Adorn (song)

Last updated
"Adorn"
Miguel - Adorn.jpg
Single by Miguel
from the album Kaleidoscope Dream
ReleasedAugust 7, 2012 (2012-08-07)
Recorded2012 [1]
Genre
Length3:13
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Miguel Pimentel
Producer(s) Miguel
Miguel singles chronology
"Pride N Joy"
(2012)
"Adorn"
(2012)
"Do You..."
(2012)

"Adorn" is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Miguel. It was released as the lead single from his 2012 studio album Kaleidoscope Dream . The recording was produced by Miguel, who was inspired by his girlfriend and a series of dreams he had prior to writing the song.

Contents

"Adorn" was released to iTunes on August 7, 2012. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 35 on the Mainstream Top 40, and number-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Miguel's most successful single until "Sure Thing" became a sleeper hit in 2023. It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song was acclaimed by critics, being voted the year's second-best single in the annual Pazz & Jop poll. The song also earned Miguel three Grammy Award nominations, winning one for Best R&B Song.

Music and lyrics

"Adorn" features on-beat sub-bass sounds, [4] falsetto howls, [5] irregular vocal echoes, obscured synths, [6] and sparse keyboard arrangements. [7] The lyrics feature brazen declarations of affection, [5] including promises of adoration to a female subject. [8] Writers liken "Adorn" to Marvin Gaye's 1982 ballad "Sexual Healing". [5] [6] [7] Miguel was inspired to write the song by a series of dreams he had prior to writing it. [9] His girlfriend (now ex-wife), model and artist Nazanin Mandi, was also an inspiration behind the song. Miguel later told People magazine: "I had been on a long trip and was anxious to see her. That's where the song began, with that emotion while I was on the plane. I don't remember how I got from 'These lips can't wait to taste your skin' to the end of the song, but when I listened to it, I thought, 'This is special.'" [10]

Release and promotion

"Adorn" originally appeared on the Miguel mixtape Art Dealer Chic, Vol. 1, released on February 27, 2012. [9] It was later included on a promotional extended play titled Kaleidoscope Dream: The Water Preview on July 31, one of two extended plays released by Miguel to promote Kaleidoscope Dream. [11] On August 7, "Adorn" was solicited to rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States, [12] and released to iTunes. [13] A remix of the song, featuring American rapper Wiz Khalifa, was released on September 18. [14] There is also a Ted Smooth remix that feaures vocals from Diddy and French Montana.

The song earned Miguel three Grammy Award nominations for Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards, winning his first in the category of Best R&B Song.

Critical reception

"Adorn" received critical acclaim. In a review for Seattle Weekly , Erin Thompson wrote that Miguel "made a particularly nice choice of metaphor in the song's chorus—'Let my love adorn you.' When a woman hears the word 'adorn,' she probably thinks of diamonds and Dior; Miguel's rich vocals convey the same sense of luxury. That's a man who knows how to treat a woman." [15] SoulBounce called it an "electro soul slice of niceness", [3] while MSN Music 's Robert Christgau cited the song's "throbbing, garbled hook" as "one of 2012's signature pop moments". [16] Brian McManus from The Village Voice called "Adorn" "the perfect amuse-bouche for the album it kicks off, priming the ears, opening them." [17] At the end of 2012, "Adorn" was named the 33rd best song of the year in Rolling Stone . [18] It was also voted the year's second best single in the nationwide Pazz & Jop critics' poll. [19]

Chart performance

"Adorn" charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Miguel's second most successful single to date. It was also his third number-one hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and still holds the record for the longest run atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, being the only song in the chart's history to spend 20 or more weeks at number-one. [20] By July 2013, the song had reached 1,014,000 copies sold in the US. [21] By 2019, it had three million copies according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), who certified it triple platinum. [22]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyResultRef.
2013 Grammy Awards Song of the YearNominated

[23]

Best R&B PerformanceNominated
Best R&B SongWon

Track listing

Digital download – Remix featuring Wiz Khalifa (United States) [14]
No.TitleLength
1."Adorn (Remix)" (featuring Wiz Khalifa)3:47

Charts

Radio and release history

Release dates for "Adorn"
CountryDateFormatLabel
United States [12] August 7, 2012 Rhythmic contemporary radio RCA
Germany [43] June 7, 2013 Digital download

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Adorn"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [44] 2× Platinum140,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [45] Platinum90,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [46] Platinum600,000
United States (RIAA) [47] 3× Platinum3,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludacris discography</span>

The discography of Ludacris, an American rapper, consists of nine studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play (EP), six mixtapes, 89 singles and nine promotional singles. Thirty-five of those singles have charted in the Top 40 of the US Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeezy discography</span>

The discography of Jeezy, an American rapper, consists of thirteen studio albums, 18 mixtapes, 70 singles and 28 music videos. Aside from his solo career, he has also released albums as a member of Boyz N Da Hood and U.S.D.A., respectively.

