Twisted (Keith Sweat song)

"Twisted" is a song by American singer Keith Sweat, released as a single in June 1996. It was the first song released from his self-titled fifth album. R&B group Kut Klose and remix rapper Pretty Russ are also featured on the song. The radio version of "Twisted" omits Pretty Russ' rap before the final chorus, though some urban stations kept the rap verse. A second mix of the song, referred to as the Flavahood Sexual remix, features a different backbeat sampled from Marvin Gaye's song "Sexual Healing". "Flavahood" also saw significant airplay on radio but was never released on an album.

"Twisted"
Single by Keith Sweat
from the album Keith Sweat
ReleasedJune 4, 1996 (1996-06-04)
Recorded1995[1]
Genre
Length4:30
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
  • Keith Sweat
  • Eric McCaine
  • Athena Cage
  • Lavonn Battle
  • Tabitha Duncan
  • Marvin Gaye
  • David Ritz
  • Elliott Brown
Producer(s)
  • Keith Sweat
  • Eric McCaine
Keith Sweat singles chronology
"Get Up On It"
(1994)		 "Twisted"
(1996)		 "Nobody"
(1996)
Music video
"Twisted" on YouTube

Commercially, "Twisted" spent three weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Sweat's biggest hit. "Twisted" also peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover chart, staying there for 14 consecutive weeks, the most amongst any song except TLC's "No Scrubs", which spent 15 weeks at the top position. Outside the US, "Twisted" topped the New Zealand Singles Chart for six weeks and became a top-20 hit in Australia and the Netherlands. In 2012, VH1 ranked the song at number 35 on their list of the "40 Greatest R&B Songs of the '90s".[5]

Music video

A music video released for the song features Sweat as a homicide detective pursuing a female suspect who assassinated a police commissioner. The video was directed by Paul Hunter.

Keith is a homicide detective first seen at a royal party but the party is interrupted when an unidentified killer shoots a man of Chinese royalty and steals diamonds from him. The killer escapes and is revealed to be a woman. Keith later arrests the woman but as he steps out of his car she manages to escape. As he returns to his apartment, the woman appears awaiting, with her handcuffs off and proceeds to seduce him. Keith is clearly "twisted" as he is unable to emotionally apprehend her.

The woman is now on the run and had made her way to the roof of a building but on her way up the ladder she is stopped and Keith is called to the scene. (The music cuts out) Keith orders them not to shoot, but when he turns his back the woman draws a gun but before she can fire the weapon an unidentified cop shoots the woman. (The music is continued) Sweat looks on at her as she is left hanging from the ladder, dead. Flashbacks of their encounters occur while he stands watching her in the rain before the video ends. The music video premiered the week of June 9, 1996

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Platinum 10,000*
United States (RIAA)[36] Platinum 1,600,000[37]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 21, 1996 Rhythmic contemporary radio Elektra [38]
June 4, 1996 CD [39]
United Kingdom June 10, 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [40]
United States July 16, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [41]

See also

References
  2. "Best Keith Sweat Songs of All Time – Top 10 Tracks | Discotech".
  3. "Keith Sweat Discusses Chart Success - MTV". MTV. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020.
  4. "Keith Sweat". latalent.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  5. "VH1's The 40 Greatest R&B Songs Of The '90s". FreeOnSmash.com. July 5, 2012. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  6. Twisted (US CD single liner notes). Keith Sweat. Elektra Records. 1996. 66031-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Twisted (US cassette single sleeve). Keith Sweat. Elektra Records. 1996. 4-64282.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Twisted (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Keith Sweat. Elektra Records. 1996. EKR223CD, 7559-66010-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. "Keith Sweat – Twisted". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. "Keith Sweat Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  11. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9913." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  12. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (24.8. – 30.8. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 24, 1996. p. 42. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  14. "Keith Sweat – Twisted" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  15. "Keith Sweat – Twisted". Top 40 Singles.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  17. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  18. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  19. "Keith Sweat Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. "Keith Sweat Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  21. "Keith Sweat Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  22. "Keith Sweat Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  23. "Keith Sweat Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  24. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  25. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  26. "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  27. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  28. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  29. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  30. "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  31. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  32. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  33. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  34. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  35. "New Zealand single certifications – Keith Sweat – Twisted". Recorded Music NZ.
  36. "American single certifications – Keith Sweat – Twisted". Recording Industry Association of America.
  37. "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. BPI Communications Inc. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  38. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1146. May 17, 1996. p. 39. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  39. "Twisted". Amazon. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  40. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 8, 1996. p. 35. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  41. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1154. July 12, 1996. p. 36. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
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