| "Zero" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byChris Brown | ||||
| from the albumRoyalty | ||||
| Released | September 18, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2014 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:33 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
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| Chris Brown singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Zero" onYouTube | ||||
"Zero" is a song by American singerChris Brown from his seventh studio albumRoyalty. It was released as a single on September 18, 2015, byRCA Records.[1]
The song received positive reviews from music critics who noted it as one of the album's highlights, and celebrated its production, praising his 1980s sound including the use oftalk box. The song peaked at number 80 on theBillboard Hot 100.
"Zero" is adisco-funk song.[2][3][4][5] The song was compared by some critics to the work of American bandChic and Frenchelectronic music duoDaft Punk.[4][5][6] The funk elements are heard in the bass line and in the rhythm of the electric guitar in the chorus.[7] A factor that is reminiscent ofDaft Punk songs is the presence of a robotic voice edited with the vocoder in some parts of the song. Lyrically, in the song Brown sings about how he does not care about his break up with his ex-girlfriend, as he sings, "Ask how many nights I've been thinking of you, zero".[8][9][10] Some critics speculated that the lyrics were dedicated to Brown's ex-girlfriendKarrueche Tran.[11]
The cover artwork is similar to artwork used in the 1985 mangaCity Hunter. The layout is practically identical with only minor variations such as skin tone.[8][12] RCA does not give attribution for the song's artwork.[13]
"Zero" received positive reviews from music critics.AllMusic editor Andy Kellman called the song a "disco-funk throwback replete with talkbox", noting some irony in writing, recording, and releasing a song bragging about not thinking of an ex.[2] Marcus Dowling ofHipHopDX said that the song and "No Filter", another song fromRoyalty, "pack in all of the aforementioned Rodgers' chugging grooves fromChic's 'Good Times',David Bowie's 'Let's Dance', andDaft Punk's 'Get Lucky' into one production".[14] Mike Pizzo ofLas Vegas Weekly praised his sound, but was not thrilled towards its lyrical content saying "it's hard not to nod your head to the cheesy '80s grooves of 'Fine by Me' or 'Zero', even if the message is endlessly eye rolling."[15] Jesse Cataldo ofSlant Magazine praised the song saying that "'Zero' similarly has a pretty good neo-disco aesthetic, with warm synth washes and some genial Vocoder noodling, things that remind works from Daft Punk'sRandom Access Memories".[4]
On August 7, 2015 a few images from the music video shoot were released online.[16] On August 27, 2015, Brown uploaded a teaser for "Liquor/Zero" on hisInstagram.[17] The music video premiered on September 22, 2015, along with "Liquor" as one video.[18]
Themusic video for "Liquor/Zero" was directed by Brown.[19] In the “Zero” part of the video, Brown returns home after a long night and finds a girl he’s been seeing throwing his clothes off a balcony because she did not know where he was. Rather than get into an argument, Brown decides to gather his boys and go out, and after he dance starting in an alley and moves his way into a laundromat with his crew before taking the stage at downtown theater. At the end of the video there is acameo byDan Bilzerian.[20][21]
| Chart (2015–16) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[22] | 25 |
| Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[23] | 30 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] | 33 |
| France (SNEP)[25] | 181 |
| Netherlands (Single Tip)[26] | 22 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[27] | 68 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[28] | 80 |
| USPop Airplay (Billboard)[29] | 33 |
| USBubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[30] | 1 |
| USRhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[31] | 8 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[33] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