<i>Totally Krossed Out</i> 1992 studio album by Kris Kross

Totally Krossed Out is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Kris Kross. It was produced and largely written by Jermaine Dupri and Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo and released on March 31, 1992, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. After developing a musical concept for the duo, Dupri and Nicolo spent two years writing and producing the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Brown discography</span>

American R&B singer-songwriter Chris Brown has released 11 studio albums, 1 collaborative album, 1 extended play, 9 mixtapes, 61 singles and 26 promotional singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best of Me (Mya song)</span> 2000 single by Mýa and Jadakiss

"The Best of Me" is a song by American singer Mýa. It served as Harrison's first single from her second studio album Fear of Flying (2000) and featured Yonkers rapper Jadakiss. The song was written and composed by the latter and Harrison along with Teron Beal, Jimmy Cozier, Swizz Beatz and Mashonda Tifrere. Lyrically, "The Best of Me," a street savvy anthem addresses a woman holding off being intimate or physical with a guy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicki Minaj discography</span>

The discography of Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj consists of five studio albums, one compilation album, three mixtapes, 136 singles, and 20 promotional singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel (singer)</span> American R&B singer

Miguel Jontel Pimentel is an American singer and songwriter who specializes in contemporary and alternative R&B. Raised in San Pedro, California, he began pursuing a music career at age thirteen. After signing to Jive Records in 2007, Miguel released his debut studio album, All I Want Is You, in November 2010. Although it was underpromoted upon its release, the album became a sleeper hit and helped Miguel garner commercial standing. The album’s second single, "Sure Thing" reached further success in 2023, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately becoming his most commercially successful song to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiz Khalifa discography</span>

American rapper Wiz Khalifa has released seven studio albums, one compilation album, one soundtrack album, three extended plays (EP), two collaborative albums, 84 singles, sixteen promotional singles, twenty-one mixtapes, and 82 music videos. After signing to independent record label Rostrum Records at a young age, Khalifa released his first mixtape Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and his first studio album, Show and Prove (2006). Following the release of Show and Prove, Warner Bros. Records signed Khalifa in 2007 as part of a joint deal with Rostrum. At Warner, Khalifa released the singles "Youngin' on His Grind" and "Say Yeah". The latter became his first song to appear on a Billboard chart, peaking at number 20 on the US Hot Rap Songs. Disagreements with Warner over the release of a purported major-label debut album led Khalifa to departed from the label, and release his second studio album Deal or No Deal in 2009 on Rostrum Records alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sure Thing (Miguel song)</span> 2010 single by Miguel

"Sure Thing" is a song by American singer-songwriter Miguel. Produced by Happy Perez, the song is included on his debut album, All I Want Is You (2010). It was first posted onto YouTube in 2007, via Myspace. It was sent to radio as the album's second single in January 2011. The R&B song features neo soul influences, and had been noted for its similarities to the work of singer Jon B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendrick Lamar discography</span>

American rapper Kendrick Lamar has released five studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play (EP), five mixtapes, 65 singles, and three promotional singles. Lamar initially performed under the stage name K.Dot, releasing three mixtapes under that moniker: Y.H.N.I.C. (2004), Training Day (2005), and C4 (2009). He gained major attention after the release of his fourth mixtape Overly Dedicated, which was released in 2010. It was Lamar's first full-length project to be released under his birth name and fared well enough to enter the United States Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, where it peaked at number 72.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pusha T discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of American rapper Pusha T consists of four studio albums, one extended play (EP), two mixtapes, 53 singles, two promotional singles and 33 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel discography</span>

American R&B singer Miguel has released four studio albums, twenty-three singles, four mixtapes and seven EPs.

<i>Kaleidoscope Dream</i> 2012 studio album by Miguel

Kaleidoscope Dream is the second studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Miguel. It was released on September 25, 2012, by Black Ice Records, ByStorm Entertainment, and RCA Records. After the commercial breakthrough of his debut album All I Want Is You (2010), Miguel pursued a greater creative role on Kaleidoscope Dream as its principal writer and producer. He recorded most of the album at Platinum Sound Studios in New York City and MJP Studios in Los Angeles, working alongside producer-musicians Oak Felder, Jerry Duplessis, and Salaam Remi, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meek Mill discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Meek Mill consists of five studio albums, seven extended plays, one compilation album, three collaborative albums, eleven mixtapes, fifty-four singles, ten promotional singles and thirty music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASAP Rocky discography</span>

The discography of American rapper ASAP Rocky consists of three studio albums, one mixtape, 42 singles, eight promotional singles and 31 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do You... (Miguel song)</span> 2012 single by Miguel

