Milkshake (song)

"Milkshake"
Single by Kelis
from the album Tasty
Released August 25, 2003
(see release history)
Format CD single, digital download, vinyl
Recorded 2003 Hovercraft Studios
(Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre
Length 3:04
Label Star Trak, Arista
Writer(s) Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo
Producer(s) The Neptunes
Kelis singles chronology
"Finest Dreams"
(2003)		 "Milkshake"
(2003)		 "Not in Love"
(2004)

"Milkshake" is a song by American recording artist Kelis and the lead single from her third studio album, Tasty. The song was released in the United States on August 25, 2003, by Star Trak and Arista Records, and internationally on November 24. It was written and produced by The Neptunes, a duo that had made the majority of Kelis' songs in the past. According to Kelis, "milkshake" in the song is used as a metaphor for "something that makes women special."[1] The song is noted for its euphemistic chorus and low beat R&B sound.

The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in December, 2003,[2] becoming Kelis' best charting single in the country to this day. The song achieved commercial success internationally, as it topped the chart in Ireland, and peaked inside the top three in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. "Milkshake" was certified gold in the United States, where it has sold 883,000 paid downloads. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2004.

Background

"Milkshake" was written and produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, better known as The Neptunes. The song came out when Tasty was chosen as the album's title.[3] When making the song, Kelis "knew right away that it was a really good song", and she wanted it to be the album's first single.[4] Recording sessions took place at Hovercraft Studios in Virginia.[5] Phil Tan mixed the recordings at Right Track Studios in New York City.[5]

When asked about the meaning of the song, Kelis told The Observer that "It means whatever people want it to; it was just a word we came up with on a whim, but then the song took on a life of its own."[6] However, in an interview with The Associated Press, she likened one's milkshake to one's self-confidence; "A milkshake is the thing that makes women special. It's what gives us our confidence and what makes us exciting."[1]

Composition
"Milkshake"
A 20-second sample of "Milkshake".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Milkshake" is a contemporary R&B song,[7] and Joey Rivaldo of About.com described it as a "low beat dance song".[8] The song is noted for its chorus, in which Kelis sings "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard".[9] The line was referred to as a "sexy, euphemistic playground rap" by MTV News.[9] The song's riff was described as "blaring synth-funk".[10] Unlike many urban pop songs, which rely on drum machines, the beat consists of a lone darbuka playing a rhythm similar to a belly dance. A manjira sample resembling an order-up counter bell is used throughout the song.[7][11] Andy Kellman of Allmusic compared the song's suggestive lyrics to "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6, "In My House" by Mary Jane Girls and "Touch It" by Monifah.[10] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Corporation, "Milkshake" has a moderate beat rate of 113 beats per minute.[12]

Critical reception

Milkshake received extremely positive reviews upon its release, both for its inventive and groundbreaking production as well as Kelis' vocal performance. About.com's Joey Rivaldioloio rated the song four out of five stars, and stated: "Clearly this is the case of my milkshake is better than yours, so grab yours quick, or we'll have to charge."[8] While reviewing the soundtrack for the film Mean Girls (2004), in which "Milkshake" is featured, Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that the song describes "the movie's playfully menacing undercurrent," and called the song "fantastic", and that it is "basically a three-minute tutorial in sex appeal."[13] Rollie Pemberton of Pitchfork called the song "brilliant", and said: "Equal parts cantina gyration and future-funk, Kelis plays the coquette, enticing the entire American male populace with rhythmic coos while simultaneously providing an apt tutorial for aspiring temptresses."[14] Bjorn Randolph of Stylus said that the song "may well be remembered as their [The Neptunes'] masterpiece".[7] Mark Danson of Contactmusic.com was not very fond about the song, criticizing her Neptunes sound, and said: "as it sounds like [Pharrell] Williams has done this one in his sleep, it'll probably slip under the radar unless it has a fairly decent video to back it up. It’s obviously supposed to be a kind of sexy electronica, but it just ends up sounding slack."[15] Tony Naylor of NME called the song "probably the oddest track" on the Tasty album.[16]

The Observer named the song the best single of 2004.[6] In 2004, Pitchfork made a list of the top 50 singles of 2003 and listed the song at number eight.[14] In 2005, Pitchfork made a list of the top 100 singles of 2000–2004, listing "Milkshake" at number 21.[17] Stylus named the song the 13th-best single of 2000–2005.[7] In September 2011, VH1 ranked the song at #61 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the '00s.[18] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 136 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[19]

Commercial performance

"Milkshake" debuted at number 73 on the September 6, 2003, chart of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[20] and peaked at number four on January 3, 2004.[21] In October 2003, it debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[22] It was Kelis' second entry on the chart, following "Caught out There", which spent twelve weeks on the chart between December 1999 and February 2000.[23] In its thirteenth week on the chart, "Milkshake" reached its peak of number three, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks.[21] The song charted on the Hot 100 for twenty-two weeks,[21] and was certified Gold on October 25, 2004, by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[24] "Milkshake" also spent a week at number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart in December 2003.[25] The song has sold 883,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[26] It was listed at number ten on the 2004 year-end chart of the Hot 100, and number fourteen on the year-end chart of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[27][28] In 2004, "Milkshake" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.[29]

