| "Fly" | |||||||||||
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| Single by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna | |||||||||||
| from the album Pink Friday | |||||||||||
| Released | August 30, 2011 (see release history) |
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| Recorded | 2010 | ||||||||||
| Genre | Hip hop, R&B | ||||||||||
| Length | 3:32 | ||||||||||
| Label | Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown[1] | ||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Kevin Hissink, W. Jordan, Onika Maraj, Jonathan Rotem, Clemm Rishad | ||||||||||
| Producer | J.R. Rotem, Kevin Hissink (co prod.) | ||||||||||
| Nicki Minaj chronology | |||||||||||
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"Fly" is a song by Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj featuring Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna. The track was produced by J.R. Rotem and co-produced by Kevin Hissink. The song is inspired by the emotion of soaring above and overcoming all stereotypes and negativity, only to have come out victorious. The song charted in multiple countries including Canada and the United Kingdom due to strong digital sales following the release of Pink Friday.
The song garnered positive reviews from critics, most of which complimented the song on its inspirational feeling and a stand-out track of the album.[2] "Fly" was released to US rhythmic radio on August 30, 2011 as the eighth and final overall single from Minaj's debut.
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The song was produced by J.R. Rotem, who has additionally worked with Britney Spears, Rick Ross and Leona Lewis. In an interview with MTV News, producer J.R. Rotem discussed the track, stating that it almost never made the cut for Pink Friday and was the last addition to the album after Minaj heard how inspirational it was.[3] He stated, "Near the tail end of her project, I came into the studio and I had some tracks [for her]. That was one of the ones I was excited about. When I played it for her, she knew instantly: 'Yes, this is the record.' She connected with it immediately. I could just tell she was excited by it, which excited me."[3] The demo version of the song featured a studio-vocalist that would have later been an uncredited vocalist on the track, however Minaj decided to ask Rihanna to do the track.[3] Rotem reminisced on the moment, stating that he told Minaj "'That would be great, but getting Rihanna to do a hook for you is easier said than done.' I think that speaks to Nicki's star power. I said, 'Yeah, she's definitely first choice.'"[3] "It took time because she was promoting her own album and traveling overseas. It happened, and I heard it when Nicki gave me the record and it really was one of those incredible things that was really a blessing. It manifested. She said she wanted it and it happened."[3]
During a Pink Friday Diaries session, Minaj talked more in depth about the song.[4] "FLY is one of my absolute faves. I wanted to work with Rihanna for a long time. I'm very proud of her accomplishments ; especially since she was born on an island like me. This song is a female empowerment song. But then again, its not specific to just women. It speaks about flying, soaring high in the face of every single solitary adversity that comes your way. I speak about how the media has attempted to box me in and how that has made me feel suffocated. After years of being dragged thru the mud, I've mustered up the courage to re-define myself. I believe that I represent an entire generation. My fans have become my family ; and together we have become a movement. Get ready for it. We came to win."[3][4]
The song garnered positive reviews from critics, most of which described the song as relaxing. Robbie Daw of Idolator gave the song a positive review stating, "And here on the J.R. Rotem-produced “Fly,” she’s wearing the coat of the down-and-out-but-hopeful fighter striving to overcome her adversaries. Consider this an 'I Believe I Can Fly' for the current generation. If there’s one thing Rihanna has proven, it’s that she’s the go-to chorus girl with a Midas touch. And if Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie” and T.I.’s “Live Your Life” are any indicators, Nicki stands the chance of having her first #1 on the Hot 100 with “Fly”—provided, of course, it gets an official single release."[5] Margaret Wappler of Los Angeles Times complimented the songs collaboration stating, "Even though her roots are elsewhere, Minaj sounds better on the “Pink Friday” tracks that are more squarely in the club R&B vein, which she almost always spikes with enough rap to remind anyone that she isn’t another Beyonce or even Sasha Fierce, not by any stretch. “Fly” makes good work out of its Rihanna cameo — while the dark glamour bird soars, Minaj skitters around her with her vulnerable but choppy rhymes, equal parts tough woman and big softie."[6]
Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork Media complimented the song and how it made Pink Friday the record it is by stating, "but these tracks-- plus the Rihanna collaboration "Fly" and the solo ballad "Save Me"-- are the best examples of what Pink Friday is rather than what many of us wanted it to be."[7] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone commented on the genre of choice and the toned-down sexiness, "Minaj aims for a Rihanna-style crossover approach, singing R&B choruses over electro floss and toning down her nasty side."[8] Marc Hogan of Spin complimented the song's inspirational tone and that other cuts from the album, including "Fly", "have her charismatically colorful, larger-than-life personality all over them."[2]
Following its release as a single in the U.S., the song reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fourth top 20 hit on the chart from Pink Friday. Even before it's official release in the UK, 'Fly' managed to reach number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, making it Minaj's 5th Top 30 Single in the UK. 'Fly' became Minaj's first single to top the UK R&B Chart.
