Come Back in One Piece
| "Come Back in One Piece" | ||||
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| Single by Aaliyah featuring DMX | ||||
| from the album Romeo Must Die: The Album | ||||
| A-side | "I Don't Wanna" (Europe) | |||
| Released | June 6, 2000 (North America) | |||
| Recorded | Fall 1999 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:20 | |||
| Label | ||||
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| Aaliyah singles chronology | ||||
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| DMX singles chronology | ||||
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"Come Back in One Piece" (sometimes referred to as "Back in One Piece") is the third official single from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack. The song was performed by Aaliyah and features a guest appearance by DMX. The song was a Top 40 hit single in the US, though it was a minor urban contemporary hit. In Europe, "Come Back in One Piece" and "I Don't Wanna" were released together as double A-side single.
Background[]
In 1999, Aaliyah landed her first movie role in Romeo Must Die, released March 22, 2000. A loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Aaliyah starred opposite martial artist Jet Li, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families. It grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office.[1] In addition to acting, Aaliyah served as an executive producer of the film soundtrack, to which she contributed four songs.[2] Aaliyah revealed that the production team "actually talked about the soundtrack before we even shot the movie".[3] In a 2011 interview with billboard DMX stated that Aaliyah and Romeo Must Die's producer Joel Silver personally asked him to be a part of the film. "When I was on tour her and Joel Silver came to my dressing room to see if I wanted to be a part of the movie,". He then said "Most people would have there people call, but she came herself. I'm like, 'Is this a trick question? You have to ask me if I want to be in a movie with Aaliyah? Hell yeah.' We [then] met up in Vancouver to [do] Romeo Must Die."[4]
Composition and lyrical interpretation[]
According to Chuck Taylor from Billboard on "Come Back in One Piece" Aaliyah is "playing the role of the concerned girlfriend who worries about the actions of her lover, but she understands what he has to do".[5] Quentin B. Huff from PopMatters mentioned, "In "Back in One Piece", Aaliyah's role is the devoted worrier. She's afraid for her man's safety when he goes out at night. "I barely sleep," she sings, almost breathless. Wishing he would just call her to let her know he's not "in some heat", Aaliyah's verse and refrain are pleas that he'll check in with her and "make it back in one piece." They are also prayers, I think, because she knows he won't check in and any promises he makes to come home safely are far from guarantees. DMX's rap is short on reassurances. With lines like, "Let me go, I'll be back, I ain't got time to convince", he sounds as if he's in too much of a rush to console her".[6]
The song sampled "Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk" by Parliament, from their 1977 LP Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome.[7]
Critical reception[]
In his review of the song Chuck Taylor from Billboard expressed that although Aaliyah and DMX were completely opposite from each other the unlikely pairing worked in conveying the message of the song. "Although the two stars couldn't be any more opposite -Aaliyah with her velvet tones and smooth moves, and DMX, who is known for his gruff, grimy flow- The contrast works in conveying the theme of the song".[5] In 2016 Complex compiled a list of Aaliyah's best songs and "Come Back in One Piece" was featured on the list. According to complex writer Jacob Moore "What made the song work so well wasn’t just DMX using dog metaphors to proclaim loyalty for his girl—it was Aaliyah meeting him somewhere in the middle". He then said "When she sang “Come Back in One Piece,” she did it like she really understood that all things, even DMX, are more complicated than they seem".[8] Bianca Gracie from Fuse felt that the song's usage of the groups Parliament song sample balanced out DMX's "thuggish flow" with Aaliyah's "honey-sweet melody".[9] Quentin B. Huff from PopMatters praised the song saying, "I like that the song doesn't try to wrap things up neatly with a meeting of the minds. Instead, both sides are entrenched in their positions, forcing them to agree to disagree. I suspect the two personalities in this song would argue a lot, and there's quite a bit of realism in that".[6]
Music video[]
Background[]
The video for Come Back in One Piece was directed by Little X in March 2000 in DMX's hometown of Yonkers and Mount Vernon, New York, the director wanted the video to have an authentic street vibe. While speaking to MTV about the theme for the video Little X stated "I'm just trying to shoot DMX's hood, an area that he's from, because when you do a street joint, it has to be authentic".[10] In a 2011 interview with Billboard DMX discussed filming come back in one piece with Aaliyah. DMX stated "We did the video in Mount Vernon and Yonkers I got to bring Aaliyah to the hood not many people can say that,".[4]
Synopsis[]
The video begins with a clip from Romeo Must Die on a small TV screen, which then leads to the opening shot of the video with Aaliyah and DMX standing in front of a brick wall. In the next scene DMX and his crew of friends get into a street fight in front of a Liquor store. In between the street fight scene, the scene of Aaliyah and DMX standing in front of the brick wall is shown again. As DMX raps every scene from the beginning of the video are all shown simultaneously, The next scene show's Aaliyah singing in various locations such as a dingy hall way and outside with DMX. After those scenes Aaliyah is shown walking and hanging out with a group of thugs while carrying her dog. The next scene then show both Aaliyah and DMX together outside hugging and singing the chorus of the song. As a new scene emerges it shows Aaliyah and her friends getting into a street fight with a group of girls similar to DMX's street fight scene. The next scene in the video is of Aaliyah playing with her dog as she is lying in bed. For the remainder of the video scenes of Aaliyah and DMX sitting and hugging is shown. During the final scene of the video various residents from DMX's old neighborhood are taking pictures in front of murals of Aaliyah and DMX. The video officially ends with another scene from Romeo Must Die just as the video started with a scene from the movie.[11]
Reception[]
The music video for "Come Back in One Piece" made its television debut on BET during the week ending on April 17, 2000.[12] During the week ending on May 1, 2000 the video debuted on The Box and became the fifteenth most played video on BET.[13] A month later during the week ending on June 26, 2000 the video became the twenty-seventh most played video on MTV.[14]
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
References[]
External links[] |
- 2000 singles
- Aaliyah songs
- DMX (rapper) songs
- Music videos directed by Director X
- Song recordings produced by Irv Gotti
- Songs written by Static Major
- Songs written by Irv Gotti
- 1999 songs
- Songs written by DMX (rapper)
- Songs written by Bernie Worrell
- Songs written by George Clinton (funk musician)
- Songs written by Bootsy Collins