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Motivation (Kelly Rowland song)

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"Motivation"
Song

"Motivation" is a song performed by American recording artist Kelly Rowland, taken from her upcoming third studio album (2011). The song was written by Rico Love and Lil Wayne, and co-written and produced by Jim Jonsin. The R&B slow-jam also features a guest vocal performance from American rapper Lil Wayne, and serves as the the lead single from the upcoming, as-of-yet untitled album. Critics gave the song mixed reviews, initially calling the song sexy and praising Lil Wayne's appearance but also stating that the song was not memorable.

An official remix for "Motivation" was produced by Diplo, and adds elements of electronic music, while stretching Rowland's vocals over a dubstep-like instrumental. Despite not having an official radio add date or being released until April 12, 2011, the single has already impacted on US charts, so far peaking on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart at number forty-six. An accompanying music video was directed at by Sarah Chatfield, the woman behind Rowland's previous video "Forever and a Day" (2010). The video follows Rowland as she interacts with a number of male dancers, in the dimly blue-tinged warehouse.

Background

Rowland's third album was originally scheduled for release in 2010, but was pushed back numerous times. Initially the dance-influenced "Commander" served as the album's lead single for international territories while two separate singles were serviced in the United States. "Rose Colored Glasses" for the pop format and "Grown Woman" for the urban format.[1][2] Rowland decided in September 2010 to re-entere the recording studios to work on new material for the album.[3] This, coupled with creative issues such as naming the album, led to multiple pushbacks. "Motivation" was announced as the title for the album's new lead single during New York Fashion Week.[4] It debuted online via Rap-Up magazine's website on March 2, 2011.[5]

Speaking of how the record came about, Rowland said "Motivation came about when I was in the studio with [producers] Jim Jonsin and Rico Love, and we kind of were just vibing. I told Rico I wanted something really sexy ... and he came up with 'Motivation' along with Jim. It turned into this amazing record... I played [ 'Motivation' for Lil Wayne ] and he got on it, and it was just as simple as that."[6] Along with the single announcement, Rap-Up said fans could expect the video and a remix produced by Diplo to premiere in April 2011.[5] However the electronic remix produced by Diplo premiered via Rap-Up on March 8, 2011.[7]

Composition

"Motivation" is a R&B slow jam song written by Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Lil Wayne.[5][8] The racy lyrics centre around Rowland asking her man to use his hands all over her body, and are accompanied by a "synth-saturated beat" produced by Jonsin.[5] In terms of instruments, "Motivation" uses sparse keyboard notes, programmed beats and pulsing synths in the chorus.[9] Wayne adds a rap verse complementing Rowland's seductive suggestions, using the kitchen and a car as metaphors for sex.[5][9] According to Scott Shetler from AOL Music, Rowland uses the lyrics to promise "to be her lover's motivation."[9] Rowland called the record a mixture between dance and mash-up.[4] When asked by MTV what Rowland thought of the song, she said "Motivation makes me feel extremely, über-duber sexy. It has that personality and characteristic to it that I don't think anybody can deny. That's why when Wayne dropped that insane verse on there ... I was like, 'You really brought that up even more.' He went into the studio and just did it. I don't think it takes much for Wayne to think. He just does it. He's so admirable."[6] On the song's official remix, produced by Diplo, electronic instruments and "rapid hi-hats are added. Diplo also modifies Rowland's vocals, by "chopping and reconfiguring" them "over the dubstep-inspired instrumental."[7]

Critical reception

Ryan Brockington, from the New York Post, was amongst the first to review "Motivation." In his review, he said "The single is a big leap from the dance club synth pop that Kelly has been releasing the past year and it seems like she might be trying to shimmy her way back into the hip-hop world by teaming up with the Midas touch vocals of Lil Wayne."[10] Both Rap-Up and AOL Music's Scott Shetler called the song "sexy."[5][9] Becky Bain from Idolator disliked the song for not being memorable. The short review was summed up with the closing phrase, "she’s going to need another hit to help promote her album when it finally is ready to drop."[8] Wesley Case from The Baltimore Sun complemented the song's sexy quality. "If this isn't the year's hands-down sexiest song thus far, it has to be in the discussion. Rowland, whose sultry voice could get a priest hot, weaving in and out of the minimal beat, and setting the table for Lil Wayne's stuttering, after-hours guest-verse. Stack the pieces together and it's an understated knockout that gets sexier with each spin."[11]

