Woohoo (Christina Aguilera song) explained

Woohoo
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Christina Aguilera featuring Nicki Minaj
Album:Bionic
Recorded:No Excuses (Los Angeles), The Red Lips Room (Beverly Hills)
Label:RCA
Chronology:Christina Aguilera
Prev Title:Not Myself Tonight
Prev Year:2010
Next Title:You Lost Me
Next Year:2010

"Woohoo" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was written by Aguilera, Onika Maraj, Claude Kelly, Ester Dean and Jamal "Polow da Don" Jones, and produced by Polow da Don, for Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic (2010). "Woohoo" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary crossover airplay as the album's second radio single on May 25, 2010. The song, which samples the 1972 song "Add már uram az esőt" by Hungarian singer Kati Kovács, is about oral sex.

"Woohoo" has been described as an electro-R&B and dancehall track. The song received mixed to positive reviews from critics, some of whom praised Minaj's appearance and Aguilera's vocals. However, others expressed distaste for the song's sexual nature. "Woohoo" debuted and peaked at 46 and 79 in Canada and the United States, respectively. Aguilera performed the song in a medley with "Bionic" and "Not Myself Tonight" at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. The song was later included in the setlist for Aguilera's Vegas residency and her 2018 stage comeback — The Liberation Tour.

Composition

"Woohoo" was written by Aguilera, Maraj, Claude Kelly, Ester Dean and Polow da Don. The song is an electro, R&B and dancehall track. Aguilera's vocals are distorted in parts.[1] [2] "Woohoo" contains a sample from the Hungarian song "Add már uram az esőt", originally sung by the Hungarian singer Kati Kovács in 1972.[3] The song's chorus has been described as "shouty" and "sing-song".[4] Rob Harvilla of The Village Voice noted that the song sounded like a mix of "Milkshake" and "Lip Gloss" with "electro synths".[5] The song is about oral sex, and has been called a "humorous ode to cunnilingus" by music critic Alim Kheraj.[6]

Critical reception

"Woohoo" received mixed to positive reviews from critics; most of them commended Aguilera's vocals and Minaj's appearance. However, others were not impressed with the song's sexual nature. Sara D. Anderson of AOL Music said the "provocative, dancehall track nicely fuses Aguilera's powerful voice with Minaj's MC tactics".[7] Benjamin Boles of Now Magazine called the track the top track on Bionic, commenting that Minaj's cameo "rescues" the song.[8] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian said, "If you're going to do a five-minute song about cunnilingus, it's a good idea to enlist foul-mouthed rapper Nicki Minaj, whose bug-eyed contribution lends the proceedings an air of gripping abandon."[9] Chris Ryan of MTV Buzzworthy called the song "sexually explicit, funky club pop", saying "In Nicki Minaj, Aguilera has found the perfect partner for her erotic-pop adventures". He also called the song a "dirtier cousin of Rihanna's 'Rude Boy' or 'Hollaback Girl'", and commended Minaj's verse.[4]

Becky Bain of Idolator said the song's "catchiness" was "miles ahead" of "Not Myself Tonight", also compared it to "Hollaback Girl". Bain also said, "If there's one person who can match Christina Aguilera's naughtiness, it's Nicki Minaj, so these two pretty much make a perfect pair for this type of song."[10] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said the track had an "incessant title loop piercing like a dental drill" and said it "doesn't work as temptation". He also commented "her crassness is no longer alienating as it was on Stripped".[11] Michael Cragg of musicOMH also compared the song to dental work, commenting that the song, "which is about oral sex but is about as sexy as going to the dentist."[12] Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club called the song "already-passé electro trash."[13] In his retrospective commentary on the album Bionic, Billboards Glenn Rowley called "Woohoo" a "raunchy banger",[14] and Mike Wass of Idolator shared a similar sentiment: "'Woohoo' is arguably the most iconic bop ever recorded about female genitalia".[15] According to the Gay Times writer Daniel Megarry, Nicki Minaj's verse in the song "happens to be" one of the very best efforts of her career.[16]

