Promiscuous (song)

"Promiscuous"
Single by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
from the album Loose
B-side "Crazy"
"Undercover"
Released April 2006 (2006-04)
(See release history)
Format Digital download, vinyl single, CD single
Recorded Miami, Florida; 2005
Genre Pop rap, Dance-pop, pop
Length 4:02 (album version)
3:41 (radio edit)
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Nelly Furtado, Timothy Clayton, Nate Hills, Tim Mosley
Producer Timbaland, Danja
Certification 2x Platinum (RIAA)
3x Platinum (CRIA)
Nelly Furtado singles chronology
"The Grass Is Green"
(2005)
"Promiscuous"
(2006)
"No Hay Igual"
(2006)
Timbaland singles chronology
"Are You Feelin' Me?"
(2002)
"Promiscuous"
(2006)
"SexyBack"
(2006)
Loose track listing
"Maneater"
(2)
"Promiscuous"
(3)
"Glow"
(4)
Alternate Cover
U.S. cover
Audio sample
file info · help

"Promiscuous" (also known as "Promiscuous Girl") is a song recorded by singer Nelly Furtado and Timbaland for Furtado's third album, Loose (2006). Furtado, Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Timbaland and Danja wrote the song, and Timbaland and Danja produced it. The song lyrics feature a conversation between a man and woman who call each other a "promiscuous" boy or girl.

"Promiscuous" was released as the first single from Loose in North America in early 2006, and as the second single elsewhere in mid-2006 except in Latin America, where the single was released as the third single in late 2006. The song received positive reviews and became Furtado's first number-one single in United States. It won in the Best Pop Song category at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, was nominated for the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals Grammy Award at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and won Single of the Year at the 2007 Juno Awards. The song got a number 3 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2006. It is the most recent track to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Dance Club Play charts simultaneously.

Contents

Background and writing

The lyrics of "Promiscuous" describe the two sides of the relationship that the song's protagonist deals with. It was one of the first songs Furtado wrote with labelmate Timothy "Attitude" Clayton. Furtado called their teamwork something she "had never done before" because she saw the writing process as "extremely freeing" because of his different approach and style. Clayton helped Furtado experiment with interpreting the "promiscuous girl" character and the two-sided relationship she is in.[1] Furtado also described that in the process of writing lyrics "we were actually flirting, which is why the song is so playful" and that she and Clayton nicknamed the song "'The BlackBerry Song', because everything we say in the song you could text-message to somebody".[2]

Because of the preponderant musical influence of artists such as Talking Heads, Blondie, Madonna, The Police and Eurythmics, whom producers Timbaland and Danja listened to during the writing of the album, "Promiscuous" takes inspiration from pop music of the 1980s.[1] The sexuality was based on the "strong women in control" of the 1990s, such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Salt-N-Pepa and TLC.[3]

A reference to basketball player Steve Nash in the song's lyrics led to speculation that he and Furtado were romantically involved, but both deny the link, with Nash commenting, "I'm flattered that she put me in her song, but I'm completely in love with my wife and two little baby girls".[4] Furtado decided to include him because she and Nash are both from Victoria, British Columbia, and due to frequent citations of basketballers in songs, she decided to "give him the props".[3]

In one of the verses Timbaland introduces himself as Thomas Crown. The Thomas Crown Affair is a film about wealthy businessman who plays a cat-and-mouse/flirting game with an insurance investigator.

Timbaland only performed the song live on special occasions, such as Furtado's appearance on Saturday Night Live,[5] and the 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards.[6] Starting with Furtado's show at the 94th Grey Cup on November 19, 2006,[7] and extending into the Get Loose Tour, Timbaland's part is filled in by Canadian rapper Saukrates.[8]

Reception

Critical reviews

"Promiscuous" was well received by music critics. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone considered it a highlight in Loose. Timbaland's appearance received particular praise, which added Furtado's "high-school musical vocals" over his eighty beats according to Sheffield.[9] Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine compared it to "vintage Prince", citing "Promiscuous" as a highlight of Furtado's makeover. However, Erlewine believed that no matter how much Furtado sings about sex, she does not sound sexy and does not "generate much carnal heat."[10]

IGN review considered the song "simultaneously annoying and yet catchy beyond belief" and listed as one of Loose's "Definitely Downloads",[11] Pitchfork Media called it "one of the best vocal performances of his [Timbaland's] career",[12] and Billboard called the duo of Furtado and Timbaland "a surprisingly good match".[13]

The song was also included in three lists of best songs of 2006: fourth on Blender,[2] sixth at The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop,[14] and 56th on Rolling Stone.[15]

Chart performance

In Canada, the song's music video debuted on MuchMusic's MuchOnDemand after an interview with Furtado on May 8, 2006.[16] On May 4, 2006, "Promiscuous" debuted inside the top five on the Canadian Singles Chart, and on June 1, it became Furtado's second Canadian number-one single. After descending from the top ten, it reascended to number two after the release of Loose. "Promiscuous" spent twenty-five weeks on the Canadian Singles Chart, but was the year's shortest-running number-one single,but it became one of the biggest selling singles . The song peaked at number two on the BDS Airplay Chart and became one of Furtado's most successful single releases in her home country since "I'm Like a Bird", released in 2000.[17]

In the U.S. "Promiscuous" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four, the week's highest debut.[18] It topped the chart for six weeks, from July 8, 2006, and it became Furtado's first U.S. number-one single. The song topped Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and Pop 100 charts and reached the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs top forty.[19] On the Billboard year-end chart it was ranked third, the highest placing for a single by a female artist.[20] As of August, 2009, the song has so far sold over 2,504,000 digital downloads in the United States.[21]

"Promiscuous" debuted at number five on the Australian ARIA Charts and peaked at number two in its third week.[22] It was released in Europe on August 18, 2006 and reached number three in the UK. On December 31, 2006 BBC Radio 1 reported that "Promiscuous" was the thirty-eighth highest selling single in the UK in 2006.[23] The single re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number sixty-six in January 2007 because of The Official UK Charts Company's new rules.[24][25] It made the top ten in most European nations.

In Latin America, the single was released as the official third single, and in some countries the song was leaked to radio (in Peru, Colombia and Mexico). On December 4, 2006, "Promiscuous" won "Best Pop Single of the Year" at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, beating Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" and Sean Paul's "Temperature".[26] The song was nominated for the "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life".[27]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Little X and features cameo appearances by Keri Hilson, Bria Myles and Justin Timberlake. It does not follow a storyline and per Furtado's request, focuses on scenes with dancing and flirting because she wanted to recreate the song's indicative vibe, and took the opportunity to film a club video for the first time. Furtado said of the video, "It's that whole dance that goes on. There's that mystery there, the fun, playful sexiness, the verbal Ping-Pong game".[28] Furtado and Timbaland cannot decide whether they want to begin dating or instead flirt with others on the dance floor. Their single performances are intercut with several scenes of a dancing crowd, and the lighting changes between blue, green, red, and yellow colors.

"Promiscuous" premiered on MTV's Total Request Live on May 3, 2006, where it reached number one after spending twenty-one days on the countdown.[29] After its debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it ascended to number one for the week of July 28, 2006. At the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, it was nominated for the Best Dance, Female and Pop Video Awards.[30] The video was parodied by MADtv in a segment entitled "Syphilis Girl"; in the video, Furtado (Nicole Parker) is comically portrayed as having given Timbaland (Jordan Peele) the sexually transmitted disease,[31] as well as on YouTube by the comedic group Train of Thought Sketch Comedy, where the video is parodied by troupe member Kaci and features a puppet version of Timbaland.[32]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Promiscuous".