The song performed well internationally, reaching the top ten on many charts. In Ireland, it debuted at number fifteen on the Irish Singles Chart, and later topped the chart for five consecutive weeks.[30] Due to the success, it was listed at number four on the year-end chart of 2004 by the Irish Recorded Music Association.[31] In the United Kingdom, "Milkshake" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks and was it was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[30][32] In Australia, it was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart for five non-consecutive weeks.[30][33] It was also certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), and peaked at number three on the singles chart.[30][34] The song also peaked inside the top five in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.[30]

Music video

Kelis in the music video for "Milkshake"

The music video for "Milkshake" was directed by Jake Nava.[35] In the video, Kelis enters a diner called Tasty's Yard. She dances suggestively, and puts her lips around a cherry, which causes a mother to cover her child's eyes. A cook, played by rapper Nas, starts delivering milkshakes to the customers while Kelis dances. A milkshake machine then starts spurting milkshake all over the customers, and more and more people enter the "yard".[9] FHM named the music video the 73rd sexiest music video by a female of all time and commented: "Here she's backed up by a posse of dancers wearing tiny diner uniforms. The way she sucks a milkshake and bites a cherry is just unfairly sexy", and said that the best part is when Kelis demonstrates a "perfect bending-over-oven technique".[36]

Cultural impact

"Milkshake" has been featured in several films, such as Mean Girls, Norbit and Date Movie.[13][37][38] In February 2007, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart jokingly reported that the song had been chosen as the campaign song of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.[39]

In Kelis' song "Bossy", the lead single for her fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here, "Milkshake" is referred to in the chorus, when she sings: "I'm bossy [...] I brought all the boys to the yard".[40] Justin Bond of cabaret duo Kiki and Herb said that he had seen many people lip-sync to the song in clubs, and called the song "a big wink about the way you can reclaim your sexuality—it's about making the person who's objectifying you the weaker one."[41] In 2010, Kelis said that she believed the song changed the music for female singers, comparing the music before and after "Milkshake" was a hit, and said: "I mean you kind of have to be retarded to deny that it literally changed female vocalists."[42]

Track listing

  • Digital download[43]
  1. "Milkshake" – 3:05
  • Digital Radio Mix[44]
  1. "Milkshake" (Radio Mix) featuring Pharrell & Pusha T – 4:46
  2. "Milkshake" (Instrumental) – 4:41
  • EU Maxi CD single[45]
  1. "Milkshake" – 3:05
  2. "Milkshake" (X-Press 2 Tripple Thick Vocal Mix) – 9:30
  3. "Milkshake" (DJ Zinc Remix) – 5:59
  4. "Milkshake" (Freq Nasty's Hip Hall Mix) – 6:24
  5. "Milkshake" (Tom Neville Mix) – 6:26
  6. "Milkshake" (Music video) – 3:11
  • EU Promo 12" Vinyl[46]
  1. "Milkshake" – 3:05
  2. "Milkshake" (Acapella) – 2:57
  3. "Milkshake" (Instrumental) – 3:05
  • US Promo 12" Vinyl[47]
  1. "Milkshake" (X-Press 2 Remix) – 9:30
  2. "Milkshake" (DJ Zinc Remix) – 5:59
  3. "Milkshake" (Album Version Club Mix) – 3:06
  1. "Milkshake" – 3:05
  2. "Milkshake" (Instrumental) – 3:05

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2003–2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[49] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[50] 38
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[51] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[52] 33
Denmark (Tracklisten)[53] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[54] 12
France (SNEP)[55] 52
Germany (Media Control Charts)[56] 22
Ireland (IRMA)[57] 1
Italy (FIMI)[58] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[59] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[60] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[61] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[62] 5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[63] 22
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[64] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 3
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[65] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[66] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[67] 8

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[68] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[71] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone


Year-end charts

Chart (2004) Position
Australian Singles Chart[72] 4
Irish Singles Chart[31] 4
New Zealand Singles Chart[73] 27
Swedish Singles Chart[74] 47
UK Singles Chart[75] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 41
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[28] 14

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009) Position
Australian Singles Chart[76] 87

Preceded by
"Fly Again" by Kristine W		 Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number-one single
December 6, 2003 		Succeeded by
"Waiting for You" by Seal
Preceded by
"Leave Right Now" by Will Young		 Irish Singles Chart number-one single
January 29, 2004 – March 3, 2004 		Succeeded by
"Toxic" by Britney Spears

Release history

Region Date Format
United States[77] August 25, 2003 Digital download
Australia[78] November 24, 2003
New Zealand[79]
Sweden[80]
United Kingdom[43]
United States[44] December 29, 2003 Digital Radio Remix
United Kingdom[81] January 5, 2004 CD single

