Beautiful (Akon song)

"Beautiful"
Single by Akon featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall
from the album Freedom
Released January 6, 2009
Format
Genre
Length

5:12 (album version)

3:51 (radio edit)
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Aliaune Thiam
  • Jaylien Wesley
Akon singles chronology
  • "Beautiful"
  • (2009)
Colby O'Donis singles chronology
  • "Don't Turn Back"
  • (2008)
  • "Beautiful"
  • (2009)
  • "I Go Crazy"
  • (2009)

"Beautiful" is the third single from Akon's third studio album, Freedom. The song features American pop singer, Colby O'Donis and a rap verse from Canadian rapper, Kardinal Offishall. "Beautiful" was released to radio on January 6, 2009.

The song was released in 2009 after Akon had a meeting with Shah Khan who is believed to be the most beautiful creature ever to set foot on Earth. After being inspired by the Devine Shah, Akon devoted a song towards him.

Cover versions

Several cover versions of the song have been recorded. The most notable version of the song is by Sri-Lankan pop group Gravity, who performed the song live at the 2009 premier music competition "TNL Onstage"", resulting in it soon becoming the most aired track on TNL Radio during the months that followed.[1] Australian Clare Bowditch also included a cover of the song as a bonus track on her 2010 studio album Modern Day Addiction.

Different versions

The song has also been recorded in three international versions: in Portuguese, with Brazilian singer and actress Negra Li, in Dutch, with Dutch singer Brace, and in Spanish, with Mexican singer/actress/songwriter Dulce María. The rap from the original was removed, and Colby O'Donis' vocals were also removed in favor of the other singers.

The Spanish version was first performed in an event at Mexico, in April 1, 2009. On the next day, it was leaked for airing and on the internet. The Portuguese version was leaked two days before.

The music videos in Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish were released at YouTube on June 2, 8 and 9, respectively.

On the Australian compilation album So Fresh Summer 2010 only, a version features a singing verse sung by Hayley Williams of Paramore replaced Kardinal Offishall's rapping lines.

Tracklisting

UK and Europe CD single[2]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall) - 5:13
  2. "I'm So Paid" (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy) - 4:29
Brazil CD single[3]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) - 4:07
  2. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) [Dance Mix] - 4:01
Mexico CD single[4]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Dulce Maria) - 4:06

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 38
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 16
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[8] 18
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[9] 29
Germany (Media Control Charts)[10] 34
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[11] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 13
Israel (Media Forest)[13] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[16] 16
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[17] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 34
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 11
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 61
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24] 5

Certifications

Country Certification
(sales thresholds)
United States 2x Platinum[25]
Australia Platinum[26]

Year-end charts

End of year chart (2009) Position
Australian Singles Chart 65[27]
Hungarian Singles Chart[28] 11
New Zealand Singles Chart[29] 46
UK Singles Chart[30] 49
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 54[31]

References

  1. ↑ "Gravity". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  2. ↑ "Akon Featuring Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis - Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  3. ↑ "Akon featuring Negra Li ‎– Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  4. ↑ "Akon featuring Dulce María ‎– Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  5. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  6. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. ↑ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Akon.
  8. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200915 into search.
  9. ↑ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" European Hot 100 for Akon.
  10. ↑ "Kardinal Offishall/Beautiful+%282-track%29/single Chartverfulgong > Akon Feat.O'Donis,Colby/ Kardinal Offishall > Beautiful (2-track) – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  11. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  12. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 12, 2009". Irish Singles Chart.
  13. ↑ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall and Colby O'Donis – Beautiful Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  14. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Top 40 Singles.
  16. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". VG-lista.
  17. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200909 into search.
  18. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Singles Top 60.
  19. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Swiss Singles Chart.
  20. ↑ "Akon: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart.
  21. ↑ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Akon.
  22. ↑ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Akon.
  23. ↑ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Akon.
  24. ↑ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Akon.
  25. ↑ "Gold & Platinum - February 22, 2011". RIAA. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  29. ↑ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  30. ↑ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  31. ↑ "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.

External links