International CD single
  1. "Promiscuous" (radio edit)
  2. "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley cover / Radio 1 Live Lounge session)
  3. "Promiscuous" (The JoSH Desi remix)
  4. "Promiscuous" (video)
Australian CD single
  1. "Promiscuous" (radio edit)
  2. "Undercover"
  3. "Promiscuous" (The JoSH Desi remix)
  4. "Promiscuous" (CD-ROM Enhanced CD Video)
German CD-single
  1. "Promiscuous" (radio Edit)
  2. "What I Wanted"
"Promiscuous" (Remixes) - EP (iTunes digital download)
  1. "Promiscuous" (Crossroads Mix) (feat. Mr. Vegas)
  2. "Promiscuous" (The Josh Desi remix)
  3. "Promiscuous" (Crossroads Instrumental Mix)
  4. "Promiscuous" (The Josh Desi Instrumental Remix)
  5. "Promiscuous" (Album Version)
  6. "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley cover / Radio 1 Live Lounge session)

Credits and personnel

The remixes

Release history

Country Release Date Format
Canada April 2006 (2006-04)
United States April 28, 2006 (2006-04-28) Physical
June 29, 2006 (2006-06-29) Digital
September 12, 2006 (2006-09-12) iTunes EP
Australia June 24, 2006 (2006-06-24)
Europe September 4, 2006 (2006-09-04)

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2006)[33] Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[35] 12
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[36] 6
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[37] 8
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[38] 1
Czech Republic (IFPI)[39] 6
European Hot 100 Singles[40] 5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[41] 4
France (SNEP)[42] 15
Germany (Media Control AG)[43] 6
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[44] 4
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[45] 21
Ireland (IRMA)[46] 5
Italy (FIMI)[47] 8
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[48] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[49] 3
New Zealand (RIANZ)[50] 1
Slovakia (IFPI)[51] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[52] 16
Switzerland (Media Control AG)[53] 6
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[54] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[55] 1
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[56] 1

Certifications

Country Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Denmark Gold [57]
Preceded by
"Do I Make You Proud" by Taylor Hicks
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
July 8 – August 12, 2006
Succeeded by
"London Bridge" by Fergie
Billboard Pop 100 number one single
July 8, 2006 – August 26, 2006
Preceded by
"Buttons" by Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
July 24, 2006 – August 28, 2006
Succeeded by
"SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
Preceded by
"Unfaithful" by Rihanna
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
August 5, 2006 – August 19, 2006
Succeeded by
"C'est La Vie" by Kim English

