Monica

"Angel of Mine" is an R&B ballad written by Rhett Lawrence and Travon Potts, produced by Rhett Lawrence for British R&B girl group Eternal's Greatest Hits album in 1997. The song became the group's fourteenth top ten hit on the UK singles chart peaking at #4 and spent a total of 13 weeks in the chart, helping their Greatest Hits album go three times platinum.^[2] "Angel of Mine" was the group's final single as a three-piece as after the release of Angel of Mine, Kéllé Bryan left the group.


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Xscape

 "All This Love"
Album: "New York Undercover: A Night at Natalie's" (1998) 

LL Cool J

"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.^[1] It has become one of Khan's signature songs.
Rufus keyboardist David "Hawk" Wolinski wrote the song around a repeating synthesizer loop backed by a Linn LM-1 Drum Computer. However, drummer John J.R. Robinson played real drums for the recording session. Legendary producer Quincy Jones (who had previously worked with Rufus) wanted Wolinski to give "Ain't Nobody" to Michael Jackson for the album that would become the blockbuster Thriller, but Wolinski had already promised it to producer Russ Titelman, who ultimately had the band record it as a vocal showcase for Khan.^{[citation needed]}
The song was also included in the soundtrack of the movie Breakin'.^[2]


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Madonna (Featuring Justin Timberlake And Timbaland)

"4 Minutes" is a song by American singer and songwriter Madonna from her eleventh studio album Hard Candy (2008), featuring vocals by American musicians Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. It was released as the lead single from the album on March 17, 2008, by Warner Bros. Records. The song's development was motivated by a sense of urgency to save the planet from destruction, and how people can enjoy themselves in the process. The writing was completed through discussions between Madonna and Timberlake about different situations, issues and relationships. According to Madonna, the song inspired her to produce the documentary I Am Because We Are (2008).


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Salt-N-Pepa

"Push It" is a song by the group Salt-N-Pepa. It was released as the B-side of the "Tramp" single in 1987, and as its own single in 1988. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1988 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song is ranked #440 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was ranked #9 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.



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Beyonce Ft. Jay Z

"Crazy in Love" is the debut single by R&B singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles, featuring rapper and now-husband Jay-Z. Producer Rich Harrison, Knowles and Jay-Z wrote the song for Knowles' debut solo album, Dangerously in Love. "Crazy in Love" is an R&B love song which incorporates elements of 1970s-style funk, soul and dance-pop genres. The track features a sample from The Chi-Lites' 1970 song "Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)", used as the song's horn hook. The lyrics reference a romantic obsession that causes the protagonist to act out of character.
Columbia Records released "Crazy in Love" on May 20, 2003, as the album's lead single. Critics praised the horn sample, the guest appearance of Jay-Z, and the assertiveness with which Knowles sings the lyrics. "Crazy in Love" ranks 118th on Rolling Stone's 2010 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. VH1 placed the song at number one on its 100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s list. At the 46th Grammy Awards, it won Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. "Crazy in Love" was Knowles' first number one single as a solo artist in the United States, peaking on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. It also topped UK Singles Chart, and reached the top ten on the singles charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden as well as Switzerland and achieved multi-platinum certifications in most of these countries.
The song's accompanying music video features Knowles in various dance sequences. It won three awards at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and its director, Jake Nava, won the Music Video Production Association award for Best R&B Video in 2004. Since 2003, "Crazy in Love" has been a staple in Knowles' live performances and concert tours. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized "Crazy in Love" as one of the most performed songs of 2004 at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. The song has been covered by David Byrne and numerous others, and it has been used in various television shows and other



