Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Damaged (TLC song)

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B-side
  
"Hands Up"

Format
  
CD single 12" download

Genre
  
Pop rock

Released
  
March 7, 2003

Recorded
  
July 2002

Length
  
3:51

"Damaged" is a song by American recording group TLC. It was written by band member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and long time contributor Dallas Austin and recorded for the band's fourth studio album, 3D (2002), the latter also serving as its producer. A rock-influenced pop song, the lyrics of the record talk about being free and freedom from hurt and pain.

Contents

The song was released as the album's second international single and third US single from the album on March 7, 2003, and internationally on June 16, 2003. While not as commercially successful as leading single "Girl Talk", the song peaked at number 21 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and in the United States, reached the top twenty of Billboard's Pop Songs chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, "Damaged" peaked at number 53.

Critical reception

David Browne from Entertainment Weekly called the track "a genuinely uplifting song about being emotionally screwed up, benefits tremendously from the use of live instruments rather than samples." Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani called the track "poignant."

Music video

In the music video for the song, directed by Joseph Kahn, a young woman, (played by actress Justina Machado) works two jobs to support her family. One day she comes home and finds her boyfriend in bed with another girl. After confronting him, he hits her. She then finds herself stuck in an abusive relationship as well as trying to look after her child. She finds herself torn and unsure of what to do, eventually literally falling to pieces at the end of the video as she crumbles into hundreds of tiny jigsaw puzzle pieces. It shows other "damaged" women falling to pieces. The lead woman is shown to be put back together by her daughter, and she's happy now.

Formats and track listings

US 12" single
  1. "Damaged" (Radio Mix) – 3:51
  2. "Damaged" (Instrumental) – 3:51
European CD single
  1. "Damaged" (Radio Edit) – 3:51
  2. "Hands Up" (So So Def Remix) (featuring Clipse) – 4:15
European enhanced CD single
  1. "Damaged" (Radio Mix) – 3:51
  2. "Hands Up" (Richard X Extended Remix) – 4:37
  3. "Hands Up" (Richard X Radio Remix) – 3:50
  4. "Hands Up" (So So Def Remix) (featuring Clipse) - 4:27
  5. "Hands Up" (video) – 4:01

References

Damaged (TLC song) Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA