Damaged (TLC song)


"Damaged" is a song by American recording group TLC. It was written by band member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and long time contributor Dallas Austin and recorded for the band's fourth studio album, 3D, the latter also serving as its producer. The lyrics of the record talk about being free and freedom from hurt and pain.
The song was released as the album's second international single and third US single from the album on March 7, 2003, and internationally on June 16, 2003. While not as commercially successful as leading single "Girl Talk", the song peaked at number 21 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and in the United States, reached the top twenty of Billboards Pop Songs chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, "Damaged" peaked at number 53.

Critical reception

David Browne from Entertainment Weekly called the track "a genuinely uplifting song about being emotionally screwed up, benefits tremendously from the use of live instruments rather than samples." Slant Magazine Sal Cinquemani called the track "poignant."

Music video

In the music video for the song, directed by Joseph Kahn, a young woman, works two jobs to support her family. One day she comes home and finds her boyfriend in bed with another girl. After confronting him, he hits her. She then finds herself stuck in an abusive relationship as well as trying to look after her child. She finds herself torn and unsure of what to do, eventually literally falling to pieces at the end of the video as she crumbles into hundreds of tiny jigsaw puzzle pieces. It shows other "damaged" women falling to pieces. The lead woman is shown to be put back together by her daughter, and she's happy now.

Formats and track listings

;US 12" single
  1. "Damaged" – 3:51
  2. "Damaged" – 3:51
;European CD single
  1. "Damaged" – 3:51
  2. "Hands Up" – 4:15
;European enhanced CD single
  1. "Damaged" – 3:51
  2. "Hands Up" – 4:37
  3. "Hands Up" – 3:50
  4. "Hands Up" - 4:27
  5. "Hands Up" – 4:01

    Charts