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Michael Jackson

"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It is the second single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). It was written by Jackson and produced by him and Quincy Jones. Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and Jackson had disagreements regarding it. There are contradictory claims to what the song's lyrics refer to. One suggests that they are derived from a real-life experience, in which a mentally ill female fan claimed that Jackson had fathered one of her twins. Jackson himself, however, stated that "Billie Jean" was based on groupies he had encountered. The song is well known for its distinctive bass line and Jackson's vocal hiccups. The song was mixed 91 times by audio engineer Bruce Swedien before it was finalized.
"Billie Jean" became a worldwide commercial and critical success; "Billie Jean" was one of the best-selling singles of 1983 and is one of the best-selling singles worldwide. The song topped both the US and UK charts simultaneously. In other countries, "Billie Jean" topped the charts of Spain and Switzerland, reached the top ten in Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden, and peaked at number 45 in France. Considered to be one of the most revolutionary songs in history, "Billie Jean" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1989.
Awarded numerous honors—including two Grammy Awards, one American Music Award and an induction into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame—the song and corresponding music video propelled Thriller to the status of best-selling album of all time. The song was promoted with a short film that broke down MTV's racial barrier as the first video by a black artist to be aired in heavy rotation. Also, Jackson's Emmy-nominated performance on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, in which Jackson premiered his "the moonwalk" also helped to popularize the song. The song was also promoted through Jackson's Pepsi commercials; during the filming of one commercial, Jackson's scalp was severely burned. Covered by modern artists, "Billie Jean" sealed Jackson's status as an international pop icon.



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Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

"Umbrella" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, featuring a rap verse by Jay-Z. The song was written by The-Dream, Christopher Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Jay-Z, and was produced by Stewart for Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The song was originally written for recording artist Britney Spears, whose label rejected it. "Umbrella" is a pop and R&B song and lyrically it refers to a romantic and platonic relationship and the strength of that relationship. It is generally considered Rihanna's signature song.
"Umbrella" was well received by music critics, many of whom appreciated the "ella, ella" hook as well as the covincing vocals with which she delivered the chorus. Entertainment Weekly ranked the song number one on the 10 Best Singles of 2007, while Rolling Stone and Time listed the song at number three on the 100 Best Songs of 2007. The song has earned Rihanna several awards and nominations. In 2007, the song won two awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, when it was nominated for four. At the 50th Grammy Awards, "Umbrella" also earned Rihanna and Jay-Z a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in addition to receiving nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The song serves as the lead single to the album, and was released worldwide on March 29, 2007 through Def Jam Recordings. "Umbrella" was a commercial success, topping the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, France, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the United Kingdom, where the song's chart performance generated controversy when the country was experiencing excessive flooding and large amounts of rain at the time, it is deemed an iconic song and was one of the most played songs on radio in the 2000s (decade). It managed to stay at number one on the UK Singles Chart for ten consecutive weeks, the longest run at number one for any single of that decade. The single was one of the highest digital debuts in the United States and remained at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks.
The single's accompanying music video was directed by Chris Applebaum and features Rihanna's nude body covered in silver paint. The video earned Rihanna a Video of the Year at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and Most Watched Video on MuchMusic.com at MuchMusic Video Awards. Along with countless amateurs, "Umbrella" has been covered by several notable performers from a variety of musical genres, including Taylor Swift, OneRepublic, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Vanilla Sky and The Baseballs. Rihanna performed the song at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, 2008 BRIT Awards and was the closing song of the Good Girl Gone Bad, Last Girl on Earth, and Loud Tours.



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R. Kelly

"Ignition (Remix)" is a song written and produced by American R&B singer R. Kelly from his 2003 album Chocolate Factory. The song was also featured on the soundtrack to the 2003 comedy/romance film, Love Don't Cost a Thing. It is viewed as one of his signature songs and has been very popular in the United States, Europe and Oceania.
The song was R. Kelly's second #1 single in the United Kingdom, following "I Believe I Can Fly" in 1997. It was later included on the updated version of Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time in 2010 at number 494. The song was listed at #19 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s.
The song is sometimes called simply "Ignition" colloquially and for marketing purposes, including as the title of one of its releases as a single and on the Billboard charts. However, the song is most commonly referred to in writing with the remix designation to prevent confusion with "Ignition", another track on Chocolate Factory. The songs are otherwise completely different; it is only in Ignition (Remix) that R. Kelly gives the listeners "a lil' preview of the remix", as he states in the song.



