Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston song)

"Beautiful Girls"
Single by Sean Kingston
from the album Sean Kingston
ReleasedMay 26, 2007 (2007-05-26)
Recorded2006–2007
Genre
Length
  • 4:02 (album version)
  • 3:43 (radio edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sean Kingston singles chronology
"Beautiful Girls"
(2007) 		"Me Love"
(2007)
Alternative cover
Music video
"Beautiful Girls" on YouTube

"Beautiful Girls" is the debut single by American singer Sean Kingston from his 2007 eponymous debut album; it was first released in 2007, when Kingston was 17 and is considered his "signature song". The song is about a boy who feels "suicidal" (radio edits have changed this to "in denial") over the prospect of dating a "beautiful girl" only to have her break up with him.

The song samples the 1961 song "Stand by Me" by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King.[3]

Rapper Lil Mama and actors Kenny Vibert and Lil' JJ are featured in the music video directed by Marcus Raboy, which hit 1 billion YouTube views on September 8, 2022.[4]

Lyrics controversy

[edit]

Due to the lyrics containing references to suicide, the song was ineligible to be played on Radio Disney. A re-recorded, clean version with new lyrics was added to the Radio Disney playlist on September 3, 2007.[5] On September 21, 2007, it was reported that the original version of the song was removed from the radio playlist of FM104 in Dublin due to the suicide references.[6]

Track listing

[edit]

US promo CD

  1. "Beautiful Girls" (main version) – 3:45
  2. "Beautiful Girls" (instrumental) – 3:45
  3. "Beautiful Girls" (a cappella) – 3:45

UK CD single

  1. "Beautiful Girls" (album version) – 4:02
  2. "Beautiful Girls" (a cappella) – 3:41
  3. "Beautiful Girls" (instrumental) – 3:40
  4. "Beautiful Girls" (remix) (featuring Fabolous and Lil' Boosie) – 3:27
  5. "Beautiful Girls" (video)

Official remixes

[edit]
  1. Official remix featuring Fabolous and Lil' Boosie – (3:28)
  2. Official remix featuring AC – (4:12)
  3. Official remix featuring Lil Mama – (3:50)

Official versions

[edit]
  • Main version, radio edit – 3:43
  • Album version, LP version – 4:02
  • Extended version, video version – 4:17

Chart performance

[edit]

The week after the song's digital release it hit number one on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs, debuting with 260,000 downloads in its first week (the second highest digital sales for a new song of 2007, only behind Rihanna's "Umbrella").[7] Kingston became the first artist born in the 1990s to top the Hot 100.[8] It has also occupied the top spot on the US Hot 100 Airplay and the Canadian Hot 100. It remained on top of the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. The song ended 2007 as the year's 15th biggest-selling single in the UK.[9] On the ARIA charts in Australia, it debuted at number one.

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[66] Gold 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[67] 2× Platinum 80,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[68] Platinum 15,000^
Germany (BVMI)[69] Platinum 300,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] Platinum 15,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[72] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[73]
Digital 		Platinum 1,000,000*
Ringtone
Canada (Music Canada)[74] 3× Platinum 120,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75]
Ringtone 		Platinum 20,000*
United States (RIAA)[76] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

JoJo version

[edit]
"Beautiful Girls Reply"
Song by JoJo
ReleasedJuly 20, 2007 (2007-07-20)
Recorded2007
GenreR&B
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
Producer(s)J.R. Rotem

"Beautiful Girls" (also known as "Beautiful Girls Reply") is a song by American singer JoJo. It was released digitally on July 20, 2007, as a cover response to "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston.[77] The song samples Ben E. King's classic "Stand by Me" and uses digital pitch correction technology on the vocals. Whereas Kingston's version is about a boy who is suicidal over the failure of his relationship with a "beautiful girl", JoJo speaks from a girl's perspective.

Chart performance

[edit]

The song debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart one month after its release.

Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[78] 39

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sean Kingston". Entertainment Weekly. August 13, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Smith, Troy L. (13 September 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 2000s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.whosampled.com/sample/206/Sean-Kingston-Beautiful-Girls-Ben-E.-King-Stand-by-Me/ [bare URL]
  4. ^ Rowley, Glenn (2022-09-08). "Sean Kingston's 'Beautiful Girls' Joins YouTube's Billion Views Club". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-11-03.
  5. ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala (October 27, 2007). "The Mouse In-House" (PDF). Billboard. p. 12.
  6. ^ Independent.ie - Station bans hit song about suicide (September 21, 2007)
  7. ^ "Kingston Has 'Beautiful' View Atop Revamped Hot 100". Billboard. August 2, 2007. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Music Industry Salesaccess-date=2007-09-08". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2012-06-30.
  9. ^ BBC Music. "Top 40 Singles of the Year 2007 ". Retrieved 2007-12-30
  10. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ^ "Issue 948" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  13. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  14. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ "Top 5 Brasil Música - Semanal: 29/10/2007 à 02/11/2007" (in Portuguese). Crowley Broadcast Analysis. Archived from the original on November 8, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sean Kingston Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. ^ Sean Kingston — Beautiful Girls. TopHit. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  18. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2007 in the date selector.
  19. ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in Danish). Tracklisten.
  20. ^ "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 42. October 20, 2007. p. 101.
  21. ^ "Sean Kingston: Beautiful Girls" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  22. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in French). Les classement single.
  23. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  24. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  25. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  26. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Beautiful Girls". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  28. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Top Digital Download.
  29. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  30. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  31. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Top 40 Singles.
  32. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". VG-lista.
  33. ^ "Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 43/2007 (05 Noiembrie - 11 Noiembrie 2007)" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200738 into search.
  36. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Singles Top 100.
  37. ^ "Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. ^ "Sean Kingston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  39. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  40. ^ "Sean Kingston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  41. ^ "Sean Kingston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  42. ^ "Sean Kingston Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  43. ^ "Sean Kingston Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2007". Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  45. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2007". austriancharts.at. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2007". Ultratop. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  47. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2007". Ultratop. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  48. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2007". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  49. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  50. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2007" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  51. ^ [1] Archived January 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  52. ^ "Dance Top 100 - 2007". Mahasz. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  53. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2007". Mahasz. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  54. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2007". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  55. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 2007". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  56. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  57. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2007" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  58. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  59. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2007". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  60. ^ "Urban Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week. January 12, 2008. p. 16. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  61. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  62. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  63. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  64. ^ "Promusicae 2008" (PDF) (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 9, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  65. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  66. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  67. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Music Canada.
  68. ^ "Guld og platin i November" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015.
  69. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sean Kingston; 'Beautiful Girls')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  70. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  71. ^ "Spanish digital single certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved August 30, 2022. Select Canciones under "Categoría", select 2008 under "Año". Select 28 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
  72. ^ "British single certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  73. ^ "American single certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  74. ^ "Canadian ringtone certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Music Canada.
  75. ^ "Spanish ringtone certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved June 17, 2022. Select Canciones under "Categoría", select 2008 under "Año". Select 39 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
  76. ^ "American ringtone certifications – Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls". Recording Industry Association of America.
  77. ^ Brian (July 20, 2007). "WHO SANG IT BETTER? JOJO VS. SEAN KINGSTON". Concrete Loop. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  78. ^ "JoJo - Chart history". Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 for JoJo. Retrieved 28 August 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
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