Blow That Smoke

Last updated
"Blow That Smoke"
Major Lazer feat Tove Lo - Blow That Smoke.png
Single by Major Lazer featuring Tove Lo
from the album Major Lazer Essentials
ReleasedOctober 17, 2018
Genre
Length3:42
Label Mad Decent
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Major Lazer singles chronology
"Loyal"
(2018)
"Blow That Smoke"
(2018)
"Can’t Take It From Me"
(2019)
Tove Lo singles chronology
"Bitches"
(2018)
"Blow That Smoke"
(2018)
"Win Win"
(2019)

"Blow That Smoke" is a song by American electronic music group Major Lazer featuring Swedish singer Tove Lo, released on October 17, 2018 as the seventh and final single from Major Lazer Essentials, released two days later. It was premiered on Zane Lowe's show on Beats 1. [1] It marks the first collaboration between the group and Lo.

Contents

Composition

"Blow That Smoke" is a tropical dance and electropop song rooted in Afropop with elements of dancehall and reggaeton. [2] [3] [4] [5] Tove Lo said she and the group "had a few sessions and tried to find more days together, but we're never in the same place long enough to actually make it work", so she sent Diplo her vocals for a song, which he liked and put to a track. Lo told Zane Lowe that she later heard the finished version of the song, which had been sped up about 10 BPM from what was a "very slow, moody song to begin with". [6]

Critical reception

Billboard 's Marina Pedrosa called the song a "tropical dance anthem" as well as an "electropop tune" containing a "sultry beat with a dash of reggaeton" that Lo's "angelic voice" sings lyrics like "I got the keys to heaven now/Babes all around and they got my mind spinning" over. [2] Mike Wass of Idolator positively contrasted the song with Lo's solo material, noting that on "Blow That Smoke" it sounds like she is having fun. Wass also stated that the song "sounds like a hit" and said Lo "coos over a mellow, island-inspired beat". [3]

Writing for Dancing Astronaut , Chris Stack named it a continuation of Major Lazer's recent output "celebrating their Afrobeat roots" and also judged it had a "sultry island beat". [4] Patrick Doyle of Rolling Stone felt that the song had "Afropop roots" as well as being a "bouncey stomper with a West African guitar riff and heavy groove". [7] Winston Cook-Wilson of Spin named it a "Caribbean-flavored track that fits with Major Lazer's usual stylistic M.O. more closely than Tove Lo's usual, more acerbic sensibility". [8] Jael Goldfine of Stereogum said it "might just be the lowest-key song either artist has ever made". [9]

Promotion

Both Lo and Major Lazer announced on social media that they would be releasing a collaboration in the same week, with Lo calling it a "sweet surprise" and sharing a snippet of the track. [3]

Charts

Chart (2018–19)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [10] 42
Bolivia (Monitor Latino) [11] 20
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [12] 25
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) [13] 54
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [14] 71
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs ( Billboard ) [15] 21

Certifications

Certifications for "Blow That Smoke"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [16] Gold20,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Lazer</span> American electronic music group

Major Lazer is a Jamaican-American electronic dance music and DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. They originate from Kingston, Jamaica, founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was then replaced by both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Its music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not on Drugs</span> 2014 promotional single by Tove Lo

"Not on Drugs" is a song by Swedish recording artist and songwriter Tove Lo for her debut extended play Truth Serum and her debut studio album Queen of the Clouds, both of which were released in 2014. It was co-written by Lo together with its producers, Alx Reuterskiöld and the Struts. The recording premiered on 24 February 2014 on Swedish radio station P3 as a promotional single from Truth Serum. After the release of Queen of the Clouds, it was sent to American modern rock radio stations on 25 November 2014. The track is, however, not considered part of the promotion for the record, since its other scheduled releases were cancelled in order to promote "Talking Body", the album's second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubble Butt</span> 2013 single by Major Lazer featuring Bruno Mars, Tyga and Mystic

"Bubble Butt" is a song by American electronic dance music trio Major Lazer featuring American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars and American rappers Tyga and Mystic from the trio's second studio album, Free the Universe (2013). It was written by Major Lazer members Diplo and Switch alongside the featured artists. The production was handled by Major Lazer and Valentino Khan. The remix was released as the album's fourth single on May 24, 2013, for digital download and appears on the album's extended version. The remix version also features verses from American rapper 2 Chainz. Musically, it is an electronic dance, hip hop, and dancehall track with lyrics implying that girls twerk and show off their giant buttocks.

