"Creep" is the first single by American R&B group TLC
from their second studio album
CrazySexyCool, released on October 31, 1994 by LaFace
Records. The single became their first smash hit on the
Billboard Hot 100, and remained at number one on the chart for
four weeks, eventually becoming the second best-selling single
of 1995, behind Madonna's "Take a Bow". TLC won the Grammy
Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with
Vocals, and Dallas Austin was nominated for Best R&B Song.
It was the 3rd most successful Hot 100 Single of 1995,
according to Billboard's Year End Charts. "Creep" was ranked
third on Spin's Top 20 Singles of the '90's.
The lyrics are taken from the perspective of a woman who is
aware of her boyfriend's infidelity and in turn cheats on him
in an effort to appease her need for affection. A cover version
of the song was released by alternative rock band The Afghan
Whigs.
In the documentary "The Last Days of Left Eye", TLC member
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes said she was 100% against the release of
Creep as a single, and threatned to wear black tape over her
mouth in the music video.
There were three music videos made for this song, but only
the final one was released. The video features each girl
individually in front of a color background wearing silky
pajamas matching the color of that background. There are other
scenes featuring T-Boz singing into a microphone with Omar
Lopez, a previous dancer for Janet Jackson, with an open shirt,
playing trumpet behind her and flirting with her. There are
also, black and white shots of them rehearsing dance moves,
being silly and hanging out. Most of the fashions in the video
represent early 90's fashion, such as flannel shirts, baggy
pants and sweatshirts tied around the waist. This video shows
TLC becoming more mature compared to their prior album.
* - includes a rap by Left Eye.
The second version of the single released in 1996 contained
three versions of the song, the original, the Maxx Remix and
the Tin Tin Out Remix. It also contains the single version of
"Waterfalls".
