TLC - CREEP

Publicada: 31 d’octubre de 1994

EUA: núm. 1 (4 setmanes)

“Creep” és una cançó del trio nord-americà de R&B TLC, publicada l’any 1994 com a senzill principal del seu aclamat segon àlbum, “CrazySexyCool”. Escrita i produïda per Dallas Austin, la cançó es va inspirar en l’experiència real de Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, que va haver de fer front a la infidelitat de la seva parella. La lletra aborda una narrativa controvertida: una dona respon a l’engany del seu company sent infidel ella també, no com a venjança, sinó per buscar afecte emocional i físic.

Va ser el primer senzill de TLC a assolir el número 1 al Billboard Hot 100, iniciant una sèrie d’èxits que inclourien “Waterfalls”, “No Scrubs” i “Unpretty”. “Creep” també els va valer un Grammy l’any 1996 a la Millor interpretació R&B d’un duo o grup amb veu, i va ser nominada a Millor cançó R&B.

La cançó va provocar tensions creatives dins del grup. Mentre que T-Boz creia que representava de manera honesta com se senten moltes dones en situacions de deslleialtat, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes s’oposava al missatge. Es va negar a fer un vers rapejat, preocupada perquè transmetia una idea equivocada i podia afectar la seva vida personal. Left Eye, que havia tingut problemes legals després d’haver incendiat la casa del seu xicot Andre Rison, rebutjava la mentalitat de “ull per ull” pel que fa a la infidelitat. Fins i tot va amenaçar de protestar en el videoclip portant cinta adhesiva negra sobre la boca.

El grup va rebutjar inicialment dues versions del videoclip perquè sentien que no reflectien la seva nova identitat madura. T-Boz va explicar més tard que aquells vídeos no tenien prou força per representar el seu retorn. La versió final, amb el grup ballant en pijames de seda i mostrant una sensualitat segura, s’inspirava en “Whatta Man” de Salt-N-Pepa i En Vogue. Aquest canvi d’imatge va marcar la transició de TLC d’estrelles adolescents a dones empoderades i segures de la seva sexualitat.

TLC - CREEP

Released: October 31, 1994

US: #1 (4 Weeks)  

“Creep” is a song by American R&B trio TLC, released in 1994 as the lead single from their critically acclaimed second album, “CrazySexyCool”. Written and produced by Dallas Austin, the song was inspired by the real-life experience of group member Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, dealing with a partner’s infidelity. Lyrically, it explores a controversial narrative: a woman responds to her unfaithful boyfriend by cheating herself, not out of revenge, but for emotional and physical affection.

The track was TLC’s first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, kicking off a run of chart-topping hits that included “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” and “Unpretty.” “Creep” also earned the group a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and was nominated for Best R&B Song.

“Creep” sparked creative tension within the group. While T-Boz believed it was an important and honest depiction of how many women feel in such situations, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes objected to the song’s message. She refused to contribute a rap verse, fearing it would send the wrong message and cause problems in her personal life. Left Eye, who had faced legal trouble for burning her boyfriend Andre Rison’s house, also opposed the “eye-for-an-eye” mentality around cheating. She went so far as to threaten to protest the music video by wearing black tape over her mouth.

The group initially rejected two music videos filmed for the song, feeling they didn’t match the new mature identity they were developing. T-Boz later revealed that the videos weren’t strong enough to represent their comeback. Their final version of the video, which shows the group dancing in silk pajamas with sensual flair, was inspired by Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue’s “Whatta Man”. It was this shift that marked TLC’s transition from teenage pop stars to confident, sexually empowered women.