promiscuous

"Promiscuous"
Single by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland from the album Loose
B-side	"Crazy", "Undercover"
Released	April 2006 (North America) June 24, 2006 (Australia) September 4, 2006 (Europe)
Format	Digital download, vinyl single, CD single
Recorded	Miami, Florida; 2005
Genre	Pop, R&B, dance-pop, hip pop
Length	4:02 (album version) 3:42 (radio edit)
Label	Geffen
Writer	Nelly Furtado, Timothy Clayton, Nate Hills, Tim Mosley
Producer	Timbaland, Danja
Nelly Furtado singles chronology
"The Grass Is Green" (2005) "Promiscuous" (2006) "No Hay Igual" (2006)
Timbaland singles chronology
"Are You Feelin' Me?" (2005)	"Promiscuous" (2006)	"Wait a Minute" (2006)
Audio sample
Info (help·info)

"Promiscuous", also referred to as "Promiscuous Girl",^[1] is a pop/R&B/dance-pop/hip pop song recorded by Nelly Furtado and Timbaland for Furtado's third album, Loose (2006). Furtado, Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Timbaland and Danja wrote the song, and Timbaland and Danja produced it. The song lyrics feature a conversation between a man and woman who call each other "promiscuous".

"Promiscuous" was released as the first single from Loose in North America in early 2006, and as the second single elsewhere in mid-2006 except in Latin America, where the single was released as the third single in late 2006. The song received mostly positive reviews, and reached number one in Canada and the United States, becoming Furtado's first number-one single in North America. The song won in the Best Pop Song category at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, was nominated for the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals Grammy Award at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and won Single of the Year at the 2007 Juno Awards.

Background and writing

The lyrics of "Promiscuous" describe the two sides of the relationship that the song's protagonist deals with. It was one of the first songs Furtado wrote with labelmate Timothy "Attitude" Clayton. Furtado called their teamwork something she "had never done before" because she saw the writing process as "extremely freeing" because of his different approach and style. Clayton helped Furtado experiment with interpreting the "promiscuous girl" character and the two-sided relationship she is in.^[2] Furtado also described that in the process of writing lyrics "we were actually flirting, which is why the song is so playful" and that she and Clayton nicknamed the song "'The BlackBerry Song', because everything we say in the song you could text-message to somebody".^[3]

Because of the preponderant musical influence of artists such as Talking Heads, Blondie, Madonna, The Police and Eurythmics, whom producers Timbaland and Danja listened to during the writing of the album, "Promiscuous" takes inspiration from pop music of the 1980s.^[2] The sexuality was based on the "strong women in control" of the 1990s, such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Salt-N-Pepa and TLC.^[4]

A reference to basketball player Steve Nash in the song's lyrics led to speculation that he and Furtado were romantically involved, but both deny the link, with Nash commenting, "I'm flattered that she put me in her song, but I'm completely in love with my wife and two little baby girls".^[5] Furtado decided to include him because she and Nash are both from Victoria, British Columbia, and due to frequent citations of basketballers in songs, she decided to "give him the props".^[4]

In one of the verses Timbaland introduces himself as Thomas Crown. The Thomas Crown Affair is a film about wealthy businessman who plays a cat-and-mouse/flirting game with an insurance investigator.

Reception

Critical reviews

"Promiscuous" was well received by music critics. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone considered it a highlight in Loose. Timbaland's appearance received particular praise, which added Furtado's "high-school musical vocals" over his eighty beats according to Sheffield.^[6] All Music Guide reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine compared it to "vintage Prince", citing "Promiscuous" as a highlight of Furtado's makeover. However, Erlewine believed that no matter how much Furtado sings about sex, she does not sound sexy and does not "generate much carnal heat."^[7]

IGN review considered the song "simultaneously annoying and yet catchy beyond belief" and listed as one of Loose's "Definitely Downloads",^[8] Pitchfork called it "one of the best vocal performances of his [Timbaland's] career",^[1] and Billboard called the duo Furtado and Timbaland "a surprisingly good match".^[9]

