You make me wanna... Usher in 5 Songs

Usher drops his 29th UK single this week - listen to 'Crash' as part of New Music Friday on Radio 1.

We take a look back at the key singles of his career so far, from teenage heartthrob to emotionally complex ...well, heartthrob.

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Back in 1997, something happened. Women's magazines had for many decades been suggesting things to do with tights other than wear them but never with such dry-mouthed, poster-special glee as when it was revealed that this nice young man wore them as headgear.

18-year-old Usher Raymond IV went straight to the Official Charts Number 1 with 'You Make Me Wanna...' - it's a track so good that Destiny's Child did a reply song that in turn launched their careers.

'You Make Me Wanna...' is the time-old tale of falling for your best friend during a relationship wobble and not knowing which way to go or what to do. It's as emotive as Usher's shirt in the video is orange and shiny and a perfect track to launch him as a star.

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The sheer scale of 'You Make Me Wanna...' set Usher on the course for global megastardom. By 2004 he could do whatever he wanted, which was presumed to be 'make more smooth, emotional and sexy r'n'b.'

When 'Yeah!' came out, crunk was just becoming a serious charts contender. Ciara's 'Goodies' had been a hit and Lil' Jon was just becoming big.

Getting on the trend immediately, Usher recorded this track to become the "powerful monster" of 'Confessions,' making it clear he was capable of more than seduction.

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Usher had always described his songwriting inspiration as personal and that his songs came from genuine situations and emotions he'd experienced.

When 'Confessions' came out, his relationship with Chilli from TLC had just ended and the intensely personal lyrics of the album led to media speculation. The main controversy was some lyrics about getting another girl pregnant behind a girlfriend's back (in 'My Confessions II') which turned out to be penned from collaborator Jermaine Dupri's life, rather than Usher's.

'Burn' is a from-the-heart eulogy to a relationship that just isn't working and the courage it takes to end that. Usher confirmed, during the lyrics speculation, that this intense, resigned, tale of heartbreak was very much about breaking up with Chilli.

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After 'Confessions' Usher was praised for having developed a deeply emotive, mature style. The complex heartbreak played out across the album was critically acclaimed and it was presumed that Usher would continue in the same style.

Which suggests we all had short memories, given the previous surprise of 'Yeah!' - in 2008 Usher returned with this blissed-out, heady ode to getting wrecked and a little bit sexy.

Very much explicitly designed for the dancefloor, 'Love In This Club' is a pop anthem not really too bothered about deep emotional chats. Collaborating with Young Jeezy, it was a return to a more playfully sexy Usher than the depth of 'Confessions.'

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After polarising between club anthems and deep confessions, 'Climax' finally combined the two.

Extremely emotionally intense, 'Climax' covers a perfect moment in a relationship - that's passed. Slightly returning to the territory of 'Burn,' it deals with the pain of realising you need to take a step towards heartbreak, while still admiring the beauty of when it was good.

Produced by Diplo, 'Climax' put together Usher's crooner abilities with his dance potential. It takes the smashed-up pieces of your heart to the club and slow dances with them.