"Stole" - Песня о трагедии и надежде.

2002 single by Kelly Rowland

"Stole" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written and produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner for Rowland's debut solo album Simply Deep (2002). A rock tinged mid tempo pop song, "Stole" describes the collateral effects of a school shooting. Following "Dilemma" (2002), Rowland's worldwide number one hit with rapper Nelly, "Stole" was released as her official solo debut single as well as the album's lead single on September 9, 2002. The song initially divided critics; some complimented the song's social commentary, Rowland's vocal performance as well as her willingness to break away from the R&B sounds of Destiny's Child, while others criticized the musical direction and considered it an unusual single choice. A commercial success, "Stole" entered the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching the top five in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it remains one of her highest charting solo singles to date. In the United States, it peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Inspired by its lyrics, a music video for "Stole" was directed by Sanaa Hamri. In it, Rowland is portrayed as a narrator who comments on the deaths of two male teenagers and their impact on their schoolmates, particularly a female student who discovers that she is pregnant. In further promotion of the song, Rowland performed "Stole" on television shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CD:UK, and Top of the Pops and the TMF Awards. She also made it part of the setlist of her Simply Deeper Tour (2003) and further concert tours.

During recording their third album, Survivor (2001), Destiny's Child announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest to Destiny's Child. With different types of music for each member to produce, Rowland and her bandmates Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams were not intended to compete on the charts, and thus, Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger every year each member's album. Whilst Williams was the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours (released in April 2002),

"Stole", written and produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner, It is written in the common verse chorus form and features four instruments: electric guitar, drums, guitar, and keyboards. "I loved the song when I heard the lyrics and I hoped it would hopefully touch young people and inspire. I don't mean to sound preachy 'cos it's still got a great melody and a great musical feel behind it but it was just such a great song [ ]."

"Stole" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien named the song one of the album's highlights along with "Can't Nobody", "Dilemma" and "Everytime You Walk Out That Door" and called it a "rock tinged [ ] emotive tale of school shootings and suicides." Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian found that the "silky" song emphasized that Rowland's "speciality is the slightly funky party number with a moralising overtone." Chuck Taylor from Billboard found that it was proving "that Rowling is willing to take a risk to prove a point [ ] She will likely gain a whole new fan base with her combination of social commentary and impressive vocal talent." British morning newspaper The Independent called "Stole" Simply Deeps "strongest track [ ] a lament for unfulfilled potential, especially that of smart kids victimised by dumb thug culture." Lisa Verrico of The Times noted the song "tells stories of shattered dreams through a series of fictional characters, has a naggingly catchy chorus and [ ] shows Rowland as a strong, smooth, versatile singer." BBC Music editor Joy Dunbar found that the "Sade influenced "Stole" which is about universal life experiences highlights Kelly's soulful, spine tingling singing voice." The Torchs Frank DeBellis remarked that "Stole" is a "single that truly expresses Rowland’s talent and represents the sounds of the entire album." Less impressed, Houston Chronicle journalist Michael D. Clark felt that "with minimalist vibrato, [ ] "Stole" tells the tragic stories of characters who never realize their dreams of stardom. The drama unfolds at the pace of Xanax." Vibe journalist Craig Seymour caleld "Stole" a "dreadfully overwrought first single."

The song was initially released in the United States on September 9, 2002, once the popularity of "Dilemma" began to fade. On September 28, 2002, the song debuted at number seventy six on the US Billboard Hot 100, with former still remaining on number one. It took another nine weeks until the single reached its peak position at number twenty seven on November 30, 2002. It would remain Rowland's highest charting single as a leading solo artist on the US Hot 100 until the release of her 2011 single "Motivation". In Norway, it became Rowland's second top ten entry as a solo artist, debuting at number ten and peaking at number six the next week, and staying on the chart for nine weeks. In Switzerland, the single debuted on February 9, 2003, at number twenty four and jumped to the twelfth position the next week, reaching a peak position of nine for a single week, and remaining on the chart for fifteen weeks. Scoring its highest peaking position in Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number three and two respectively, the song would remain Rowland's biggest charting solo success Europe wide until the release of her equally successful 2008 single "Work", excluding "Dilemma" and "When Love Takes Over".

+Release dates and formats for "Stole"RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s). (Reference(s)) United States September 9, 2002 Urban contemporary radio Columbia Japan November 27, 2002 Maxi CD Sony Music Japan Australia December 2, 2002 Sony Music Germany January 27, 2003 France February 24, 2003 CD