Say Something (Timbaland song)

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After Graham wrote to the music, he replied to Mosley, asking for his approval of the lyrics: "'I wanna make sure you like this hook. Because the way I'm rapping to it, I feel like it was my record. I had to realize this was not my record; this is a feature you want me to be on." [1] He told him afterwards that it was Graham's record, giving his blessing for the rapper taking over the song. [1] Chris Godbey recorded and mixed the song at No Excuses Studios in Santa Monica, California with Matt Bang serving as the assistant engineer. "Say Something" is an electro-rap song that runs for 4 minutes and 1 second and is built upon a synthesized beat. [2] [3] Shaheem Reed of MTV described the beat as "buoyant" and the song to be "built for the party". Lyrically, it is about a famous man who makes plenty of money, but neglects to spend enough quality time with his girl. [4]

Release and reception

"Say Something" was serviced to digital retailers in the United States on November 3, 2009 and was solicited to urban radios in the United States more than two months later on January 12, 2010. [5] It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on January 23, 2010 at number eighty seven. It later went on to peak at number twenty-three in the last week of March and lasted a total of twenty weeks on the chart. [6] The song also reached the summit of the Rap Songs and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs component charts. [6]

Critical reception

Steve Jones of USA Today named it one of the album's best tracks. [7] Will Hines of Consequence of Sound expressed a different opinion about the song, but commented that it is "marginally more convincing [than "Carry Out"], but Drake fares better with his usual formula." [8] Andy Hermann of Metromix New York labeled it "bland electro-rap" and called it "a waste of Drake’s considerable talents". [2] Luke Gibson of HipHop DX called it "a song that will have the radio salivating." [9] Henry Yanney of SoulCulture praised "Say Something" as one that people "will be undoubtedly drawn to". In his review of the album, he also noted that the song highlights Timbaland's weakness as an artist, writing that "Timbo’s verse feels lethargic and unnecessary". [3] Brian Linder of IGN writes, "It amps things up a bit, but by the time it rolls around you'll be ready to skip ahead looking for a truly hot track." [10] Ben Norman of About.com commented that the song was a strong example of how Timbaland's voice sounds "awkward and counterproductive" in the album's array of singers and musicians. [11]

Music video

The music video was released on December 8, 2009. It was directed by Paul "Coy" Allen who directed "Morning After Dark", and "If We Ever Meet Again". [12] Model Keyshia Dior makes an appearance in the video. Sebastian, D.O.E., Attitude and DJ Freestyle Steve also make brief cameos in the video.

Track listing

CD Single (Australia)

  1. "Say Something" (Album Version) (Feat. Drake) – 4:01
  2. "Say Something" (Remix) (Feat. Chris Brown) – 4:15

Remixes

There are a number of remixes for the song:

  1. "Say Something" (Original Version) (Feat. Drake)
  2. "Say Something" (Remix) (feat. Drake, Chris Brown and Bow Wow)
  3. "Say Something" (Female Version) Rasheeda (Feat. Nivea)

Digital download EP

  1. "Say Something" (Album Version) (Feat. Drake) – 4:01
  2. "Say Something" (Acapella) (Feat. Drake) – 3:47
  3. "Say Something" (Instrumental) – 4:01
  4. "Say Something" (Video) – 4:05

Lupe Fiasco, Fabolous & Young Jeezy also did freestyles of the song on their mixtapes.

American rapper Flo Rida did a freestyle that was dedicated to Haiti for his Green Tea Mixtape

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from the liner notes of Shock Value, Mosley Music Group, Blackground Records, Interscope Records. [13]

Recording and mixing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

"Say Something"
Say Something (Cover).JPG
Single by Timbaland featuring Drake
from the album Shock Value II
ReleasedNovember 3, 2009
Recorded2009
Studio Santa Monica, California
(No Excuses Studios)
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Timbaland
  • J-Roc
Timbaland singles chronology
"Morning After Dark"
(2009)
"Say Something"
(2009)
"Carry Out"
(2009)
Drake singles chronology
"BedRock"
(2009)
"Say Something"
(2009)
"4 My Town (Play Ball)"
(2009)
Chart (2010)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 23
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [6] 1
US Rap Songs (Billboard) [6] 1
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [14] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [15] 85
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [16] 14
US Rhythmic (Billboard) [17] 29

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"Cabaret" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Justin Timberlake for his fourth studio album, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013). Featuring a rap verse by Canadian rapper Drake, the song was written and produced by Timberlake, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and Daniel Jones, with additional writing from James Fauntleroy and Drake. "Cabaret" is a pop and soul song which features beatboxing, handclapping, guitars and keyboards in its composition. Music critics noted its similarity to Timbaland's earlier works with singer Aaliyah and Timberlake's 2006 single "My Love". Lyrically, it finds the singer comparing his love to a burlesque and features sexually oriented lyrics.

References

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  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Say Something – Billboard". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  7. Jones, Steve (December 8, 2009). "Listen Up: Chris Brown tries to shift the spotlight in 'Graffiti'". USA Today . USA Today. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
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  12. "Video: Timbaland f/ Drake – 'Say Something'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  13. Shock Value (liner notes). Timbaland. United States: Mosley, Blakcground, Interscope. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "Timbaland Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  15. "Best of 2010 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  16. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  17. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2019.