"Do You..." is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Miguel. It was released on September 18, 2012, as the second single from his 2012 album Kaleidoscope Dream. It was written by producer Jerry Duplessis, co-producer Arden Altino, guitarist Paul Pesco, and Miguel, who recorded the song at Platinum Sound Recording Studios in New York City. "Do You..." is a love song built around gentle guitar strumming and a playful rhythm section. Its lyrics pose flirtatious, rhetorical questions and feature both metaphorical and literal references to narcotics, inspired in part by Miguel's occasional use of MDMA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Many Drinks?</span> 2013 single by Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar

"How Many Drinks?" is a song by American recording artist Miguel, taken from his critically acclaimed second studio album, Kaleidoscope Dream. The song was produced by Salaam Remi. A remixed single featuring Kendrick Lamar on an added third verse was released as the album's third single on March 3, 2013. It received a nomination for Best R&B Performance at the 56th Grammy Awards held in January 2014. The chorus melody samples the O'Donel Levy instrumental cover of The Carpenters song We've Only Just Begun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay-Z singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American rapper Jay-Z consists of 68 singles as a lead artist, and 51 singles as a featured artist, as well as 14 promotional singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooouuu</span> 2016 single by Young M.A

"Ooouuu" is a song by American rapper Young M.A. The song was produced by U-Dub. It was released as a single on May 12, 2016.

"Cranes in the Sky" is a song by American singer-songwriter Solange. Released on October 5, 2016 by Saint Records and Columbia Records, it is the first single from Solange's third album, A Seat at the Table. The song was written by Solange, who co-produced it with Raphael Saadiq.

References

  1. Cooper, Duncan (November 16, 2012). "Miguel: Second Wind". The Fader (83). New York. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  2. "Adorn – Miguel". Allmusic . Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  3. 1 2 Butta (July 31, 2012). "Miguel Wants To 'Adorn' You With New Music". SoulBounce. SoulBounce. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  4. Larson, Jeremy D. (October 5, 2012). "Album Review: Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Kellman, Andy. "Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Johnston, Maura (October 1, 2012). "Miguel, 'Kaleidoscope Dream' (Bystorm/RCA)". Spin . New York. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  7. 1 2 McCarthy, Sean (October 19, 2012). "Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream". PopMatters . Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  8. Tannenbaum, Rob (October 5, 2012). "Kaleidoscope Dream". Rolling Stone . New York. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Video: Miguel – 'Adorn'". Rap-Up . Devin Lazerine. February 3, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  10. "Miguel Talks About Kaleidoscope Dream's Sex-Driven Moments". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  11. White, Caitlin (July 31, 2012). "Miguel 'Adorn' Video: Singer Shares Dreamy, Kaleidoscopic Vision". The Boombox. AOL . Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB . Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  13. "Tuesday Tunes: "Adorn" – Miguel". Kenton Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-12-29. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  14. 1 2 "Adorn (Remix) [feat. Wiz Khalifa] – Single by Miguel". iTunes Store . Apple. 18 September 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  15. Thompson, Erin (October 11, 2012). "Miguel's "Adorn" Conveys Chivalry, Luxury, and Sex". Seattle Weekly . Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  16. Christgau, Robert (December 28, 2012). "Miguel". MSN Music. Microsoft. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  17. McManus, Brian (January 16, 2013). "Pazz & Jop: Miguel Is Living The Dream". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  18. "50 Best Songs of 2012". 5 December 2012.
  19. "Singles — All Votes". The Village Voice . Village Voice Media . Retrieved 2013-01-18.
  20. "Miguel 'Adorn's No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for 20th Week: Weekly Chart Notes".
  21. Paul Grein (July 31, 2013). "Week Ending July 28, 2013. Songs: Radio Hesitates On One Direction". Chart Watch. Yahoo.
  22. "American single certifications – Miguel – Adorn". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
  23. "Awards Nominations & Winners". 30 April 2017.
  24. "Chartifacts". ARIA Charts. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012.
  25. "[US&titel=Adorn&cat=s Miguel [US] – Adorn"] (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  26. "[US&titel=Adorn&cat=s Miguel [US] – Adorn"] (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  27. "Miguel Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  28. "[US&titel=Adorn&cat=s Miguel [US] – Adorn"] (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  30. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  31. "Miguel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  32. "Miguel Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  33. "Miguel Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  34. "Miguel Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  35. "Miguel Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  36. "Best of 2012 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  37. "Best of 2012 – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  38. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  39. "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  40. "Best of 2013 – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  41. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  42. "Decade-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  43. "VÖ-Vorschau". 25 May 2014.
  44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  45. "Danish single certifications – Miguel – Adorn". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  46. "British single certifications – Miguel – Adorn". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  47. "American single certifications – Miguel – Adorn". Recording Industry Association of America.