"Could You Learn to Love" is a song by American R&B singer Tevin Campbell. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds for his third studio album Back to the World (1996). Production was helmed by Langston "Chuck Boom" Bryant and Anthony "A-Tone" Bryant under their production moniker The Boom Brothers. The song was issued as the album's third and final single in February 1997.
It peaked at number 73 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and reached number 38 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Background and release
Back to the World was released by Qwest Records in June 1996 and was Campbell's third studio album, following the platinum-selling T.E.V.I.N. (1991) and the double-platinum I'm Ready (1993). The album reached number 46 on the Billboard 200 and number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Campbell's first album to miss the top ten of the latter.
The Boom Brothers, the production duo of Langston Bryant and Anthony Bryant, were affiliated with Yab Yum Entertainment, the label and publishing company founded by Tracey Edmonds, and the track was produced for Yab Yum Entertainment and Area 10 Productions.
"Could You Learn to Love" followed the title track, which reached number 16 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and "I Got It Bad", which reached number 41. It was released on February 18, 1997 on CD and cassette single, having been serviced to radio on promotional CD and 12-inch vinyl the previous year.
Campbell largely stepped away from recording after the album. In a 2022 interview with People, he linked a period of personal reflection to the years following Back to the World, which had not performed as he had hoped.
Critical reception
Reviewing the parent album for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Back to the World as the record on which Campbell returned as an adult performer, calling it proof that the teen idol had matured.
Music video
The official music video for "Could You Learn to Love" was directed by Vaughan Arnell, the British director whose music video work includes George Michael's "Fastlove" and the Spice Girls' "Say You'll Be There".
Track listings
US CD and cassette single
US promotional 12-inch vinyl
Credits and personnel
Credits lifted from the liner notes of Back to the World.
Tevin Campbell – lead vocals Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds – songwriter Langston "Chuck Boom" Bryant – producer Anthony "A-Tone" Bryant – producer Marc Kinchen – remix, additional production
Charts
+ Weekly chart performance for "Could You Learn to Love" Chart (1997) Peakposition New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 38 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 73
Release history
+ Release history and formats for "Could You Learn to Love" Region Date Format(s) Label United States 1996 Promotional CD, 12-inch vinyl Qwest United States February 18, 1997 CD single, cassette single Qwest
References