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Level Up (Ciara song)

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"Level Up"
Single by Ciara
ReleasedJuly 18, 2018 (2018-07-18)
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • J.R. Rotem
Ciara singles chronology
"Get Up"
(2016) 		"Level Up"
(2018)

"Level Up" is a song by American singer Ciara released on July 18, 2018 by Beauty Entertainment, as part of a new recording deal with Warner Bros. Records. The song was written by Ciara, Jonathon "JR" Rotem and Theron Feemster, with production by J.R. Rotem. It also sample's DJ Telly Tellz's 2017 viral hit "Fuck It Up Challenge"[2] It arrived alongside a high octane music video directed, choreographed and featuring New Zealand dancer Parris Goebel, who appears alongside fellow New Zealanders ReQuest Dance Crew.

Reception to the music video has been positive, with "Level Up" becoming the number one trending video on YouTube and spawning the Level Up Challenge, featuring fans and celebrities recording their own version of the video's choreography. The official remix for "Level Up" was released a week later featuring additional vocals from Missy Elliott and Fatman Scoop.

Composition

"Level Up" is a song about empowerment and growth.[3] The song's title directly references Ciara's controversial #LevelUp marriage tweet, which some felt blamed women for being single.[4] She later cleared up the message, explaining that she wanted to empower women as she felt her "lowest moment" as a solo parent before learning to love herself.[5][6] Some critics also believed parts of the song were aimed at ex-fiance, American rapper Future.[7]

Promotion

In promotion of the single, Ciara introduced the "Level Up Challenge", encouraging fans to show off their best dance moves to the song and challenging them to share three ways in which they want to "level up" or better themselves. Fans and celebrities alike participated in the challenge, including Chris Pratt, Kelly Clarkson, Serena Williams, Macklemore, Janelle Monae, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Hudson, and Ciara's husband, Russell Wilson.[8]

Remix

On July 26, 2018, Ciara premiered the song's official remix, featuring Missy Elliott and Fatman Scoop. The three of them previously worked together on Elliott's single "Lose Control".[9]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Level Up" debuted at 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on July 31, 2018, for the chart week dated August 4, 2018.[10] Its debut was primarily driven by strong digital sales, as it debuted at 5 on the US Digital Songs chart that same week, becoming Ciara's sixth top-ten hit on the chart.[11]

Music video

The music video for "Level Up" premiered through Ciara's husband, Russell Wilson's, Trace Me app on July 18, 2018. The video, which features the New Zealand dancers of ReQuest Dance Crew, was directed and choreographed by New Zealander Parris Goebel, who also appears as a dancer.

The dance-centric clip opens with some inspirational words: "Be your own boss, love yourself, get up and dance. Level up!". Then Ciara gets to work, wearing headphones and a black leotard with the words "Level Up," while busting out the back-bending choreography with the all-female Request Dance Crew, dressed in matching red activewear and Bose headphones.[12]

Reception

The music video received a positive critical response. Spin magazine's Israel Daramola opined "Choreographed by dancer Parris Goebel, Ciara and ReQuest put on an electric, mesmerizing performance and make it look easy."[13] Within 24 hours of release, it became the #1 trending video on Youtube.[14]

Track listing

  • Digital download[15]
  1. "Level Up" – 3:24
  • Digital download – remix[16]
  1. "Level Up" (remix featuring Missy Elliott and Fatman Scoop) – 3:49

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and ASCAP[17][1]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[18] 115
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 7
UK Single Sales (Official Charts Company)[20] 79
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 77
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 30

References

  1. ^ a b http://repertoire.bmi.com/DetailView.aspx?detail=titleid&keyid=25698046&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&blnAltTitles=True
  2. ^ https://www.spin.com/2018/07/ciara-level-up-video/
  3. ^ https://www.spin.com/2018/07/ciara-level-up-video/
  4. ^ "Ciara Ticks Off Single Twitter With Instagram Post Urging Women To "Level Up"". Yahoo.com. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "Ciara Clarifies Her "Level Up" Comment Towards Single Women". Vibe.com. January 22, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "Ciara Makes a Comeback With New Single, 'Level Up' – The Source". Thesource.com. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  7. ^ Robidoux, Brandy (July 18, 2018). "Is Ciara Dissing Ex Future In Steamy New Single? See The Scathing Lyrics". Hollywoodlife.com. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  8. ^ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8466823/ciara-level-up-challenge-videos
  9. ^ Post, Chantilly (July 26, 2018). "Ciara Grabs Missy Elliott & Fatman Scoop For A "Level Up" Remix". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  10. ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/Ciara/chart-history/hot-100
  11. ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/Ciara/chart-history/digital-song-sales
  12. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2018/07/18/video-ciara-level-up/
  13. ^ https://www.spin.com/2018/07/ciara-level-up-video/
  14. ^ http://thatgrapejuice.net/2018/07/winning-ciaras-level-music-video-1-trending-youtube/
  15. ^ "Level Up - Single by Ciara on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved Jul 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "Level Up (feat. Missy Elliott & Fatman Scoop) [Remix] - Single". iTunes. Retrieved Jul 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Level Up / Ciara TIDAL". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  18. ^ "Ciara – Level Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  19. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  20. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20180727/7509/
  21. ^ "Ciara Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  22. ^ "Ciara Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
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