Torn (LeToya song)

"Torn" a song by American R&B singer LeToya Luckett. It was written by Luckett, Teddy Bishop, and Dave Young for her solo debut album LeToya (2006), while production was helmed by Bishop. The song contains elements and features samples from The Stylistics' "You Are Everything" (1971). Due to the inclusion of the sample, Thom Bell and Linda Epstein received credit as songwriters. Lyrically, "Torn" is about the protagonist being "torn" between staying with or leaving her lover.

"Torn"
Single by LeToya
from the album LeToya
Released	March 21, 2006
Recorded	November 30, 2005
Length	4:22
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	LeToya Luckett Teddy Bishop Dave Young Thom Bell Linda Epstein
Producer(s)	Teddy Bishop
LeToya singles chronology
"All Eyes on Me" (2005) "Torn" (2006) "She Don't" (2006)

Released as the album's lead single in March 2006, "Torn" became a hit on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number two, and reached the top twenty on both the Rhythmic Top 40 and Adult R&B Songs charts. Aside from peaking at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it reached top forty in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A music video for "Torn" was directed by Chris Robinson and co-stars American football safety Will Demps as Luckett's love interest.

Background

"Torn" was written by Luckett, Teddy Bishop, and Dave Young.^[1] Commenting on the creation process of the song, Bishop said in 2012: "That song just kind of came about where LeToya had called me and asked me to put together some tracks for her. I went in the studio and I started coming up with different tracks. I had ideas of her doing something a little bit older. I dug in my crates and pulled out an old Stylistics record. Now Mary J. Blige had already did that particular sample previously, so I just did some different things to it. I flipped it and played live music and piano across it and gave it a different feel."^[1]

Music video

A music video for "Torn" was directed by Chris Robinson and debuted on BET Access Granted on July 5, 2006.^[2] American football safety Will Demps co-stars as Luckett's love interest.^[3] The clip had one of its biggest successes on the network's music video countdown show 106 & Park where it reached number one in eleven days and stayed there for twenty-five days straight, eventually remaining on the countdown for sixty-five days.^{[citation needed]} The visuals are featured as an enhanced video on the European edition and the Japanese special edition of the LeToya album.

Remixes

Producer Jermaine Dupri and frequent collaborator LRoc were consulted to produce a remix for "Torn." Their "So So Def Remix" features guest appearances from rappers Mike Jones and Rick Ross. The album version is also slightly different from the single version and there is also a version with rapper Short Dogg and Dave Young, co-writer of "Torn," singing along with Luckett.^{[citation needed]}

Track listing

Digital single^[4]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Torn"	LeToya Luckett Teddy Bishop David Young Thom Bell Linda Epstein	Bishop	4:16
2.	"Torn (So So Def remix)" (with Rick Ross and Mike Jones)	Luckett Bishop Young Bell Epstein William Roberts II Michael Jones	Jermaine Dupri LRoc[a]	4:12
3.	"Torn" (instrumental)	Luckett Bishop Young Bell Epstein	Bishop	4:20

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes co-producer(s)

Sample credits

• "Torn" contains elements of The Stylistics's "You Are Everything" (1971).

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Torn" Chart (2006) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 44 Australian Urban (ARIA)[6] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 28 Scotland (OCC)[8] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[9] 35 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[10] 12 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 31 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] 2 US Pop 100 (Billboard)[13] 90 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] 15

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Torn" Chart (2006) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 12

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Torn"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label
United States	March 21, 2006	CD single download	Capitol
Australia	September 2, 2006
United Kingdom	September 25, 2006
Canada	April 15, 2006

References

1. "Interview: Radio Constantly Changes But Teddy Bishop's Ability To Diversify Allows The Quality Of His Music To Stay The Same". youknowigotsoul.com. February 20, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
2. Gottlieb, Steven (May 9, 2006). "NEW RELEASE: LeToya "Torn"". Videostatic. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
3. "Eye Candy of the Week: Will Demps". Essence. October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
4. "Torn − Single". Spotify. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
5. "LeToya – Torn". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
6. "Issue 874" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
7. "LeToya – Torn". Top 40 Singles.
8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
9. "LeToya: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
10. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
11. "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
12. "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
13. "POP Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 32. August 12, 2006. p. 81. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
14. "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
15. "Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Titles – 2006". Billboard.biz. 2006. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2021.