Ooh! Explained

Ooh!
Cover:MJB_Ooh!.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Mary J. Blige
Album:Love & Life
Released:August 25, 2003
Recorded:December 2–6, 2002[1]
Genre:Hip hop soul[2]
Length:4:07
Label:Geffen
Producer:
  • Sean Combs
  • D-Nat
Prev Title:Love @ 1st Sight
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Not Today
Next Year:2004

"Ooh!" is a song recorded by American singer Mary J. Blige for her sixth studio album Love & Life (2003). It was written by Blige, Sean Combs, Dimitri Christo, and Mechalie Jamison, while production was helmed by Combs and Christo. The song contains excerpts from Hamilton Bohannon's 1973 track "Singing a Song for My Mother", hence Bohannon is also credited as a songwriter. "Ooh!" was released as the second single from Love & Life on August 25, 2003, by Geffen Records.

A moderate commercial success, "Ooh!" peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Critically acclaimed, it was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards.[3] An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Sanji, and depicts Blige fighting and dancing as different versions of herself, who all represented her inner emotions and feelings. Furthermore, a remix featuring 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck also accompanied the song.

Background

"Ooh!" was as written by Blige along with Sean Combs, Dimitri "The Natural aka D-Nat" Christo, and Mechalie Jamison, while production was helmed by Combs and Christo. The song contains excerpts from the 1973 song "Singing a Song for My Mother" by American musician Hamilton Bohannon, itself widely known for being sampled on the 1991 hip-hop classic, "I Gotta Have It" by Ed O.G and Da Bulldogs. It was Combs who asked Blige to write over the Ed O.G. sample.[4] In a 2003 interview with MTV News she commented: "Puff heard it and he sat there with his mouth open. He was [nodding his head], but he never said anything. He later said that "[That] was fire!" so we let Jimmy Iovine hear it and Jimmy was like, "I like it." Dr. Dre heard it and was like, "That's the joint right there." Then we played it for K-Gee and he just lost his mind. We played it for people all over the world when we went on the promotional tour and everything kept coming back 'Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh'."[4]

Critical reception

BBC Music critic Keysha Davis called "Ooh!" a "hip-hop inspired club anthem. Backed by a trudging horn riff, and an instantly recognisable break-beat; [it] forms the perfect compliment for Mary's gravely vocals."[5] Elizabeth Berry Mendez from The Washington Post wrote: "With its slinky saxophone and Mary's ripe alto, "Ooh!" is the kind of dance-floor soul jam that recalls Motown's heyday."[6] Similarly, Billboards Michael Paoletta remarked that the song "recalls "Rock Steady"-era Aretha Franklin."[7] In his review of parent album Love & Life, David Browne from Entertainment Weekly noted: [The album] tried to present a more contented Blige but mainly reduced her to moaning orgasmic lines like "Ooh, what you do to me" to thudding Diddy-produced beats."[8] BET.com called the song one of the "highlights of Blige's and Combs's reunion on 2003's Love & Life."[9]

Music video

Blige was initially eyeying Chris Robinson, who had helmed the music video for Love & Lifes previous single "Love @ 1st Sight," to once again direct her.[4] Due to scheduling conflicts, Sanjeeva "Sanji" Senaka, director of her 2001 music video for "No More Drama," was eventually selected to direct the visuals for "Ooh!."[10] Dedicated to the soldiers in the war,[10] it portrays Blige fighting and dancing different versions of herself, who all represented her inner emotions and feelings.[10] "Ooh!" world premiered at the end of its making of episode on BET's Access Granted.[10]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love & Life.[11]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] 82

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesAugust 25, 2003Urban contemporary radioGeffen

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tony . Maserati. Tony Maserati: Mixing Love & Life. soundonsound.com. August 9, 2020.
  2. Web site: Keith . Spera. Mary J. Blige touched on more than 30 songs during 90-minute New Orleans show. nola.com. 19 October 2022 . October 29, 2022.
  3. Web site: Mary J. Blige Artist GRAMMY.com . 2023-10-10 . www.grammy.com.
  4. Web site: Shaheem . Reid. Mary Gets Giddy On 'Ooh!,' States The Facts While Eve Attacks On 'Not Today'. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226102135/https://www.mtv.com/news/8dcusl/mary-gets-giddy-on-ooh-states-the-facts-while-eve-attacks-on-not-today. dead. February 26, 2024. MTV News. August 6, 2003. February 26, 2024.
  5. Web site: Keysha . Davis . BBC Review. BBC Music. February 26, 2024.
  6. Web site: Elizabeth. Berry Mendez. Love & Life Review. Washington Post. August 26, 2003. February 26, 2024.
  7. Web site: Michael. Paoletta. Essential Reviews. Billboard. September 6, 2003. February 26, 2024.
  8. Web site: David . Browne . Review: Blige's worthy 'Breakthrough'. Entertainment Weekly. CNN.com. December 20, 2005. February 26, 2024.
  9. Web site: Mary J. Blige's 50 Best Songs – MJB's What's the 411? was released 22 years ago today. March 11, 2024. BET.com.
  10. Web site: Mary J Blige – Ooh! (Music video). Access Granted. YouTube. February 26, 2024.
  11. Love & Life. Geffen Records. . 2003.
  12. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2003. Billboard. March 7, 2021.