Magic (B.o.B song)

"Magic"
Single by B.o.B featuring Rivers Cuomo
from the album B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Released	July 6, 2010 (2010-07-06)
Format	Digital download, CD single
Recorded	2010
Genre	Alternative hip hop, electro[1]
Length	3:16
Label	Grand Hustle, Rebel Rock, Atlantic
Writer(s)	Bobby Simmons, Rivers Cuomo
Producer(s)	Dr. Luke
B.o.B singles chronology
"Bet I" (2010) "Magic" (2010) "So High" (2010)

"Magic"is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B, released on June 7, 2010 as the fifth single from his debut studio album B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010). The track features Weezer's lead singer Rivers Cuomo, singing the chorus. It was written by both artists, alongside the song's producer Dr. Luke. In the UK, the track made Radio 1's B-Playlist.^[2]

Reception

Despite mixed reviews, the song progressed up and down the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 10 at its peak.^[3] Billboard.com gave it a positive review, saying, "The song's strongest force is an infectious, throbbing synth-guitar hook from Dr. Luke, who seamlessly fuses B.o.B's verses with a chorus by Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo that demands a singalong. The result is stellar."^[4] In a review on About.com, Bill Lamb writes about Magic saying, "B.o.B., aka Bobby Ray, proves that he has both a tremendous gift at combining pop and hip hop, and he can range across multiple styles with astonishing ease."^[5] The reviewer at TinyMixtapes.com said that "'Magic' is magnificently, triumphantly corny, enough to give Steve Miller and that guy from The Outfield a run for their money. 'Magic' isn't good by any stretch of the imagination, but it is goofily enjoyable."^[6] In his album review for Spin, Kenny Herzog wrote, "The Adventures of Bobby Ray is a hip-hop Scary Movie, tossing off references (Vampire Weekend sample, Rivers Cuomo cameo) while struggling to establish a distinctive identity."^[7] Pitchfork questioned "the appearance by Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, whose creepily blank vocals on 'Magic' sound like the engineer has a gun to his head".^[8] The Guardian's Paul MacInnes wrote that "all the Chris Martinesque piano lines and calibrated guest appearances – from Weezer's River Cuomo to Janelle Monáe – can't obscure an absence of soul throughout."^[9]

Music video

B.o.B (right) in the music video

The music video was released on MTV at midnight on September 3, 2010.^{[citation needed]} The video features B.o.B trying to wake himself up from a dream. He was also performing with Rivers Cuomo in the video on a stage at a wild party. In addition, Paul Iacono from the MTV show The Hard Times of RJ Berger is featured dancing on stage. The video was directed by Sanaa Hamri.^{[citation needed]}

Tracklisting

1. "Magic" - 3:16
2. "Mellow Fellow" - 2:58

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

In other media

• The Treblemakers, an all male acapella group in the musical comedy Pitch Perfect, sang this song in their finale performance.
• American female rapper Becky G, recorded a new version of the song for The Smurfs 2 soundtrack. Her rendition features singer Austin Mahone.

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics