"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Nelly Furtado | ||||
from the album The Spirit Indestructible | ||||
B-side | "Something" | |||
Released | April 16, 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Venue | 2nd Floor Studios, Los Angeles, California | |||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins | |||
Nelly Furtado singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" on YouTube |
"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" is a song by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado, taken from her fifth studio album, The Spirit Indestructible . It was released on April 16, 2012, through Interscope Records, as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Furtado in a collaboration with its producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" is an R&B song influenced by hip hop collective Odd Future and 1990s productions. The track's lyrics refer to the singer's life as a teenager, describing her passion for hip hop and R&B music at that time. "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song's breakdown but criticized Furtado's vocals.
The song achieved moderate commercial success, reaching the top 30 in Belgium, Canada, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. In the United States, "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100; however, it charted within the top 40 on Pop Songs and reached the top 10 on Hot Dance Club Songs. The accompanying music video was directed by Little X, and features Furtado strutting down a city block wearing a giant pair of stilts, as she is joined by Native American dancers throughout the video. To promote the song, Furtado performed it on Alan Carr: Chatty Man , at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards and the 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards.
In 2021, "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was interpolated in the dance track "Talk About" by Rain Radio and DJ Craig Gorman, which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. [1] [2]
I'm channelling my 14-year-old self because I used to put on these big hoop earrings and big jeans and backpack and go down and hang out in front of the mall and wait for my friends.
—Nelly Furtado talking about the song. [3]
"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was one of the first songs that Furtado worked on with producer Rodney Jerkins for The Spirit Indestructible . [4] The singer stated that the song's instrumentation was influenced by the 1990s hip hop and R&B as a tribute to the music she listened to in her teenage years, [5] also citing inspiration from hip hop group Odd Future's "dark sound[ing], heavy and visceral" sound as she tried to recreate a similar style on "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)". [6]
The lyrics of "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" also concern Furtado's teenage period, with the singer describing the song's lyrical content as "my swagger-in-spades, rhyme-writing 14-year-old self find[ing] liberation through hip hop and R&B attending 'music jams' in suburban Victoria". [4] There are references to Furtado's favourite groups at the period — such as Salt-n-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest and Blackstreet, many of whom were produced by Jerkins himself — and her teenage wardrobe. [4] [7] The song's title references the hoop earrings she liked to wear. [3] Furtado said that the song describes "a certain unique swagger you have at that young age and that the music gives you," [4] and that she was "the kid who used to pick up the mic at parties and just rock the crowd, sing my way through the storm and know my voice could penetrate." [8] The singer stated that as "hip-hop was super-exotic to us in Canada", she felt that "it was very liberating, finding that confidence through the music". [7]
"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was written by Furtado, with production and additional writing being provided by Jerkins. The song features staccato percussion. [10] Robbie Daw of Idolator noticed the use of pitch-correcting software Auto-Tune on Furtado's voice. [9]
Furtado's manager Chris Smith stated that "Big Hoops" was an attempt to translate Furtado's versatility as "a free-range artist", being "free form; not contained versus a structured typical song." As an in-joke to Smith's reaction to when he first heard the track, the song starts with the manager saying "Time release the fresh", Furtado laughing at the phrase, and Interscope Records A&R representative Thom Panunzio replying "You're 100 percent right Chris." [11] The title and intro, during which Furtado chants "the bigger the better" against a bass line, references the character finding strength in the size of her earrings. [9]
Smith declared that "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was not originally intended as a single, only "a big club banger", as he and Furtado felt the track's status as "a song that would be the best of Nelly, Nelly's attitude, Nelly's freshness" would not be "really about chart positions". Eventually it became the lead single for The Spirit Indestructible. [11] Furtado stated that the song earned this status because it represented her intentions "to detach myself from all shackles and play freely" as her ambitious younger self was always "pushing the boundaries". [5] It was released via digital download on April 17, 2012, [12] and was released physically in Germany on May 18, 2012. [13]
"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" has received mixed to favourable reviews from music critics, some of whom compared the vocals on the song to those of Rihanna in songs like "Rude Boy" and "Cheers (Drink to That)". [9] [14] Billboard's Maria Sherman wrote that "Big Hoops" is "easily in the running to be one of the best summer club anthems of the year", and "if this song doesn't roll out the carpet for her comeback, nothing will." [15] MTV reviewer Jenna Hally Rubenstein praised Jerkins' production and the song's originality, considering that "Big Hoops" was "unlike anything you've heard in a hot minute". [16]
Robbie Daw of Idolator, gave the song a mixed review, criticizing the singer's "unnecessary Rihanna-esque vocal delivery" while adding that it "isn't the strongest lead single we've heard from an album." [9] Jessica Sager of Pop Crush rated it 0.5 out of 5 stars, comparing Furtado's vocals to the ones of a "child wailing through a cardboard tube." She also wrote that "Sager also noted that the singer "wants to depart from Loose as well, but she doesn't have anything to say beyond getting dressed and having a guy ignore her" and concluded that "the song is more irritating than catchy, and the beat isn't strong enough to make many people dance." [17] Melinda Newman of HitFix deemed the song "It's a meaningless little ditty that is all about the military beat and bragging rights. It doesn't have enough of a hook to work its way up the radio charts, but will likely do very well in the clubs." [14]
"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" debuted at number 60 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 28. [18] It debuted at number 46 on the Belgian Tip Chart, [19] where it reached a peak of number 24. [19] On the Dutch singles chart, the track debuted at number 81 and peaked at 26. [20] On the UK Singles Chart, "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" debuted at number 14, becoming Furtado's highest charting single since 2006's All Good Things (Come to an End). [21] On the North American Billboard charts, the song became Furtado's first since 2010's "Night Is Young" to not enter the Billboard Hot 100. However, "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" reached the top 40 of the Pop Songs chart and the top 10 of the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. [22] [23] Smith felt the underperformance was helped by moving The Spirit Indestructible's release date, "so there's no need to get this thing that supposed to be this club banger intro track and force it up the chart." [11]
The accompanying music video for "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was directed by Little X, who previously worked with Furtado on the video for "Promiscuous". [24] The video premiered on May 3, 2012 in Much Music, [25] and on May 7, 2012 on VEVO. [26]
The video opens with Furtado strolling down a city block wearing a giant pair of stilts. After several outfit changes, Furtado is seen accompanied by Native American hoop dancers, including champion hoop dancer Tony Duncan. The dancers create shapes with their hoops as a giant Furtado towers over the cityscape. [27] [28]
Becky Bain of Idolator wrote that "the singer struts down a city street in a pair of stilts, exuding the most swag we've ever seen from someone nearly 12 feet tall. Eventually, Nelly grows to Godzilla-esque proportions – and so does her jewelry. Those really are some big hoops." [26] Jenna Rubenstein of MTV News wrote that "Nelly's 'Big Hoops' video is totally weird and makes no sense. Do we care? No. Because any gal that can look that hot while on stilts deserves our full respect." [27]
Two alternate videos were produced: a "lyrics" video [29] and a "Home Made" video, directed by Aaron A and filmed in a parking lot on Sunset Boulevard during the production of The Spirit Indestructible's album artwork. [30]
In May 2012, Furtado performed "Big Hoops" on UK show Alan Carr: Chatty Man . [31] Furtado performed the song for the first time in the United States during the 2012 Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2012, [32] and in Canada during the 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards on June 17, 2012. [33] It is part of her setlist on The Spirit Indestructible Tour, which started in January 2013. [34]
|
|
Credits are adapted from The Spirit Indestructible album liner notes. [37] Technical
Personnel
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [38] | 5 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [39] | 8 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [18] | 28 |
Canada CHR/Top 40 ( Billboard ) [40] | 18 |
Canada Hot AC ( Billboard ) [41] | 31 |
Germany (Official German Charts) [42] | 41 |
Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20) [43] | 20 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [44] | 26 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [45] | 46 |
Scotland (OCC) [46] | 22 |
UK Singles (OCC) [47] | 14 |
US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) [23] | 40 |
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [22] | 6 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [48] | Gold | 5,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
France | April 16, 2012 | Radio airplay | UMG | [49] |
Italy | [50] | |||
Various (Excluding Germany and UK) | April 17, 2012 | Digital download | [12] [51] [52] | |
North America | May 1, 2012 | Top 40/Mainstream and Rhythmic radio | [53] | |
Germany | May 18, 2012 | CD single | [13] | |
United Kingdom | June 3, 2012 | Digital download | [35] | |
United States | June 12, 2012 | Digital download (The Remixes – Part 1) | [54] | |
June 19, 2012 | Digital download (The Remixes – Part 2) | [55] |
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Portuguese-Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 45 million records, including 35 million in album sales worldwide, making her one of the most successful Canadian artists. Critics have noted Furtado's musical versatility and experimentation with genres.
"Maneater" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). The song was written by Furtado, Jim Beanz, and its producers Timbaland, and Danja. It was released to mainstream radio in the United States in July 2006. The song's musical style and production were inspired by the Hall & Oates song of the same name and other music from the 1980s.
"Shit on the Radio (Remember the Days)", censored as "...on the Radio (Remember the Days)", is the third official single from Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado's debut album, Whoa, Nelly!. The song's album title "Shit on the Radio (Remember the Days)" was censored and the word "shit" was removed from the title for radio airplay and substituted on the cover art with "#*@!!".
"Turn Off the Light" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado from her debut studio album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000). Written by Furtado, and produced by Gerald Eaton, Brian West, and Furtado, the song was released as the album's second single on 2 July 2001, reaching number one in New Zealand, Portugal, and Romania, as well peaking within the top 10 in several other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
"Say It Right" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). It was written by Furtado, Tim "Timbaland" Mosley, and Nate "Danja" Hills, with Furtado crediting the Eurythmics' song "Here Comes the Rain Again" as her inspiration. The song was released as the third single from Loose on 31 October 2006 by Geffen Records and Mosley Music Group; in Europe, it was released as the fourth.
"All Good Things (Come to an End)" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). It was written by Furtado, Tim "Timbaland" Mosley, Chris Martin, and Nate "Danja" Hills. The song was released as the album's third European single in November 2006. It was released as the fourth single in the United States and Australia. The single features Chris Martin, frontman of the band Coldplay, harmonizing throughout the song. The original version of the song included Martin saying a few words at the beginning and singing the chorus behind Furtado.
"Give It to Me" is a song performed by American producer, songwriter and rapper Timbaland, released as the first single from his second studio album Shock Value (2007). The song features vocals by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado and American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. All three artists co-wrote the song together with American rapper Attitude and American producer Danja, who co-produced the song with Timbaland. Mosley Music Group, in association with Blackground Records and Interscope Records, serviced the song to contemporary hit and rhythmic radios in the United States on February 6, 2007, and later to urban radios on March 10, 2007. "Give It to Me" is an electro song that embodies the sensibilities of club music. The song features the protagonists addressing their critics about their successes in the music industry.
"Do It" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). It was written by Furtado, Danja, and Timbaland, and was also produced by Danja and Timbaland. The song is strongly influenced by 1980s dance music and features sexually suggestive lyrics, in which the song's protagonist asks a lover to satisfy her sexually.
Canadian singer Nelly Furtado has released six studio albums, 32 singles, one video album, one live album, two compilation albums, three extended plays, and 23 music videos. She released her debut album Whoa, Nelly! in 2000 and it became a commercial success selling 6 million copies worldwide. It has been certified multi Platinum in countries such as Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. The album spawned four singles including the successful top 10 hits "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light". In 2003 she released her second album Folklore, while the album did not match the success of her previous album in such markets as the US and Australia, it did however become a success in several European countries. Folklore has sold 2 million copies worldwide. The album produced two European top 10 hits: "Powerless " and "Força", while "Try" peaked inside the top 10 in Canada.
"In God's Hands" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). It was written and produced by Furtado and Rick Nowels. The song was first released on 30 July 2007 as the album's fifth and final single in the United Kingdom and was later released in various formats across Europe in the fall of 2007. Furtado recorded a new version of the song as a duet with Australian-American country singer Keith Urban the following year, which was released in North America in April 2008.
"Jump" is the fourth official single taken from Flo Rida's second album R.O.O.T.S. Nelly Furtado makes an appearance on the song with an upbeat hook. Flo-Rida said: "I used a whole different delivery on this one. We're talking about different situations to get people hype in the club. 'Jump!' Whether you're an athlete running in the stadium or you're in the club. Get hype!"
"Manos al Aire" is a Spanish-language song by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. Written by Furtado, Alex Cuba and James Bryan, it was produced by Furtado and Bryan for the former's fourth studio album, Mi Plan (2009). Furtado explained the song is about "surrendering to love, and vulnerability". She felt that the song could only be sung in Spanish because it would be a "train-wreck" if it were sung in English, due to the complexity of the lyrics.
"Morning After Dark" is a song by American record producer singer and rapper, Timbaland taken from his third studio album, Shock Value II. The song features French singer SoShy and was released as the first single from the album on October 26, 2009. The international version of the song features an additional verse from Canadian singer Nelly Furtado and it is this version which features on the album.
"Hot-n-Fun" is a song by group N.E.R.D. featuring vocals of Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. It was released as the first single from their fourth studio album Nothing.
"Promiscuous" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). The song was written by Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Tim "Timbaland" Mosley, Furtado and Nate "Danja" Hills. The song's lyrics feature a conversation between a man and woman who call each other promiscuous. The song was released as the second single from the album on April 25, 2006.
"Is Anybody Out There?" is a song co-written and performed by Somalia-born rapper K'naan, featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, from his first extended play More Beautiful Than Silence. The song was first released as a digital download in the United States on January 24, 2012, before being physically issued in Germany on March 30. The single made its chart debut on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 67 and peaked at number 14. It was most successful in New Zealand, where it reached the top of the RIANZ chart on the week of March 12, 2012; it was Furtado's fourth number-one single in New Zealand.
The Spirit Indestructible is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. The album was released on 14 September 2012. Furtado served as the executive producer for the album as well as a principal writer. Further production on The Spirit Indestructible comes from the likes of Darkchild, Salaam Remi, Mike Angelakos, Bob Rock, Fraser T Smith, Di Genius, The Demolition Crew, John Shanks and Tiësto.
"Spirit Indestructible" is a song by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado. The song was released on July 31, 2012, as the second single from her fifth studio album, The Spirit Indestructible. The song was written by Furtado and co-written and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins.
"Parking Lot" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, from her fifth studio album, The Spirit Indestructible (2012). The song was written by Furtado and co-written and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who also produced her two previous singles "Big Hoops" and "Spirit Indestructible". The song was released as the third single from the album on October 12, 2012.
"Waiting for the Night" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado. It was written by Furtado and co-written and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins for her fifth studio album, The Spirit Indestructible. Lyrically, the song is about Furtado having a crush on a boy and was inspired by a diary she kept as a sixteen-year-old on a summer vacation on São Miguel Island, Portugal.