Billionaire (song)

"Billionaire"
Single by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars
from the album Lazarus
Released March 9, 2010[1]
Recorded 2009
Genre Pop, reggae fusion, ska punk
Length 3:31
Label Fueled By Ramen
Writer(s) Travie McCoy, Bruno Mars, Ari Levine, Philip Lawrence
Producer The Smeezingtons
Certification 2x Platinum (RIAA)[2]
Platinum (RIANZ)[3]
Travie McCoy singles chronology
"Differently"
(2009)		 "Billionaire"
(2010)		 "Need You"
(2010)
Bruno Mars singles chronology
"Nothin' on You"
(2010)		 "Billionaire"
(2010)		 "Just the Way You Are"
(2010)

"Billionaire" is the debut single by American recording artist Travie McCoy, featuring guest vocals from Bruno Mars. It is the lead single from McCoy's debut studio album Lazarus. The song was produced by The Smeezingtons, which consists of Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine. Lyrically, McCoy imagines what would happen if he became a billionaire, referencing all the good he would do to others with the money along with his desire to be on the cover of Forbes magazine, "smiling next to Oprah and The Queen".[4] As of July 2011, the song has sold 3,000,000 digital downloads, making it Mars' third 3-million-seller.[5]

Contents

Background

Bruno Mars came up with the lyrical concept for "Billionaire" during a trip to London in which he was given £250 ($350) by his record label to spend for 11 days. He found the amount of money to be insufficient, and explained "We were like, 'Is this the biggest mistake we've ever made? We thought we were broke in California; what are we going to do here?' So we've got no money, and I'm walking the streets and came up with, 'I wanna be a billionaire, so freakin' bad.'"[6] With the song, McCoy intended to avoid "superficial" lyrics in the wake of an economic recession, and added "There’s something to sing about here; if I was in the position to have a ridiculous amount of money, would I be selfish or selfless?’ I just took that concept and ran with it."[7]

During the summer of 2009, The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine) were booked for a week of studio sessions writing for Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B and Travie McCoy.[8] At the end of the week the group had created a scratch demo version of "Billionaire". The B.o.B song "Nothin' on You" was also conceived at this time.[8] McCoy later joined The Smeezingtons in the studio to complete the full song.[8] The radio edit of the song replaces the word F**king with freaking and is 3:06 long instead of 3:30. The radio edit is available for download on iTunes.

The song uses an almost exact musical copy of the tune from Santeria by the band Sublime.[9]

Remix

The official remix features Bruno Mars, his Nappy Boy labelmates T-Pain & R&B group One Chance, and Atlanta-based rapper Gucci Mane. The remix was produced by Young Fyre.[10] There is also a Jawaiian remix done by a band called Big Every Time (known has B.E.T. for short) from Hawaii a DJ Mike D remix. UK rapper Professor Green also covered the song on BBC Radio 1.[11] In 2011, Only Won released a "Geeked out" remix video titled, "I Wanna Be An Engineer" which was a parody that reached viral status and caught the attention of CNN, Discovery Channel, and FIRST Robotics Competition.[12]

Music video

The music video was filmed in Los Angeles, California and was first broadcast on MtvU on May 6, 2010. It begins with Mars playing a guitar whilst sitting on a wall at Venice Beach and singing the opening chorus. The scene switches to McCoy rapping while driving a Mini Cooper with Mars in the passenger seat. Throughout the video, McCoy is shown helping four people, as well as one large group at the end. The first thing he does is give a guy a new skateboard after he broke his own in half; the second is buying an unknown, aspiring artist's CD; the third is getting out of the Mini Cooper and giving the keys to a teenager trying to hitchhike to New York and the fourth is giving a graffiti artist some more spray paint after his ran out. The video then switches to Venice Beach, where the group in question run dry on beer in their cooler, but McCoy and Mars come in and hand out more beers to restore life to the party. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz can also be seen in the video riding on the back of a scooter with McCoy.

Glee version

The song was covered on the television show Glee during the second season premiere episode Audition. Sung by Chord Overstreet, Cory Monteith, Harry Shum, Jr., Kevin McHale and Mark Salling, the song debuted and peaked at #28 on the Hot 100.

