Missing You (Brandy, Gladys Knight, Tamia, and Chaka Khan song)

"Missing You" is a song by American singers Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Canadian R&B musician Tamia. The song was used to promote the 1996 film Set It Off. It was written and produced by Gordon Chambers and Barry J. Eastmond and released as the lead single from the soundtrack album of the film on August 6, 1996, through East West Records. The song features a string arrangement conducted by Eastmond.

The collaboration peaked at number two in New Zealand and reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as number 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It gave Tamia her highest-charting single at the time and became one of the biggest hit singles of the 1990s for both Knight and Khan. At the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, "Missing You" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

Background
"Missing You" was written by musicians Barry J. Eastmond and Gordon Chambers. Eastmond was picked by Elektra Records CEO Sylvia Rhone to produce a song for the Set It Off motion picture. He wrote much of the song after watching a rough cut of the film in Los Angeles, California. Rhone stated that she was thrilled to have all four performers of the song in the studio, and she also noted that the song was integral to the film because it illustrates the personalities of the four main characters.

Composition and lyrics
"Missing You" is a ballad with elements of both pop and R&B. It has a running time of four minutes and twenty-two seconds. In the song, the performers sing about strong friendship and missing loved ones with lyrics such as: "Though I'm missing you/ I'll find away to get through/ Living without you/ 'cause you were my sister, my strength and my pride/ Only god may know why, still I will get by".

Launch and reception
While the album was slated for release on September 24, 1996, "Missing You" was released as the lead single from the project on August 6. Upon the release of the song, Rhone commented: "This single gave us the opportunity to combine 'old school' and 'new school' vocal talents while reflecting the plot of the film, about four women".

Tracy E. Hopkins, a writer from the American magazine Vibe Magazine, highlighted "Missing You" as one of the "stronger" songs on Set It Off. In November 1996, Jet Magazine ranked the song at number five on their list of Jet Top 20 Singles. At the 1997 Grammy Awards, "Missing You" was nominated in the "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" category but lost the award to " Free as a Bird " by The Beatles. The song earned Tamia's third consecutive Grammy nomination, helping to raise expectations for her self-titled debut album.

On August 24, 1996, "Missing You" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It then charted at number 62 and earned the title of "Hot Shot Debut", a term used by Billboard to describe the week's highest debut on the chart. In early October of that year, it reached number 25 on the list, becoming its peak position. The following week, sales of the single increased by 57 percent, helping it climb to number 22 and earn the title of "Greatest Gainer". a position it held for the next three weeks.

In New Zealand, the song entered the country's Official Singles Chart at number six on 29 September 1996. By the end of October, it reached number two, becoming its peak position on the chart. "Missing You" stayed on the chart for 18 weeks, eventually being certified platinum by RIANZ for 15,000 copies shipped.

Music video
A music video for "Missing You" was filmed by F. Gary Gray, director of Set It Off. The video portrays Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan performing in different landscapes each. Brandy is in the middle of a grassy field under a tree; Tamia is in the middle of a wheat field; Knight is on a covered bridge overlooking a stream; and Khan is on top of a cliff overlooking an ocean shore. It also features scenes from the 1996 film.

Track listings
US CD and cassette single
 * 1) "Missing You" (radio version)
 * 2) "Missing You" (a cappella mellow mix)
 * 3) Michael Speaks: "So Right, For Life" – 4:44

European and Australian CD single
 * 1) "Missing You" (radio version) – 4:12
 * 2) "Missing You" (a cappella intro mix) – 4:26
 * 3) "Missing You" (mellow acoustic mix) – 4:14
 * 4) "Missing You" (instrumental) – 4:13
 * 5) "Missing You" (LP version) – 4:22

Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the US CD single liner notes.

Studios
 * Recorded at East Bay Recording (Tarrytown, New York, US), The Hit Factory (New York City), Tracken Studios, Capitol Recording, and The Enterprise (Los Angeles)
 * Mixed at The Enterprise (Burbank, Los Angeles)

Main personnel


 * Barry J. Eastmond – writing, keyboard and drum programming, conductor, production, arrangement, string arrangement, engineering
 * Gordon Chambers – writing, background vocals, background vocal arrangement
 * Brandy – vocals
 * Tamia – vocals, background vocals
 * Gladys Knight – vocals, background vocals
 * Chaka Khan – vocals, background vocals
 * Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
 * LaJuan Carter – background vocals
 * Phil Hamilton – guitar
 * Eric Rehl – synth programming
 * Stan Wallace – engineering
 * Carl Nappa – engineering
 * Manny Marroquin – engineering
 * Bill Smith – engineering
 * Kevin Stone – engineering assistant
 * Greg Pinto – engineering assistant
 * Rick Alvarez – engineering assistant
 * Colin Sauer – engineering assistant
 * Steve Genewick – engineering assistant
 * Steve Kinsey – engineering assistant
 * Erik Zobler – mixing
 * Mike Tacci – mixing assistant

Orchestra


 * Gene Orloff – concertmaster, violin
 * Sanford Allen – violin
 * Stanley Hunte – violin
 * Winterton Garvey – violin
 * Max Ellen – violin
 * Ashley Horn – violin
 * Elliot Rosoff – violin
 * Margaret Magill – violin
 * Tony Post – violin
 * Regis Iandiorio – violin
 * Belinda Whitney-Barratt – violin
 * Sandra Billingslea – violin
 * Alfred Brown – viola, string contractor
 * Olivia Koppell – viola
 * Sue Pray – viola
 * Stephanie Fricker – viola
 * Richard Brice – viola
 * Carol Landon – viola
 * Jesse Levy – cello
 * Kermit Moore – cello
 * Jeanne LeBlanc – cello
 * Mark Shuman – cello
 * Ron Carter – bass
 * Gail Kruvand – bass