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Motivation (Normani song)

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"Motivation"
Single by Normani
ReleasedAugust 16, 2019 (2019-08-16)
Genre
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ilya
Normani singles chronology
"Dancing with a Stranger"
(2019) 		"Motivation"
(2019) 		"Bad to You"
(2019)
Music video
"Motivation" on YouTube

"Motivation" is a song by American singer Normani, released on August 16, 2019. The song was written by Ariana Grande, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Max Martin, Normani, Savan Kotecha, and produced by Salmanzadeh. The music video was released the same day. It will be included on her upcoming debut solo album, which is expected to be released in 2020.[2]

Background and release

Ariana Grande (pictured in February 2017) co-wrote "Motivation".

"Motivation" was initially teased with a snippet by Normani on her Twitter on August 2, 2019.[3] She further spoke on the song, as well as Ariana Grande's involvement in co-writing, during Rolling Stone's Morning Sessions at Lollapalooza, explaining "[Grande]'s dope. She also has a part in the record that I'm releasing, too. She wrote on it."[4] The song was officially announced on August 9 and released on August 16, 2019.[5]

Music video

A music video was released alongside the song on August 16, and was directed by Dave Meyers and Daniel Russell.[6] It features homages to music videos from the late 1990s and early 2000s, such as "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé, "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears and "I'm Real" by Jennifer Lopez.[6] The location of the video is in the same Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, neighborhood and park (Pecan Park) of J-Lo’s I’m Real video.

The video begins with a younger version of Normani watching the BET music video countdown show 106 & Park and daydreaming that former hosts Terrence J and Rocsi Diaz announced that she has the "#1 video in the world", while her grandmother in the background tells her to lower the noise but then gives her blessing.[7] As "Motivation" starts to play, it transitions from the living room to the screen where she is seen walking in the middle of a road, inspired by Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love".[8] The second sequence is a dance sequence, with Normani dancing with her dancers in a Los Angeles neighborhood. The scene shifts to a fence background where Normani is seen climbing the fence while dancing before moving to a basketball court where she performs a gymnastics tumbling pass and a basketball technique. The rain sequence is then shown where Normani is accompanied by a band. The video ends as Normani performs a final dance routine in the late afternoon.[9]

Critical reception

Forbes wrote that "Motivation" "sounds like the perfectly-crafted pop song [...] catchy, summery and fun", adding that it is reminiscent of co-writer Ariana Grande's sound, and while familiar, it "provides something currently missing from the pop landscape."[10] i-D said the song is a "smash" with a catchy chorus, and it recalls the "Rich Harrison-produced pop of the early 2000s" and Beyoncé's Coachella performance.[11] Pitchfork named it "Best New Track", saying Normani's "sultry, syncopated vocal lines bear the imprint of co-writer Ariana Grande", and she "seems to draw on both "Check On It"-era Beyoncé and the brassy sounds of Homecoming."[12] The Guardian described the song as a "buoyant, horn-laced, late-summer BBQ bop that nestles in the nook between Ariana Grande and 2006-era Beyoncé."[13] Los Angeles Times considered the track a "sticky bop perfectly primed to get us through the rest of the summer".[14] Rolling Stone called the song when you can "actually hear a pop superstar be[ing] born." [15]

Live performance

Normani first performed "Motivation" at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards on August 26, 2019.[16]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]

  • Normani – vocals, songwriter
  • Ariana Grande – songwriter
  • Max Martin – songwriter
  • Savan Kotecha – songwriter, backing vocals
  • Ilya Salmanzadeh – producer, songwriter, programmer, vocal producer, backing vocals, bass, drums, keyboards
  • Kuk Harrell – vocal producer
  • Peter Carlsson – vocal producer
  • Simone Torres – vocal prodcuer
  • Daniel Oestreicher – baritone saxophone
  • Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews – trumpet, trombone
  • Cory Bice – engineer
  • Jeremy Lertola – engineer
  • John Hanes – engineer
  • Sam Holland – engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer
  • Dave Kutch – mastering engineer

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 40
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 24
Croatia (HRT)[21] 84
France Downloads (SNEP)[22] 59
Ireland (IRMA)[23] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 24
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 63
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 22
Portugal (AFP)[27] 68
Scotland (OCC)[28] 20
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] 63
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 27
US Billboard Hot 100[32] 33
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[33] 22
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[34] 15
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[35] 30
US Rolling Stone Top 100[36] 26

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Gold 35,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 16, 2019
[5]
United States August 20, 2019 Contemporary hit radio [38]

References

  1. ^ Damshenas, Sam (August 16, 2019). "Normani pays tribute to Britney and Beyoncé in Motivation music video". Gay Times. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "Normani Confirms 14 Track Debut Album Is 'Halfway Done' & Will Drop In 2020", Capital FM, September 24, 2019, retrieved September 28, 2019
  3. ^ @Normani (August 2, 2019). "✨🖤🎶" (Tweet). Retrieved August 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Holmes, Charles (August 8, 2019). "Normani Reveals Ariana Grande Wrote on Her New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  5. ^ a b @Normani (August 9, 2019). "8/16/19 !!!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ a b "Watch Normani's Throwback Video for 'Motivation'". Rap-Up. August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  7. ^ "Normani's 'Motivation' Is A Rain-Soaked Spectacle That Beyoncé Would Be Proud Of". MTV.
  8. ^ "Watch Normani's Throwback Video for 'Motivation'". Rap-Up.
  9. ^ "Normani's 'Motivation' Video Is Loaded With Throwback Moments". Billboard.
  10. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (August 16, 2019). "Normani Returns With New Single 'Motivation,' Co-Written With Ariana Grande". Forbes. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Kheraj, Alim (August 16, 2019). "all the iconic 00s music videos referenced in normani's "motivation"". i-D. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  12. ^ Kim, Michelle (August 16, 2019). ""Motivation" by Normani review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  13. ^ Cragg, Michael (August 16, 2019). "Tracks of the week reviewed: Normani, Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick (August 16, 2019). "Relive the rush of 'Crazy in Love'-era Beyoncé with Normani's new video, 'Motivation'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  15. ^ Spanos, Brittany (August 21, 2019). "Song You Need to Know: Normani, 'Motivation'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  16. ^ "Watch Normani Perform "Motivation" at the 2019 VMAs". Spin. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  18. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  19. ^ "Normani – Motivation" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "Normani Kordei Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  22. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 34, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  23. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 39, 2019" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  25. ^ "Normani – Motivation" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  26. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  27. ^ "Normani – Motivation". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  29. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201934 into search. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  30. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 34". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  32. ^ "Normani Kordei Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  33. ^ "Normani Kordei Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  34. ^ "Normani Kordei Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  35. ^ "Normani Kordei Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  37. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  38. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
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