Chart positions

Chart (2010/2011)[13] Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[15] 11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 18
Brazil (Billboard) Hot 100[17] 93
Canadian Hot 100 12
Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 8
European Hot 100[19] 9
Germany (Media Control AG)[20] 16
German Downloads Chart[21] 8
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[22] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[23] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[25] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[26] 11
Poland (ZPAV)[27] 2
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[28] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 14
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[31] 3
UK R&B (The Official Charts Company)[32] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[33] 4
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[34] 3
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[35] 9
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[36] 76
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[37] 33
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[38] 15

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
Australian Singles Chart[39] 30
European Hot 100 Singles[40] 69
Dutch Singles Chart[41] 32
Canadian Hot 100[42] 45
Hungarian Airplay Chart[43] 34
Romanian Top 100[44] 31
UK Singles Chart[45] 23

Claudia Leitte version

"Famo$.a."
Single by Claudia Leitte featuring Travie McCoy
from the album As Máscaras
Released May 7, 2010[46]
Format Airplay
Genre Reggae, soul
Length 3:30
Label Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Producer Robson Nonato
Claudia Leitte singles chronology
"As Máscaras (Se Deixa Levar)"
(2009)		 "Famo$.a."
(2010)		 "Don Juan"
(2010)
Travie McCoy chronology
"Billionaire"
(2010)		 "Famosa"
(2010)		 "Need You"
(2010)

"Famo$.a.", (English: Famous) is the second single from the album As Máscaras of Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte featuring Travie McCoy. The name features the dollar sign and S.A. (which generally designates corporations) - in this case, ironically used to indicate the strong money appeal of the song and its storyline. The song is a version of Travie's "Billionaire". Leitte's version consist of the same lines by Travie while she sings in Portuguese new verses instead of Bruno Mars'.

In the version written by Leitte, the lyrics makes references to Jô Soares' talk show, the reality show Big Brother Brasil, the social network Twitter and the TV host Hebe Camargo.[47]

Music video

The single's music video was filmed in São Paulo and was released in July. The video shows the singer Claudia Leitte scenes in Oscar Freire, the city street known to contain numerous sophisticated stores and be the point of buying artists and millionaires. Features McCoy's footage from the original Billionaire music video.

Chart positions

Chart (2010) Peak
position
BR Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[48] 3

