Laundromat (song)

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This article is about the Nivea song. For other songs, see Laundromat (disambiguation).

"Laundromat"
An image of a woman wearing a yellow, orange, black, and red dress. She is standing against an orange background, with the words "Nivea" and "laundromat" surrounding her.
Single by Nivea
from the album Nivea
ReleasedApril 26, 2003 (2003-04-26)
StudioRock Land (Chicago)
Genre
Length4:24
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)R. Kelly
Producer(s)R. Kelly
Nivea singles chronology
"Don't Mess with My Man"
(2002) 		"Laundromat"
(2003) 		"25 Reasons" / "Ya Ya Ya"
(2003)

"Laundromat" is a song by American singer Nivea from her 2002 self-titled debut album. Jive released it as a double A-side, along with "Don't Mess with My Man", on April 26, 2003. A R&B and pop track, it was written and produced by R. Kelly, who has uncredited vocals in the song. Recorded and mixed in Chicago, "Laundomat" was one of the last songs done for the album. The lyrics use a laundromat as a metaphor for washing away an old relationship. The song is structured as a phone call, in which Nivea breaks up her boyfriend played by Kelly.

Critics had mixed reviews for the song, but they praised Kelly for his contributions. In the US, "Laundromat" peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 92 on the Billboard Year-End chart for Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Journalists cited the single's heavy airplay and its appearance on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart to discuss how Kelly's 2003 sexual abuse allegations did not hurt his career. Laundromat" reached number 33 on the UK Singles Chart, number 89 on the Scottish Single Chart, and number 98 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.

"Laundromat" was supported through live performances and a music video. Nivea did not perform the single with Kelly. The music video was shot in a laundromat, and features Nick Cannon in Kelly's role. In 2013, Solange Knowles covered "Laundromat" in a laundromat during a series of concerts sponsored by Vitaminwater and The Fader. Her performance was praised by critics, who enjoyed the song choice with the laundromat venue.

Background and release

After Nivea's debut solo single "Don't Mess with the Radio" underperformed in 2001, her record label Jive delayed the release of her self-titled debut album to the following year.[1] During this time, she worked with R. Kelly on three songs—"Ya Ya Ya", "The One for Me", and "Laundromat"—for the album. They were the last songs added to Nivea prior to its release.[2][3] When asked about Kelly's sexual abuse allegations in 2019, Nivea said he did not act inappropriately toward her,[4] but later recounted in 2021 that he did flirt with her.[5]

File:Rkellytrappedinthecloset2007.jpg
R. Kelly (pictured in 2007) wrote and produced "Laundromat".

Kelly wrote, arranged, and produced "Laundromat" and provided uncredited vocals for the track.[2][6] In a 2003 Sister 2 Sister interview, Nivea did not know Kelly was not credited and denied claims this was done to hide his involvement on the song.[3] "Laundromat" was recorded and mixed at the Rock Land recording studio in Chicago. Kelly mixed it with Ian Mereness who programmed it with Abel Garibaldi. Jason Mlodzinski assisted with mixing and programming. Andy Gallas recorded the track with Mereness and Garibaldi. Tom Coyne mastered all of the songs for Nivea, including "Laundromat".[2]

Jive released "Laundromat" as a double A-side with "Don't Mess with My Man" on the week of April 26, 2003.[7] "Don't Mess with My Man" was previously distributed as a single on June 3, 2002,[8] and according Billboard's Carla Hay, was "still in heavy rotation at many radio stations" in 2003.[1] Nivea did not perform "Laundromat" with Kelly, and would tell the audience the same thing: "R. Kelly's not here." His part was instead done by a singer named Katrelle.[3] The song appeared on the 2003 compilation albums Totally R&B and Flow 93.5 Hot Wax.[9][10] While reviewing the former, AllMusic's Any Kellman praised it as one of the album's highlights.[9]

The music video for "Laundromat" was shot in a laundromat,[11] and in it, Nivea wore her engagement ring from Lil Wayne.[12] Nick Cannon plays Nivea's boyfriend and lip syncs to Kelly's vocals. While discussing Kelly's absence, author Mark Anthony Neal wrote: "A man accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with minors obviously cannot show up in a music video cooing in the ear of a teenager." Kelly and Cannon collaborated on videos for "Ignition (Remix)" in 2002 and "Feelin' Freaky" in 2003. Neal believed Kelly was helping Cannon who was "trying to translate kiddie fame into a sustainable career".[13] In a 2014 article for Phoenix New Times, Troy Farah criticized "Laundromat" as having one of the six worst music videos shot in a laundromat, and described it as "Ewww".[11]

