20, 1998. Critical reception A writer for the Daily News called it "warmly engaging". A writer for Jet praised Usher's "tender" vocals on the "sensuous ballad", stating that he displayed romance on the song. In 2016, Complex ranked the song number seven on their list of the 25 greatest Usher songs, and in 2021, American Songwriter ranked the song number eight on their list of the 10 greatest Usher songs. Chart performance "Nice & Slow" debuted at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated January 24, 1998, as "You Make Me Wanna...", the first single from My Way slipped from number seven to number ten. On February 2, 1998, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded the song a gold certification, following up with a platinum one on February 12. "Nice & Slow" continued to ascend the Hot 100, reaching number one on February 14, succeeding "Together Again" by Janet Jackson. It remained atop the chart on February 21, but on February 28 it was replaced by Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On". On the UK Singles Chart, "Nice & Slow" reached number 24. Music video The music video for the song was directed by Hype Williams and shot in Paris in February 1998. Kimora Lee Simmons plays Usher's love interest. The video opens with the caption "4:00 pm Paris" as Usher gets out of an aeroplane. He is shown shirtless in a hotel room having a telephone conversation with his love interest, consisting of the song's spoken intro. Usher and Simmons prepare for their date, and meet each other before sightseeing around Paris in a convertible. Interspersed are low-angle shots of Usher dancing on a sidewalk. As the day becomes night, Usher is seen wearing sunglasses playing a guitar and dancing shirtless in front of the Eiffel Tower. Usher and Simmons drive across a bridge, and midway they are confronted by several gangsters, who kidnap and cage Simmons and beat Usher. Usher appeals to police, who are apparently of no help, and proceeds to locate the gangsters' lair himself. He offers a briefcase to the gangsters, which explodes after being opened and a grenade starts to blow. Usher and the gangsters then engage in hand-to-hand combat. Usher and Simmons are together rides escape away on a motorbike as the windows of building behind them explosion. They are then seen relaxing on a sofa