Retrospective commentary

Attitude opined that the song is "not subtle, but it is fun".[6] Entertainment-related website Tan's Topic called "Woohoo" a "classic sexual Christina track with a 'Dirrty' dancehall vibe and plenty of naughty lyrics", as well as the "'Candyman' of the 21st century".[17] The Tabs Harrison Brocklehurst ranked "Woohoo" among Aguilera's greatest singles and labelled it as "bratty pop perfection". He further noted that the song is "a weird, hand-clappy masterpiece that’s aged marvellously".[18] On a similar, top-40 list for the Idolator "Woohoo" was ranked at number thirty-one; Mike Wass noted that the song "should have been a number one hit".[19]

Chart performance

In its first week of release, "Woohoo" debuted at 46 on the Canadian Hot 100, and 79 on the Billboard Hot 100.[20] The song became Aguilera's 15th straight single to hit both charts, keeping her streak of having all of her singles chart on the Billboard Hot 100.[21] The song fell off both charts the following week.[20] However, due to increased digital sales after her performance at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and the release of Bionic, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 99.[20] The song also charted at number 148 on the UK Singles Chart after the release of Bionic.[22] In June 2010, "Woohoo" entered the Gaon Digital Chart in South Korea at number twenty-seven.[23]

Promotion and live performances

Originally, "Woohoo" was meant to be released as the second single from Bionic in the United Kingdom, but — as Official Charts Company reported — these plans were ultimately cancelled.[24] There were plans to shoot a music video for the song but those were scrapped. Stevie Boi was set to direct the video before it was cancelled.[25] Aguilera sang a portion of the song, alongside "Bionic" and "Not Myself Tonight", at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. During "Woohoo", the last of the set, Aguilera and her backup dancers removed their leather capes and revealing painted red hearts on their groins, ending with Aguilera's LED heart glowing.[26] James Montgomery of MTV News referred to the song as a "seriously sexy dance number."[27] Montgomery described the performance's ending, stating, "Not to be outdone, Aguilera ended things by standing tall at center stage, the camera zooming in on her midsection, which now bore a beating heart of its own."[27]

Most critics were not impressed with the medley, comparing it to Aguilera's identity during the Bionic era.[28] [29] Tamar Anitai, also of MTV Buzzworthy summarized the performance saying it "was all about her "I-I'm-still-a-diva" vocals, frenzied stage show, and adult-only innuendo...And then this happened." She went on to comment also sarcastically, "This is so just Christina Aguilera's way of saying she loves you! And that the diminutive diva still has a sense of humor....It's like a little knowing wink that assures you that when she's not changing diapers and doing mommy stuff, Mamaguilera's hanging out at dance party sex dungeons and wailing from the bottom of her light-up hoo-ha. She is definitely not the same girl who once bopped around on the Disney Channel in a Scrunchie."[30]

The song was later included in the setlist for Aguilera's Vegas residency and her 2018 Liberation Tour.In September 2021, the singer performed "Woohoo" during the LadyLand Festival in New York.[31]

Credits and personnel

Source[32]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
Canadian Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[33] 28
Germany (Deutsche Black Charts)[34] 10
South Korea (Gaon)27
US Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[35] 11