The song was also included in three lists of best songs of 2006: fourth on Blender,^[3] sixth at The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop, ^[10] and 56th on Rolling Stone.^[11]

Chart performance

In Canada, the song's music video debuted on MuchMusic's MuchOnDemand after an interview with Furtado, in May 8, 2006.^[12] On May 4 2006, "Promiscuous" debuted inside the top five on the Canadian Singles Chart, and on June 1 it became Furtado's first Canadian number-one single. After descending from the top ten, it reascended to number two after the release of Loose. "Promiscuous" spent twenty-five weeks on the Canadian Singles Chart, but was the year's shortest-running number-one single. The song peaked at number two on the BDS Airplay Chart and became one of Furtado's most successful single releases in her home country since "I'm Like a Bird", which was released in 2000.^[13]

In the U.S. "Promiscuous" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four, the week's highest debut.^[14] It topped the chart for six weeks, from July 8 2006, and it became Furtado's first U.S. number-one single. The song topped Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and Pop 100 charts and reached the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs top forty.^[15]. The song was also the reason why the highly popular song of Gnarls Barkley which is Crazy didn't went to number one on U.S. On the Billboard year-end chart it was ranked third, the highest placing for a single by a female artist.

"Promiscuous" debuted at number five on the Australian ARIA Charts and peaked at number two in its third week.^[16] It was released in Europe on August 18 2006 and reached the UK top five at number three. On December 31, 2006 BBC Radio 1 reported that "Promiscuous" was the thirty-eighth highest selling single in the UK in 2006.^[17] The single re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number sixty-six in January 2007 because of The Official UK Charts Company's new rules.^[18][19] It made the top ten in most European nations. The song peaked at number four for two weeks on the United World Chart, from October 7 2006.^[20]

In Latin America, the single was released as the official third single, and in some countries the song was leaked to radio (in Peru, Colombia and Mexico). The song peaked at number thirteen on the Latin America Top 40 Airplay.^[21]

On December 4, 2006, "Promiscuous" won "Best Pop Single of the Year" at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, beating Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" and Sean Paul's "Temperature".^[22] The song was nominated for the "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life".^[23]

Music video

Timbaland, Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake (in a cameo) in the music video for "Promiscuous".

The song's music video was directed by Little X and features cameo appearances by Keri Hilson, Bria Myles and Justin Timberlake. It does not follow a storyline and per Furtado's request, focuses on scenes with dancing and flirting because she wanted to recreate the song's indicative vibe, and took the opportunity to film a club video for the first time. Furtado said of the video, "It's that whole dance that goes on. There's that mystery there, the fun, playful sexiness, the verbal Ping-Pong game".^[24] Furtado and Timbaland cannot decide whether they want to begin dating and instead flirt with others on the dance floor. Their single performances are intercut with several scenes of a dancing crowd, and the lighting changes between blue, green, red, and yellow colours.

"Promiscuous" premiered on MTV's Total Request Live on May 3, 2006, where it reached number one after spending twenty-one days on the countdown.^[25] After its debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it ascended to number one for the week of July 28 2006. At the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, it was nominated for the Best Dance, Female and Pop Video Awards. ^[26]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Promiscuous".

• An additional remix of the song features Pitbull.
• An additional remix of the song features Rick Ross

Credits and personnel

• Lead vocals: Nelly Furtado, Timbaland
• Audio mixing: Marcella Araica, Demacio Castellon
• Vocal production: Jim Beanz
• Background vocals: Nelly Furtado, Jim Beanz
• Engineers: James Roach, Kobla Tetey
• Drums: Danja, Timbaland
• Keyboards: Danja, Timbaland

Charts

See also

• Hot 100 number-one hits of 2006 (USA)
• Pop 100 number-one hits of 2006 (USA)
• Number-one dance hits of 2006 (USA)
• Top Hot 100 Hits of 2006
• List of number-one songs on American Top 40 of 2006
• List of number-one singles in 2006 (NZ)
• Number ones of European Hit Radio Top 40 (2006)
• European Hit Radio Top 100 (2006)

References

External links

• "Promiscuous" music video at YouTube
• Nelly Furtado official website
• "Promiscuous" lyrics

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