Fu-Gee-La
| "Fu-Gee-La" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Fu-Gee-La" is a song by the Fugees. It was released in December 1995 as the lead single from their second album, The Score. The song, which was produced by Salaam Remi, contains a sample of "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right" by Ramsey Lewis, and its chorus is based on "Ooo La La La" by Teena Marie. Several remixes of the song, including the "Refugee Camp Remix" and the "Sly & Robbie Remix", which features a young Akon, also appear on The Score. It is the highest-selling single from the Fugees, and has been certified gold by RIAA.[1]
Background
Producer Salaam Remi discussed the song's conception: "We actually were working on a song for Spike Lee’s Clockers movie that actually, that song never came out. So we had a song that we did for Clockers, and then during that session, Wyclef was like, 'Yo, play that beat you did for Fat Joe!' And Lauryn was like, 'Yo, play the Fat Joe beat' and then when I played it, Clef jumped up and spit the first verse to 'Fu-Gee-La.' He had the verse, but it just fell all together and then we worked on it. That song was actually done prior to The Score, so a lot of The Score’s vibe was based around what that song was."[2]
Music video
The music video for Fu-Gee-La was filmed in Jamaica. They wanted to recreate Jimmy Cliff's film The Harder They Come (1972).[3] It follows a robbery-related concept, with each band member taking on a particular role. Oddly enough, at around 1:21, a hand, presumably the cameraman, pops up into the screen for a brief period of time to direct Lauryn Hill where to move.
Track listing
- UK CD1
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Album Version) - 4:15
- "Fu-Gee-La" (North Side Mix) - 4:15
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Remix) - 4:24
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Sly & Robbie Mix) - 5:33
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Wyclef's Global Acoustic Mix) - 4:18
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Fugi Acapella) - 4:08
- UK CD2
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Album Version) - 4:15
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Album Instrumental) - 4:15
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Remix) - 4:24
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Instrumental) - 4:22
- "Fu-Gee-La" (North Side Mix) - 4:15
- "Fu-Gee-La" (Sly & Robbie Mix) - 5:33
- "How Many Mics" - 4:22
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[4] | 43 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] | 14 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] | 14 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] | 8 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] | 14 |
| France (SNEP)[9] | 22 |
| songid field is MANDATORY FOR GERMAN CHARTS | 6 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 7 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 11 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] | 10 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] | 9 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 21 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 29 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] | 13 |
http://www.billboard.com/search/site/Fu-Gee-La
References
- ^ "Searchable Database - Search: Fugees". RIAA. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- ^ "The Fugees & Salaam Remi - The Inspiration Behind "Fu-Gee-La"". HipHopDX. February 13, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Coleman, Brian (March 12, 2009). Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Random House Publishing Group. p. 218. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-la" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Fugees: Fu-Gee-La" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Fugees" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Fugees Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Fugees Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.