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "NELLY FURTADO — Loose". The Story. An album overview. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "100 Greatest Songs of 2006: 25-1". Blender. http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2427. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Shepherd, Julianne. "How Nelly Furtado Got Her Ghetto Pass". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/bands/f/furtado_nelly/qa_feature_060706/. Retrieved 2007-05-13. 
  4. Koha, Nui Te. "Songbird sexy and soaring ". The Sunday Herald Sun. July 23, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2006.
  5. "Kevin Spacey/Nelly Furtado". Saturday Night Live. NBC. 2006-05-20. No. 604, season 31.
  6. 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards. [TV]. MuchMusic. 2006-06-18. 
  7. "Nelly Furtado performs at Grey Cup halftime show". CTV. 2006-11-20. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061120/furtado_greycup_061120?s_name=&no_ads=. Retrieved 2008-02-26. 
  8. "MP3.com Live: Nelly Furtado gets Loose". MP3.com. 2007-06-24. http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/9783.html. Retrieved 2008-02-26. 
  9. Sheffield, Rob (2006-06-15). "Nelly Furtado: Loose". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nellyfurtado/albums/album/10519526/review/10574365/loose. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Loose Review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:65rv284w05oa~T1. Retrieved 16 August 2006. 
  11. Ptylik, Mark (2007-03-27). "Loose Review". IGN. http://music.ign.com/articles/713/713717p1.html. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  12. "Nelly Furtado "Promiscuous Girl [ft. Timbaland" (Track Review)"]. Pitchfork Media. 2006-06-21. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/track_reviews/31101/Nelly_Furtado_Promiscuous_Girl_ft_Timbaland. Retrieved 2007-07-21. 
  13. ""Single Reviews"". Billboard. 2006-05-24. http://music.monstersandcritics.com/reviews/article_1166288.php/Single_Reviews. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
  14. "Pazz & Jop 2006: Singles Winners". The Village Voice. http://www.villagevoice.com/pazzandjop06/winners.php?type=single. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 
  15. "The 100 Best Songs of the Year: 50-60". Rolling Stone. 2006-12-08. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/12769472/the_100_best_songs_of_2006/6. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 
  16. "COUPLA PICS: NELLY FURTADO". muchmusic.com. 2006-05-08. http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/couplapics/nellyfurtado/#id=COUPLA%20PICS:%20NELLY%20FURTADO&num=1. Retrieved 2007-06-02. 
  17. "Chart Data: Nelly Furtado". mariah-charts.com. http://www.mariah-charts.com/chartdata/PNellyFurtado.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-18. 
  18. Hope, Clover. "Rihanna Stays Strong On Hot 100". Billboard. May 11, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2006.
  19. "Nelly Furtado - Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2006
  20. "2006 Year End Charts". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2006/charts/hot100.jsp. Retrieved 2007-12-24. 
  21. Week Ending Aug. 2, 2009: Not Since "Double Fantasy" Chart Watch by Paul Grein. Retrived: 2009-08-05.
  22. "NELLY FURTADO FEAT. TIMBALAND - PROMISCUOUS (SINGLE)". australian-charts.com. http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly+Furtado+feat%2E+Timbaland&titel=Promiscuous&cat=s. Retrieved 2007-05-17. 
  23. "Official UK top 40 singles of 2006". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/top40_2006.shtml. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  24. "The Official UK Top 75 Singles, January 8th 2007". Music Square. http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/uk_singles_top_75/2007/02. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  25. "Official Chart rules are changing!". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/chart_changes2.shtml. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  26. "Billboard's Best Albums, Singles, and Artists of 2006". fox.com. http://www.fox.com/billboard/contenders/winners.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-02. 
  27. "The 49th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List". Field 1 - Pop, Category 8 - Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. Announced December 7, 2006.
  28. Vineyard, Jennifer. "Nelly Furtado Says She Can Be Brainy, Funny and 'Promiscuous'". MTV.com. May 15, 2006. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
  29. "Total Request Live, June 2006". The TRL Archive. http://www.popfusion.net/records/recaparchive/2006_06.html. Retrieved 2007-06-05. 
  30. "Shakira, Red Hot Chili Peppers Dominate 2006 VMA Nominee List". Rolling Stone. 2006-07-31. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11045302/shakira_red_hot_chili_peppers_dominate_2006_vma_nominee_list. Retrieved 2007-06-05. 
  31. "Episode 05". MADtv. 2006-11-11. No. 1205, season 12.
  32. "Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous ft. Kaci and Puppet Timbaland". Train of Thought Sketch Comedy. http://www.trainofthought.info/video_promiscuous.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  33. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly+Furtado+feat.+Timbaland&titel=Promiscuous&cat=s
  34. "Australian-charts.com - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
  35. "Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  36. "Ultratop.be - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  37. "Ultratop.be - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous" (in French). Ultratop 40. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  38. "Nelly Furtado Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Nelly Furtado. Prometheus Global Media.
  39. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda - RADIO TOP100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200702 into search.
  40. "Nelly Furtado Album & Song Chart History" European Hot 100 for Nelly Furtado. Prometheus Global Media.
  41. "Finnishcharts.com - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous". Suomen virallinen lista. Hung Medien.
  42. "Lescharts.com - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
  43. "Musicline.de - Chartverfolgung - Furtado,Nelly - Promiscuous" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  44. "Archívum - Slágerlisták - MAHASZ - Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  45. "Archívum - Slágerlisták - MAHASZ - Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  46. "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. GfK.
  47. "Italiancharts.com - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous". Top Digital Download. Hung Medien.
  48. "Dutchcharts.nl - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  49. "Norwegiancharts.com - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  50. "Charts.org.nz - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
  51. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda - RADIO TOP100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200640 into search.
  52. "Swedishcharts.com - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  53. "Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - Promiscuous swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  54. "Chart Stats - Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
  55. "Nelly Furtado Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Nelly Furtado. Prometheus Global Media.
  56. "Nelly Furtado Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play for Nelly Furtado. Prometheus Global Media.
  57. http://www.ifpi.dk/index.php?pk_menu=172 Search: Nelly Furtado

External links