<i>Queen of the Clouds</i> 2014 studio album by Tove Lo

Queen of the Clouds is the debut studio album by Swedish singer Tove Lo, released on 24 September 2014 by Island Records. The album follows her first extended play Truth Serum (2014) and includes the successful singles "Habits " and "Talking Body". Lo worked with several writers and producers such as The Struts, Klas Åhlund, Alexander Kronlund, Alx Reuterskiöld, and Captain Cuts. Musically, Queen of the Clouds is primarily a electropop, dance-pop and synth-pop record. Lyrically, the album's themes center on the stages of a relationship, including passion, love and break-ups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All My Love (Major Lazer song)</span> 2014 single by Major Lazer

"All My Love" is a song by American electronic music project Major Lazer featuring vocals from American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on 13 November 2014 as the fifth song from the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014). The song was written by Grande, Lorde, and MØ with production handled by Boaz van de Beatz, Jr Blender and Diplo. It is an electropop and dance-pop song with elements of dancehall. "All My Love" received positive reviews from music critics who complimented the track's production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cool Girl</span> 2016 single by Tove Lo

"Cool Girl" is a song recorded by Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo for her second studio album Lady Wood (2016). Lo co-wrote the song with its producers Jakob Jerlström and Ludvig Söderberg, who are known collectively as The Struts. The track was released for digital download and streaming on 4 August 2016 as the album's lead single. It was released to contemporary hit radio stations in the United States on 23 August and three days later in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homemade Dynamite</span> 2017 song by Lorde

"Homemade Dynamite" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde from her second album, Melodrama (2017). She wrote the lyrics with Tove Lo and composed the music with Lo, Jakob Jerlström, & Ludvig Söderberg ,and produced it with Frank Dukes and vocal producer Kuk Harrell. Critics described "Homemade Dynamite" as a R&B and synth-pop song with vocal sound effects, reverberated percussion, a staccato hook, electronic flourishes, synthesizers, and hip hop beats. In the lyrics, Lorde talks about having a feeling of euphoria at a house party with friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say My Name (Tove Styrke song)</span> 2017 single by Tove Styrke

"Say My Name" is a song by Swedish singer Tove Styrke from her third studio album Sway (2018). It was released as the album's lead single on 28 April 2017 through Sony Music. The song was written by the singer, Elof Loelv and Tinashe "T Collar" Sibanda, with production by Loelv. "Say My Name" is a minimal electropop song with a prominent ukulele riff that Styrke convinced Loelv to integrate as a central part. She described the song as musically and lyrically different from the material of her previous studio album Kiddo (2015), and explained that working with Loelv helped her evolve her sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark Side (Phoebe Ryan song)</span> 2017 single by Phoebe Ryan

"Dark Side" is a song by American singer and songwriter Phoebe Ryan. It was released on February 3, 2017 as the intended lead single off of her forthcoming debut studio album through Columbia Records, though it was later scrapped. The single was written by Ryan along with Elof Loelv and Jason Gill, who have collaborated with artists such as Tove Lo. The track was recorded in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco Tits</span> 2017 single by Tove Lo

"Disco Tits" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo. It was released on 7 September 2017 as the lead single from Lo's third studio album, Blue Lips, and it was her first release after the short film Fire Fade. The song was released on Spotify a week prior to the song's official release, but was removed soon after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changed My Mind</span> 2018 single by Tove Styrke

"Changed My Mind" is a song by Swedish singer Tove Styrke from her third studio album Sway (2018). The song was written by the singer, Elof Loelv, Michael Trewartha, Kyle Trewartha, Kathryn Ostenberg, and Linnea Södahl, with production by Loelv. It was released as the third single from the album on 2 February 2018, through Sony Music. The synth-pop and tropical house song includes dancehall influences and vocoder effects. Its lyrics detail an on-again, off-again relationship where the singer changes her mind about her partner.

<i>Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1</i> 2018 EP by Kim Petras

Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1 is a Halloween-themed mixtape extended play by German singer-songwriter Kim Petras. It was released on 1 October 2018 through her own label, BunHead. Petras began promoting the EP in mid-September, posting heavily edited photos to Instagram of herself, according to Paper, "styled as a sexy dead Victoria's Secret angel/Hades side-chick/goth middle schooler's notebook-doodled fantasy. She later posted to Twitter that she "[couldn't] wait to share" a collaboration with Elvira. Three vinyl LP pressings were released on 20 September 2019: a "pink and white galaxy swirl" and a clear vinyl, which were exclusive to Urban Outfitters in the US, and a neon pink pressing which is a general retail release. The songs from the EP were incorporated into the full-length follow-up Turn Off the Light, which was released as her second mixtape one year later on 1 October 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Up (Vice and Jason Derulo song)</span> 2018 single by Vice and Jason Derulo featuring Ava Max

