Snake (R. Kelly song)

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"Snake"
R Kelly - Snake.jpeg
Single by R. Kelly featuring Big Tigger
from the album Chocolate Factory
ReleasedFebruary 25, 2003 (2003-02-25)
Genre R&B
Length4:51
Label Jive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"Ignition (Remix)"
(2002)		"Snake"
(2003)		"Soldier's Heart"
(2003)

"Snake" is a song by the American recording artist R. Kelly, featuring Big Tigger, from his fifth studio album, Chocolate Factory . The remix features Cam'ron. It was released on February 25, 2003, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. The R&B song with Latin music inspiration was written and produced by R. Kelly, and co-written by Darian Morgan, as a tribute to Stevie Wonder's musical experimentation. The song also inspired the dancehall reggae riddim called Baghdad.

Contents

"Snake" achieved moderate success, reaching number sixteen at the US Billboard Hot 100. A special double-A-side edition with "Thoia Thoing" was also released. The maxi-single charted at number ten in the Netherlands, number thirty in France, number sixteen in Australia and at number eighteen in Switzerland. A remix with actor and musician Cam'ron was also released.

Background and composition

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Snake"
A 22-second sample of the song's chorus, which features R. Kelly singing over a latin-inspired melody.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Snake" was written and produced by R. Kelly, and co-written by Darian Morgan. [1] It is an R&B song with Latin music inspiration, [2] and elements of urban pop and new jack swing. [1] "Snake" is four minutes and fifty-one seconds long. It is composed in the key of A♭ major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. R. Kelly vocal range spans from C♯4 to F♯5. [1] Andrew McGregor of the BBC revealed that "Snake" was written in "tribute to Stevie [Wonder]'s musical experimentation". [2] Robert Christgau describes the song as an "Orientalist sex fantasy". [3]

Promotion

R. Kelly and Big Tigger performed the song together during many live performances (including at Madison Square Garden in New York on the penultimate concert) during his 2003 tour [4] and during the 2003 BET Awards. "Snake" received a special double A-side edition with "Thoia Thoing". The maxi-single charted at number ten in the Netherlands, number thirty in France, number sixteen in Australia and at number eighteen in Switzerland. [5] A remix with Cam'ron was also released.

Remix controversy

Cam'ron took R. Kelly to court in 2005 claiming that he did not receive proper credit for his work on a remix of the song. Cam'ron filed a federal lawsuit in New York. He had apparently written the introduction to the remix, as well as a part of the third verse but his songwriting contribution was not mentioned in the copyright when the song was included on The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 , a greatest-hits album. [6]

Music video

The music videos for both the original and the remix were directed by Little X. [7]

Track listing

  1. "Snake" (Radio Edit) – 4:20
  2. "Snake" (Remix Featuring Big Tigger and Cam'ron) – 4:40
  3. "Dream Girl" – 3:57
  4. "Snake" (Music Video) – 4:14
  1. "Snake" (Radio Edit) – 4:20
  2. "Dream Girl" – 3:57
  3. "Snake" (Remix Featuring Big Tigger and Cam'ron) – 4:40
  1. "Snake" (Radio Edit) – 4:20
  2. "Snake" (Radio Edit Without Rap) – 3:34
  3. "Snake" (Instrumental) – 4:52

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from CD single liner notes. [11]

Charts

References

  1. 1 2 3 "R. Kelly Snake – Digital Sheet Music". Music Notes. Universal Music Publishing Group. October 20, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  2. 1 2 McGregor, Andrew (March 7, 2003). "Review of R. Kelly—Chocolate Factory". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert (January 27, 2004). "Good Morning Little School Girl". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 6, 2021– via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ↑ "R. Kelly plays Madison Square Garden". MTV News . MTV. August 25, 2003. Archived from the original on February 23, 2004. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  5. ↑ "R. Kelly – Thoia Thoing". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  6. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (September 29, 2005). "Cam'ron takes R. Kelly to court". MTV News . MTV. Archived from the original on February 8, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Little X | Videography".
  8. ↑ "Amazon.com: Snake: R. Kelly, Single, Import: Music". Jive. January 27, 2004. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  9. ↑ Snake (12" Vinyl liner notes). R. Kelly. Jive Records. 2003. 82876547231.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ "Amazon.com: Snake: R. Kelly, Featuring Big Tigger: Music". Jive. December 15, 2003. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  11. ↑ Snake (Liner Notes [CD, Single]). R. Kelly. Jive Records. 2003. JDJ-40115-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  13. ↑ "R. Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  14. ↑ "R. Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  15. ↑ "R. Kelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  16. ↑ "2003 Urban top 30" (PDF). Music Week . January 17, 2004. p. 18. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "The Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks – 2003 Year End Charts". Billboard . December 27, 2003. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2024.


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