Motivation (Kelly Rowland song)
"Motivation" is a song recorded by American recording artist Kelly Rowland for her third studio album Here I Am (2011). The song was written by Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, Daniel Morris and Lil Wayne, with Jonsin producing the song and Lil Wayne having featured vocals. The R&B slow-jam was released as the fourth single from Here I Am on March 2, 2011, by Universal Motown Records.
"Motivation"
Upon release, "Motivation" received favorable reviews from critics generally praising the sexiness of the song. Official remixes were produced for the song, including a dubstep-inspired electronic mix by Diplo and a rap remix by Busta Rhymes, Trey Songz and Fabolous.
In the United States, the song has peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart where it stayed seven weeks in a row, and number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rowland's second US top 20 hit (fourth top 30 overall) and her second highest performing single to date as a solo artist, behind "Dilemma". It was certified double platinum by the RIAA in May 2013.
An accompanying music video was directed by Sarah Chatfield, the director behind Rowland's previous video "Forever and a Day" (2010). It follows a number of sultry scenes where Rowland dances seductively amongst partially dressed dancers in a dimly-lit warehouse, with the entire video tinged in blue light. "Motivation" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards. Rowland sang the song with Trey Songz at the 2011 BET Awards ceremony.
Background and release[edit]
Here I Am was originally scheduled for release in 2010, but was pushed back numerous times. Initially the dance-influenced "Commander" served as the album's lead single for international territories while two separate singles were serviced in the United States. "Rose Colored Glasses" for the pop format and "Grown Woman" for the urban format.[1][2] Rowland decided in September 2010 to re-enter the recording studios to work on new material for the album.[3] This, coupled with creative issues such as naming the album, led to multiple pushbacks. "Motivation" was announced as the title for the album's new lead single during New York Fashion Week.[4] It debuted online via Rap-Up magazine's website on March 2, 2011.[5]
Speaking of how the record came about, Rowland said "Motivation came about when I was in the studio with [producers] Jim Jonsin and Rico Love, and we kind of were just vibing. I told Rico I wanted something really sexy ... and he came up with 'Motivation' along with Jim. It turned into this amazing record... I played [ 'Motivation' for Lil Wayne ] and he got on it, and it was just as simple as that."[6] Along with the single announcement, Rap-Up said fans could expect the video and a remix produced by Diplo to premiere in April 2011.[5] However, the electronic remix, produced by Diplo, premiered via Rap-Up on March 8, 2011.[7]
Composition[edit]
"Motivation" is a R&B slow jam and electropop song written by Richard Butler (Rico Love), Jim Jonsin, Dwayne Carter and Danny Morris.[5][8][9] The racy lyrics center around Rowland asking her man to use his hands all over her body, and are accompanied by a "synth-saturated beat" produced by Jonsin.[5] In terms of instruments, "Motivation" uses sparse keyboard notes, programmed beats and pulsing synths in the chorus.[10] The song has a medium tempo of 140 beats per minute.[11] Wayne adds a rap verse complementing Rowland's seductive suggestions, using the kitchen and a car as metaphors for sex.[5][10] According to Scott Shetler from AOL Music, Rowland uses the lyrics to promise "to be her lover's motivation."[10]
Rowland called the record a mixture between dance and mash-up.[4] When asked by MTV what Rowland thought of the song, she said,"It has that personality and characteristic to it that I don't think anybody can deny. That's why when Wayne dropped that insane verse on there ... I was like, 'You really brought that up even more.' He went into the studio and just did it. I don't think it takes much for Wayne to think. He just does it. He's so admirable."[6]
Chart performance[edit]
Despite not being released for digital download until April 13, 2011, "Motivation" made its US chart debuted on April 2, debuting at number fifty-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[27][28] In the weeks following it continued to rise thanks to urban airplay, eventually reaching number one in its tenth week on the chart, chart dated May 23, 2011.[29] "Motivation" is Rowland's first solo number one as lead artist on a US Billboard composite chart (one combining airplay and sales), although she previously peaked at number one with Nelly on his 2002 single "Dilemma."[30][31] It stayed at the top spot of the chart for six more weeks. In the same week that "Motivation" hit number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Lil Wayne, who is featured on the single, had a total of twelve songs on the chart.[30]
Following its release, "Motivation" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-five, Rowland's highest Hot 100 debut as a solo artist.[32] It reached number seventeen, Rowland's highest Hot 100 peak as a solo artist, and best chart position since "Dilemma" (by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland −2002), which reached number one.[30] The song also peaked at number twenty-five on the Digital Song Sales chart and spent twenty-six weeks on there.[33] Additionally, it is the first single from Rowland to chart on the Hot 100 since her 2009 feature on David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over", which reached number seventy-six.[30] The previous two lead singles, "Grown Woman" (2010) and "Rose Colored Glasses" (2010), from Here I Am, failed to enter the Hot 100, though the latter peaked at number fifty-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The producer of "Motivation", Jim Jonsin, said he was proud and confident of the song's success. "I'm really happy that things are going well for her on this record. A real concern for us was to get that smash for her... She's a friend of ours as well, so to see her win is huge."[34] Furthermore, "Motivation" reached the top ten in other Billboard component charts, peaking at number three on the Hot Ringtones chart, number ten on the Radio Songs chart and number one on the Hot 100 Recurrents chart.[35][36][37]
Live performances[edit]
On June 26, 2011, Rowland took to the stage of the 2011 BET Awards to perform "Motivation" for the first time in public. The performance was part of the evening's entertainment; the song was not nominated for an award. Hollywood News reported that Rowland was among the most anticipated performers of the evening.[49] Appearing in the middle of Trey Songz performance of "Love Faces," Rowland ascended on stage where she was joined by several shirtless male dancers.[50] The performance was met with a positive reception from industry critics and fellow music entertainers, most of whom noted it as a highlight of the ceremony. Ed Masley from The Arizona Republic said that Rowland's performance was "the night's most soulful vocal [performance]."[50] Roger Catlin said that Rowland offered "a live performance with Trey Songz trumping that of her more famous 'sister' from Destiny's Child, Beyoncé."[51] The Los Angeles Times' Gerrick D. Kennedy praised Rowland's sex appeal, noting that her "steamy performance sent tongues wagging" and was widely anticipated thanks to the serial delays with her album Here I Am (2011).[52] MTV Rob Markman pointed out that following her performance, the hashtag "#kelly" began trending on Twitter. Additionally Markman said Rowland "received one of the loudest ovations of the night."[53]
Rowland performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 27, 2011.[54] Rap-Up described Rowland's performance on the show as a "sizzling performance".[55] Robbie Daw of Idolator praised Rowland's performance and said that the "black-clad diva rocked out two sexy jams from Here I Am" and later described her performance as "sultry".[56] Rowland performed the song during her guest appearance on The Wendy Williams Show on June 24, 2013 along with "Kisses Down Low" and "Street Life".[57][58]