Can We Talk
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"Can We Talk" is a song performed by American R&B singer-songwriter Tevin Campbell. It was written and produced by Babyface and Daryl Simmons, and released in September 1993, by Qwest Records, as the lead single from Campbell's second studio album, I'm Ready (1993). The song hit the top ten on the American pop charts, peaking at numbers nine and seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100. It also spent a total of three weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart. It sold 500,000 copies and earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Male.
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Can We Talk" was filmed by German film director Marcus Nispel. Shot in New York City's Central Park, it features Campbell and friends traversing the park while he tries to catch the eye of his love interest.
Track listings
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can We Talk" (Edit) | BabyfaceDaryl Simmons | BabyfaceSimmons | 4:21 |
| 2. | "Look What We'd Have (If You Were Mine)" | Narada Michael WaldenTevin CampbellTony Lindsay | Walden | 4:40 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can We Talk" (Remix Radio Version) | BabyfaceSimmons | BabyfaceSimmonsDef Def[a]Meech Wells[a] | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Can We Talk" (Full Remix) | BabyfaceSimmons | BabyfaceSimmonsDef Def[a]Wells[a] | 4:55 |
| 3. | "Can We Talk" (Let's Talkstramental Mix) | BabyfaceSimmons | BabyfaceSimmonsDef Def[a]Wells[a] | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Can We Talk" (Backward Beats Mix) | BabyfaceSimmons | BabyfaceSimmonsDef Def[a]Wells[a] | 4:21 |
| 5. | "Can We Talk" (Album Radio Edit) | BabyfaceSimmons | BabyfaceSimmonsDef Def[a]Wells[a] | 4:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can We Talk" (Edit) | BabyfaceSimmons | BabyfaceSimmons | 4:21 |
| 2. | "Strawberry Letter" (Club Mix) | Shuggie Otis | Quincy JonesQuincy D III[a] | 6:28 |
| 3. | "Strawberry Letter" (LP Version) | Otis | JonesQuincy D III[a] | 4:07 |
| 4. | "Strawberry Letter" (QD III Mix With Rap) | Otis | JonesQuincy D III[a] | 4:12 |
Notes
- ^[a] denotes co-producer
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
| Tevin Campbell – lead and background vocals, Babyface – writer, composer, producer, all music and background vocals Daryl Simmons – writer, composer and producer Randy Walker – MIDI technician | Jim Zumpano, Donnell Sullivan – recording engineers Rail Rogut, Steve Warner, Ulrich Wild – assistant engineers Dave Way – mixing engineer Ivy Skoff – production coordinator |
Charts
| Chart (1993–1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Can We Talk" Chart (1993–1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 12 Canada Retail Singles (The Record) 19 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 50 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 26 US Billboard Hot 100 9 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard) 14 US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard) 3 US Cash Box Top 100 7 | Year-end charts 1993 year-end chart performance for "Can We Talk" Chart (1993) Position US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 75 1994 year-end chart performance for "Can We Talk" Chart (1994) Position Australia (ARIA) 50 US Billboard Hot 100 36 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 4 US Cash Box Top 100 39 |
| Australia (ARIA) | 12 |
| Canada Retail Singles (The Record) | 19 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 50 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 26 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Pop Airplay (Billboard) | 14 |
| US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard) | 3 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 7 |
| Chart (1993) | Position |
| US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) | 75 |
| Chart (1994) | Position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 50 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 36 |
| US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) | 4 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 39 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Code Red version
The song was covered by many other artists, most successfully by British boy band Code Red in 1996 for their debut album Scarlet. It was released as the album's third single in 1997, reaching number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.