- Source: Torn (LeToya song)
"Torn" a song by American R&B singer LeToya Luckett. It was written by Luckett, Teddy Bishop, and Dave Young for her solo debut album LeToya (2006), while production was helmed by Bishop. The song contains elements and features samples from The Stylistics' "You Are Everything" (1971). Due to the inclusion of the sample, Thom Bell and Linda Epstein received credit as songwriters. Lyrically, "Torn" is about the protagonist being "torn" between staying with or leaving her lover.
Released as the album's lead single in March 2006, "Torn" became a hit on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number two, and reached the top twenty on both the Rhythmic Top 40 and Adult R&B Songs charts. Aside from peaking at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it reached top forty in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A music video for "Torn" was directed by Chris Robinson and co-stars American football safety Will Demps as Luckett's love interest.
Background
"Torn" was written by Luckett, Teddy Bishop, and Dave Young. Commenting on the creation process of the song, Bishop said in 2012: "That song just kind of came about where LeToya had called me and asked me to put together some tracks for her. I went in the studio and I started coming up with different tracks. I had ideas of her doing something a little bit older. I dug in my crates and pulled out an old Stylistics record. Now Mary J. Blige had already did that particular sample previously, so I just did some different things to it. I flipped it and played live music and piano across it and gave it a different feel."
Music video
A music video for "Torn" was directed by Chris Robinson and debuted on BET Access Granted on July 5, 2006. American football safety Will Demps co-stars as Luckett's love interest. The clip had one of its biggest successes on the network's music video countdown show 106 & Park where it reached number one in eleven days and stayed there for twenty-five days straight, eventually remaining on the countdown for sixty-five days. The visuals are featured as an enhanced video on the European edition and the Japanese special edition of the LeToya album.
Remixes
Producer Jermaine Dupri and frequent collaborator LRoc were consulted to produce a remix for "Torn." Their "So So Def Remix" features guest appearances from rappers Mike Jones and Rick Ross. The album version is also slightly different from the single version and there is also a version with rapper Short Dogg and Dave Young, co-writer of "Torn," singing along with Luckett.
Track listing
Notes
^[a] denotes co-producer(s)
Sample credits
"Torn" contains elements of The Stylistics's "You Are Everything" (1971).