I Need U Bad

Album: Fearless (2008)
Charted: 37
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song with an unusual reggae/R&B vibe topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
  • Missy Elliott co-wrote and co-produced this song for Sullivan, who is the rapper/songwriter's protégé.
  • The Jamaican patois at the beginning and end of this track was spoken by Pepa of the hip hop group Salt-n-Pepa. Missy Elliott also provided some ad-libs on this number.
  • djbooth.net asked Sullivan what whether its success was because it sounded different to most other radio records. The R&B songstress replied: "I think that's exactly why it did so well: just because, first of all, it's a wonderful song – I don't think a lot of people could deny that. But it was, I think, so much different from everything that was being heard on the radio, it got people excited and interested in music, and it showed people that there are other artists that have different things to offer."
  • Djbooth.net asked Sullivan whether the album title Fearless is describing her, or the record. She replied: "It's a bit of both. Me as a person, I'm not afraid to take chances and be different, and that comes out in the music that I write. Even in the first single, 'I Need U Bad', it was really taking a chance to come out with a reggae/R&B vibe; it was very different from anything else on the radio."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.