21st Century Girl (song)

Last updated

"21st Century Girl"
Artworks-000005188778-nvrby6-original.jpg
Single by Willow Smith
ReleasedMarch 1, 2011 (2011-03-01)
Recorded2010
Genre Electropop
Length3:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
[1]
Producer(s)
  • Alke
  • Twin
  • Tim Carter
Willow Smith singles chronology
"Whip My Hair"
(2010)
"21st Century Girl"
(2011)
"Fireball"
(2011)

"21st Century Girl" is a song by American musician Willow Smith, released on March 1, 2011 through Roc Nation as a standalone single.

Contents

Background

On January 22, 2011, Willow released a 16-second preview of the song on her Facebook page. [2] The video clip of the song shows Willow on the set of the music video. 21st Century Girl is an upbeat dance song and was produced by Swedish production team Twin. [3]

Willow debuted the full song on February 28 by performing the song on The Oprah Winfrey Show . [4] It was released on iTunes the following day on, March 1, 2011.

Live performances

Willow performed the song on The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as at the 2011 Kids' Choice Awards. Willow performed at the White House Easter Egg Hunt. The song was also performed by Willow as a support act on UK dates of Justin Bieber's My World Tour.

Music video

The video was released on March 7, 2011, and shows Cicely Tyson playing a nomadic tribal woman pulling Willow from the sand in a desert. [5] Willow and her friends in the video then begin to pull an entire city out of the desert. The video was shot in Los Angeles and was directed by Rich Lee. [6]

Track listing

Digital download

  1. "21st Century Girl" – 3:00
  2. "21st Century Girl" (Jump Smokers Remix) - 3:29

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders) [7] 12
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia) [8] 14
Ireland (IRMA) [9] 36
Scotland (OCC) [10] 71
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 91
US Billboard Hot 100 [12] 99

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Scientist (song)</span> 2002 single by Coldplay

"The Scientist" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. It is built around a piano ballad, with lyrics telling the story about a man's desire to love and an apology. The song was released in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2002 as the second single from A Rush of Blood to the Head and reached number 10 in the UK Charts. It was released in the United States on 15 April 2003 as the third single and reached number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 34 on the Adult Top 40 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willow Smith</span> American singer and actress (born 2000)

Willow Camille Reign Smith, known mononymously as Willow, is an American singer and actress. The daughter of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, she has received various accolades, including a Young Artist Award, an NAACP Image Award, a BET Award, and nominations for two Daytime Emmy Awards and a MTV Video Music Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie's Girl</span> 1981 single by Rick Springfield

"Jessie's Girl" is a song written and performed by Australian singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog, which was released in February 1981. The song is about unrequited love and centers on a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Zyrus</span> Filipino singer (born 1992)

Jake Zyrus is a Filipino singer and television personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bye Bye (Mariah Carey song)</span> 2008 single by Mariah Carey

"Bye Bye" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² (2008). She co-wrote the song with its producers Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Johntá Austin. It was released as the album's second single on April 15, 2008. The song is influenced by pop and R&B music genres, and features a piano and keyboard-driven melody. Lyrically, the song is a dialogue in between Carey and her deceased father throughout the verses, and a universal salute to departed loved ones on the chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love (Celine Dion song)</span> 2008 single by Celine Dion

"My Love" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion. Written and produced by Linda Perry and originally featured on Dion's tenth English studio album, Taking Chances (2007), it was released as the lead single from her greatest hits album, My Love: Essential Collection (2008). The song went to radio on 22 September 2008 and became available as a music download on the next day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Didn't Know My Own Strength (Whitney Houston song)</span> 2009 promotional single by Whitney Houston

"I Didn't Know My Own Strength" is a song performed by American singer Whitney Houston, taken from her seventh studio album I Look to You (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Hey (I Love You)</span> 2008 single by Michael Franti and Cherine Anderson

"Say Hey " is a single by Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Jamaican soul singer Cherine Anderson released in 2008 from their album All Rebel Rockers. The single was produced by Sly & Robbie. The music video peaked at number 5 on the VH1 Top 20 countdown and the single peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Franti's first Hot 100 chart entry. It also peaked at number 3 on Billboard Digital Songs, number 1 on Billboard R&B Songs, and number 3 on Billboard Modern Rock Songs. Digital sales of "Say Hey " have topped 120,000 downloads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyramid (song)</span> 2010 single by Charice featuring Iyaz

"Pyramid" is the second single by Filipino pop and R&B singer Jake Zyrus, credited under his pre-gender transition name Charice. The song features vocals from British Virgin Islands singer Iyaz, was written by David Jassy, Niclas Molinder, Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenäs and R&B singer-songwriter Lyrica Anderson, and produced by Twin and Alke.

<i>Charice</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Charice

Charice is the debut international studio album and third overall release by Filipino pop singer Jake Zyrus under his pre-transition name Charice. It was released on May 11, 2010, under Reprise Records, making him the third Filipino singer to be signed on an international record label, the first being Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez. It was released prior to Zyrus' gender transition thus the eponymous album is credited under his former name, Charice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whip My Hair</span> 2010 single by Willow

"Whip My Hair" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Willow Smith, released in 2010 under the name Willow. The song was written by Ronald "Jukebox" Jackson and Janae Luann Ratliff, and produced by Ronald Jackson. "Whip My Hair" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Whip My Hair" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium (Wallonia), Denmark, and the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top 20 of the charts in Australia, Canada, and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get 'Em Girls (song)</span> 2010 single by Jessica Mauboy featuring Snoop Dogg

"Get 'Em Girls" is a song by Australian R&B recording artist Jessica Mauboy. The song features American rapper Snoop Dogg, who co-wrote the song with David Buchanan and producer Bangladesh for her second studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's lead single on 17 September 2010. The concept of the song is about shoes and showcases a more urban, hip hop flavoured sound than Mauboy's previous singles. "Get 'Em Girls" received negative reviews from critics, and peaked at number 19 on the ARIA Singles Chart. An accompanying music video was directed by Hype Williams and received a mixed reaction from fans.

