Milkshake (song)
"Milkshake" | |
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Song |
"Milkshake" is a song by American recording artist Kelis and the lead single from her third studio album, Tasty. The song was released in the United States on August 25, 2003, by Star Trak and Arista Records, and internationally on November 24. It was written and produced by The Neptunes, a duo that had made the majority of Kelis' songs in the past. According to Kelis, "milkshake" in the song is used as a metaphor for "something that makes women special."[1] The song is noted for its euphemistic chorus and low beat R&B sound.
The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in December, 2003,[2] becoming Kelis' best charting single in the country to this day. The song achieved commercial success internationally, as it topped the chart in Ireland, and peaked inside the top three in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. "Milkshake" was certified gold in the United States, where it has sold 883,000 paid downloads. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2004.
Background
"Milkshake" was written and produced by The Neptunes, a duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. The song came out when Tasty was chosen as the album's title.[3] When making the song, Kelis "knew right away that it was a really good song", and she wanted it to be the album's first single.[4] When asked about the meaning of the song, she told The Observer that "It means whatever people want it to; it was just a word we came up with on a whim, but then the song took on a life of its own."[5] However, in an interview with The Associated Press, she likened one's milkshake to one's mojo; "A milkshake is the thing that makes women special. It's what gives us our confidence and what makes us exciting."[1] Recording sessions took place at Hovercraft Studios in Virginia.[6] Phil Tan mixed the recordings at Right Track Studios in New York City.[6]
Composition
"Milkshake" is an contemporary R&B song,[7] and Joey Rivaldo of About.com described it as a "low beat dance song".[8] The song is noted for its chorus, in which Kelis sings "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard".[9] The line was referred to as a "sexy, euphemistic playground rap" by MTV News.[9] The song's riff was described as "blaring synth-funk".[10] A tingling sound resembling an order-up counter bell is used throughout the song.[7][11] Andy Kellman of Allmusic compared the song's suggestive lyrics to "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6, "In My House" by Mary Jane Girls and "Touch It" by Monifah.[10] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Corporation, "Milkshake" has a moderate beat rate of 113 beats per minute.[12]
Critical reception
About.com's Joey Rivaldioloio rated the song four out of five stars, and stated: "Clearly this is the case of my milkshake is better than yours, so grab yours quick, or we'll have to charge."[8] While reviewing the soundtrack for the film Mean Girls (2004), in which "Milkshake" is featured, Heather Phares of Allmusic wrote that the song describes "the movie's playfully menacing undercurrent," and called the song "fantastic", and that it is "basically a three-minute tutorial in sex appeal."[13] Rollie Pemberton of Pitchfork called the song "brilliant", and said: "Equal parts cantina gyration and future-funk, Kelis plays the coquette, enticing the entire American male populace with rhythmic coos while simultaneously providing an apt tutorial for aspiring temptresses."[14] Bjorn Randolph of Stylus said that the song "may well be remembered as their [The Neptunes'] masterpiece".[7] Mark Danson of Contactmusic.com was not very fond about the song, criticizing her Neptunes sound, and said: "as it sounds like [Pharrell] Williams has done this one in his sleep, it'll probably slip under the radar unless it has a fairly decent video to back it up. It’s obviously supposed to be a kind of sexy electronica, but it just ends up sounding slack."[15] Tony Naylor of NME called the song "probably the oddest track" on the Tasty album.[16]
The Observer named the song the best single of 2004.[5] In 2004, Pitchfork made a list of the top 50 singles of 2003 and listed the song at number eight.[14] In 2005, Pitchfork made a list of the top 100 singles of 2000–2004, listing "Milkshake" at number 21.[17] Stylus named the song the 13th-best single of 2000–2005.[7] In September 2011, VH1 ranked the song at #61 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the '00s.[18] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 136 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[19]
Chart performance
"Milkshake" debuted at number 73 on the September 6, 2003, chart of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[20] and peaked at number four on January 3, 2004.[21] In October 2003, it debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[22] It was Kelis' second entry on the chart, following "Caught out There", which spent twelve weeks on the chart between December 1999 and February 2000.[23] In its thirteenth week on the chart, "Milkshake" reached its peak of number three, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks.[21] The song charted on the Hot 100 for twenty-two weeks,[21] and was certified Gold on October 25, 2004, by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[24] "Milkshake" also spent a week at number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart in December 2003.[25] The song has sold 883,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[26] It was listed at number ten on the 2004 year-end chart of the Hot 100, and number fourteen on the year-end chart of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[27][28] In 2004, "Milkshake" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.[29]
