Work (Kelly Rowland song)

"Work"
Single by Kelly Rowland
from the album Ms. Kelly
ReleasedJanuary 18, 2008
Recorded2006
StudioHit Factory Criteria (Miami)
Genre
Length
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Scott Storch
  • Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd
  • Freemasons (remix)
Kelly Rowland singles chronology
"Ghetto"
(2007) 		"Work"
(2008) 		"Daylight"
(2008)

"Work" is a song by American recording artist Kelly Rowland. It was written by Rowland along with Scott Storch and Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd for her second studio album, Ms. Kelly (2007), while production was helmed by Storch and Boyd. An up-tempo party record that displays elements of funk and go-go, "Work" is composed in the key of E♭ minor. Lyrically, the song speaks of a woman who affirms to her man that actions speak louder than words and that she is not a woman who is easy to get to. "Work" was acclaimed by music critics who highlighted the pulsating beat, suggestive lyrics, and the fast and stuttered style in which Rowland sings.

Intended to be released as Ms. Kelly's lead single at one time or another, "Work" was eventually released as the album's second single during the first quarter of 2008 in most international music markets, excluding North America, where "Ghetto" featuring rapper Snoop Dogg was issued instead. Prominently pushed by a bhaṅgṛā-infused dance pop remix by British DJ duo Freemasons, which, according to Rowland, gave it "new life", "Work" enjoyed major commercial success and eventually became Rowland's best-charting solo single in years, reaching the top-ten in Australia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Turkiye and the United Kingdom.

The music video for "Work" was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Philip Andelman. It shows Rowland and her dancers posed in silhouette and shot against backdrops of vivid color and beam lighting that is used to create kaleidoscope effects. "Work" was part of Rowland's set list for her Ms. Kelly Tour.

Writing and recording

[edit]

"Work" was written by Rowland, Scott Storch and his protégé Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd.[1] The song is one out of two tracks which the trio crafted for Ms. Kelly and was among eight new tracks that Rowland recorded near completion in 2006 for the revamped version of My Story, the album's actual version.[2] Conceived during a studio session at The Hit Factory in Miami, Rowland, Storch and Boyd began to work on melodic ideas for the song over an instrumental track by Storch.[3] With most of its lyrics being written after returning from a night out in the city, composing for "Work" was eventually finished in "like twenty minutes," according to Rowland.[3] The team returned the next day for vocal recording.[4] Vocal production was helmed by Rowland and Boyd, while engineering was overseen by Conrad Golding and Rommel Nino Villanueva with assistance by Vadim Chislov.[1] Mixing was handled Jason Goldstein; Christian Baker served as his assistant.[1] Storch and Boyd received producer and co-producer credits, respectively.[1]

Initially titled "Put It in",[4] Rowland has described the song as "a party record, a record that'd make you get up and dance."[4] An up-tempo composition featuring funk production and go-go elements,[5] it is composed in E♭ minor and moves at a moderate tempo of 104 beats per minute. Set in common time, "Work" is written in the common verse-chorus form.[5] When asked if the song was about sexual intercourse in a 2008 interview with music website Popjustice, Rowland commented: "Oh no, it's actually very innocent [...] It's a little aggressive maybe. It's just a woman saying you can't catch me easy and you have to put in the work. It's about putting in work – that's it, of course.."[6] However, in 2010, she admitted that she previously shied away from explaining the true nature of the lyrics to the song, telling British gay lifestyle magazine Attitude: "The lyrics are very sexy, they were out of the box for me [...] But I've grown into my sexuality and I'm very comfortable with it. OK, yes, it means exactly what you think it means! I've never told anybody that, but yes, it's exactly what you think it is [...] I remember when the writer was writing it and he was like, 'Put it in, put it in', and I said, 'This is a nasty record'."[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Work" was highly acclaimed by music critics. In his review for New York Post, writer Dan Aquilante named "Work" Ms. Kelly's best track, calling it an "upbeat record that soulfully delves into contemporary funk."[8] Spence D. of media website IGN observed that the song flipped the early musical script of the album "for a hot minute, going for a more driven, throbbing thrust over which Rowland's flitters and flirts."[9] He further said that "it showcases her strengths, but also still highlights her delicate vocal limitations. It's a sticky wicket that bumps while breaking down."[9] Guardian journalist Alex MacPherson wrote that "the caffeinated 'Work' is the best [of] three club bangers on Ms. Kelly,"[10] while That Grape Juice cited it as "one of many highlights; with a pulsating beat and deliberately suggestive lyrics, Rowland doesn’t hold back."[11] RWD editor Emmanuel Ezugwu found "Work" a "high energy track that will undoubtedly be a future club banger. The constant cow bells adds to the frenzied pace of the record and Kelly’s vocals are fast and stuttered."[12]