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Justin Timberlake

"Cry Me a River" is a song by American recording artist Justin Timberlake, recorded for his debut studio album Justified (2002). Timberlake's inspiration to write the song was the failed relationship he had with American singer Britney Spears. It was co-written by Timothy Mosley and Scott Storch with a production helmed by Mosley under his stage name Timbaland. Jive Records serviced the song to contemporary hit and rhythmic radio in the United States on November 24, 2002, as second single from the album. "Cry Me a River" is a pop and R&B ballad, with an instrumentation consisted of clavinet, beatobox, guitars, synthesizers, "Arabian inspired riffs" and "Gregorian chants".^[1] Lyrically, the single is about a brokenhearted man who refuses to look back. In 2003, Spears recorded a response to the song titled "Everytime" for her fourth studio album In the Zone.
"Cry Me a River" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics with some of them calling it a stand-out track on Justified, while additionally praising Timbaland's production. The song earned Timberlake a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 46th Grammy Awards. "Cry Me a River" was a commercial success reaching the top-ten in more than ten countries worldwide. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and US Pop Songs chart, as well as number two on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Additionally it peaked inside the top ten in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. "Cry Me a River" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipping over 35,000 copies.
Francis Lawrence directed the accompanying music video in Malibu, California. The music video features Timberlake spying on his former girlfriend who allegedly portrays Spears and plotting his revenge with a help of Timbaland and new lover. Following its release, media speculated that Spears was the inspiration for the video, however Timberlake denied that. Spears herself replied to the video, noting it as a great publicity stunt from Timberlake. It was nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards eventually winning two, for Best Male Video and Best Pop Video. Timberlake performed "Cry Me a River" on his three major tours, Justified and Lovin' It Live (2003—04), his joint effort with Christina Aguilera, Justified/Stripped Tour (2003) and on FutureSex/LoveShow (2007). Recordings artists like Taylor Swift and Leona Lewis performed a cover of the song on their respective concert tours.



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Alicia Keys

"Fallin'"
The song recorded, written, and produced by Alicia Keys for her debut album, Songs in A Minor. Released to radio and music video outlets in 2001, it is generally considered her signature song.^[1] "Fallin'" became Keys' first number-one single in the United States and her first top five hit in several countries. It is also Keys' second biggest single to date after 2007's "No One". In 2009 the single was named the 29th most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.^[2] Rolling Stone ranked it number sixty-two on their Top 100 Songs of the 2000s decade.^[3] The song charted at 413 in Blender magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.^[4] "Fallin'" won three Grammy Awards in 2002, including Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and was also nominated for Record of the Year. The single set the record for the song with the largest cumulative audience in the history of pop radio with 93 million, but was broken by pop singer Katy Perry, with the single "E.T." in 2011.^{[original research?]}



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Sting ft. Mary J. Blige

"Whenever I Say Your Name"
 ...is a 2003 duet between British singer-songwriter Sting and American R&B singer Mary J. Blige. The song is the second single from Sting's studio album Sacred Love. It was not originally included on Mary J. Blige's sixth studio album Love & Life but was later added to the album's international re-release.
The single was the third and final non-US single from Love & Life. The track was released in late 2003, only peaking at #60 in the UK, meaning that the song became Sting's lowest charting single since "They Dance Alone" reached #94 in 1988. It also became Mary J. Blige's smallest hit there since the first release of "Real Love" in 1992. [1] Despite the song's lack of commercial success, it did win the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for music released in 2003.
The song is arguably one of the most complex works Sting has authored. It is composed in F-sharp minor, using half diminished chords right from the first verse. The Chorus section quotes exactly the harmonic progression in the first five measures of J. S. Bach's Little Prelude in C major, BWV 924, beginning with the marked ascending circle of fifths sequence. The quotation is likely on purpose, since the change to a descending third sequence in bars 4-5 of the Bach prelude is also quoted in the Sting version. In terms of chord structure, no Sting song comes closer to Classical Music than "Whenever I say your name".



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