Music and lyrics

"Laundromat"
Billboard's Chuck Taylor believed "Laundromat" fell between "straight-up R&B and modern pop",[6] while AllMusic's Alex Henderson identified "some '70s sweet soul influence" in the song.[14]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Laundromat" is a four-minute, 24-second R&B and pop song,[6][14] performed in the style of a slow jam.[14][15] Billboard's Chuck Taylor reviewed the single as a pop track, describing it as straddling "the line between straight-up R&B and modern pop".[6] While writing for Vibe, Laura Checkoway referred to it as "an R&B jam-meets-detergent jingle".[16] In AllMusic, Alex Henderson said "Laundromat" had "some '70s sweet soul influence", but noted Nivea did not follow the neo soul trend as done by Mary J. Blige, Jaguar Wright, Alicia Keys, and Jill Scott.[14] The song uses bubble bursts and dripping water as a part of its instrumental;[17][18] Rolling Stone writers Hank Shteamer, Elias Leight, and Brittany Spanos identified a contrast between the single's sound and its lyrics, writing: "The bubbly funk arrangement can't conceal the song's tragic core."[19]

"Laundromat" is about a break-up, which is done over a phone call.[19] In the lyrics, a laundromat is a metaphor for washing away an old relationship,[6][19] as demonstrated in the chorus: "Soap, powder, bleach, towels / Fabric softener, dollars, change / Pants, socks, dirty drawers / I'm headed to the laundromat."[20] The song opens with Nivea arguing with Kelly, who is referenced as Keith,[3][6] and she calls him "a lying, cheating, son of a …." and later hangs up on him.[19] The New York Times's Neil Strauss described the track as having "a half-spoken and half-sung arrangement", and likened the chorus to a Burt Bacharach arrangement.[18] Taylor wrote that after the opening, "Laundromat" transitions into "dreamy vocal layers" and a "slow-grooving, sing-songy chorus".[6] While reviewing the album, Checkoway characterized Nivea's vocals as a "sugary soprano".[16]

Critical reception

"Laundromat" received mixed reviews from critics. Tracey Cooper of the Waikato Times praised the song, along with "Don't Mess With My Man" and "What You Waitin' For", for having a "cruisy groove and attitude" that would appeal to "the soul sistas".[21] The Herald Sun's Karen Tye described "Laundromat" as a "blend of silken phrasings and smooth R&B beats".[22] In a People article, Chuck Arnold highlighted the song's humor,[23] and Steve Jones, while working for the Gannett News Service, considered it one of the "clever tracks" in which Nivea "shows her moxie".[24] In 2007, Vibe's Sean Fennessey wrote that Nivea "never sounded fresher or sharper" than on "Laundromat".[25]

Although he enjoyed the chorus and verses separately, Neil Strauss felt they were incompatible in a single song, and criticized the lyrics as seeming "quickly written and unconvincingly delivered".[18] The Courier-Mail's Emma Chalmers enjoyed the chorus, but thought its "musical-style singing conversation doesn't come off overall".[26] A reviewer for Music Week disliked the laundry metaphor and said the song was overshadowed by "Don't Mess With My Man" on the double A-side release.[27] In her negative review for the album, the Edmonton Journal's Sandra Sperounes was critical of "Laundromat", writing: "You'll find more soul in a bottle of bath gel."[17]

Kelly was praised by reviewers, several of whom cited his songs as highlights from Nivea.[14][15] Chistie Leo of the New Straits Times said "Laundromat", as well as "Ya Ya Ya", had "catapulted [Nivea] to a promising start".[15] Some retrospective articles remained positive toward Kelly.[20][25] Fennessey included "Laundromat" in his 2007 list of Kelly's essential collaborations; in his entry for the song, he noted that Nivea was "another in a long line of young females [he] has err, raised up…with his vocal talent".[25] In a 2013 Fuse article, a reviewer commended Kelly's performance of the chorus, although they were uncertain about using a laundromat as a metaphor.[20] Other critics had a more negative response.[16][17] While panning the choice of collaborators, Laura Checkoway wrote that "the banter between barely legal Nivea and Kelly is unsettling".[16] Sperounes viewed Kelly's songs as the worst on Nivea, but was also critical of the album as a whole.[17]

Commercial performance

For the week of March 8, 2003, "Laundromat" peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart.[28][29] On the Billboard Year-End chart, it reached number 92 for the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs category.[30] Music journalists pointed to the single's success to discuss how Kelly's sexual abuse allegations was not damaging his career.[31][32] In a USA Today, Steve Jones reported that the song still received "heavy airplay".[31] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Sonia Murray wrote that 14 months after people accused Kelly of child pornography, ten of his songs were on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart, including "Laundromat".[32] In a 2018 Vibe article, Khaaliq Crowder said Nivea found "modest success" with "Laundromat" and "Don't Mess with the Radio", but identified "Don't Mess With My Man" as her most successful single.[33]

