Grown Woman (song)

Following the announcement that Rowland's international lead single, "Commander", would not be released in the United States,[2] a new single, penned by Ne-Yo, was announced as the new American lead single. Titled "Shake Them Haters Off", the up-tempo song sees Rowland "flexing her muscles."[3] However, those plans were changed once again when, on June 11, 2010, "Shake Them Haters Off" was replaced with two new lead singles.[4][5] On June 29, 2010, "Rose Colored Glasses" was sent to Top 40/Mainstream radio stations as a pop single,[6] and also released for digital download on the same day.[7][8] "Grown Woman" was also sent to radio on June 29, but to Rhythmic,[9] Urban,[10] and Urban AC radio stations.[11] The single cover was revealed on June 17, 2010 via Rowland's official website. Rap Up called the cover "grown and sexy."[12] It was released for download on July 27, 2010 in the United States.[13]

"Grown Woman" is an urban R&B song[12] written by Ne-Yo, Magnus Beite, Bernt Stray, and Norwegian production team StarGate[14] (who also produced the song).[15] Jeremy Helligar of True/Slant commented the song was "still to the left of what normally passes for modern R&B."[16] Originally revealed as "Grown Ass Woman" and later changed to "Grown Woman," the lyrics and theme of the song are based on a woman who "asserts her maturity and clues her suitors in on what won’t fly when it comes to relationships."[1] The song is one of three records which Ne-Yo co-wrote for Rowland after the singer specifically approached him to pen records for her album. Its concept was devised in a brief conversation between the pair.[17] Rowland said, "'Ne-Yo asked me what I wanted to talk about,' and I replied 'I'm in a different space. Change is very comfortable for me, and I'm happy where I am'.[15] [I] want a record that declared that I'm Grown!"[17]

The single was officially available for airplay on June 29, 2010.[9][10][11] Two days later, it made its US chart debut on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number eighty-seven.[18] Additionally, during the first week of radio adds, "Grown Woman" became the number one added song to Urban adult contemporary stations.[19] As a result, the song made its debut on the US Hot Urban AC Airplay Chart at number thirty-three[20] and rose nineteen places on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart to number sixty-eight.[21] Since then, it has gone on to peak at number twenty-two on the Urban AC Airplay chart, having amassed about 920,000+ audience impressions.[22] It has also peaked on the Urban Contemporary Airplay chart at number thirty-two.[23]

Rowland told New York station 103.5 KTU FM that the music video for "Grown Woman" was due to be filmed in the last week of July 2010.[24] The filming of the video was rescheduled to the weekend beginning August 21, 2010 in Los Angeles.[25] It is currently unknown if the clip was filmed or if it will be released. Rowland did, however, perform the song live for the first time at Ne-Yo's post-American Music Awards Vevo party on November 21, 2010.[26]