Wild Side (Normani song)
"Wild Side" is a song by American singer Normani, featuring American rapper Cardi B. It was released on July 16, 2021 through Keep Cool and RCA Records.[3] The song marks Normani's first radio release since 2019's "Motivation".[4][5] It was written by the two artists alongside Keynon Moore, Pardison Fontaine, Starrah, Dave Cappa, Jonah Christian, June Nawakii, Taylor Ross, and Tyler Rohn, and was produced by the latter six and Normani.
"Wild Side"
July 16, 2021
3:29
- Normani Hamilton
- Dave Cappa
- Jonah Christian
- June Nawakii
- Keynon Moore
- Taylor Ross
- Tyler Rohn
"Wild Side" received critical acclaim upon release, with praise for the song's vocals and production. The song contains an interpolation of the 1996 Aaliyah single "One in a Million".[6][7] It was released alongside a music video directed by Tanu Muino, who also directed Cardi B's "Up";[8] and was choreographed by Sean Bankhead, who also choreographed the music video for "Up", and Normani's "Motivation".[8]
"Wild Side" debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking at number-one on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, the R&B Digital Song Sales chart, and Urban Radio. It was one of the most thumbed up tracks of 2021 on Pandora; and was the third most watched R&B music video of 2021 in the United States, according to Vevo. The following year, IHeartRadio named it the fifth most played hip hop song of 2022.[9]
The song and its music video have been nominated for several accolades, including the MTV Video Music Award for Song of Summer, the Soul Train Music Award for Best Video of the Year and the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video; along with winning the Soul Train Music Award for Best Dance Performance, and the UK Music Video Award for Best R&B/Soul Video - International.
Background and release[edit]
Normani went on a two-year hiatus from music after the release of the single "Motivation", in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of her mother's breast cancer.[10][11] During that time period her mother encouraged her to focus on her career and making new music, in the process "Wild Side" was created.[12] Normani posted a snippet of "Wild Side" to her social media on February 5, 2021, with the caption, "know it's been awhile".[8] Cardi B heard the snippet and later joined "Wild Side" according to the singer, with Normani stating "I knew I wanted to do something with her, but I was already in rehearsal for three weeks for the music video. We had already been in rehearsal, and I called her stylist because he's also my stylist, and I was like, 'Yo, like, we gotta figure something out. Like this link-up has to happen. There's no other way. It just has to happen, there's no option.' And he was like, 'Actually, she mentioned "Wild Side". She was like, "Is it that 'Wild Side' song? Is it the 'Wild Side' song?"' Because I had posted the clip like two months ago".[13]
After speculation of a collaboration between the two,[14] Normani archived all but one post on her Instagram page on July 12, 2021, hinting at a possible relevant announcement.[15][16] The following day, Cardi B stated that she had "a little secret" to tell her audience the following day.[17] On July 14, Normani confirmed the title, release date and cover art of the collaborative single on her respective social media pages.[18]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, "Wild Side" debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Normani's third top 20 solo hit, and Cardi B's 16th;[48] while becoming Normani's highest debuting song to date.
.[49] It was the top-selling R&B release of the week in overall consumption, debuting at number five on the US Digital Song Sales chart.[50] The song also debuted at number ten on the US Rolling Stone Top 100, marking the biggest debut of the week on the chart.[51] It also debuted simultaneously atop the R&B Streaming Songs chart, the R&B Digital Song Sales chart, and the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, while reaching number three on the Hot R&B Songs chart.[52][50] In addition, "Wild Side" also debuted at numbers 27 and 108 on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts, respectively.[53][54]
Less than three months after it was released, the song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, for selling approximately 500,000 units in the US.[55] The song reached the Top 10 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, after nine weeks.[56][57] While later, reaching the Top 3 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, in the November 6, 2021 issue of Billboard.[58] The following week, the single reached number-one on Urban Radio.[59] In December 2021, it was announced that the song was one of the Top 20 most thumbed up tracks of 2021 on Pandora.[60] On the January 1, 2022 issue of Billboard, the song reached number-one on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, tying "Oui" by Jeremih for the fifth-longest march to number-one on the chart. "Wild Side" also reached the top ten on the Rhythmic Airplay chart, after 23 weeks on the chart, breaking the record for the longest climb to the chart's top 10 by a female artist, and the second overall, trailing only the 25-week wait of Los del Río's "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)".[61]
Usage in media[edit]
In July 2021, a "Wild Side" dance challenge started trending on social media, with the hashtag #WildSideChallenge garnering 15.6 million views on TikTok within a few weeks, with Brazilian singer Anitta,[80] actress Storm Reid,[81] along with American singers Lizzo,[82] and Ciara participating in the challenge.[83] English musician FKA Twigs also filmed a pole dancing routine featuring the song that she posted on TikTok.[84] Some fans sustained injuries while attempting to learn the choreography, with one participant fracturing their foot.[85]
American rapper Megan Thee Stallion referenced the song in her "Tuned In Freestyle", from her 2021 album Something for Thee Hotties, with the lyrics "I wanna show my wild side, make them doo doo doo."[86][87] In October 2021, Aespa member Karina performed a dance routine to "Wild Side" on the South Korean television program Knowing Bros.[88][89] Later that month, singer Bryson Tiller sampled the single on his song "Are You Listening", from his Killer Instinct 2: The Nightmare Before mixtape.[90] Brazilian singer Pocah paid homage to Normani in a photo shoot inspired by the song's music video.[91] Comedian and singer DC Young Fly released an unofficial remix of the song.[92]
Live performances[edit]
Normani first performed "Wild Side" at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2021,[93] after fans petitioned for her to perform on the show with the hashtag #LetNormaniPerform.[94] The performance featured intense choreography, and a surprise cameo from Teyana Taylor,[95] that paid tribute to Janet Jackson's live performances of "Would You Mind".[96] It was positively-received by music critics.[97][98][99] Pitchfork deemed it "the night’s most exciting performance", while calling Normani "one of her generation's most promising stars".[100] While Rolling Stone wrote, "Normani stole the show in 'Wild Side', with the night's official instant-classic VMAs moment".[101] According to Deadline, the performance was one of two most popular moments on social media that night.[102]
TMZ reported that the performance triggered complaints to the Federal Communications Commission "over what some say were raunchy displays".[103]
Normani again performed an abbreviated version of "Wild Side" at Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3, which premiered on Prime Video on September 24, 2021.[104][105] Normani "delivered a visually stunning set in a green catsuit, spiky bun, and lucite heels against a bright red backdrop, channeling the futuristic vibe of her music video," according to Erica Gonzalez for Elle.[106]