Return the Favor

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"Return the Favor"
A sample of "Return the Favor", described to employ Timbaland's "signature dizzying 22nd-century flair."
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"Return the Favor" is described as an electro-dance-pop record, [3] with a future-like sound, including euro-style synths. [6] Dan Nishimoto of Prefix Magazine noted that the song includes Timbaland's "signature dizzying 22nd-century flair that he's been employing ever since 2006." [7] Andy Kellman of Allmusic noted the song as a standout track from In a Perfect World.... [8] According to J.K. Glei of Cincinnati Metromix said the song has "cascading synths," and a "classic pop structure." [9] However Glei said that Hilson's vocals "feel flat against the driving beat" and that Timbaland "fully phones it in." [9] While noting the song "follows the same blueprint" of Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous", Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said it was a "satisfying pop romp" and said even though Hilson lacked Furtado's distinctiveness, that it "shouldn't have a problem striking a chord at radio." [10]

Nick Levine of Digital Spy said, the song was "a perfectly decent slice of midtempo Timba-pop, but it's not really in the same league as the brilliant 'The Way I Are'." [11] MTV Buzzworthy said "slightly less out-there are the beats -- which sound an awful lot like Hilson and Timbaland's first collaboration, "The Way I Are"—and the cameo from Timba himself." [12] Sophie Bruce of BBC Music thought that the song lacked the a catchy hook such as in "The Way I Are." [13] Less than impressed with Timbaland's rapping and "less than sexy" vocal appeal, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said the "unfortunate pairing" was reprised, and the song "encapsulates the record’s shortcomings." [14]

Chart performance

"Return the Favor" was the most successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland, peaking at nineteen in both countries. In Austria, the song debuted and peaked at twenty-five on the Austrian Singles Chart, before falling off after six weeks. [15] On the Swedish Singles Chart, It debuted and peaked at thirty, before falling off after six weeks on the chart. [15] In Belgium, "Return the Favore" appeared on Belgian Tip Charts, peaking at six in Flanders, and seventeen Wallonia. [15] While debuting and peaking at twenty-one on the German Singles Chart, it completed nine weeks on the chart before falling off. [16] It made the lower regions of the ARIA Singles Chart appearing at eighty. [17]

Music video

A still from the video in which the screen is in fourths, noting the employed usage of television screens in the scene Returnthefavor.jpg
A still from the video in which the screen is in fourths, noting the employed usage of television screens in the scene

The music video was directed by Melina, who directed Hilson's video for "Energy." [18] A preview of the video was released on October 14, 2008, and the full video premiered on October 23, 2008. [18] [19] Featuring a futuristic concept, the video begins with a small clip from Timbaland and Hilson's "The Way I Are", before it cuts to Hilson dancing in a future-like room while scenes are shown on a wall behind Timbaland, who is seated in a chair. [12] Hilson is then show in a pink ruffled bra and dress dancing in front of mirrors, and then rises out of a pool in a blue swimsuit while scenes continue to be broadcast behind a seated Timbaland. [12] Intercut with scenes with previous attire, Hilson performs ensemble choreography with dancers while wearing a black bra and pants, whilst the video ends with several different scenes. [12]

MTV Buzzworthy commended the video, stating, "while her ensemble's slightly more unwearable (we're looking at YOU, futuristic metallic onesie!) Hilson still manages to look beyond gorge. But then again, this chick could look cutting-edge in a giant pickle barrel." [12] The review also compared Timbaland's look a cross between Run D.M.C. and The Matrix. [12]

Track listing

"Return the Favor"
Returnthefavorcover.jpg
Single by Keri Hilson featuring Timbaland
from the album In a Perfect World...
ReleasedOctober 7, 2008
Studio
Genre
Length5:28
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Timbaland
  • Walter Milsap III
Keri Hilson singles chronology
"Superhuman"
(2008)		"Return the Favor"
(2008)		"Turnin Me On"
(2008)
Timbaland singles chronology
"Release"
(2008)		"Return the Favor"
(2008)		"Long Gone"
(2008)

Personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of In a Perfect World.... [22]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Return the Favor"
Chart (2009)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [17] 80
Australian Urban (ARIA) [23] 22
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [24] 25
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [25] 6
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [26] 17
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100) [27] 21
Germany (Official German Charts) [16] 21
Ireland (IRMA) [28] 19
Scotland (OCC) [29] 10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [15] 30
UK Singles (OCC) [30] 19
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [31] 7

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Return the Favor"
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
United StatesOctober 7, 2008Digital download [4]
AustraliaMarch 27, 2009 [32]
United KingdomApril 12, 2009 [20]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Keri Hilson". Digital Spy . 24 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  2. ↑ "That Grape Juice Interviews Keri Hilson - That Grape Juice". That Grape Juice. 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  3. 1 2 3 "New Music: Keri Hilson f/ Timbaland – 'Return the Favor'". Rap-Up . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  4. 1 2 "Single Cover: Keri Hilson – 'Return the Favor'". Rap-Up . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  5. ↑ "Keri Hilson:News". Interscope Records . Archived from the original on 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  6. ↑ Walters, Barry (16 April 2009). "Keri Hilson, 'In a Perfect World...' (Zone 4/MMG/Interscope)". Spin . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  7. ↑ Nishimoto, Dan. "Keri Hilson In a Perfect World..." Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  8. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "allmusic (((In a Perfect World > Review )))". Allmusic . Retrieved 2010-07-18.[ dead link ]
  9. 1 2 Glei, J.K. "Keri Hilson, 'In a Perfect World…'". Cincinnati Metromix. Metromix. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  10. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal. "Keri Hilson In a Perfect World..." Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  11. ↑ Levine, Nick (20 April 2009). "Keri Hilson ft. Timbaland: 'Return The Favor'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "New Video: Keri Hilson, 'Return The Favor'". MTV Buzzworthy . MTV Networks (Viacom). 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  13. ↑ Bruce, Sophie. "Keri Hilson In A Perfect World Review". BBC Music . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  14. ↑ "Critics Choice - New CDs from Keri Hilson, Mastodon, and Wynton Marsalis". The New York Times . 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  16. 1 2 "Hilson, Keri Feat. Timbaland – Return The Favor" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  17. 1 2 "The ARIA Report - Week Commencing April 13, 2009" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  18. 1 2 "Sneak Peek: Keri Hilson – 'Return the Favor'". Rap-Up . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  19. ↑ "Video: Keri Hilson f/Timbaland - 'Return the Favor'". Rap-Up . Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  20. 1 2 "Return The Favor:Keri Hilson:Amazon.co.uk:MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  21. ↑ "Return the Favor:Keri Hilson:Amazon.de". Amazon.de . Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  22. ↑ In a Perfect World... (booklet). Keri Hilson. Zone 4, Mosley Music Group (Interscope Records). 2009. p. 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ "The ARIA Report - Week Commencing April 13, 2009" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  24. ↑ "Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  25. ↑ "Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  26. ↑ "Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  27. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200904 into search. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  28. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 16, 2009". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  29. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Keri Hilson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  31. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  32. ↑ "Return the Favor (feat. Timbaland) - Single by Keri Hilson". iTunes Australia . Apple Inc.

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