See also

References

  1. ^ "Billionaire (feat. Bruno Mars) - Single by Travie McCoy - Download Billionaire (feat. Bruno Mars) - Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-03-09. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/billionaire-feat-bruno-mars/id358042891?i=358042953&ign-mpt=uo%3D2. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  2. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=Billionaire%20(FEAT.%20BRUNO%20MARS)&perPage=50. Retrieved September 11, 2010. 
  3. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. August 29, 2010. http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=63. Retrieved September 11, 2010. 
  4. ^ "Billionaire Songfacts". Songfacts.com. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18841. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  5. ^ Grein, Paul (2011-07-20). "Week Ending July 17, 2011. Songs: Demi’s Breakthrough | Chart Watch - Archives - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74391/week-ending-july-17-2011-songs-demis-breakthrough/. Retrieved 2011-12-05. 
  6. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (2010-04-10). "Bruno Mars Steps Into Spotlight on 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/news/bruno-mars-steps-into-spotlight-on-doo-wops-1004118815.story. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
  7. ^ Graff, Gary (2010-05-02). "Travie McCoy: New Name, New Direction". The Oakland Press. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/05/02/entertainment/doc4bdb1872a3b2c437143381.txt?viewmode=default. Retrieved 2011-01-22. 
  8. ^ a b c "Interview with Aaron Bay-Schuck". HitQuarters. 13 Dec 2010. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_AaronBaySchuck_int.html. Retrieved 14 Dec 2010. 
  9. ^ tupark82 (2010-06-15). "Billionaire With Santeria Background". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFCrHWgF6pc&feature=related. Retrieved 2011-12-05. 
  10. ^ "Nah Right! News". Nahright.com. 2010-06-14. http://nahright.com/news/2010/06/14/travie-mccoy-ft-gucci-mane-t-pain-bruno-mars-billionaire-remix. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  11. ^ professorgreentv (2010-07-21). "Professor Green covers Travie McCoy 'Billionaire' for Radio 1 Live Lounge". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Jz_JzyC1U. Retrieved 2011-12-05. 
  12. ^ Onlywon (2011-01-18). "I Wanna Be An Engineer - (Billionaire Geeked Out Mix) by: Only Won - the Lyrical Engineer". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiJczH3cr48. Retrieved 2011-12-05. 
  13. ^ Travie McCoy - Billionaire Billboard.com
  14. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
  15. ^ "Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  17. ^ "Brazil Hot 100 Airplay" (in Portuguese). Billboard Brasil (Brazil: bpp) (2): 100. October 18, 2010. ISSN 977-217605400-2
  18. ^ "Danishcharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Tracklisten. Hung Medien.
  19. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/hot-100?order=position
  20. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  21. ^ "Brandon Flowers: Ab in die Download-Charts - media control". Media-control.de. 2010-09-17. http://www.media-control.de/brandon-flowers-ab-in-die-download-charts.html. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  22. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  23. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.
  25. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
  26. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "Top 5 Airplay" (in Polish). Polish Music Charts. ZPAV. 2010-10-09. http://zpav.pl/rankingi/listy/nielsen/top5.php?idlisty=184. Retrieved 2011-10-23. 
  28. ^ "Editia 03.10.2010". Webcitation.org. http://www.webcitation.org/5tGCLO7wD. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  30. ^ "Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  31. ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Archive Chart" UK R&B Chart. The Official Charts Company.
  33. ^ "Travie McCoy Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Travie McCoy. Prometheus Global Media.
  34. ^ "Travie McCoy Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Travie McCoy. Prometheus Global Media.
  35. ^ "Travie McCoy Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rap Songs for Travie McCoy. Prometheus Global Media.
  36. ^ "Travie McCoy Album & Song Chart History" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Travie McCoy. Prometheus Global Media.
  37. ^ "Travie McCoy Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Travie McCoy. Prometheus Global Media.
  38. ^ "Travie McCoy Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Travie McCoy. Prometheus Global Media.
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2010.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-08. 
  40. ^ "European Hot 100". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/charts-year-end/european-hot-100-singles?year=2010#/charts-year-end/european-hot-100-singles?year=2010. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  41. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. http://dutchcharts.nl/yearchart.asp?cat=s. Retrieved 2011-01-03. 
  42. ^ "Charts Year End: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/chart_display.jsp?f=Canadian+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles. Retrieved 2010-05-02. 
  43. ^ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2010" (in hungarian). Mahasz. http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=eves_osszesitett_listak&id=radios&ev=2010. Retrieved 10 March 2011. 
  44. ^ "Topul celor mai difuzate piese în România în 2010" (in Romanian). România Liberă. http://www.romanialibera.ro/arte/muzica/exclusiv-topul-celor-mai-difuzate-piese-in-romania-in-2010-211604.html. Retrieved 21 January 2011. 
  45. ^ "2010 Year-end UK Singles". BBC (BBC Online). 2010-12-26. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/2010/singles. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 
  46. ^ "Claudia Leitte lança nova música "Famo$a"". Carnatal.com.br. http://www.carnatal.com.br/novidades/claudia_leitte_lanca_nova_musica_famo_a/3179/. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  47. ^ Do G1, em São Paulo. "G1 - Nova música de Claudia Leitte faz referências a Jô Soares e ‘BBB' - notícias em Pop & Arte". G1.globo.com. http://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/noticia/2010/05/nova-musica-de-claudia-leitte-faz-referencias-jo-soares-e-bbb.html. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 
  48. ^ "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay" (in Portuguese). Billboard Brasil (Brazil: bpp) (2): 84. Agosto de 2010. ISSN 977-217605400-2

External links

Travie McCoy
Studio albums
Singles
"Billionaire" · "Need You" · "We'll Be Alright"
Featured singles
Tours
Related articles
Bruno Mars
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Promotional singles
Featured singles
"Nothin' on You" · "Billionaire" · "Lighters" · "Mirror" · "Young, Wild & Free"
Other songs
Tours
Related articles