"Make Up" is a song by American DJ Vice and American singer Jason Derulo, featuring vocals from American singer Ava Max. It was released as a single on October 23, 2018, by Atlantic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insomnia (Daya song)</span> 2019 single by Daya

"Insomnia" is a song by American singer Daya, released as a single on March 8, 2019, through Interscope Records. The song was produced by Oscar Görres, and its music video was released on March 26, 2019. It peaked in top 15 in Czech Republic and Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glad He's Gone</span> 2019 single by Tove Lo

"Glad He's Gone" is a song recorded by Swedish singer Tove Lo for her fourth studio album Sunshine Kitty (2019). It was released worldwide on 31 May 2019 and serviced to American contemporary hit radio stations on 18 June 2019 by Republic Records as the album's lead single. The song was written by Lo and its producers the Struts and Shellback. "Glad He's Gone" is an electropop, pop and ambient pop song with lyrics featuring Lo looking out for and talking to a friend who has a demanding boyfriend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hate Me (Ellie Goulding and Juice Wrld song)</span> 2019 Single by Ellie Goulding and Juice Wrld

"Hate Me" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and American rapper and singer Juice Wrld, released as a single on 26 June 2019 through Polydor Records. It was premiered by Zane Lowe as his Beats 1's "World Record" on Beats 1 on 26 June. It was included on Goulding's fourth studio album, Brightest Blue (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweettalk My Heart</span> 2019 song by Tove Lo

"Sweettalk My Heart" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo. It was released as the fifth single off of her fourth studio album, Sunshine Kitty, on 18 September 2019 for digital download and streaming. It is an electropop composition with influences of dancehall music. Upon release, the song received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its production and lyrics. It received a music video, as well as a lyric video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Really Don't Like U</span> 2019 single by Tove Lo

"Really Don't Like U" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo featuring Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released on 6 September 2019, as the fourth single from Lo's fourth studio album Sunshine Kitty (2019). The song was written by Lo, Caroline Ailin and its producer Ian Kirkpatrick. "Really Don't Like U" is an electropop, ambient pop, synth-pop, disco and electro song, with its lyrics discussing feelings of betrayal and dislike towards the new lover of an ex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Que Calor</span> 2019 song by Major Lazer featuring J Balvin and El Alfa

"Que Calor" is a song recorded by American electronic dance music trio Major Lazer featuring Colombian singer J Balvin and Dominican rapper El Alfa. It was released on September 11, 2019, through Diplo's label Mad Decent. It is the second single from Major Lazer's fourth studio album Music Is the Weapon, which was released in 2020. This also marks the second collaboration between Major Lazer and J Balvin, after "Buscando Huellas" in 2017. The artists also released a lyric translation of the track in English.

Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.

References

  1. @majorlazer (October 16, 2018). "blow that smoke is the world record tmrw. tune in at 9AM PT/12PM ET @zanelowe @beats1 💨 💨" (Tweet). Retrieved October 17, 2018 via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 Pedrosa, Marina (October 16, 2018). "Major Lazer Teams Up With Tove Lo for Steamy 'Blow That Smoke': Listen to Preview". Billboard . Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Wass, Mike (October 15, 2018). "Tove Lo Teams Up With Major Lazer For New Single, 'Blow That Smoke'". Idolator . Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Stack, Chris (October 16, 2018). "Major Lazer and Tove Lo preview new dancehall joint 'Blow That Smoke'". Dancing Astronaut . Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  5. Doyle, Patrick (17 October 2018). "Hear Major Lazer, Tove Lo's New Afropop Anthem 'Blow That Smoke'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. Price, Joe (October 17, 2018). "Listen to Major Lazer and Tove Lo's New Song 'Blow that Smoke'". Complex . Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  7. Doyle, Patrick (October 17, 2018). "Hear Major Lazer and Tove Lo's New Afropop Anthem 'Blow That Smoke'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  8. Cook-Wilson, Winston (October 17, 2018). "Major Lazer – 'Blow That Smoke' ft. Tove Lo". Spin . Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  9. Goldfine, Jael (October 17, 2018). "Major Lazer & Tove Lo Team Up On "Blow That Smoke": Listen". Stereogum . Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  10. "Major Lazer feat. Tove Lo – Blow That Smoke" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  11. "Bolivia General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino . Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  12. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201849 into search. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  14. "Major Lazer feat. Tove Lo – Blow That Smoke". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  15. "Major Lazer Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  16. "Brazilian single certifications – Major Lazer – Blow That Smoke" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 27 February 2024.