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Long, Colleen (2004-01-19). "Q&A with 'Milkshake' Kelis". The Associated Press. Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  2. ↑ "Billboard".
  3. ↑ Slomowicz, DJ Ron. "Kelis Interview". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  4. ↑ Roberts, Michael (2008-02-14). "Vintage Q&A with Kelis". Denver Westword Blogs. Denver Westword, LLC. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tasty (Liner Notes). Kelis. Star Trak Entertainment, Arista Records. 2003.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "From glam to grime, the year in music". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. 12 December 2004. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "The Top 50 Singles: 2000-2005". Stylus. 2005-01-10. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rivaldo, Joey. "Kelis - Milkshake". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Patel, Joseph (2003-10-07). "Kelis Turning Heads Again With Her Tasty 'Milkshake'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kellman, Andy. "Tasty > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  11. ↑ "Shakethrus: 2003: Music Reviews". Shaking Through. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  12. ↑ "Kelis, 'Milkshake' – Composition Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Hal Leonard Corporation.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Phares, Heather. "Mean Girls > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: Top 50 Singles of 2003". Pitchfork Media, Inc. 2003-12-30. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  15. ↑ Danson, Matt. "Kelis - Milkshake - Single Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  16. ↑ Naylor, Tony (2004-01-23). "Kelis : Tasty - Album Review". NME. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  17. ↑ "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 100 Singles of 2000-04". Pitchfork Media, Inc. 2005-01-31. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Kyle (September 29, 2011). "U2, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters fill out VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the '00s'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  19. ↑ "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME.COM.
  20. ↑ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles - Week of September 6, 2003 - Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Milkshake - Kelis - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  22. ↑ "'Baby' Kicks 'Tailfeather' From Chart Roost". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Kelis Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Kelis. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  24. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database: Kelis - Milkshake". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  25. ↑ Trust, Gary (2010-03-11). "Chart Beat Thursday: Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Peter Gabriel". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  26. ↑ Concepcion, Mariel (2009-12-01). "Exclusive: Kelis Signs To will.i.am Music Group/Interscope". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "2004 Year End Charts - Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "2004 Year End Charts - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  29. ↑ "2004 Grammy Winners". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 "Kelis - Milkshake - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Irish Charts - Best of 2004". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  32. ↑ "BPI Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  33. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations 2004 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  34. ↑ "RIANZ - Top 40 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-09-22. Note: The reader must select Chart #1405 - Monday 26 April 2004 to show the certification.
  35. ↑ "Milkshake - Kelis - Music Video". MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  36. ↑ "Kelis — Milkshake | The 100 Sexiest Music Videos". FHM. Bauer Media. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  37. ↑ "Norbit > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  38. ↑ "Movie Review - Date Movie". Eric D. Snider. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  39. ↑ "Run DNC". The Daily Show. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  40. ↑ Huff, Quentin B. (2006-09-08). "Kelis: Kelis Was Here < PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  41. ↑ Michel, Sia (2010-08-20). "Is Kelis Too Bossy for Her Own Good?". New York Magazine. New York Media LLC. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  42. ↑ "Kelis releases 'Flesh Tone' album, says 'Milkshake' helped female singers.".
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store UK. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Milkshake (feat. Pharell & Pusha T)". iTunes Store US. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  45. ↑ "Kelis - Milkshake (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  46. ↑ "Kelis - Milkshake (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  47. ↑ "Kelis - Milkshake (Dance Mixes)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  48. ↑ "Kelis - Milkshake (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  49. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Kelis – Milkshake". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  50. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Kelis – Milkshake" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  51. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kelis – Milkshake" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  52. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kelis – Milkshake" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  53. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Kelis – Milkshake". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  54. ↑ "Kelis: Milkshake" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  55. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Kelis – Milkshake" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  56. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Kelis > Milkshake – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  57. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 5, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  58. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Kelis – Milkshake". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  59. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kelis search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  60. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Kelis – Milkshake". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  61. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kelis – Milkshake". VG-lista. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  62. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Kelis – Milkshake". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  63. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kelis – Milkshake". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  64. ↑ "Kelis: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  65. ↑ "Kelis Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Kelis. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  66. ↑ "Kelis Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Kelis. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  67. ↑ "Kelis Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Kelis. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  68. ↑ NO certyear WAS PROVIDED for AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATION.
  69. ↑ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  70. ↑ "British single certifications – Kelis – Milkshake". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Enter Milkshake in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  71. ↑ "American single certifications – Kelis – Milkshake". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 10, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  72. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  73. ↑ "Annual Top 50 Singles Chart 2004". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  74. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan - Årslista 2004" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23. Note: The reader must select "Sök alla listor", "Årslistor", "2004" and "Visa!"
  75. ↑ "The Official UK Year-End Top 200 Charts 2004" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  76. ↑ McCabe, Kathy (2010-01-07). "Delta Goodrem's talents top the charts". news.com. News Limited. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  77. ↑ "Kelis - Milkshake". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  78. ↑ "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store Australia. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  79. ↑ "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store New Zealand. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  80. ↑ "Milkshake - Single by Kelis". iTunes Store Sweden. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  81. ↑ "Kelis - Milkshake [Single]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-28.