Shut Up and Drive
"Shut Up and Drive" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was written and produced by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, and features an interpolation of the 1983 song "Blue Monday" by the British band New Order, whose members Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert received songwriting credits. Released as the album's second single, the song was solicited to United States radio stations on June 12, 2007, and was physically released on August 27, 2007 in the United Kingdom. "Shut Up and Drive" is a new wave song which heavily incorporates 1970s and 1980s musical styles. Lyrically, it contains multiple references to cars and car parts including the '57 Cadillac.
For other uses, see Shut Up and Drive (disambiguation)."Shut Up and Drive"
"Haunted"
June 12, 2007
- Sunwatch (Saint James, Barbados)
- The Loft Recording (Bronxville, New York)
3:33
- Def Jam
- SRP
- Evan Rogers
- Carl Sturken
"Shut Up and Drive" was received with mixed reviews from music critics, who labeled its lyrics as fluffy and goofy. The song peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart. On the UK Singles Chart, it reached number five, becoming Rihanna's fifth top-five single. "Shut Up and Drive" peaked within the top 10 in nine other countries, including in Australia, Canada, Germany and Italy. Its accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and was shot in several places in the Czech Republic, such as airship hangar in Příbram or junkyard in Sluštice near Prague. It features Rihanna in a makeshift junkyard. Rihanna performed "Shut Up and Drive" on the Good Girl Gone Bad (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth (2010–11) and Loud (2011) concert tours.
Production and release[edit]
"Shut Up and Drive" was produced by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, and its composition is credited to Sturken and Rogers as well as the members of New Order (Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert), whose 1983 song "Blue Monday" forms a partial basis for the song.[1] Al Hemberger recorded the song at Sunwatch in Saint James, Barbados and The Loft Recording Studios in Bronxville, New York. Hemberger also served as a mixing engineer and mixed "Shut Up and Drive" at The Loft Recording Studios, together with mixing assistant Roy Matthews. Sturken provided all of the instrumentation while Rihanna and Rogers sang the background vocals. The production manager of the song was Rob Heselden with Christie Moran serving as a production assistant.[2] "Shut Up and Drive" was released as the second single from the album, following the worldwide chart-topper "Umbrella" (2007).[3] The song premiered on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, on Rihanna's official website.[3] It was originally scheduled to be released to contemporary hit radio in the United States on June 5, 2007.[4] However, it was postponed to the next week. It was also sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on June 19, 2007.[5] The single was later released as a CD single on August 27, 2007, in the UK.[6]
Critical reception[edit]
"Shut Up and Drive" received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Bill Lamb from About.com commented that there are better songs on Good Girl Gone Bad, but "Shut Up and Drive" captures "the spirit of summer just as well as Rihanna's first hit 'Pon de Replay'".[13] Lamb further continued, "The lyrics are pure fluff, and the vocals have the now familiar thin and reedy quality common to many of Rihanna's efforts. However, like any successful sports car, the look, feel, and speed of 'Shut Up and Drive' pull you in despite the model's shortcomings."[13] Quentin B. Huff from PopMatters wrote that "Shut Up and Drive" is a sassier version of Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love" and Michael Jackson's "Speed Demon".[12] He also stated that the song would have fit comfortably on Gwen Stefani's first album.[12] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine found that the song did not live up to its campy title,[14] while Rodney Dugue from The Village Voice described it as simultaneously "goofy and sexually daring".[15] Andy Kellman from AllMusic also referred to it as "a sleek, forthcoming proposition...as undeniable and rocking as Sugababes' 2002 UK smash 'Freak Like Me'".[7] "Shut Up and Drive" won Most Popular R&B Song at the People's Choice Music Awards.[16]
Chart performance[edit]
"Shut Up and Drive" debuted at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at number 15 several weeks later, failing to match the success of Rihanna's previous single "Umbrella".[17] The song reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs, becoming Rihanna's sixth number-one song on that chart.[18] "Shut Up and Drive" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Pop Songs and became Rihanna's seventh top 20 single on that chart.[19] The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of over 1,000,000 copies.[20] "Shut Up and Drive" reached the top 10 on the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number six.[21] "Shut Up and Drive" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on July 28, 2007, at number 65. After six weeks, the song peaked at number five and became Rihanna's fifth UK top 10 single. It stayed on the UK Singles Chart for 31 weeks, becoming her sixth longest charting song there. "Shut Up and Drive" has sold more than 230,000 copies in the UK.[22]
In mainland Europe, the song achieved moderate success. It peaked in the top 10 in eight other countries including Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Italy. In Switzerland and Sweden, the song reached number 14 and number 31, respectively.[23][24] "Shut Up and Drive" debuted and peaked at number four on the Australian Singles Chart, becoming the album's second top five single there.[25] "Shut Up and Drive" was certified gold by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of over 35,000 copies.[26] The song peaked at number 12 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and charted for 13 consecutive weeks.[27]
Usage in media[edit]
"Shut Up and Drive" is featured on the soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Wreck-It Ralph, playing over the scene in which Ralph teaches Vanellope von Schweetz to drive in the arcade game Sugar Rush.[38] The song is also featured in 2008 movies College Road Trip, 21, and Wild Child. It was used in 2012 commercials for cars from the Japanese automobile maker Mazda.
The song was later used as a "Lip Sync for your Life" song on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Contestants Tatianna and Alyssa Edwards performed this song for a chance to re-enter the competition; since both performed exceptionally well, they both got to return. This has frequently been rated the number one best Drag Race lip-sync performance.[39][40]
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Good Girl Gone Bad.[2]
Locations
Personnel