Whatchamacallit (Ella Mai song)

Last updated
"Whatchamacallit"
Song by Ella Mai featuring Chris Brown
from the album Ella Mai
ReleasedOctober 4, 2018
Recorded2017
Genre R&B
Length3:00
Label Interscope Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Audio video
"Whatchamacallit" on YouTube

"Whatchamacallit" is a song by British singer Ella Mai, featuring American singer Chris Brown, released on October 4, 2018 through Interscope Records as a promotional single from her 2018 self-titled album. [1]

Contents

Background and composition

Prior to the making of the song, Ella Mai mentioned Chris Brown as one of her biggest influences: “Vocally, he’s amazing,” she said. “If he didn’t come out the way he did and make the music that he did, I think I would be a completely different artist. He’s influenced an entire generation.” [2] The two then collaborated on "This X-Mas", a track contained in the "Cuffing Season: 12 Days of Christmas" edition of Brown's eighth studio album Heartbreak on a Full Moon (2017). [3] “Whatchamacallit” was originally teased in September 2017, before being released on October 4, 2018 through Interscope Records as a promotional single from Mai's self-titled debut album. [4]

"Whatchamacallit" is an R&B song [5] written by Brown, Sam Hook, Jordan Holt and Mai, while its production was handled by DJ Mustard. On the track the two artists serenade about a secret relationship. [6] [7]

Critical reception

HotNewHipHop praised the song, writing: "Because of the similarity in their voices, Ella Mai and Chris Brown sound absolutely gorgeous together. When one harmonizes with the other, it's almost as if it's just a double of the original vocal, introducing an interesting dynamic to the song that we rarely hear with other artists". [1] The Guardian mentioned Chris Brown as an "A-list feature" on the track. [8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [9] 66
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [10] 93
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 84
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [12] 3

Certifications

Certifications for "Whatchamacallit"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [13] Platinum70,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [14] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [15] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ↑ Credited as co-producer

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References

  1. 1 2 Zidel, Alex (October 4, 2018). "Chris Brown Features On Ella Mai's Latest Smash "Whatchamacallit"". HotNewHipHop.
  2. ↑ "Ella Mai Recruits Chris Brown for New Single "Whatchamacallit"". Hypebeast. October 4, 2018.
  3. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (December 13, 2017). "Chris Brown Releases Deluxe Edition Of "Heartbreak On A Full Moon" With 12 New Songs". HotNewHipHop.
  4. ↑ "New Music: Ella Mai feat. Chris Brown - Whatchamacallit". October 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ "New Song: Ella Mai & Chris Brown - 'Whatchamacallit' - That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net.
  6. ↑ Ichiki, Chase. "Ella Mai shares her newest collaboration with Chris Brown "Whatchamacallit"". REVOLT.
  7. ↑ "New Music: Ella Mai feat. Chris Brown - 'Whatchamacallit'".
  8. ↑ Kasambala, Natty (October 12, 2018). "Ella Mai: Ella Mai review – Boo'd Up singer's R&B statement of intent" – via The Guardian.
  9. ↑ "Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  10. ↑ "Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Ella Mai Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "British single certifications – Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ "American single certifications – Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
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