immysa fearghus salean

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Tory Lattin

unread,

Aug 3, 2024, 10:39:06 PM8/3/24

to emunmolta

How Nelly and Kelly Rowland Created a Timeless Pop-R&B Hit with "Dilemma"

"Dilemma" is one of those songs that never gets old. The catchy chorus, the sweet vocals, and the nostalgic vibe make it a classic pop-R&B hit that still resonates with listeners today. But how did Nelly and Kelly Rowland come up with this masterpiece? Here's the story behind the song.

"Dilemma" was released in 2002 as the second single from Nelly's second album, Nellyville, and as the first single from Kelly Rowland's debut solo album, Simply Deep. The song was written by Nelly, Antoine "Bam" Macon, Ryan Bowser, Kenneth Gamble, and Bunny Sigler, and sampled Patti LaBelle's 1983 song "Love, Need and Want You".

Nelly was inspired to write "Dilemma" after hearing the instrumental track created by Bowser and Macon, which contained elements from LaBelle's song. He wanted to include a female singer on the song, and he thought of Kelly Rowland, whom he had met during the Total Request Live tour in 2001. He called her on the phone and asked her to record the song with him. She agreed and flew to St. Louis to join him in the studio.

The song is about a man who is in love with a woman who is already in a relationship. He expresses his dilemma of wanting to be with her but not wanting to hurt her boyfriend. Kelly Rowland plays the role of the woman who is also attracted to Nelly but is conflicted about her feelings. The song features a high-pitched intonation and a call and response structure that showcases the chemistry between the two singers.

"Dilemma" was a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 non-consecutive weeks, replacing Nelly's previous single "Hot in Herre". It also topped the charts in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and Germany. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards.

The music video for "Dilemma" was directed by Benny Boom and featured appearances by Larry Hughes and Patti LaBelle. It was filmed on Colonial Street and depicted Nelly as a new neighbor who falls for Kelly Rowland despite her being in a relationship. The video is famous for the scene where Kelly Rowland texts Nelly using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet on her Nokia phone.

"Dilemma" is widely regarded as one of the best duets of all time and one of the most iconic songs of the 2000s. It has been covered by many artists, such as James Arthur and Anne-Marie , and has been sampled by other songs, such as "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X . It has also been featured in various movies, TV shows, and video games, such as Love Actually , Glee , and Grand Theft Auto V .

"Dilemma" is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity. It shows how Nelly and Kelly Rowland were able to blend their styles and talents to create a timeless pop-R&B hit that still captivates audiences today.

In 2011, Nelly and Kelly Rowland reunited to record a sequel to "Dilemma" called "Gone". The song was produced by Jim Jonsin and Rico Love and was included on Nelly's sixth album, 5.0 (2010). The song was intended to be a continuation of the story of "Dilemma", with Nelly and Kelly Rowland rekindling their romance after years of separation. The song received mixed reviews from critics, who felt it was inferior to the original and lacked originality. The song peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

In 2016, Nelly and Kelly Rowland performed "Dilemma" live for the first time in 14 years at a concert in Sydney, Australia. The performance was part of Nelly's Australian tour and was met with a positive response from the audience and the media. The performance sparked rumors of a possible collaboration between the two artists in the future.

In 2020, Nelly and Kelly Rowland celebrated the 18th anniversary of "Dilemma" by posting tributes to each other on social media. Nelly posted a video of him singing along to the song on Instagram and wrote: "Happy anniversary to my partner in crime @kellyrowland!! Thanx for trusting me and my vision!! #Dilemma #1 then #1 now!!". Kelly Rowland replied: "Happy Anniversary @nelly!! Thank you for believing in me! Love you forever!! #Dilemma". The posts received thousands of likes and comments from fans who expressed their love for the song and the artists.