Can We

"Can We"
"Can We"
Single by SWV featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
from the album Release Some Tension and Booty Call: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released	February 11, 1997
Studio	Master Sound (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Length	4:51 (album version); 4:19 (radio edit);
Label	RCA; Jive;
Songwriter(s)	Melissa Elliott; Timothy Mosley;
Producer(s)	Timbaland; Missy Elliott;
SWV singles chronology
Missy Elliott singles chronology

"Can We" is a song by American R&B trio SWV featuring guest vocals from Missy Elliott and production by Timbaland and Elliott. It heavily samples the intro of "Do the Funky Chicken" by Rufus Thomas. The song was eventually included on SWV's third album, Release Some Tension (1997), but was originally a hit earlier in the year when it was included on the soundtrack to the 1997 film, Booty Call.

"Can We" received major airplay on urban radio stations in the United States, but it was not released as a cassette or CD single in the US. However, because of a 12-inch vinyl single release, "Can We" was able to chart on Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 75. Outside the US, the song topped the New Zealand Singles Chart and peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

A music video for the single was directed by Jesse Vaughan and premiered on music video stations in February 1997.^[1] The synopsis of the video primarily focuses on SWV, dressed in cheetah-print attire, dancing in front of matching backgrounds with their love interests. Missy Elliott is also featured in the video, where she is seen dancing in a newspaper-covered background.

Track listings

US and UK 12-inch single^[2]^[3]

A1. "Can We" (LP version) – 4:51

A2. "Can We" (instrumental) – 4:49

A3. "Can We" (a cappella) – 4:49

B1. "Can We" (radio edit No. 1) – 4:15

B2. "Can We" (radio edit No. 2) – 4:15

B3. "Can We" (no rap radio) – 3:56

UK and Australian CD single^[4]

"Can We" (radio edit No. 1) – 4:15
"Can We" (radio edit No. 2) – 4:15
"Can We" (no rap radio) – 3:56
"Can We" (LP version) – 4:51
"Can We" (instrumental) – 4:49
"Can We" (a cappella) – 4:49

UK cassette single^[5]

"Can We" (LP version) – 4:51
"Can We" (radio edit No. 1) – 4:15

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	174
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[7]	76
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[8]	1
Scotland (OCC)^[9]	67
UK Singles (OCC)^[10]	18
UK Dance (OCC)^[11]	8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[12]	5
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	75
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[14]	26
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[15]	31
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[16]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)	Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[17]	16
UK Urban (Music Week)^[18]	16

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[19]	Gold	5,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "SWV – "Can We?"". MVDBase.com (video). ASG. 1998–2017. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
^ Can We (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. 01241-42445-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Can We (UK 12-inch single sleeve). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. JIVE T 423, 0516376.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Can We (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. JIVE CD 423, 0516372.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Can We (UK cassette single sleeve). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. JIVE C 423, 0516374.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "SWV ARIA Chart history (complete) to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 17. April 26, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^ "SWV feat. Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Can We". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "SWV Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "SWV Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
^ "SWV Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "SWV Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ "The Urban Top 40 Tracks of 1997" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – SWV – Can We". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.

[1] "SWV – "Can We?"". MVDBase.com (video). ASG. 1998–2017. Retrieved July 3, 2013.

[2] Can We (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. 01241-42445-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[3] Can We (UK 12-inch single sleeve). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. JIVE T 423, 0516376.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[4] Can We (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. JIVE CD 423, 0516372.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[5] Can We (UK cassette single sleeve). SWV. Jive Records. 1997. JIVE C 423, 0516374.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[ARIA_history_pages-6] "SWV ARIA Chart history (complete) to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

[7] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 17. April 26, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved September 23, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_SWV_feat._Missy_%22Misdemeanor%22_Elliott-8] "SWV feat. Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Can We". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 9, 2022.

[sc_Scotland_-9] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[sc_UK_-10] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[sc_UKdance_-11] "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[sc_UKrandb_-12] "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[sc_Billboardhot100_SWV-13] "SWV Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[sc_Billboarddancesales_SWV-14] "SWV Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2022.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_SWV-15] "SWV Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[sc_Billboardrhythmic_SWV-16] "SWV Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[17] "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

[18] "The Urban Top 40 Tracks of 1997" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved August 6, 2023.

[New_ZealandSWVCan_WesingleCertRef-19] "New Zealand single certifications – SWV – Can We". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.

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