"The Best of Me"
Single by Mýa featuring Jadakiss
from the album Fear of Flying
ReleasedApril 11, 2000
Recorded1999-January 2000
StudioThe Hit Factory
(New York City, New York)
Genre
Length4:12
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Swizz Beatz
Mýa singles chronology
"My First Night with You"
(1999)		 "The Best of Me"
(2000)		 "Case of the Ex"
(2000)
Jadakiss singles chronology
"Banned from T.V."
(1998)		 "The Best of Me"
(2000)		 "Got It All"
(2000)
Music video
"The Best Of Me" on YouTube

"The Best of Me" is a song by American singer Mýa. It served as Harrison's first single from her second studio album Fear of Flying (2000) and featured Yonkers rapper Jadakiss. The song was written and composed by the latter and Harrison along with Teron Beal, Jimmy Cozier, Swizz Beatz and Mashonda Tifrere. Lyrically, "The Best of Me," a street savvy anthem addresses a woman holding off being intimate or physical with a guy.

The song received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. However, "The Best of Me" underperformed on Billboard's US Hot 100; peaking and spending two non-consecutive weeks at number fifty. It fared better on the component Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart peaking within the top 20 at number fourteen. Internationally, the song peaked within the top 40 in Germany, peaking at number twenty-six. The song was sent to radio stations on April 11, 2000 and the accompanying music video was serviced to video outlets a month prior on March 6, 2000. Her love interest was portrayed by A&R Marquis Collins.

Background and release

"The Best of Me" was composed by Mýa Harrison and Swizz Beatz, along with singers Teron Beal, Jimmy Cozier, Mashonda, and rapper Jadakiss, the latter of which is also featured vocally on the song.[1] Originally expected to be recorded by rapper DMX in a Miami recording session with Swizz, the instrumental of the song was left unused until the producer returned to New York City to start work on Harrison's album at The Hit Factory.[2] Upon accidentally pushing a button in the studio, Harrison's management reportedly "jumped up and said 'That's it, that's it'."[2] When recording "The Best of Me" producer Swizz Beatz admired Harrison's work ethic, commenting, she's as dedicated to mastering vocals as she is to dance. He noted, "She takes everything seriously when it comes to the music citing "she's a perfectionist." However, Harrison clarified, "I'm not a perfectionist but I like to improve."[3] An eleventh hour addition, the record was among the last tracks that were recorded for the Fear of Flying album.[4] Jadakiss, then a member of the Ruff Ryders Entertainment's group The LOX, came aboard as a result of label connections with Interscope Records.[4]

Speaking on the message of the uptempo track with "a lot of meanings,"[4] Harrison explained: "[It] talks about thinking about consequences before you make a decision, especially decisions made when you're in a situation of the heat of the moment," she said, "when passion and infatuation and seduction and all these things are taking place, and you're actually liking it. However, as a female, things do happen to you that you must carry on after the fact, so you're trying to weigh the consequences and make a decision based on what you know, and you may not know much about this person. It's just about setting standards for yourself and what you want."[5] Before "The Best of Me" was chosen as the lead single from Fear of Flying, Harrison initially expected reggae-influenced "Lie Detector" to be released as her next single.[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, "The Best of Me" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. While reviewing Fear of Flying, All Music's Jose F. Promis praised "The Best of Me" highlighting "The Best of Me" as arguably the best song on the album while noting it as "one of the better pop songs of 2000."[6] Billboard magazine called "The Best of Me" a "dreamy midtempo tune."[7] "The Best of Me" was featured on The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop end of the year critics list.[8]

Commercial performance

In the United States, The Best of Me made its debut at number eighty-five on Billboard Hot 100 issue dated week of April 15, 2000.[9] It reached its peak at number fifty issue dated week of May 20, 2000. In total, the song spent 17 consecutive weeks on the chart. It was Harrison's first single to miss the coveted pop Top 40. The Best of Me performed better on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart debuting at number seventy issue dated week of April 1, 2000.[10] It ascended from 70-40 in its second week issue dated week of April 8, 2000.[11] The song continued to soar up the chart ascending from 40-27 issue dated week of April 15, 2000.[12] It reached its peak at number fourteen issue dated week of May 20, 2000. It became Harrison's fourth consecutive Top 40 (solo) sixth overall hit on that chart.

The Best of Me crossed-over onto international markets. In Netherlands, it debuted and peaked at number seventy-five during the week of August 29, 2001.[13] It debuted and peaked at number sixty-four during the week of July 23, 2000 on Switzerland's Top 75 Singles chart.[14] It spent a total of 8 consecutive weeks on that chart. It reached the Top 40 in Germany; peaking at number twenty-six.