<i>Twenty Ten</i> (album) 2010 compilation album by Guy Sebastian

Twenty Ten is a two-disc retrospective album by Australian singer and songwriter Guy Sebastian. Disc one contains 18 songs from his previous five albums and two new songs, including the lead single "Who's That Girl" which features American rapper Eve. Disc two has acoustic versions of ten of the songs. The album was released in Australia on 19 November 2010 and reached number four on the ARIA Album Chart, Sebastian's sixth consecutive top ten album. It was certified platinum in its fourth week of release and was the fifth highest selling Australian artist album of 2010. It reached 2× platinum certification in 2014. "Who's That Girl" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart and achieved 5× platinum certification, and was Sebastian's fifth of six number one singles in Australia. It won the Highest Selling Single ARIA Award in 2011, and received nominations for Single of the Year and Best Pop Release. Sebastian was also nominated as Most Popular Australian Artist. "Who's That Girl" also reached number one and Platinum certification in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who's That Girl (Guy Sebastian song)</span>

"Who's That Girl" is an up-tempo electro R&B song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian which features American rapper Eve. It was written by Sebastian, with Eve writing and performing the rap. Sebastian co-produced the song with Andre Harris. Released as a digital download on 5 November 2010, it was the only single released in Australia from Sebastian's retrospective album Twenty Ten. "Who's That Girl" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart, Sebastian's fifth of six number one singles in Australia and Eve's first. It was also Sebastian's seventh of 12 top ten singles on the Australian charts. It reached 5× platinum certification in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie xx</span> British record producer, DJ and composer

James Thomas Smith, known professionally as Jamie xx, is an English musician, DJ, record producer and remixer. He is known for both his solo work and as a member of the English indie pop band The xx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run the World (Girls)</span> 2011 single by Beyoncé

"Run the World (Girls)" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé, from her fourth studio album 4 (2011), released as the lead single from the album on April 21, 2011. It was written and produced by R&B singer The-Dream and Beyoncé, while heavily sampling "Pon de Floor" by Major Lazer written by Nick "Afrojack" van de Wall, Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, David "Switch" Taylor and Adidja "Vybz Kartel" Palmer. Additional Production was handled by Switch and Shea Taylor. The song's development was motivated by Beyoncé wanting to do something different: a mixture of different cultures and eras, a new sound, and a message which would give women strength. An unedited demo of the song, then thought to be titled "Girls ", was leaked on the internet on April 18, 2011. "Run the World" premiered on US radio on April 21, 2011, and was digitally released the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like Summer (Childish Gambino song)</span> 2018 promotional single by Childish Gambino

"Feels Like Summer", also known as "42.26", is a song by American recording artist Childish Gambino. The song was released by Wolf+Rothstein, Liberator Music and RCA Records on July 11, 2018. It was written and produced by Gambino and his longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson. The song was made available for digital download and streaming along with "Summertime Magic" as a part of the extended play Summer Pack. It is featured on the FIFA 19 soundtrack. It later appeared on his fourth album, 3.15.20, under the title "42.26". The song received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

American singer Willow Smith has released five solo studio albums, one collaborative studio album, four extended plays, 19 singles, two promotional singles and ten music videos. In 2010, Smith released her debut single "Whip My Hair", which peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song was certified platinum in the US, gold in Canada and silver in the United Kingdom. After follow-up singles "21st Century Girl" and "Fireball" failed to reach the same level of success as "Whip My Hair", Smith took a hiatus from music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oprah's Bank Account</span> 2020 single by Lil Yachty and DaBaby featuring Drake

"Oprah's Bank Account" is a song by American rappers Lil Yachty and DaBaby featuring Canadian rapper Drake and produced by Earl on the Beat. It was released by Quality Control on March 9, 2020, alongside a comedic video, where Lil Yachty portrays talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. Yachty originally wanted American singer Lizzo to appear on the song, but, according to the rapper, she never responded to him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transparent Soul</span> 2021 single by Willow Smith

"Transparent Soul" is a song by American singer Willow, featuring American drummer Travis Barker. It was released on April 27, 2021, by MSFTS and Roc Nation, as the lead single from Willow's fourth solo studio album Lately I Feel Everything. The song has been described by publications such as Rolling Stone and Guitar World as a pop-punk track about ingenuine people. A remix of the song featuring American rapper Kid Cudi was released on November 19, 2021.

References

  1. "Willow Readies Her Second Single '21st Century Girl'". Sony . February 28, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  2. "Willow Smith Previews New '21st Century Girl' Song". Billboard . Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  3. "21st Century Girl by Willow Smith" . Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  4. "Willow Smith To Premiere '21st Century Girl'". MTV . Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  5. "Yes, that's Cicely Tyson in Willow Smith's '21st Century Girl' video". Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  6. "WILLOW SMITH RELEASES '21ST CENTURY GIRL' MUSIC VIDEO". Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  7. "Willow – 21st Century Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  8. "Willow – 21st Century Girl" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  9. "Chart Track: Week 11, 2011". Irish Singles Chart.
  10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  12. "Willow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-11-04.