"Fly" also reached number 18 in Australia, number 13 in New Zealand, number 14 in Ireland, and number 12 in Scotland.
A music video for the song was shot the weekend of January 7, 2011 and directed by Sanaa Hamri.[1][9][10][11] "Fly" is the second music video to be shot in a string of music videos Minaj announced to be shot for promotion, along with "Save Me" and "Girls Fall Like Dominoes".[12] Minaj and Rihanna both shared behind the scenes photos of the music video on twitter, where Rihanna sported straight red hair and Minaj wore a curly black wig and a barbed pink dress.[13] In an interview with E! Online, Minaj spoke briefly about the concept stating, “We’re going to save the world in more ways than one with the video and that’s all I can say about that.”[14] In an interview with BBC Radio’s Tim Westwood, Minaj spoke very highly about the upcoming video, stating "The video is done. The ‘Fly’ video is a freakin’ movie! Movie! Movie! Cinematic popcorn."[15] In a recent blog from Minaj's website, She stated that the video for "Fly" has been pushed back, but it will be released soon.
In an interview with MTV News, Minaj discussed the song's video and official release from the album.[16] She stated that the video's release date and official single release will take place sometime around Memorial Day weekend, as she does not want to interfere with Rihanna's current releases circulating the radio and wants to allow time for both artists to promote each others respective album before the collaboration is officially released.[16] She added "So she has a lot of [songs] in rotation and I want to let her stuff have a moment and do its thing, dominate radio. [Instead], I wanted to come out with something more fun."[16] A preview of the video is set to be previewed first time at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show.[17] The preview consists of Minaj and Rihanna in a foggy area, with Minaj having a pixie cut and Rihanna having long hair, seemingly switching hairstyles. The full "Fly" music video premiered on mtv.com and Minaj's VEVO after the preview on VMA'S Pre-Show on August 28, 2011.
The video begins with a Jaguar XKR driving through the wreckage of disaster zone. Part way through it cuts to a shot of the sky, with the sun blocked out by clouds. The video then returns to the car where it has stopped and the roof retreats to the back of the car. The song begins as Minaj steps out wearing a pink barbed dress, thigh-high boots and big curly hair. Minaj begin her verse whilst walking through the wreckage, and as her verse finishes she is joined by Rihanna who begin the second chorus, wearing a black dress, with straight red hair. As the second verse begins the video switches to a scene where we see Minaj standing on the wing of a crashed plane, this time sporting a pink bob-style wig and lilac dress. For the third chorus we see Rihanna and Minaj together again standing amongst the wreckage in a night time scene, with Rihanna wearing a white long-sleeved dress, and Minaj with leopard print style hair and matching dress. As Minaj begins her third verse the scenes alternate between the current scene and one where we see Minaj, wearing a white cat suit with a black and white Mohawk, standing on at the top of some steps. As she walks down, ninjas starting appearing from over either side of the stair railings and attacking her. Minaj successfully defeats all her opponents, in what is a slightly extended version of the third verse compared to the album version of the song. This scene also alternates with the scene where Minaj is on the plane wing. On the last chorus the video alternates between the plane wing scene and the scene with Rihanna and Minaj standing amongst the wreckage. As the video comes to an end flowers and plant life begin to grow around and over the wreckage. The video finishes by returning to the shot of the sky, where now the sun has broke through the clouds.
Credits are taken from Pink Friday liner notes.[18]
| Chart (2010–12) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[19] | 18 |
| Australia (ARIA Urban)[20] | 4 |
| Brazil (Billboard Hot 100 Airplay)[21] | 5 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[22] | 24 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] | 55 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[24] | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[25] | 14 |
| Scotland (The Official Charts Company)[26] | 12 |
| UK R&B (The Official Charts Company)[27] | 1 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[28] | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[29] | 19 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[30] | 50 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[31] | 20 |
| US Pop Songs (Billboard)[32] | 16 |
| US Rap Songs (Billboard)[33] | 9 |
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| United States | Gold[34] |
| Australia | Gold[35] |
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | September 5, 2011[36] | Contemporary Hit Radio |
| Germany | October 28, 2011[37] | CD single |
| United States | August 30, 2011[38] | Rhythmic radio |
| September 20, 2011 | Mainstream radio[39] |
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