Understanding (song)
Encyclopedia
"Understanding" is a song by American R&B
group Xscape
. Written by Manuel Seal,
the song was released as the group's second single from the group's 1993 debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha
. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100
and spent two weeks at number one on the Hot R&B Singles
chart.
singles chart the following month, and reached its peak of number eight in February 1994.
The single spent 14 weeks in the top 40 portion of the chart. The song went to number one on the Hot R&B Singles
chart, where it spent two weeks at the top. In other Billboard
charts, the song reached number seven on the Hot 100 Singles Sales
chart and number 15 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. In February, the single was certified gold in the United States.
The song also reached number 24 in New Zealand.
The "Understanding" music video
entered the most-played weekly charts at MTV
and BET
in late 1993, and the video reached number one on The Box for the week ending January 29, 1994.
When recording the 1995 album Off the Hook
, group member Kandi Buruss compared "Understanding" favorably to "Just Kickin' It
", the group's previous single. "I felt like I could sing 'Just Kickin' It' in my sleep. Songs like 'Understanding', which was more vocally complex, had real feeling to it and that's what we wanted more of on our next album." Fellow group member Tameka Cottle noted that the appeal of the song "was really universal."
7" Vinyl Single
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
group Xscape
Xscape (band)
Xscape, was a female American R&B group that originally started out as a quintet and then became a quartet. The group had a string of hit songs during the 1990s...
. Written by Manuel Seal,
the song was released as the group's second single from the group's 1993 debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha
Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha
Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha is the debut studio album by American singer group Xscape. After signing a contract with Jermaine Dupri So So Def Recordings, the album was released by Columbia Records on October 12, 1993 in North America....
. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and spent two weeks at number one on the Hot R&B Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart.
Release and reception
Released in December 1993, "Understanding" entered the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart the following month, and reached its peak of number eight in February 1994.
The single spent 14 weeks in the top 40 portion of the chart. The song went to number one on the Hot R&B Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, where it spent two weeks at the top. In other Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts, the song reached number seven on the Hot 100 Singles Sales
Hot 100 Singles Sales
The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the...
chart and number 15 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. In February, the single was certified gold in the United States.
The song also reached number 24 in New Zealand.
The "Understanding" music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
entered the most-played weekly charts at MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
in late 1993, and the video reached number one on The Box for the week ending January 29, 1994.
When recording the 1995 album Off the Hook
Off the Hook (Xscape album)
Off The Hook is the second studio album by American R&B singing group Xscape, released by So So Def Recording on July 18, 1995 in North America. The album was production by Jermaine Dupri features a guest appearance by MC Lyte...
, group member Kandi Buruss compared "Understanding" favorably to "Just Kickin' It
Just Kickin' It
"Just Kickin' It" is a song by American R&B group Xscape. Written by Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal,the song was released as Xscape's first single from the group's 1993 debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha...
", the group's previous single. "I felt like I could sing 'Just Kickin' It' in my sleep. Songs like 'Understanding', which was more vocally complex, had real feeling to it and that's what we wanted more of on our next album." Fellow group member Tameka Cottle noted that the appeal of the song "was really universal."
Track listings
CD/Cassette Single- "Understanding" (radio version)
- "Understanding" (remix)
- "Understanding" (Sexual Healing Mix)
- "With You" (LP version)
7" Vinyl Single
- "Understanding" (LP version) - 5:40
- "Just Kickin' It" (remix) - 3:44
Peak positions
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
24 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 58 |