Why (3T song)

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"Why"
Single by 3T featuring Michael Jackson
from the album Brotherhood
B-side
  • "Didn't Mean to Hurt You"
  • "What Will It Take"
  • "Tease Me"
ReleasedJanuary 11, 1996
Recorded1994–1995[1]
GenreSoul
Length
  • 5:20 (album version)
  • 4:10 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter
ProducerMichael Jackson
3T singles chronology
"Tease Me"
(1996)		 "Why"
(1996)		 "I Need You"
(1996)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Earth Song"
(1995)		 "Why"
(1996)		 "They Don't Care About Us"
(1996)
Music video
"Why" on YouTube

"Why" is a song by American R&B group 3T featuring their uncle Michael Jackson. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Jackson also produced it. The song was released as the fourth single from the group's debut album, Brotherhood (1995). "Why" was well received on European and Asian music charts.

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week rated the song five out of five, adding, "This smoochy soul ballad bringing together the family is a dead cert for the top three, with the older Jackson's vocals making it possible number one material."[2]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring 3T and Jackson. It is shot in black-and-white and was also released on the Michael Jackson box set, Michael Jackson's Vision.

Track listing

  • CD single
  1. "Why" (radio edit) – 4:10
  2. "Didn't Mean to Hurt You" ('96) – 4:30
  • CD single #2
  1. "Why" (radio edit) – 4:10
  2. "Tease Me" (single edit) – 4:25
  • CD maxi
  1. "Why" (radio edit) – 4:10
  2. "Tease Me" (single edit) – 4:25
  3. "Didn't Mean to Hurt You" – 5:45
  4. "What Will It Take" – 5:16
  • CD maxi #2
  1. "Why" (album version) – 5:28
  2. "Tease Me" (Todd Terry's Tease club mix) – 6:49
  3. "Tease Me" (Todd Terry's TNT Tease dub) – 6:11
  4. "Tease Me" (acapella) – 4:40

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 46
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] 10
Benelux Airplay (Music & Media)[7] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 14
Europe (European AC Radio)[9] 2
Europe (European Dance Radio)[10] 1
Europe (European Hit Radio)[11] 5
Europe (Atlantic Crossovers)[12] 2
France (SNEP)[13] 9
France Airplay (SNEP)[14] 6
Germany (GfK)[15] 29
GSA Airplay (Music & Media)[16] 6
Hungary (Mahasz)[17] 8
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[18] 27
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 14
Latvia (Latvijas Top 20)[20] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 9
Poland (Music & Media)[24] 8
Scandinavia Airplay (Music & Media)[25] 13
Scotland (OCC)[26] 4
Spain Airplay (Top 40 Radio)[27] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[30] 2
UK Airplay (Music Week)[31] 4
UK R&B (OCC)[32] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[33] 12
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[34] 71

Year-end charts

Chart (1996) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 63
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[36] 72
France (SNEP)[37] 43
France Airplay (SNEP)[38] 40
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[39] 67
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 94
Sweden (Topplistan)[41] 68
UK Singles (OCC)[42] 70

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[43] Gold 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (2018). "History". Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London, England: Cassell. ISBN 978-1-78840-057-2.
  2. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 3, 1996. p. 21. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  3. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  4. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  5. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  6. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  7. "Regional Airplay: Benelux" (PDF). Music & Media. August 24, 1996. p. 35. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. Billboard - Google Books. September 7, 1996. Retrieved April 22, 2014 – via Google Books.
  9. "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 42. October 19, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  10. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 38. September 21, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  11. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 39. September 28, 1996. p. 29. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  12. "Channel Crossovers" (PDF). Music & Media. September 14, 1996. p. 26. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  13. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  14. "Top 100 French Radio Airplay". SNEP. September 15, 1996. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  15. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  16. "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. September 28, 1996. p. 35. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  17. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 39. September 28, 1996. p. 31. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  18. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 194 Vikuna 31.10. - 6.11. '96)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  19. Jaclyn Ward (October 1, 1962). "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  20. "The most popular songs in Latvia" (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. September 29, 1996. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  22. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  23. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  24. "Major Market Airplay – Week 36/1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 38. September 21, 1996. p. 27. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  25. "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. August 17, 1996. p. 29. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 18 August 1996 - 24 August 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  27. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  28. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  29. "3T feat. Michael Jackson – Why". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  30. "3T | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  31. "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. September 7, 1996. p. 15. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  32. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  33. "3T - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  34. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Sep 14, 1996 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  35. "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  36. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997". Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. 7.
  37. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1996" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  38. "Top 100 French Radio Airplay". SNEP. December 31, 1996. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  39. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  40. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  41. "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  42. "Top 100 Singles 1996" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  43. "French single certifications – 3 T – Why" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved February 21, 2022.