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMay 25, 2010Rhythmic contemporaryRCA[37]
BelgiumMay 28, 2010Digital downloadSony Music[38]
Brazil[39]
Norway[40]
Portugal[41]
Spain[42]
Sweden[43]
United StatesRCA[44]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Music — Album Review — Christina Aguilera: 'Bionic' . . 2010-06-07 . 2010-09-18.
  2. News: Album review: Christina Aguilera, 'Bionic' . Greg . Kot . . 2010-06-19 . 2010-06-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014357/http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2010/06/album-review-christina-aguilera-bionic.html . December 3, 2013 .
  3. Web site: Aguilera reveals 'Bionic' production credits. Nick. Levine. 2010-05-26. 2010-06-19. Digital Spy.
  4. Web site: Song You Need To Know: Christina Aguilera, Featuring Nicki Minaj, 'Woohoo. https://web.archive.org/web/20100513063421/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/05/10/song-you-need-to-know-christina-aguilera-featuring-nicki-minaj-woohoo. dead. May 13, 2010. 2010-05-12. 2010-05-18. Chris. Ryan. MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom.
  5. Web site: On Christina Aguilera's "Woohoo," Featuring A Particularly Agitated Nicki Minaj. 2010-05-10. 2010-05-18. The Village Voice. https://web.archive.org/web/20100521172321/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2010/05/on_christina_ag_1.php. 2010-05-21. dead.
  6. Web site: Shoulda Been Huge: Christina Aguilera's 'Bionic'. Attitude. Stream Publishing Limited. Alim. Kheraj. 2022-01-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20220128095056/https://attitude.co.uk/article/shoulda-been-huge-christina-aguileras-bionic/1807/. 2022-01-28. 2022-01-28. dead.
  7. Web site: Christina Aguilera, 'Woohoo' Feat. Nicki Minaj – New Song. Sara D.. Anderson. 2010-05-12. 2010-05-18. AOL Radio. AOL.
  8. Web site: Now Magazine // Music // Christina Aguilera. Now Magazine. Benjamin. Boles. 2010-06-19.
  9. News: Christina Aguilera: Bi-On-Ic. 2010-06-19. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Alexis. Petridis . London . 2010-06-03.
  10. Web site: Christina Aguilera And Nicki Minaj Seek Aural Pleasure With New Track "Woo Hoo". Becky. Bain. 2010-05-10. 2010-05-18. Idolator. Buzz Media.
  11. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1801137|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic (((Bionic > Overview)))]. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. 2010-06-19.
  12. Christina Aguilera — Bionic . Michael . Cragg . . 2010-06-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009155149/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/christina-aguilera-2_0610.htm . October 9, 2012 .
  13. Web site: Bionic. Genevieve. Koski. 2010-06-19. The A.V. Club. 15 June 2010 .
  14. Christina Aguilera's 'Bionic' Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary & 'Little Dreamer' Is Now Available to Stream. https://archive.today/20200608185514/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9397911/christina-aguilera-little-dreamer-streaming. dead. June 8, 2020. Glenn. Rowley. Billboard. June 8, 2020. June 8, 2020.
  15. Web site: 10 Years Of Christina Aguilera's 'Bionic'. https://archive.today/20200609081439/https://www.idolator.com/7911316/10-years-of-christina-aguileras-bionic?chrome=1. dead. June 9, 2020. Idolator. Hive Media. Mike. Wass. June 8, 2020. June 10, 2020.
  16. Web site: 10 years on, Christina Aguilera's Bionic proves it really was ahead of its time. https://archive.today/20200609152833/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/135734/10-years-on-christina-aguileras-bionic-proves-it-really-was-ahead-of-its-time/. dead. June 9, 2020. Gay Times. Gay Times Ltd.. Daniel. Megarry. June 4, 2020. June 9, 2020.
  17. Web site: My Top 10 favourite tracks from Christina Aguilera's 'Bionic' album. https://archive.today/20210811164900/https://tanstopics.com/2021/06/04/my-top-10-favourite-tracks-christina-aguileras-bionic-album/. dead. 2021-08-11. Tan's Topic. June 4, 2021. August 11, 2021.
  18. Web site: The 20 greatest Christina Aguilera singles of all time, ranked from worst to best. The Tab. Tab Media Ltd. Harrison. Brocklehurst. March 23, 2022. https://archive.today/20220325175042/https://thetab.com/uk/2022/03/23/the-20-greatest-christina-aguilera-singles-of-all-time-ranked-from-worst-to-best-244703. March 25, 2022.
  19. Web site: Christina Aguilera's 40 Best Songs. Idolator. Mike. Wass. December 18, 2020. August 22, 2023.
  20. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=christina aguilera|chart=all}} Woohoo- Chrisina Aguilera]. 2010-06-19. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  21. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=christina aguilera|chart=all}} Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History]. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  22. Web site: Chart Log UK: New Entries Update. 2010-06-19. The Official Charts Company. Zobbel.
