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 (RIANZ)^[17]	16
UK Urban (Music Week)^[18]	16
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)^[19]	14

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[20]	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.
^ "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 42.
^ "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.

[19] "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 42.

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

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v t e SWV
Cheryl "Coko" Gamble Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George Leanne "Lelee" Lyons
Studio albums	It's About Time New Beginning Release Some Tension A Special Christmas I Missed Us Still
Other releases	The Remixes
Singles	"Right Here" "I'm So into You" "Weak" "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)" "You're the One" "Use Your Heart" "It's All About U" "Can We" "Someone" "Lose My Cool" "Rain" "Co-Sign" "Ain't No Man"
Related articles	Discography Queens of R&B Tour

v t e Missy Elliott
Discography Production discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Supa Dupa Fly Da Real World Miss E... So Addictive Under Construction This Is Not a Test! The Cookbook
Compilations	Respect M.E.
Extended plays	Iconology
Singles	"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" "Sock It 2 Me" "Beep Me 911" "Hit Em wit da Hee" "She's a Bitch" "All n My Grill" "Hot Boyz" "Get Ur Freak On" "Lick Shots" "One Minute Man" "Take Away" "4 My People" "Work It" "Gossip Folks" "Fighting Temptation" "Pass That Dutch" "I'm Really Hot" "Lose Control" "Teary Eyed" "We Run This" "Ching-a-Ling" "Shake Your Pom Pom" "WTF (Where They From)" "I'm Better" "Throw It Back"
Featured singles	"That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" "Brand New" "Ooh, Ooh Baby" "The Things That You Do" (Bad Boy Remix) "Steelo" "Do Thangz" (Main Pass Remix) "You Don't Have to Worry" (Remix) "Cold Rock a Party" "Can We" "Not Tonight" (Remix) "Up Jumps Da Boogie" "What About Us?" "Make It Hot" "5 Minutes" "Trippin'" "I Want You Back" "Here We Come" "I Like Control" "Ya Di Ya" "Take That" "Is That Yo Chick" "Son of a Gun" "Bootylicious" (Rockwilder Remix) "Oops (Oh My)" "The Knoc" "Burnin' Up" (Remix) "Crew Deep" "Honk Your Horn" "Cop That Shit" "Party to Damascus" "Tush" "Turn da Lights Off" "1, 2 Step" "Car Wash" "Touch It" (Remix) "Love Me or Hate Me" (Remix) "Let It Go" "Do It" (Remix) "Bad Girl" "Need U Bad" "Whatcha Think About That" "Let's Just Do It" "Work" "Fakin' It" "Get Involved" "Nobody's Perfect" "Bad Girls" (N.A.R.S & Switch Remixes) "How Ya Doin'?" "Without Me" "Niliria" "I Deserve It" "Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)" "Tempo" "Levitating" "Fly Girl"
Promotional singles	"Back in the Day" "Best, Best" "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" (Remix) "9th Inning" "Triple Threat" "Burnitup!" "Pep Rally"
Related articles	4 All the Sistas Around da World Verizon Ladies First Tour The Goldmind Inc. "Boulevard of Broken Songs"

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