Music video

A music video for "The Best of Me" was directed by Chris Robinson.[15] The clip starts with Mýa practicing a dance routine to an instrumental version of DMX's "Good Girls, Bad Guys" (1999) alongside two female dancers in a dance studio.[16] Next to Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch from his group The Lox co-star, with actress LaNease Adams and entertainer Christina Milian also appearing in the clip, portraying Mýa's friends.[15] The video was serviced to video outlets on March 6, 2000 before a commercial release date was determined.[17] and premiered four days later on MTV's countdown show TRL.[18]

Live performances

On April 17, 2000, Mya performed "The Best of Me" with Jadakiss on MTV's House of Style.[19] On May 29, 2000, she performed at the 2000 World Music Awards.[20]

Legacy

Atlanta rapper Father recorded and released a cover version of "The Best of Me."[21][22]

Track listings

UK/European maxi-single enhanced CD[23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Best of Me" (LP Version)
Swizz Beatz4:12
2."The Best of Me" (Holla Remix) (featuring Jadakiss)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
3:52
3."My First Night with You" (LP Version)
Daryl Simmons5:39
4."It's All About Me" (featuring Sisqó)
Pearson4:24
5."The Best of Me" (Enhanced Video Track)   
US CD single[24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Best of Me" (LP Version)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:10
2."The Best of Me" (Holla Remix) (featuring Jadakiss)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
3:25
3."The Best of Me" (Holla Club Remix) (featuring Jadakiss)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Garibay[A]
5:48
US 12" single[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Best of Me" (Main Vs.)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:20
2."The Best of Me" (Instrumental)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:19
3."The Best of Me" (Accapella)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:19
4."The Best of Me" (Main Vs.)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:20
5."The Best of Me" (Instrumental)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:19
6."The Best of Me" (Accapella)
  • Beal
  • Cozier
  • Dean
  • Harrison
  • Phillips
  • Tifrere
Swizz Beatz4:19

Notes

  • ^[A] denotes remix producer

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of Fear of Flying.[26]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "The Best of Me"
Country Release date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States April 11, 2000 Rhythmic contemporary radio Interscope [35]
Urban contemporary radio [36]
United States June 5, 2000 [37]

References

  1. ↑ Fear of Flying (liner notes). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. 1 2 "Swizz's Most Memorable Collaborations". Vibe. Vibe Media. 2000-06-01. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  3. ↑ "OH, MYA! HER CAREER IS 'FLYING' With her second LP, Harrison offers up cautionary R & B in a sexy package". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hall, Rashaun (2000-03-18). "Mya Shares Her 'Fear of Flying'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  5. ↑ "Mya Shoots Video For 'Best Of Me' Remix". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Inc. 2000-07-30. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  6. ↑ "Fear of Flying [Bonus Tracks]". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  7. ↑ "Fear Of Flying". All Business. Archived from the original on 5 November 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Village Voice - Pazz & Jop 2000 Singles List". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  9. ↑ "Hot 100 Week of April 15, 2000". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  10. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Week of April 1, 2000". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  11. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Week of April 8, 2000". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  12. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Week of April 15, 2000". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  13. ↑ "Dutch Top 100". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  14. ↑ "Singles 75". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  15. 1 2 "Mýa Feat. Jadakiss: The Best of Me (2000)". IMDb. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ Hall, Rashaun (March 8, 2000). "Mya Shares Her 'Fear of Fyling'". Mya Mya. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  17. ↑ Hall, Rashaun (2000-03-18). R&B Artists & Music : Mya Shares Her 'Fear of Flying'. Vol. 112. Billboard. p. 28.
  18. ↑ "Mya Gives Us Her Best". Mya Mya. Archived from the original on 8 August 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "House of Style". Mya Mya. Archived from the original on August 8, 2001. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Mya On World Music Awards". Mya Mya. Archived from the original on April 14, 2002. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "AUDIO: FATHER, "BEST OF ME" (MYA COVER)". Saint Heron. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  22. ↑ "Awful Records' Father and Ethereal Deliver an Emotional Cover of R&B Singer Mýa's Classic "Best of Me"". Noisey. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  23. ↑ "Mýa* – Best Of Me (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  24. ↑ "Mýa* Featuring Jadakiss – The Best Of Me(CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  25. ↑ "Mýa* – Best Of Me (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  26. ↑ Fear of Flying (booklet). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ↑ "Mya – The Best of Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 39, 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Mýa – Best of Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  30. ↑ "Mýa – Best of Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  31. ↑ "Mya Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  32. ↑ "Mya Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  33. ↑ "Mya Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  34. ↑ "2000 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  35. ↑ "CHR/Rhythmic – Going For Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 7, 2000. p. 63. Retrieved April 26, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  36. ↑ "Urban Action – Addvance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 7, 2000. p. 68. Retrieved April 26, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  37. ↑ "Best of Me [Germany CD]". Amazon Germany. June 5, 2000. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
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