The song performed well internationally, reaching the top ten on many charts. In Ireland, it debuted at number fifteen on the Irish Singles Chart, and later topped the chart for five consecutive weeks.[30] Due to the success, it was listed at number four on the year-end chart of 2004 by the Irish Recorded Music Association.[31] In the United Kingdom, "Milkshake" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks and was it was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[30][32] In Australia, it was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart for five non-consecutive weeks.[30][33] It was also certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), and peaked at number three on the singles chart.[30][34] The song also peaked inside the top five in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.[30]
Music video
The music video for "Milkshake" was directed by Jake Nava.[35] In the video, Kelis enters a diner called Tasty's Yard. She dances suggestively, and puts her lips around a cherry, which causes a mother to cover her child's eyes. A cook, played by rapper Nas, starts delivering milkshakes to the customers while Kelis dances. A milkshake machine then starts spurting milkshake all over the customers, and more and more people enter the "yard".[9] FHM named the music video the 73rd sexiest music video by a female of all time and commented: "Here she's backed up by a posse of dancers wearing tiny diner uniforms. The way she sucks a milkshake and bites a cherry is just unfairly sexy", and said that the best part is when Kelis demonstrates a "perfect bending-over-oven technique".[36]
Cultural impact
"Milkshake" has been featured in several films, such as Mean Girls and Norbit.[13][37] In Date Movie, the song is played when actress Alyson Hannigan dances around on the streets wearing a fatsuit.[38] In the Family Guy episode "Sibling Rivalry", Peter Griffin is forced to sing the song to prisoners.[39] McSweeney's published a series of "Short Imagined Monologues", including one regarding "Milkshake" from the point of view of "an aging Kelis".[40] In February 2007, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart jokingly reported that the song had been chosen as the campaign song of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.[41] The song was featured in the The Simpsons episode "The Great Simpsina" (first broadcast in 2011). The infamous line was also referenced by Mia Fey in the video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations. When first meeting Dahlia Hawthorne, she says, "Well, I suppose we all know whose milkshake brings all the boys to the yard...".
In Kelis' song "Bossy", the lead single for her fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here, "Milkshake" is referred to in the chorus, when she sings: "I'm bossy [...] I brought all the boys to the yard".[42] Justin Bond of cabaret duo Kiki and Herb said that he had seen many people lip-sync to the song in clubs, and called the song "a big wink about the way you can reclaim your sexuality—it's about making the person who's objectifying you the weaker one."[43] In 2010, Kelis said that she believed the song changed the music for female singers, comparing the music before and after "Milkshake" was a hit, and said: "I mean you kind of have to be retarded to deny that it literally changed female vocalists."[44]
The ABC TV series Ugly Betty featuring Becki Newton (as Amanda Tanen) covered the song in the second season episode "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding".
The reality TV series The Glee Project featured the song on the fourth episode "Sexuality" of Season 2, using it in a mashup with the Maroon 5 song Moves Like Jagger. The song is used during the week's music video, depicting the Season 2 cast taking a sex education class.
American actress Lindsay Lohan, who plays the main character from Mean Girls, the film where "Milkshake" is in one scene, said she is a fan of the song.
The song has been used in a 2012 promo for the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "License to Milkshake".
The song was used in 2 Broke Girls episode And The Pearl Necklace as Caroline Channing's ringtone
The song was featured in The New Normal's 15th episode titled "Dairy Queen", in which it was used in a flashmob supporting breastfeeding in public.
In April 2013, there was a renewed interest in the video as a 4Minute cover version had been used as an Eatyourkimchi April Fools Day prank.
Track listing
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Charts and certifications
Charts
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Certifications
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
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Release history
Region | Date | Format |
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United States[74] | August 25, 2003 | Digital download |
Australia[75] | November 24, 2003 | |
New Zealand[76] | ||
Sweden[77] | ||
United Kingdom[45] | ||
United States[46] | December 29, 2003 | Digital Radio Remix |
United Kingdom[78] | January 5, 2004 | CD single |
References
- ^ a b Long, Colleen (2004-01-19). "Q&A with 'Milkshake' Kelis". The Associated Press. Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Roberts, Michael (2008-02-14). "Vintage Q&A with Kelis". Denver Westword Blogs. Denver Westword, LLC. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ a b "From glam to grime, the year in music". The Observer. The Guardian. 2004-12-12. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b Tasty (Media notes). Star Trak Entertainment, Arista Records. 2003.