About.com editor Mark Edward Nero called the song an "excellent, Destiny's Child-type song that [...] minimizes Kelly's vocal shortcomings behind an attention-catching beat."[13] BBC critic Gemma Padley also compared the track favorably to Rowland's former band's singles "Bug a Boo" (1999) and "Lose My Breath" (2004) due to "its jagged vocal and hip shaking beat."[14] Similarly, Sal Cinquemani from Slant remarked that "Storch delivers on “Work,” a funky, fast-paced thumper in the DC tradition,"[15] while Glenn Gamboa, writing for The News & Observer, noted that Rowland "sounds like her brassy Destiny's Child self on the elaborate" record.[16] However, San Francisco Weekly writer Dan Leroy was less emphathic with "Work", calling it "derivative," while Dotmusic's Jaime Gill considered the track a mis-step: "'Work' is a clear attempt to encroach on her old band mates' hyper-sexual territory, although it's hard to imagine Beyoncé resorting to as crass a single entendre as repeatedly demanding "put it in!" like a hooker on crystal meth."[17]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Although Columbia Records intended to release "Work" as Ms. Kelly's lead single at one time or another,[3] Polow da Don-produced "Like This" eventually replaced original lead single "Gotsta Go" in early 2007 as Rowland thought the song had no hit potential, influenced by negative blog comments she had read after snippets of "Work" had leaked on May 31, 2007.[18] First released in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2008, "Work" debuted at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart based on digital sales alone, two weeks prior to the song's physical release.[19] The biggest-moving single of the week, it rose twenty-four places to number seven on January 26, 2008, marking Rowland's fifth non-consecutive top-ten entry. On February 3, "Work" reached its peak position at number four on that particular chart. It then spent six weeks within the top-ten, the longest stay of any of Rowland's singles,[19] and, as of November 2011, became Rowland's fourth best-selling solo single in the United Kingdom with 250,000 copies being sold.[20][21]

In Australia, it reached number six on the ARIA Singles Chart and went on to be certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales of 70,000 copies.[22] It also reached the top-ten of the singles charts in Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy (where it was certified platinum for more than 31,000 digital downloads[23]), Switzerland and Turkey. It reached number one in Bulgaria, Poland and on UK R&B and German Black Charts. Following the less successful chart performances of "Like This" and "Ghetto", "Work" widely exceeded the success of its predecessor. It has since become the third highest-charting single of Rowland's solo career, behind her 2002 collaboration "Dilemma" and subsequent "Stole," entering foreign music markets where previous efforts failed to chart on.[24]

Music video

[edit]
Screenshot of Kelly Rowland and her female dancers in the music video for "Work" (Los Angeles; 2007).

An accompanying music video for "Work" with directed by American music video director and photographer Philip Andelman and was filmed in Los Angeles, California on July 26, 2007.[25] It was shot back to back with Rowland's video for her song "Comeback".[25][26] According to Rowland, the choreography-heavy "hype energized" video is about "movement and color and really cool angles, shots and lights."[27] Set amid a variety of fluorescent light environments, it features the singer and a team of dancers performing Bollywood-style dance numbers.[28] Rowland noted that the video was different from her previous videos since her styling introduced a sexier image of her.[27]

The imagery used in this video can be described as Rowland and her dancers posed in silhouette and shot against backdrops of vivid color and beam lighting. The beam lighting is used throughout the video to create a kaleidoscope effect which is used to break up each scene. During the last part of the clip the lighting schemes are reversed to show Rowland and her four dancers out of silhouette and performing a choreographed Bollywood-style routine against a black backdrop.[27][28] Two versions of the video were made; one with the original album version and one with the Freemasons radio edit.