"Laundromat" peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. It was Nivea's second top 40 entry, following her collaboration with Mystikal, "Danger (Been So Long)", in 2000.[34] The single reached number two on the UK Independent Singles Chart and number eight on the UK R&B Singles Chart.[35][36] In Scotland, "Laundromat" peaked at number 89 on its single chart.[37] It reached number 98 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.[38] For these European charts, "Laundromat" charted with "Don't Mess with My Man" as part of its double A-side release.[39]

Solange Knowles cover

Solange Knowles (pictured in 2013) performed "Laundromat" at a laundromat.

On July 29, 2013, Solange Knowles performed "Laundromat" at the Atlantis Super Wash Laundromat in Boerum Hill. The cover was part of a series of live concerts known as Uncapped, which was sponsored by Vitaminwater and The Fader. Vitaminwater's brand manager Ben Garnero explained that a laundromat concert was intended to "take on these iconic, mundane moments and tackle Mondays in New York and these places you never expect to see a show".[40] The event was a part of the company's "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign, and was attended by approximately 150 people.[41]

Knowles sang both Nivea and Kelly's parts while dancing on top of washing machines.[41][42] When discussing her performance with Fuse, she said: "This laundromat has me feeling the drama queen, so excuse my theatrics."[41] For the concert, Knowles was accompanied by a six-person band.[40] She had only practiced the cover with five minutes before the show.[41] Knowles performed the first minute and 30 seconds of "Laundromat" before transitioning into Dirty Projectors' 2009 song "Stillness Is the Move".[41] When asked about her song choice, Knowles described "Laundromat" as one of her most-played songs and one she always wanted to cover.[42]

Critics praised Knowles's performance. The Fader's Deidre Dyer and a Fuse writer thought she picked the perfect venue for the song.[42][43] However, the contributor for Fuse said they may have enjoyed it "mostly for the fact it was performed in an actual laundromat".[43] Fuse's Joe Lynch commended the arrangement, saying the band had modified the song for "Solange's casually funky vibe perfectly".[41]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nivea:[2]

Recording locations

  • Recorded and mixed in Rock Land Studios in Chicago

Personnel

Charts

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Hay 2003, p. 14.
  2. ^ a b c d Nivea 2001.
  3. ^ a b c d Nivea 2003, pp. 20–21.
  4. ^ VladTV 2019.
  5. ^ Robinson 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Taylor 2003, p. 31.
  7. ^ Music Week 2003b, p. 27.
  8. ^ Radio & Records 2002, p. 43.
  9. ^ a b Kellman.
  10. ^ WorldCat.
  11. ^ a b Farah 2014.
  12. ^ BET Networks 2018.
  13. ^ Neal 2006, pp. 278–279.
  14. ^ a b c d e Henderson.
  15. ^ a b c Leo 2003, p. 15.
  16. ^ a b c d Checkoway 2003, p. 138.
  17. ^ a b c d Sperounes 2003, p. E3.
  18. ^ a b c Strauss 2003, p. AR25.
  19. ^ a b c d Leight, Spanos & Schteamer 2015.
  20. ^ a b c James 2013.
  21. ^ Cooper 2003, p. 8.
  22. ^ Tye 2003, p. 98.
  23. ^ Arnold 2003, p. 44.
  24. ^ Jones 2002, p. D-4.
  25. ^ a b c Fennessey 2007, p. 87.
  26. ^ Chalmers 2003, p. P07.
  27. ^ Music Week 2003a, p. 7.
  28. ^ a b Billboard A.
  29. ^ a b Billboard B.
  30. ^ a b Billboard C.
  31. ^ a b Jones 2003, p. 9A.
  32. ^ a b Murray 2003, p. D3.
  33. ^ Crowder 2018.
  34. ^ a b Official Charts Company A.
  35. ^ a b Official Charts Company C.
  36. ^ a b Official Charts Company D.
  37. ^ a b Official Charts Company B.
  38. ^ a b Music & Media 2003, p. 12.
  39. ^ Music & Media 2003, p. 12; Official Charts Company A; Official Charts Company B; Official Charts Company C; Official Charts Company D
  40. ^ a b Hampp 2013.
  41. ^ a b c d e f Lynch 2013.
  42. ^ a b c Dyer 2013.
  43. ^ a b Fuse 2013.

Citations

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