{{cite AV media notes}}
:|format=
requires|url=
(help); Unknown parameter|artist=
ignored (|others=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d "The Top 50 Singles: 2000-2005". Stylus. 2005-01-10. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ^ a b Rivaldo, Joey. "Kelis - Milkshake". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b c Patel, Joseph (2003-10-07). "Kelis Turning Heads Again With Her Tasty 'Milkshake'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Tasty > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Shakethrus: 2003: Music Reviews". Shaking Through. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Kelis, 'Milkshake' – Composition Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Hal Leonard Corporation.
{{cite web}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=
(help); Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Mean Girls > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ a b "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: Top 50 Singles of 2003". Pitchfork Media, Inc. 2003-12-30. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ^ Danson, Matt. "Kelis - Milkshake - Single Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
- ^ Naylor, Tony (2004-01-23). "Kelis : Tasty - Album Review". NME. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 100 Singles of 2000-04". Pitchfork Media, Inc. 2005-01-31. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ^ Anderson, Kyle (September 29, 2011). "U2, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters fill out VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the '00s'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/2
- ^ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles - Week of September 6, 2003 - Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ a b c "Milkshake - Kelis - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ^ "'Baby' Kicks 'Tailfeather' From Chart Roost". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ a b "Kelis Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ a b "Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database: Kelis - Milkshake". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ Trust, Gary (2010-03-11). "Chart Beat Thursday: Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Peter Gabriel". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (2009-12-01). "Exclusive: Kelis Signs To will.i.am Music Group/Interscope". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ^ a b "2004 Year End Charts - Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ a b "2004 Year End Charts - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ "2004 Grammy Winners". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ a b c d e "Kelis - Milkshake - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ a b "Irish Charts - Best of 2004". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ a b "BPI Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ a b "ARIA Charts - Accreditations 2004 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ a b "RIANZ - Top 40 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-09-22. Note: The reader must select Chart #1405 - Monday 26 April 2004 to show the certification.
- ^ "Milkshake - Kelis - Music Video". MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Kelis — Milkshake | The 100 Sexiest Music Videos". FHM. Bauer Media. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Norbit > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ "Movie Review - Date Movie". Eric D. Snider. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
- ^ Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong. "Sibling Rivalry". Family Guy. Fox Broadcasting Company.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
ignored (|episode-link=
suggested) (help) - ^ Richards, Jeremy (2004-06-29). "An Aging Kelis, Years from Now, Reflects on a Milkshake Long Expired, but How the Boys, Ah, the Boys Remain". McSweeney's. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=
(help) - ^ "Run DNC". The Daily Show. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ Huff, Quentin B. (2006-09-08). "Kelis: Kelis Was Here < PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ Michel, Sia (2010-08-20). "Is Kelis Too Bossy for Her Own Good?". New York Magazine. New York Media LLC. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
- ^ "Kelis releases 'Flesh Tone' album, says 'Milkshake' helped female singers".
- ^ a b "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store UK. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ a b "Milkshake (feat. Pharell & Pusha T)". iTunes Store US. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Kelis - Milkshake (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Kelis - Milkshake (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Kelis - Milkshake (Dance Mixes)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Kelis - Milkshake (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
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- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis: Milkshake" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Chart Track: Week 5, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kelis" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
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- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis – Milkshake". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Kelis Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Annual Top 50 Singles Chart 2004". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "Sverigetopplistan - Årslista 2004" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23. Note: The reader must select "Sök alla listor", "Årslistor", "2004" and "Visa!"
- ^ "The Official UK Year-End Top 200 Charts 2004" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ McCabe, Kathy (2010-01-07). "Delta Goodrem's talents top the charts". news.com. News Limited. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Kelis - Milkshake". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store Australia. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store New Zealand. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store Sweden. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "Kelis - Milkshake [Single]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- Articles with links needing disambiguation from July 2011
- Single chart usages for UKchartstats
- 2003 singles
- 2004 singles
- Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number-one singles
- Billboard Rhythmic Airplay number-one singles
- Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
- Kelis songs
- Music videos directed by Jake Nava
- Songs from films
- Song recordings produced by The Neptunes
- Songs written by Chad Hugo
- Songs written by Pharrell Williams
- Singles certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
- Singles certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
- Singles certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry