Boo'd Up Explained

Boo'd Up
Cover:Ella Mai Boo'd Up.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Ella Mai
Ep:Ready Ella Mai
Recorded:January 2017[1]
Genre:R&B[2] [3]
Length:
  • 4:16 (EP version)
  • 3:59 (album version)
Label:
  • 10 Summers
  • Interscope
Producer:
Prev Title:Naked
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Trip
Next Year:2018

"Boo'd Up" is the debut commercial single by English singer Ella Mai from her third extended play, Ready. Serving as the lead single for the EP, the song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.[4] It was a minor hit in her native UK, peaking at 52 whilst peaking within the top 50 in Australia and Canada. A remix featuring Nicki Minaj and Quavo peaked at number 8 in New Zealand. The song was written by Mai, Joelle James, Dijon "Mustard" McFarlane and Larrance Dopson of 1500 or Nothin', and produced by the latter two. It was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[5]

Background and release

American singer-songwriter Joelle James first wrote "Boo'd Up" in 2014 originally for herself. She later looked for an artist to give the song to, eventually giving it to Ella Mai after feeling that "synergy of it would be perfect for her."[6]

Mai originally released the song in February 2017 as part of the Ready EP. "Boo'd Up" rose in popularity on social media as well as in nightclubs over the next few months,[7] notably in the Bay Area and later in Dallas, Texas. After Mai served as the opening act on Kehlani's tour, her music reached a bigger audience and the song grew on radio airplay in the spring of 2018.[8] The song became her first top 10 song in the US in the following month, deeming it her "breakthrough hit".[9] Rolling Stone wrote that the single is "one of the biggest singles by a breakout female R&B singer in the past 10 years."[10]

In support of the song and its commercial success, Mai announced a US concert tour titled after the song, during the month of August.[11]

Critical reception

In December 2018, Billboard magazine ranked "Boo'd Up" as the third best song of the year.[12]

Music video

An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Nick Walker, premiered via Mai's Vevo channel on 26 April 2018.[13] It features cameo appearances from singer Khalid, rapper Kamaiyah, and YouTube personality Alissa Ashley.[14] [15] Model Donnell Blaylock Jr. plays Mai's love interest in the video.[16]

As of August 2021, the music video has over 460 million views.

Remixes

American rappers T-Pain, Fetty Wap, Plies, Fabolous, Dave East, Vado, and Young Dro released remixes to the song.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Live performances

On 17 November 2018, Mai performed the song on Saturday Night Live, with Jezebel describing Mai as "Pure '90s R&B Heartthrob".[25] It comes on the heels of Ella Mai’s critically acclaimed performance at the BET Awards 2018.[26] [27]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 15
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] 10
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[31] 16

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
Worldwide22 February 2017[32]
SiriusXM The Heat4 February 2018Rhythmic/R&B Hits
United States20 February 2018Rhythmic contemporary[33]
Urban contemporary
10 July 2018Contemporary hit radio[34]

Nicki Minaj and Quavo remix

Boo'd Up (Remix)
Type:single
Artist:Ella Mai, Nicki Minaj and Quavo
Recorded:2018
Label:

A remix of "Boo'd Up" with rappers Nicki Minaj and Quavo was released 4 July 2018.[35] The remix version of the song features newly added verses and lyrics by both Quavo and Minaj and marks the second collaboration between the two. Its music was also slightly modified with several parts being reorganized and changed.[36]

Composition

The music of "Boo'd Up" is mostly kept the same as the original, with the sound being slightly altered and several parts reorganized. The remix also contains a reference to Minaj's 2011 hit, "Super Bass".[37] Migos member Quavo drops an ad-libbed verse of his own. The remix comes to a close with a faux recorded phone conversation between Quavo and Minaj. She asks him to be picked up from somewhere but he's actually already outside.[38]