"Work" was originally set to premiere during the September 10, 2007, episode of BET's Access Granted, along with the music video for "Ghetto", however, this did not materialize as there was confusion over which would be Rowland's next single, as the artist now had three videos shot. After her record label rescheduled the air date to October 22, 2007, the release was further pushed back, and the video finally premiered on the December 5, 2007, at SoUrban.com, the record label website for the Sony Urban Music division in the United Kingdom.[29] In 2009, the video for "Work" was temporarily removed from video-sharing platforms such as YouTube and MTV.com after the estate of American minimalist Dan Flavin declared that similarities with Flavin's work had led to legal action, involving monetary damages for the estate.[30]

Remixes

[edit]

In support of its single release, Columbia Records consulted several British DJs to produce remixes of "Work" for international music markets where, other than in the United States, pure pop and funky house had dominated radio and the charts in the mid-2000s.[31] While Steve Pitron and Max Sanna collaborated on a fast-paced bitpop version of the song, Russell Small and James Wiltshire from DJ duo Freemasons created a bhangra-infused dance pop remix of "Work" that blends disco music with Indian instruments.[32][33] Known for their Grammy-nominated work with Beyoncé,[34] Rowland's team approached Freemasons to rework her song after their club-oriented remix of "Déjà Vu" (2006) had received significantly more airplay on British radio than Beyoncé's R&B-led original.[31] When asked about the collaboration, Rowland elaborated in an interview with British music magazine Blues & Soul: "I remember my A&R telling me what a great job they'd done with Beyoncé's remixes and that we should give them a try. So we did."[32]

Columbia Records arranged for "Work" to be released in a tandem, with both versions being serviced to European radio.[31] In addition, a music video for the Freemasons remix was released.[32] Critics were favorable in their reviews of the remix, with Popjustice calling it "quite brilliant."[35] As with "Déjà Vu", it tested well with audiences and soon surpassed Storch's original production on radio, becoming a top ten hit on the charts.[31] Rowland further commented on the remix in 2008: "I'm really grateful to the Freemasons for coming along [...], because it's something that I could have got. You always need an extra brain there and they just gave it a new vibe."[4] However, while the song enjoyed international success, it was not released stateside. When asked why it was not issued in the United States, Rowland answered: "I don't know, seriously, I feel like I didn't have anything to do with the success of 'Work' in Europe. The Freemasons remix took the song to the next level, fans kept requesting it on the radio. Look at Destiny's Child's 'Say My Name', the fans in the U.S. made it a single, they made it happen, I didn't have that little extra with 'Work' over there."[18] In 2018, Wiltshire named "Work" his favorite remix.[31]

Track listings

[edit]

All tracks written by Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Scott Storch, and Kelly Rowland.[1]

European maxi single[36]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Work" (Freemasons Radio Edit)
3:11
2."Work" (Album Version)
3:28
3."Work" (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Radio Edit)
3:32
4."Work" (Freemasons Dub Mix)
7:07
5."Work" (Music video)  
Total length:17:19
European / Australian single[37]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Work" (Freemasons Radio Edit)
3:11
2."Work" (Album Version)
3:28
Total length:6:39

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies additional producer

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ms. Kelly.[1]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Work"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[79] Platinum 70,000^
Italy — 31,386[23]
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] Gold 400,000‡

