[2] Released in December 1993, "Understanding" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart the following month, and reached its peak of number eight in February 1994.

[3] The song went to number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart, where it spent two weeks at the top.

[5] The "Understanding" music video, directed by Otis Sallid, entered the most-played weekly charts at MTV and BET in late 1993, and the video reached number one on The Box for the week ending January 29, 1994.

Songs like 'Understanding', which was more vocally complex, had real feeling to it and that's what we wanted more of on our next album.

"[2] Fellow group member Tameka Cottle noted that the appeal of the song "was really universal.