Release history

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How Ella Mai Created 'Boo'd Up' | Billboard | How It Went Down . .
  2. Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" marks the return of female R&B singers. Rolling Stone. 23 May 2018. 17 June 2018.
  3. Billboard Staff. The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List. . October 19, 2023. February 10, 2024. An addictive, punch-drunk R&B love song with a brain-sticking, near-nonsense-sounding chorus....
  4. Ella Mai Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. 16 July 2018.
  5. Web site: 61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees & Winners List. 7 December 2018.
  6. Web site: How Joelle James wrote "Boo'd Up," the surprise hit of the summer. Gore. Sydney. 23 May 2018. The Fader. 16 June 2018.
  7. Web site: Ella Mai's Slow Burn. Howard. Jackson. 2018. The Fader. 16 June 2018.
  8. Web site: How Ella Mai's Unlikely 'Billboard' Hit 'Boo'd Up' Exploded In Popularity A Year After Its Release. Johnson. Cherise. 15 June 2018. Uproxx. 16 June 2018.
  9. Ella Mai Scores First Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 With 'Boo'd Up'. Zellner. Xander. 30 May 2018. Billboard. 16 June 2018.
  10. 'Boo'd Up': How Ella Mai Is Leading Female R&B Singers Back Onto the Charts. Leight. Elias. 23 May 2018. Rolling Stone. 16 June 2018.
  11. Ella Mai Announces Boo'd Up Summer Tour. Penrose. Nerisha. 13 June 2018. Billboard. 16 June 2018.
  12. Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2018: Critics' Picks . 11 December 2018 . Billboard . 3 January 2019 .
  13. Web site: Ella Mai, Kamaiyah And Khalid Free Their Inner Youth In "Boo'd Up" Visual. Vibe. 26 April 2018. 21 June 2018.
  14. News: Watch Ella Mai's New Music Video for "Boo'd Up" f/ Cameos by Khalid and Kamaiyah. Freshest FM. 2018-07-05. en-US.
  15. Web site: Ella Mai Shares Moments Of Affection In New Video For "Boo'd Up". Kevito. April 2018. 16 June 2018. 16 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030128/http://www.okayplayer.com/music/ella-mai-bood-up-music-video.html. dead.
  16. Web site: WATCH: R&B Newcomer Ella Mai Gets "Boo'd Up" in Music Video. Gossip On This. 9 May 2018. 21 June 2018.
  17. Web site: Fetty Wap Tackles Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" For His Latest Remix. Goddard. Kevin. 12 June 2018. Hot New Hip Hop. 16 June 2018.
  18. Web site: Fetty Wap's Remix Of Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" Gives Us A Lot Of Feelings. Arevalo. Lydia. 13 June 2018. Vibe. 16 June 2018.
  19. Web site: Vado & Dave East – Boo'd Up Remix Lyrics. Genius. 10 August 2018.
  20. Web site: Young Dro Remixes Some Of The Hottest Tracks On "Adderall Flow" Mixtape. HotNewHipHop. 31 October 2018. 1 November 2018.
  21. Web site: Nicki Minaj and Quavo Join Ella Mai on New "Boo'd Up" Remix: Listen. pitchfork.com. 4 July 2018 . 2018-07-04.
  22. Web site: T-Pain Serves Best "Boo'd Up" Remix Yet. HotNewHipHop. 6 July 2018. 6 July 2018.
  23. Web site: T-Pain, Proving He's Still T-Pain, Steals the 'Boo'd Up' Remix From Nicki Minaj and Quavo. Rolling Stone. 6 July 2018. 6 July 2018.
  24. Web site: T-Pain Dropped the Best Remix of Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up". Complex. 6 July 2018. 6 July 2018.
  25. Web site: On Saturday Night Live, Ella Mai is Pure '90s R&B Heartthrob.
  26. Web site: Twitter is Pissed About How the BET Awards Treated Ella Mai.
  27. Web site: Ella Mai Performs "Boo'd Up" at 2018 BET Awards. 25 June 2018. 10 April 2019. 23 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200923221548/https://www.vibe.com/2018/06/ella-mai-bood-up-bet-awards-performance. dead.
  28. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 21 July 2018.
  29. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 2 January 2013. 4 December 2018.
  30. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 2 January 2013. 5 December 2018.
  31. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 9 December 2014. 23 August 2019.
  32. Web site: Ready - EP . 22 February 2017 . iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 30 September 2018.
  33. Web site: Top 40/R Future Releases . All Access. All Access Music Group . https://web.archive.org/web/20180217220028/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases . 17 February 2018 . 30 September 2018.
  34. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases . All Access. All Access Music Group . https://web.archive.org/web/20180708023035/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases . 8 July 2018 . 30 September 2018.
  35. Web site: Rob . Arcand . Ella Mai – "Boo'd Up (Remix)" ft. Nicki Minaj & Quavo . . 4 July 2018 . 26 July 2018.
  36. Jon . Blistein . Ella Mai Taps Nicki Minaj, Quavo for Slick 'Boo'd Up' Remix . . 4 July 2018 . 26 July 2018.
  37. Web site: Anne Victoria . Clark . Ella Mai Releases 'Boo'd Up' Remix With Nicki Minaj and Quavo . Vulture . 4 July 2018 . 26 July 2018.
  38. Michael . Saponara . Nicki Minaj & Quavo Join Forces With Ella Mai For 'Boo'd Up (Remix)': Listen . . 5 July 2018 . 26 July 2018.
  39. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 16 July 2018. 13 July 2018.
  40. Web site: Boo'd Up (Remix) - Single . 4 July 2018 . iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 30 September 2018.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Boo'd Up".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.