  23. Web site: South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: July 6, 2010 to July 12, 2010). Gaon Chart. July 12, 2010. May 25, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113054835/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E&current_week=25&current_year=2010&chart_Time=week. November 13, 2013.
  24. Web site: Cancelled! Singles that were scrapped at the last minute. Official Charts Company. October 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042343/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/cancelled-singles-that-were-scrapped-at-the-last-minute__20682/. January 12, 2018. July 13, 2024.
  25. Web site: Woohoo – Christina Aguilera – Last.fm. https://archive.today/20200605133012/https://www.last.fm/pt/music/Christina+Aguilera/_/Woohoo/+wiki. dead. June 5, 2020. ViacomCBS. June 5, 2020.
  26. Aguilera and Perry Invade MTV Movie Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20100610192635/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/109860. dead. June 10, 2010. Caryn. Ganz. 2010-06-22. Rolling Stone.
  27. Web site: Christina Aguilera Gets Steamy At 2010 MTV Movie Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20100610221154/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1640891/20100606/aguilera_christina.jhtml. dead. June 10, 2010. 2010-06-07. 2010-06-22. James. Montgomery. MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom).
  28. News: Christina Aguilera flops on stage and off. Jarett. Wieselman. 2010-06-22. The New York Post. 2010-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019013516/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/christina_aguilera_b6KZaF6jjZeEBIAgGjCLMP. 2012-10-19. dead.
  29. News: Christina Aguilera wears glowing LED heart on her groin during MTV Movie Awards 2010 performance. Soraya. Roberts. 2010-06-22. . 2010-06-07.
  30. Web site: Watch Christina Aguilera Perform 'Bionic,' 'Not Myself Tonight' And 'Woohoo' At The 2010 MTV Movie Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20100610233034/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2010/06/07/christina-aguilera-bionic-not-myself-tonight-woohoo-performance-2010-mtv-movie-awards-videos. dead. June 10, 2010. 2010-06-08. 2010-06-21. Tamar. Anitai. MTV Buzzworthy. MTV Networks.
  31. Web site: Christina Aguilera Concert Setlist at LadyLand Festival 2021. Setlist.fm. https://web.archive.org/web/20211119192906/https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/christina-aguilera/2021/the-brooklyn-mirage-brooklyn-ny-138c1129.html. November 19, 2021. December 14, 2021.
  32. Bionic. Bionic (Christina Aguilera album) . . 2010. booklet . RCA Records.
  33. Canadian Digital Song Sales Chart – Billboard – The week of June 5, 2010. Billboard. https://archive.today/20200719092014/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/2010-06-05. July 19, 2020. December 14, 2021. live.
  34. Web site: MTV Deutsche Black Charts . . MTV Networks . 2010-06-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100226205115/http://www.mtv.de/charts/black . February 26, 2010 .
  35. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=christina aguilera|chart=Dance/Electronic Digital Songs B}} Dance/Electronic Digital Songs for Christina Aguilera]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. April 28, 2013.
  36. Web site: DEUTSCHE BLACK CHART − JAHRESCHARTS 2010. https://archive.today/20160716175324/http://www.djcharts.de/jahrescharts2010/DBC/. dead. July 16, 2016. Deutsche Black Charts. June 5, 2020.
  37. Web site: Airplay Archive. FMQB. 2010-07-14. 2009-09-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20090901202213/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239. dead.
  38. Web site: Woohoo (feat. Nicki Minaj) – Single by Christina Aguilera. 2010-05-18. 2011-01-26. iTunes. Apple Inc..
  39. Web site: Christina Aguilera — Woohoo (feat. Nicki Minaj). Apple Inc. 2010-05-18.
  40. Web site: Christina Aguilera — Woohoo (feat. Nicki Minaj. 2010-05-18. Apple Inc.
  41. Web site: Christina Aguilera — Woohoo (feat. Nicki Minaj). Apple Inc. 2010-05-18.
  42. Web site: Christina Aguilera — Woohoo (feat. Nicki Minaj). Apple Inc. 2010-05-18.
  43. Web site: Christina Aguilera — Woohoo (feat. Nicki Minaj). 2010-05-18. Apple Inc.
  44. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20140925091649/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/woohoo-feat.-nicki-minaj-single/id371905970. Woohoo – Single. iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2014-09-25.

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