"Promise" is a R&B song recorded by American singer-songwriter Ciara. Written by Ciara, Jasper Cameron, Jamal Jones, and Elvis Williams, it is the official lead single and second release in the North America from Ciara's second studio album, Ciara: The Evolution (2006). The single was released in North America only and premiered on AOL Music on September 22, 2006.

The mid-tempo falsetto ballad chronicles the protagonist searching for the perfect man. She states that she has been single, lonely, and needs someone to love her. Without further ado, she is ready to commit to him and will do anything to spend her life with him.

Pitchfork Media listed the song as the 320th best song of the 2000's.

Reception

The release of "Promise" was met with positive reviews. Clover Hope of Billboard Magazine described "Promise" as "a reinvention record (like what "When I Think of You" was to Janet Jackson)" and "also strangely appealing—particularly the changes in melody." Glenn Gamboa of Newsday wrote "she knocks out one potential hit" and called it a "Prince-ly ballad". Matt Cibula of PopMatters wrote "it is slow, it is weird, it is massive" and "it ain't genius, quite, but it’s close enough". Ken Barnes of USA Today wrote that Ciara has a "slight but sweetly tangy voice and budding emotional presence" as she plays a "demure temptress".

With the song's popularity, "Promise" produced an official remix, known as the "Go and Get Your Tickets Mix", which features R. Kelly. Kelly wrote and produced the track "Next to You" on Ciara's debut album Goodies. The remix contains a new edits on the beat and Ciara's re-recorded vocals. This remix appears on the European edition of Ciara: The Evolution. Various unofficial remixes exist, including the "Nitti Remix", "Cory Bold Remix", and remixes featuring Busta Rhymes and Grafh. Lil Wayne recorded a version of the song on the Da Drought 3 mixtape, which he declares his love for Ciara. Record producer Bryan Michael Cox produced a remix for an international compilation album.

Chart performance

"Promise" debuted on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at twenty-four. Two weeks later, the song debuted at forty-five on the Billboard Hot 100, making the single Ciara's highest debut and the top debut of the week. "Promise" peaked quickly at eleven for one week on the Hot 100. The song descended quickly, staying in the Hot 100 for twenty weeks. "Promise" peaked at number one for two weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Ciara's third number one of the chart. The song peaked in the top five of the Rhythmic Top 40 and thirty-six on the Top 40 Mainstream and twenty-five on the Hot Digital Tracks.

"Promise." ranked #71 on the Top Hot 100 Hits of 2007.

Music video

The music video for "Promise" was shot on October 2 and October 3 2006 and was directed by Diane Martel. The video premiered on BET's Access Granted on Ciara's 21st birthday, October 25 and Canada's MuchMusic where she introduced it over the phone. The video has charted BET's 106 & Park and debuted on Friday November 3 2006 at the number 8 position six days after its premiere. The video debuted on MTV's TRL at number ten on November 8, 2006 and peaked at number four. In addition, the video topped the 106 & Park at the number one position on November 27, 2006 for 27 nonconsecutive countdowns. Tina Landon, Janet Jackson's former choreographer, assisted in the choreography for the video.

The video begins with Ciara, wearing a brown hooded sweater and sweat pants, dancing by herself in a secluded area. The scene shows her singing the first verse into a gravity defying microphone, which can also support Ciara's entire body weight. During the chorus and second verse, Ciara is seen finessing seductively in a chair, which is mixed with footage of Ciara and her dancers dancing in hooded attire. Further on in the video we are introduced to a different setting in which Ciara and the dancers are seen sitting on the ground against a brick wall, exhibiting shoulder and hand movements. During the second chorus, a cabaret scene shows the silhouette of Ciara in front of a white screen, while the dancers move around on scaffolding. The shot changes once more to a visualization of Ciara on the floor sporting a petite, brown wig, reciting the spoken part of the bridge. Afterwards, Ciara dances in front of a different brick wall, in a dark area, only lit by a red spotlight. The video fades out to a scene in which we see Ciara and the dancers in somewhat of a conga line, dancing out of view.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Promise".

• Itunes North America digital download #1

1. "Promise" (Main version)

• Itunes North America digital download #2

1. "Promise" (Go and Get Your Tickets Mix)

• Promotional CD

1. "Promise" (Main)
2. "Promise" (Instrumental)
3. "Promise" (Call Out Research Hook #1)
4. "Promise" (Call Out Research Hook #2)

Charts

Chart (2006/2007)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	11
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100	36

Chart procession and succession

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 2007

References

1. "Promise" Billboard Review
2. Ciara: The Evolution Newsday Review Retrieved March 31, 2007
3. Ciara: The Evolution PopMatters Review Retrieved March 31, 2007
4. Ciara: The Evolution USA Today Review Retrieved March 31, 2007
5. The Billboard Hot 100 - November 18, 2006
6. The Billboard Hot 100 - November 25, 2006
7. The Billboard Hot 100 - January 13, 2007
8. The Billboard Hot 100 - April 07, 2007
9. Hot Digital Tracks - January 06, 2007
10. * 50 Cent Gives Ciara The 'Flavor' She's Looking For
11. Ciara - Billboard singles
12. ARC Weekly Top 40