Weak (SWV song)

"Weak" is a song by American R&B vocal trio SWV from their debut studio album, It's About Time (1992). It was written and produced by Brian Alexander Morgan, who composed the lyrics based on a young person falling in love for the first time.^[2] Inspired by his crush on singer Chanté Moore,^[3] Morgan originally wrote the song for Charlie Wilson, but he later decided to give the song to SWV. Morgan later revealed that lead singer of SWV, Coko, did not like the song and gave him attitude during the recording of the single.^[4] Coko, in turn, said that she did not like the song because she found it difficult to sing initially because the song forced her to do things she wasn't used to.^[5]

"Weak"
Single by SWV
from the album It's About Time
B-side	"I'm So into You"
Released	April 16, 1993 (1993-04-16)[1]
Recorded	1991
Length	4:51 (album version) 4:21 (single version)
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Brian Alexander Morgan
Producer(s)	Brian Alexander Morgan
SWV singles chronology
"I'm So into You" (1992) "Weak" (1993) "Right Here/Human Nature" (1993)
Music video
"Weak" on YouTube

"Weak" was released in April 1993 by RCA Records as the third single from the album. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July 1993, as well as the Cash Box Top 100, and sold over one million copies domestically and was awarded a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. Outside the US, the single reached number six on the New Zealand Singles Charts and number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. Billboard ranked the song at number 72 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".^[6]

Composition

Sheet music for the song "Weak" shows the key of D minor with a tempo of "slow groove" at 63 beats per minute.^[7]

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Weak" as a "lush ballad".^[8]

Track listings

US 7-inch single[9] A. "Weak" (radio version) – 4:20 B. "I'm So into You" (radio version) – 4:07 US 12-inch single[10] A1. "Weak" (extended radio version) – 4:54 A2. "Weak" (Down mix) – 4:30 B1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00 B2. "Weak" (R-N-B extended mix) – 5:10 US cassette single[11] A1. "Weak" (radio version) – 4:20 A2. "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix) – 4:43 B1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00 Australasian CD single[12] "Weak" (radio edit) – 4:20 "Weak" (Bam Jam Jeep mix) – 5:00 "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix) – 4:43 "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) – 6:00 "Weak" (Down mix) – 4:30 "Weak" (album version) – 4:51

UK 7-inch and cassette single[13][14] "Weak" (R-N-B mix) "Weak" (Bam Jam Jeep mix) UK 12-inch single[15] A1. "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) A2. "Weak" (R-N-B mix) B1. "SWV (In the House)" B2. "I'm So into You" (original mix) UK and European CD single[16] "Weak" (R-N-B mix) "Weak" (Bam Jam extended Jeep mix) "SWV (In the House)" "I'm So into You" (original mix) Japanese mini-CD single[17] "Weak" (radio edit) "Weak" (R-N-B radio mix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993–1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 92 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 42 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] 81 Europe (European Dance Radio)[21] 20 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[23] 33 UK Airplay (ERA)[24] 87 UK Dance (Music Week)[25] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[26] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[27] 22 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[29] 2 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[30] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[31] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position US Billboard Hot 100[32] 6 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[33] 6 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[34] 59

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[1]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	April 16, 1993	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl cassette	RCA	[1]
United Kingdom	June 14, 1993	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[35]
Japan	July 21, 1993	Mini-CD		[36]

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1993 (USA)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1993 (U.S.)

References

1. "American single certifications – SWV – Weak". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
2. Frederick, Brendan. "Interview: Brian Alexander Morgan, the '90s Mastermind Behind SWV, on His History & Return to Music". complex.com. Complex Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
3. Frederick, Brendan (September 22, 2014). "Interview: Brian Alexander Morgan, the '90s Mastermind Behind SWV, on His History & Return to Music". Complex. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
4. Greene, Andy (February 20, 2014). "The WTF Comeback of SWV". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
5. "0:01 / 5:53 SWV "Weak" Official Lyrics & Meaning - Verified". Genius. Youtube. March 31, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
6. "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
7. Weak Musicnotes.com
8. "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 24. June 12, 1993. p. 11. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
9. SWV (1993). Weak (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). RCA Records. 07863-62585-7.
10. SWV (1993). Weak (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). RCA Records. 07863-62521-1.
11. SWV (1993). Weak (US cassette single sleeve). RCA Records. 07863 62521-4.
12. SWV (1994). Weak (Australasian CD single liner notes). RCA Records. 07863625212.
13. SWV (1993). Weak (UK 7-inch single sleeve). RCA Records. 74321 15335-7.
14. SWV (1993). Weak (UK cassette single sleeve). RCA Records. 74321 15335-4.
15. SWV (1993). Weak (UK 12-inch single sleeve). RCA Records. 74321 15335 1.
16. SWV (1993). Weak (UK & European CD single liner notes). RCA Records. 74321 15335-2.
17. SWV (1993). Weak (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). RCA Records. BVDP-86.
18. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 273.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2200." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
20. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 27. July 3, 1993. p. 35. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
21. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 35. August 28, 1993. p. 21. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
22. "SWV – Weak". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
24. "Airplay 100" (PDF). Hit Music. July 10, 1993. p. 18. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
25. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 26, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
26. "SWV Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
27. "SWV Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
28. "SWV Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
29. "SWV Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
30. "SWV Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
31. "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 45. July 17, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
32. "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
33. "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. December 25, 1993. p. YE-29.
34. "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
35. "SWV: Weak". Record Mirror Dance Update. June 19, 1993. p. 1.
36. "ウィーク・ポイント | SWV" [Weak Points | SWV] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 16, 2024.