Damage (H.E.R. song)

"Damage" is a song by American singer H.E.R., released on October 21, 2020, through RCA Records as the second single from her debut studio album Back of My Mind (2021). It was written by H.E.R., Ant Clemons, Carl McCormick, Tiara Thomas, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and produced by Cardiak , Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman.^[1] It samples Herb Alpert's 1987 song "Making Love in the Rain".^[2]

"Damage"
Single by H.E.R.
from the album Back of My Mind
Released	October 21, 2020 (2020-10-21)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:43
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Gabriella Wilson Tiara Thomas Ant Clemons Carl McCormick Jeff Gitelman James Harris Terry Lewis
Producer(s)	Cardiak Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman
H.E.R. singles chronology
"I Can't Breathe" (2020) "Damage" (2020) "Girl like Me" (2021)
Music video
"Damage" on YouTube

Music video

The music video was released on October 21, 2020. It was filmed at the Roxie Theatre in Los Angeles, H.E.R. performed at this with her band.^[3]

Live performance

On October 24, 2020, H.E.R. debuted "Damage" as guest on the Adele-hosted episode of Saturday Night Live.^[4]

Accolades

Year	Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2021	American Music Awards	Favorite Soul/R&B Song	Nominated	[5]
2022	Grammy Awards	Best R&B Performance	Nominated	[6]
		Best R&B Song	Nominated
	iHeartRadio Music Awards	R&B Song of the Year	Nominated	[7]
	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding R&B/Soul Song	Nominated	[8]

Commercial performance

On May 13, 2021, "Damage" was certified platinum by the RIAA with more than 1 million equivalent units sold.^[9] On June 17, 2021, it was announced that it reached number one on R&B radio.^[10]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Damage" Chart (2020–2021) Peak position New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 44 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 16 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] 9

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Damage" Chart (2021) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 45 US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[16] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[17] 41

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18]	9× Platinum	9,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Iahn, Buddy (October 21, 2020). "H.E.R. releases 'Damage'". The Music Universe. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
2. "H.E.R. returns with her vulnerable new single, "Damage"". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
3. Shaffer, Claire (October 21, 2020). "H.E.R. Performs at Los Angeles' Roxie Theatre in 'Damage' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
4. Kreps, Daniel (October 25, 2020). "See H.E.R. Perform 'Damage,' Debut 'Hold On' on 'SNL'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
5. "Olivia Rodrigo Leads 2021 American Music Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. October 28, 2021.
6. "2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List". Grammys.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
7. "2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards: The Complete Winners List". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
8. Lewis, Hilary (2022-01-18). "NAACP Image Awards: 'Harder They Fall,' 'Insecure' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
9. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
10. "H.E.R.'s 'Damage' Hits No. 1 on R&B Radio". Rated R&B. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
11. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 2, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
12. "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
13. "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
14. "H.E.R. Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
15. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
16. "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Songs - Year-End 2021". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
17. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
18. "American single certifications – H.E.R. – Damage". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 3, 2022.