 15 weeks charting.

Elsewhere, "Bust Your Windows" gave Jazmine her second consecutive top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart - where it peaked at #18. As well as her second consecutive top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Songs Chart - where it peaked at #22. Towards the end of the single's promotion, Jazmine performed "Bust Your Windows" on CBS's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in early January 2009.

Music video

On October 10, 2008, the music video for "Bust Your Windows" premiered on BET's 106 & Park. The video was also placed at #46 on BET's "Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008" countdown.

The music video features scenes of adultery involving Jazmine's boyfriend in the video mimicking the song and song lyrics. The video, however, does not feature Jazmine physically busting out car windows, as fans expected but instead the intense emotion of the song is displayed through Jazmine breaking wine glasses on a table; there is also a trail of glass leading up to the bedroom where she discovered what would bring out this feeling of rage within her.

The setting of the video is dark and features harsh coloured gases passing through the air whilst Jazmine is singing – adding the sense of anger and depression that the video is meant to bring out in the song. Other scenes feature her boyfriend's guilty conscience of what he's done – namely when he hesitantly looks himself in the mirror.

Covers and remixes

Track listings

US 12" vinyl
(88697-42906-1; Released: 2008)

1. "Bust Your Windows" (Main Mix) - 3:43
2. "Bust Your Windows" (Instrumental Version) - 3:43
3. "Bust Your Windows" (Remix Ft. The-Dream) - 3:49

Australia CD single

1. "Bust Your Windows" (Main Mix) - 3:43
2. "Need U Bad" (Remix Ft. The-Dream) - 3:49

Credits