charts discussion Bigger R&B Classic: If I Ain’t Got You vs Be Without You vs Heaven Sent

[GoodGuyGoneGhetto]

Which of these ‘00’s smash-hit R&B ballads is the bigger classic?

 

 

Spoiler

@Armani? @dabunique @NavyBlue @SavagePapi @Devin @Planet Mars  @Not Like The Movies  @Materialboy215 @Katamari @slw84 

 

[dabunique]

Not fair when BWY is da biggest R&B song of all time LOL

 

 

 

but even though i stan MJB, for me its Heaven Sent

 

dat song is everything to me (in my Monica voice)

[ccfan007]

The one that peaked at #3 on the hot 100 

[TiaTamera]

If feel like the order you have it in the OP is the right order but my favorite is Heaven Sent.

 

A part of me wants to give it to Mary tho as the bigger song. Mary’s & Alicia’s songs were everywhere but I feel like I heard Alicia’s song for a longer period.

[Armani?]

If I Aint Got You wins this 

[dabunique]

Stats wise its Be Without You over all

 

its jus about preference

 

[americanlife]

Be Without You > Heaven Sent (just heard this for the first time) > If I Ain't Got You

[Devin]

Just streamed Heaven Sent the other day. Not that being Keyshia’s best album. 
 

OT: Be Without You wins! Even its mv is the classic R&B them lil Love & Hip Hop slow motion clips, staring out the window vibes. Alicia has better classics imo.

[GoodGuyGoneGhetto]

1 hour ago, dabunique said:

Not fair when BWY is da biggest R&B song of all time LOL

 

 

 

but even though i stan MJB, for me its Heaven Sent

 

dat song is everything to me (in my Monica voice)

The fact that “BWY” was a humungous radio hit, on par with “Let Me Love You & Irreplaceable” at the time. 
 

193M AI.

 

POP: 51M

RHY: 60M

URB: 63M

URB-AC: 15M

 

The rest came from the small HAC airplay it received. 

 

 

That said, “Heaven Sent” might be the bigger classic among sole R&B listeners. “If I Ain’t Got You” also. 
 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2022 by GoodGuyGoneGhetto

[Devin]

4 minutes ago, GoodGuyGoneGhetto said:

That said, “Heaven Sent” might be the bigger classic among sole R&B listeners. “If I Ain’t Got You” also. 
 

This is why its kinda hard to give a straight answer sometimes. Cause I’m viewing it as an R&B stan then have to remind myself what was truly the most commercial/international one. 
 

Spoiler

Next thread we should see which is the best R&B crossover classics. Like Let It Go, Lollipop, etc. 

 

[iamvladd]

Be Without You

[yamiyuuuu]

Reality:

1.If I Ain't Got You

2.Be Without You

3.Heaven Sent

 

In my heart:

1.Heaven Sent

2.Be Without You

3.If I Ain't Got You

[reymiu]

If I Ain't Got You... Duh !

---

 

IIAGY is the global one... Its streams don't lie

 

I'm from Asia, and IIAGY is still sung on singing shows like The Voice etc

 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2022 by reymiu

[reymiu]

1 minute ago, reymiu said:

If I Ain't Got You... Duh !

---

 

IIAGY is the global one... Its streams don't lie

 

I'm from Asia, and IIAGY is still covered on singing shows like The Voice etc

 

 

 

 

[enchanted0]

IIAGY is global.

but Heaven Sent is THAT song  one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME

[Planet Mars]

All 3 are amazing, I almost can't choose. Be Without You was the biggest of the 3.

 

I honestly prefer You Don't Know My Name to If I Ain't Got You though.

[dabunique]

Once again da biggest stats wise is BWY

 

hence why it is da biggest R&B song of ALL time

 

 

18 minutes ago, Planet Mars said:

All 3 are amazing, I almost can't choose. Be Without You was the biggest of the 3.

 

I honestly prefer You Don't Know My Name to If I Ain't Got You though.

same YDKMN is dat b!tch

[GoodGuyGoneGhetto]

35 minutes ago, Planet Mars said:

 

I honestly prefer You Don't Know My Name

 

17 minutes ago, dabunique said:

YDKMN is dat b!tch

Same!

 

”YDKMN” is easily one of her top three greatest songs of all time, in my opinion. 

 

Kanye West TRULY did THAT when he produced it.

 

 

I’m going to start choosing more “local” R&B hits to compare next because then an answer will be given as what the bigger Classic based solely from the streets. 

[Braz]

Be Without You.

 

I think Love is the bigger Keyshia Cole classic.

[Pristine]

Mary sweetie 

[Not Like The Movies]

I love all these excellent songs 

 

That being said, Alicia’s song is the biggest of the 3. 

[Ger]

Doesn't IIGY have impressive way more recurrent streams and airplay? Haven't heard the classic BWY on the radio in YEARS.

[Karma88]

LOL

 

If aint got you is GLOBAL

Be without You and Heaven sent are forgotten

[slw84]

This one was the hardest ngl

 

If I ain't got you has global teas.

Be without you is a record breaking r&b song

 

BUT NONE of them compare to the ONLY one of the list that is STILL on my playlist

 

Heaven Sent IS THAT SONG

 

biggest: If I ain't got you > Be without you>>>>>Heaven Sent but US wise switch Alicia and Mary around

 

my fave: Heaven Sent >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If I ain't got you>>>>> Be without you.

 

[Kool_Aid_King]

I have to go with Be Without You. IIAGY definitely is the biggest hit with best recurrent stats but R&B classic wise... It's gotta be the Queen herself.