Bitter (Chanté Moore song)

"Bitter"
Single by Chanté Moore
from the album Exposed
ReleasedNovember 17, 2000
Length3:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stewart
Chanté Moore singles chronology
"Straight Up"
(2000) 		"Bitter"
(2000) 		"Take Care of Me"
(2001)
Audio
"Bitter" on YouTube

"Bitter" is a song by American singer Chanté Moore. It was written by Moore, Katrina Willis, and Laney Stewart for her fourth studio album Exposed (2000), while production was helmed by the latter. A downtempo song about the pain and anger after a relationship has been shattered by lies,[1] it was released as the album's second single on November 17, 2000. "Bitter" garnered largely positive reviews from music critics and peaked at number 10 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[2]

Background

"Bitter" was written by Chanté Moore along with songwriter Katrina Willis, and frequent collaborator Laney Stewart for her fourth studio album Exposed (2000).[3] Production on the track was overseen by Stewart.[3] Moore reportedly recorded the song in one take.[4] In 2013, she commented in an interview: "I was very genuine when I sang that song. I sang it one time through and, burst out laughing at the end and never recorded it again."[4] With the original version making use of the word "Nigga," two further versions with slightly different lyrics were also recorded however.[1]

Critical reception

"Bitter" earned largely positive reviews from critics. Chuck Taylor from Billboard called "Bitter" by "far the best song" on its parent album Exposed, citing it as a return to Moore's "signature sound – from the wondrous whispering vocals to the slow, simple music track."[1] Vibe described the song as "a moving testament that invokes Minnie Riperton's phrasings,"[5] while PopMatters editor Charlotte Robinson found that "Bitter" was particularly "great" because it was containing "engaging, unusual lyrics [...] with the music of a sappy love song."[6] Entertainment Weekly's Craig Seymour noted that Moore "forgoes contemporary R&B histrionics on "Bitter," instead dismissing a lover with cool civility."[7] The Morning Call called the song "a brutally frank 'leave me alone' ballad."[8]

Music video

A music video for "Bitter" was directed by Aaron Courseault.[9] A continuation of the video for "Contagious" (2001), her collaboration with The Isley Brothers, R. Kelly makes a cameo appearance in "Bitter."[9]

Track listings

US promo single[10]

  1. "Bitter" (radio edit) – 3:12
  2. "Bitter" (LP version) – 3:12
  3. "Bitter" (instrumental) – 3:12
  4. "Bitter" (a cappella) – 3:10

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of Exposed.[3]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Bitter"
Chart (2001) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[11] 10
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[2] 55

References

  1. ^ a b c Taylor, Chuck (January 27, 2001). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Chante Moore Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Exposed (booklet). Chanté Moore. MCA Records. 2000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ a b "Interview: Chanté Moore is more! Talks New Album and New role on TV-One's R& B Diva's LA". thechocolatevoice.com. January 6, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "Revolutions". Vibe. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Robinson, Charlotte (November 13, 2000). "Chanté Moore: Exposed". PopMatters. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Seymour, Craig (November 17, 2000). "Exposed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "Exposed". The Morning Call. January 6, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Chanté Moore: Bitter (2001 Music Video)". iMDB. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Bitter (CD, Single, Promo)". cdandlp.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Chante Moore Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2023.