Music video

Background

The music video for "Motivation" was directed by Sarah Chatfield, at the end of March 2011.[12] Frank Gatson served as the video's chroegrapher.[6] Speaking during Robert Cavalli's fashion show, Rowland said she was on the look out for "womanly, sexy designs" for a "feminine sexy video."[4] She elaborated on the development of the video during an interview when MTV News' Jocelyn Vena. She told Vena, "We came up with the energy, and with Frank [Gatson] — and I don't know how he sees something, but he got it... I'm so thankful I have a great team that's thinking 10 steps ahead of me. With Sarah she understood; she got the concept. It was great the way everything came together."[6] The video made its world premier on BET's 106 & Park on April 4, 2011.[13]

Synopsis

The video opens in a blue hue lit warehouse, with Rowland standing in the passage way before it cuts to her walking through the building checking out the ladies and men mingling. Rowland can then be seen in a purple swim suit & coat,doing various sexual choreographed routines with her many half dressed male backup dancers. The clip then shows Lil wayne in his own scene rapping his verse to the song. He can then be seen leaning against a wall and standing on a bed with the lights flashing while Rowland is simultaneously being entertained by a male dancer as she sits upon a chair. The video then continues with the crowd entwining with each other; full make out sections between females and their male counterparts, as well as partially dressed males feeling on each others bodies, while the females also interact with each other. After more dancing from Rowland and her dancers, the video then ends with Rowland singing her final lines, surrounded by the sexually charged crowd.

Reception

Vena commented that "the video plays to the song's sexy themes."[6]

Track listing

  • Digital download[14]
  1. "Motivation" (featuring Lil Wayne) – 3:51
  • Digital download - Diplo Remix[15]
  1. "Motivation" (Diplo Remix) – 3:56

Charts

In the week beginning April 2, 2011, "Motivation" debuted at number fifty-five on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and rose to number forty-six and then to 33.[16]

Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 33

Release history

List of radio and release dates with formats and record labels
Country Date Format Label
United States[14] April 12, 2011 Digital download Universal Motown

References

  1. ^ Universal Motown Records Group (2010-07-06). "Kelly Rowland Scores No. 1 Hit on Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs Chart with "Commander," Featuring David Guetta". The Earth Times. Archived from the original on 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  2. ^ Copsey, Robert (2010-06-11). "Kelly Rowland Alters Single Release Plans". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  3. ^ Catarinella, Alex (2010-09-11). "Kelly Rowland on Destiny's Child Fashion Mishaps and Loving the Gays". PAPER. (Paper Publishing Company). Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  4. ^ a b c "Kelly Announces 'Motivation' as the Official Lead Single on Upcoming Album". Kellyrowland.com (Universal Motown / Kelly Rowland). 2011-02-27. Archived from the original on 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "New Music: Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne – Motivation". Rap-Up.com (Rap-Up). 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  6. ^ a b c d e Vena, Jocelyn (2011-04-04). "Kelly Rowland Feels 'Uber-Duber Sexy' On Lil Wayne Collabo 'Motivation'". MTV News. (Viacom: MTV Networks). Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  7. ^ a b "New Music: Kelly Rowland f/ Lil Wayne – 'Motivation (Diplo Remix)'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
  8. ^ a b Bain, Becky (2011-03-11). "Kelly Rowland And Lil Wayne Seek Some "Motivation" On New Track". Idolator.com (Buzzmedia). Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  9. ^ a b c d Shetler, Scott (2011-03-17). "Kelly Rowland, 'Motivation' Feat. Lil Wayne – New Song". AOL Music. (AOL). Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  10. ^ Brockington, Ryan (2011-03-03). "Will 'Motivation' get Kelly Rowland back on 'top?'". New York Post. (NYP Holdings Ltd.). Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  11. ^ Case, Wesley (2011-04-05). "Kelly Rowland's 'Motivation': Sexiest song of the year?". The Baltimore Sun. (Tribune Company). Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  12. ^ Gottlieb, Steven (2011-03-24). "SHOT: Kelly Rowland f/ Lil Wayne - Sarah Chatfield, dir". Vidostatic.com. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  13. ^ Charlton, Lauretta (2011-04-04). "Kelly Rowland Premieres Steamy New Video For "Motivation"". Bet.com (Black Entertainment Television). Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  14. ^ a b "Motivation: Kelly Rowland: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
  15. ^ "Motivation (Diplo Remix) - Single". iTunes. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  16. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Gainers". Billboard. (Prometheus Global Media). 2011-03-28. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  17. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
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