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Hot Like Fire

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This article is about the Aaliyah song. For the Jessica Simpson song, see Irresistible (Jessica Simpson album).
"Hot Like Fire"
Single by Aaliyah featuring Timbaland
from the album One in a Million
A-side"The One I Gave My Heart To"
B-side"Death of a Playa" (featuring Rashad)
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1997
Recorded1996; Pyramid Studios
(Ithaca, New York)
Genre
Length4:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology
"Up Jumps da Boogie"
(1997) 		"Hot Like Fire" / "The One I Gave My Heart To"
(1997) 		"Journey to the Past"
(1998)
Timbaland singles chronology
"What About Us?"
(1997) 		"Hot Like Fire"
(1997) 		"Are You That Somebody?"
(1998)

"Hot Like Fire" is a song written by Missy Elliott and Tim "Timbaland" Mosley for Aaliyah's second album, One in a Million (see 1996 in music). It is the fifth release overall and the official fourth single in North America (see 1997 in music).

The song was released as part of a double A-side single with "The One I Gave My Heart To".

Composition

Hot like Fire has been described as a "panting minimalist controlled-blaze baby-maker" with suggestive lyrics;[1][2] While the production of the song has been described as a "jeep-friendly beat".[3] On "Hot Like Fire" Aaliyah "hums and moans promises to her new bae that his patience will be rewarded".[4]

Critical reception

Shannon Marcec from Complex felt that the remix version of "Hot Like Fire" was better than the original version. Marcec said "No shade to the original version of "Hot Like Fire," but the "Timbaland's Groove Mix" was 10 times better". Marcec also praised both the songs production and Aaliyah's vocals saying, "Timbaland presents another entrancing track, beatboxing Susanne Vega's "Tom's Diner," while Aaliyah brings her melodic voice and habitually sexy style".[4]

Chart performance

"Hot Like Fire" was released simultaneously with "The One I Gave My Heart To" on September 16, 1997. In America "Hot Like Fire" barely charted on any of the major billboard charts with the exception of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. On the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay the song peaked within the top 40 of that chart at number 31.[5]" Internationally the song performed a better reaching the top 40 in the UK at number 30 on the official music chart. Also in the UK "Hot Like Fire" peaked within the top 40 on the UK Dance and R&B chats at number 25 and 3.[6][7][8]"

Music video

The music video was directed by Lance "Un" Rivera. Fatima Robinson directed the choreography.[9] Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Playa, Changing Faces, Lil' Kim, and Junior M.A.F.I.A. made cameos in the video.

The video starts with a large number of people in an urban neighborhood on a very hot summer day. Aaliyah drives a red car with a fire engine. The setting quickly changes to night as Aaliyah gets out of the car to perform the chorus on a steamy stage with sparks in the background. During the second verse, Aaliyah is seen dancing with the crowd. Aaliyah returns to the stage with the dancers to perform the chorus again. Timbaland performs his verse and Missy Elliott performs her verse.

In 2015, Case claimed in an interview that he was supposed to be in the music video for the single but "got distracted" and "didn't make it."[10]

Live performances

In August 1997 Aaliyah made a televised appearance on the short lived Vibe (talk show) where she performed "Hot Like Fire" and gave the show's host a gift basket full of promo items.[11][12]

Legacy

In 2013 American R&B singer Solange Knowles and British Indie Pop group The xx covered Hot Like Fire at Coachella.[13] Bassier Oliver Sim sang the first verse of the song while his group member Romy Madley Croft backing him in the performance.[13] Solange came out during the performance in a " bright white tank top and fluorescent pink skirt" to join The xx.[13] Jeff Benjamin from Fuse praised the performance saying "Solange's sweet vocals sounded right at home on The xx-ified version of Aaliyah's track. And it was so clear Solange was having fun as she danced around on stage, giggling into the mic and flailed her arms about".[13] Their cover of the song was a nod to the groups modern R&B roots that is infused in their "stripped down sound".[14] In 2016 Rapper Nicki Minaj interpolated Hot Like Fire in her song "Black Barbies" with the "oh no, no, no, no" line.[15]

Charts

Chart (1997–1998) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[16] 88
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 30
UK Dance (OCC)[18] 25
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[19] 3
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[20] 31

References

  1. ^ "Aaliyah's 'One In a Million' Turns 20: How Her Second Album Predicted R&B's Future". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  2. ^ Hampton, Dream (October 1996). "Revolutions". Vibe. New York: 133–4. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  3. ^ Shipley, Al (March 16, 2017). "Aaliyah's 'One in a Million' Invented the Sound of the Future". Vice. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "The 25 Best Aaliyah Songs". Complex. May 19, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "Aaliyah". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. November 23, 1997. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. November 23, 1997. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Hot Like Fire". mvdbase.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: Case Reveals He Was Supposed To Be In Aaliyah's 'Hot Like Fire' Video". Vibe. April 7, 2015.
  11. ^ "Aaliyah - Hot Like Fire (Remix) & Interview - Live On "Vibe" 1997". YouTube. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  12. ^ Gallo, Phil (August 8, 1997). "Vibe". Variety. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d Benjamin, Jeff (April 15, 2013). "WATCH THE XX & SOLANGE TEAM UP TO COVER AALIYAH AT COACHELLA". Fuse. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  14. ^ Tanners, Jon (April 14, 2013). "Solange Performs With The xx at Coachella, Covers Aaliyah". Complex. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  15. ^ Scarano, Ross (November 16, 2016). "The 10 Best Nicki Minaj Remixes". Complex. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  17. ^ "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  18. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  19. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
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