| "Scream" | ||||
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| Single by Usher | ||||
| from the album Looking 4 Myself | ||||
| Released | April 27, 2012 | |||
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| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
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| Usher singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Scream" on YouTube | ||||
"Scream" is a song by American singer-songwriter Usher, released through RCA Records, as the second single from his seventh studio album Looking 4 Myself (2012). It was written by Usher, Savan Kotecha, Max Martin and Shellback, with production handled by the latter two. The song premiered on the internet on April 26, 2012, and was released the following day as a digital download. "Scream" is primarily a synthpop and dance-pop track. Critics compared its musical structure to that of Usher's 2010 single "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love", which was also co-written by Martin, Kotecha, and Shellback. "Scream" was noted to contain heavily sexual overtones within its lyrics.
"Scream" peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and went on to sell over three million copies in the United States. It was certified 3× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song peaked within the top five in several other countries, including Canada, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. It went on to be certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) and IFPI Denmark (IFPI) for shipments of 150,000 and 15,000 copies, respectively. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production, though some were ambivalent towards its originality.
Usher performed "Scream" during several events and shows, including the Off-Broadway show Fuerza Bruta, the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, Saturday Night Live, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Summertime Ball, iTunes Festival , BBC Live Lounge and E3 2012. An accompanying music video premiered on the internet on June 12, 2012. Directed by direction duo BB GUN, the video contains footage from the Fuerza Bruta show, with Usher reenacting his role as The Running Man, dancing with his love interest and running into a brick wall towards the video's closure.