Sorry (Ciara song)

Background and release

"Sorry" was written by Ciara, who was credited to her full birth name Ciara Princess Harris, Elvis Williams, and Jasper Cameron, and was produced by Harris and Cameron at Royaly Rightings and Universal Music Corporation in Santa Monica, California. The three had previously worked together on Ciara's singles, "Promise" (2006) and "Never Ever" (2009). On August 25, 2012, while speaking to Claudia Jordan on Centric's The Hot 10, Ciara described "Sorry" as a "very, very real record," and went on to tell Essence magazine that she had to stop herself from crying while writing the song. Although Ciara never confirmed who the song was about, she assured it wasn't about ex-boyfriend Amar'e Stoudemire. It was later confirmed that the song was indeed referring to her bad break-up with rapper 50 Cent, and then followed an apology dedicated to Ciara via Twitter from himself.

Ciara first premiered "Sorry" at listening party for One Woman Army in New York, New York on June 6, 2012, with it being one of the records that was highlighted by listeners. On August 13, 2012, Ciara posted a letter online via Instagram, which featured some of the lyrics from the song, and ended with "Sorry 8/20", and premiered the song's single cover on August 20, 2012. Ciara's label, Epic Records went on to confirm that it would serve as the lead single from One Woman Army on September 10, 2012, with it replacing "Sweat", which had originally been confirmed for the position. In speaking on "Sorry"'s release, Ciara stated that she viewed it and its follow-up "Got Me Good" as the album's dual lead singles, stating "Those two just make a cool marriage. ‘Got Me Good’ is living in the moment of being ‘Got Good’. Like when someone makes you feel real good and no one can make you feel like they feel. So it’s ‘you got me good’, then it’s ‘you had me good’ and then it got to the point where a ‘Sorry’ was necessary." The single premiered on Vevo, alongside its music video, on September 13, 2012. "Sorry" was released via digital download in North America, Australia, and in select European countries on September 25, 2012, and impacted US Urban contemporary and Rhythmic radio stations on October 9, 2012. The single was released in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2012.

Composition and critical reception

"Sorry" is an R&B ballad four minutes and forty nine seconds long. The song was co-written by Ciara, Elvis Williams, and Jasper Cameron and produced by Ciara and Cameron. The song's melody is similar to that of "Promise". Lyrically the song speaks on a relationship gone sour, being described by MTV as an autobiography. Pop Crush stated that :Ciara is back in a big way.: Idolator compared the song to past songs by Ciara saying "It has a similar vibe to her past slow burners, like 'Never Ever' and 'Ride'".

Chart performance

In the United States, "Sorry" debuted on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at ninety-six on September 27, 2012, and rose to seventy-five the following week. On October 11, 2012, Billboard introduced new chart methodology, which converted the 100 position airplay based- R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, into one that takes into account digital sales, airplay, and online streaming in urban markets and has 50 positions. As a result, "Sorry" fell off the chart after only two weeks. It re-entered the chart at forty-nine on October 18, 2012, and peaked at forty-two. With the change, Billboard also introduced the R&B Songs chart, which combines the airplay, sales, and streams of solely R&B (non-rap) songs. Upon its introduction on October 11, 2012, "Sorry" entered the chart at twenty, and peaked at fourteen on the chart. Following its digital release, the song entered the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart at sixty-nine, prompting it to chart at twenty-two on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart on October 4, 2012, a listing of the top 25 songs that have yet to enter the Billboard Hot 100, but fell off the chart the following week. On the Billboard chart dated February 16, 2013, the song reached number 6 of the Hot Dance/Club Songs chart, making it her first song to accomplish that on the chart.

Music video

The music video, directed by Christopher Sims, was filmed in August 2012 in Malibu, California. On August 31, 2012, Ciara revealed a still photograph from the video shoot. On September 11, 2012, more stills from the video were released. The following day, on September 12, a 30-second sneak peek of the cinematic video was released. Later that day, Ciara revealed another 30 second sneak peek of the video. Even later that day, a third preview was shown on BET's 106 & Park. The video premiered on September 13, 2012, on 106 & Park and VEVO. On the video, Complex said, It’s a “really dope video” while MTV commented that Ciara brings it with “the perfect blend of sexy and apologetic.”.

Live performances

On October 13, 2012, Ciara performed "Sorry" and "1, 2 Step" with rapper Missy Elliott at the Black Girls Rock! Awards. The show aired on BET on November 4, 2012. Ciara performed "Sorry" and "Got Me Good", as well as past hits, "Goodies", "1, 2 Step", and "Like a Boy", on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on her birthday, October 25, 2012.

Remixes

On November 27, 2012, it was revealed that Epic Records had commissioned a number of official remixes for "Sorry" by Jasper Cameron (who produced the original version), Kenneth "Soundz" Coby and Watch the Duck. That same day, the first remix titled "Sorry (Remix, Pt. 2)" was premiered online via Rap-Up.com. The new version features an alternative musical production courtesy of Cameron and Sean "JumpStupid" Notty, along with new vocals from Ciara and new verses from her label mate, American rapper Future. The collaboration came about after Ciara featured on a remix of Future's 2012 single "Turn on the Lights". "Sorry (Remix, Pt. 2)" was released digitally on December 3, 2012.

1. "Sorry" – 4:49

1. "Sorry (Remix, Pt. 2)" (featuring Future) – 3:37