Critical response to "I Choose You" from music journalism was positive, many of whom applauded Cole's vocal performance and the song's concept. It reached number 18 on the official US Adult R&B Songs chart. To promote the song, a music video premiered through 106 & Park on October 2, 2013. The video displays a story of Cole being in love with two men and struggling to choose the one whom she ultimately wants to be with.
Musically, "I Choose You" is a sentimental ballad that lasts four minutes and 49 seconds.[1][6] The song's lyrics revolve around how Cole is forced to choose between two men that she is madly in love with.[7] The chorus includes Cole singing: "And if it ain’t you / then it's just not worth it."[8] Other lyrics include: "I tried hating you, but I just love you more / compared him to you, but he can't match your score".[9] Melody Charles of SoulTracks implied that in the song, "she toggles between two loves before breaking down why one has heart over the other".[10] Peneliope Richards of Singersroom interpreted that the song makes listeners understand that Cole was able to make that "grappling" decision.[11]
Reception and live performances
Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe suggested the song's main concept as "making choices while staring down tough truths",[12] and a writer from Jet identified it as the strongest track from the album.[8] John Ricard of BET viewed "I Choose You" as a "slow song about an ex-flame" and praised Cole's "strong" vocals.[13] Keithan Samuels of Rated R&B compared Cole's vocals on the song to her vocals presented on her 2006 single "Love" and picked it as a standout track on the album.[9] Tamika Alexander of Southern News viewed "I Choose You" as a "soft song" compared to her usual work and praised Cole for "show[ing] off her vocals" throughout the track.[14] On November 2, 2013, "I Choose You" peaked at number 18 on the US BillboardAdult R&B Songs chart and remained on the chart for a total of 18 weeks.[15]
The music video for "I Choose You" was filmed during August 2013 in Los Angeles, California.[18] On October 2, 2013, Cole made a guest appearance on BET's 106 & Park and provided an exclusive premiere of the video.[6] The video was made available on other digital platforms later that day.[19] Prior to its release, Cole had posted a photo of herself while filming the music video, which featured her wearing the shoes from her Steve Madden collection.[20]
In the black-and-white video directed by Ethan Lader, a story is displayed of Cole being in love with two men and struggling to choose the one whom she ultimately wants to be with.[6] Cole is seen wearing a "lovely laced" bikini and a "Versace-inspired" outfit while singing in an intimate setting alongside being shown wearing an origami dress designed by Bishme Cromartie as she sings to the two men separately.[21][22] The singer's hairstyle and looks were compared to the likes of fellow R&B singer K. Michelle.[3] Derrick Taylor of Essence declared the two men in the video as "hunks", interpreting one as being "more clean cut" and the other being "more urban in style".[23]
^Richards, Peneliope (October 3, 2013). "Keyshia Cole – I Choose You". Singersroom. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
^Alexander, Tamika (January 18, 2013). "Keyshia Cole, Woman to Woman". Southern News. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