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

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Work"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom January 18, 2008 Digital download (EP) RCA
[81]
January 21, 2008 Digital download
[82]
January 28, 2008 CD
[83]
February 18, 2008 Digital download (2-track)
[84]
United States February 26, 2008 Digital download (EP)
[85]
France March 3, 2008 CD Columbia
[86]
Germany March 7, 2008
Sony BMG
[49]
Australia March 15, 2008 Digital download (EP)
[87]
March 17, 2008 CD
[88]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Ms. Kelly (liner notes). Kelly Rowland. Columbia Records. 2007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Interview". MiddleChild Promotions. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "DJ B interviews Kelly Rowland". BBC/1Xtra. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d I Like Music (February 1, 2008). "Kelly Rowland chats to I Like Music". I Like Music. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Work music sheet". Musicnotes. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  6. ^ "Kelly Rowland talks about the 'Work' and her dinner plans". Popjustice. January 8, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  7. ^ Copsey, Robert (July 7, 2010). "Rowland's 'Work' was 'all about sex'". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  8. ^ Aquilante, Dan (December 31, 2019). "Kelly Rowland "Ms. Kelly"". New York Post.
  9. ^ a b Spence D. "Destiny's Child ex-pat serves up routine contemporary R&B". IGN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  10. ^ MacPherson, Alex (December 31, 2019). "Kelly Rowland, Ms Kelly". The Guardian. London.
  11. ^ Sam. "Album review". That Grape Juice. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  12. ^ Ezugwu, Emmanuel. "Online Exclusive: Ms. Kelly Album Review". RWD Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  13. ^ Nero, Mark Edward. "Ms. Kelly review". 8About.com. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  14. ^ Padley, Gemma. "Kelly Rowland – Ms. Kelly review". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  15. ^ "Kelly Rowland: Ms. Kelly – Music Review". Slant Magazine. July 3, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  16. ^ Glenn Gamboa. "R&B – Lifestyles – News & Observer". Newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  17. ^ Jaime Gill. "Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly". Dot Music. Archived from the original on July 17, 2007. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  18. ^ a b "Kelly Rowland Speaks To Top DC Fansite". That Grape Juice. May 18, 2008. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c "Kelly Rowland: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  20. ^ "The videocountdown "Kelly Rowland's Official Top 10", broadcast 10 December 2011 on MTV Music UK". Unrealitytv.co.uk. December 2, 2011. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  21. ^ "About Us – Our Partners". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  22. ^ "Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles Chart – Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  23. ^ a b "FIMI Annual Digital Sales Report – 2008" (PDF). fimi.it. February 1, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Kelly Rowland – Work". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Kelly Rowland shoots new video". So-Urban.com. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  26. ^ "Partizan Music Videos by Philip Andelman". Partizan.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  27. ^ a b c "Kelly Rowland 'Work' Interview". joynt.tv. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Flavin In Music Video". artnet.com. July 29, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  29. ^ "Kelly Rowland at SoUrban.com". Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  30. ^ "Flavin Estate Goes After Former Destiny's Child Singer Kelly Rowland". minusspace.com. April 23, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c d e Copsey, Rob (August 3, 2018). "Never Forget: When The Freemasons' remixes took songs to the top of the charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  32. ^ a b c Lewis, Pete. "Kelly Rowland: Fulfilling Her Destiny". Blues & Soul. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  33. ^ Myers, Justin (November 1, 2019). "Remixes that gave songs a big chart boost". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  34. ^ "49th GRAMMY Nominees Announced". Grammy.com. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. December 7, 2006. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  35. ^ "Kelly Rowland — 'Work' (Freemasons Remix)". Popjustice. November 21, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  36. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work". Spotify. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  37. ^ "Work by Kelly Rowland". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  38. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  39. ^ "Issue 948" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  40. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  41. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  42. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  43. ^ Kelly Rowland — Work. TopHit. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  44. ^ Kelly Rowland — Work. TopHit. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  45. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2009 in the date selector.
  46. ^ "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 12. March 22, 2008. p. 83.
  47. ^ "Kelly Rowland: Work" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  48. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  49. ^ a b "Kelly Rowland – Work" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  50. ^ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Global Dance Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  51. ^ "Greece Singles Chart (2008-05-31)". Billboard. May 31, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  52. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  53. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Work". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  54. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  55. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kelly Rowland" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  56. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  57. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 25, 20125.
  58. ^ "Kelly Rowland – Work". VG-lista. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  59. ^ "Romanian Top 100". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original (Please see "Issue 16" of the year 2008) on May 10, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  60. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Jun 12, 2008". TopHit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  61. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2008". TopHit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  62. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: May 8, 2008". TopHit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  63. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  64. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200832 into search.
  65. ^ "Turkish Top 20". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  66. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  67. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  68. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2008". ARIA Charts (ARIA). Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  69. ^ "Australian Top 50 Urban Singles of 2008". ARIA Charts (ARIA). Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  70. ^ "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2008)". TopHit. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  71. ^ "Year End Charts: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  72. ^ "Classements-Annuels 2008" (in French). Disqueenfrance.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  73. ^ "Classements-Annuels 2008" (in French). Disqueenfrance.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  74. ^ "Éves összesített listák – MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  75. ^ "Dutch Download Year-End Chart 2008". Media Control AG/Hung Medien. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  76. ^ a b c "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2008". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  77. ^ "Swiss Year-End Chart 2008". Media Control AG/Hung Medien. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  78. ^ "2002 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  79. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  80. ^ "British single certifications – Kelly Rowland". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  81. ^ "Work (Remixes) – EP". Apple Music. January 18, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  82. ^ "Work (Freemasons Radio Edit) – Single". Apple Music. January 21, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  83. ^ "Music Upfront" (PDF). Music Week. January 5, 2008. p. 8. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  84. ^ "Work – Single". Apple Music. February 18, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  85. ^ "Work (Remix Bundle) – EP". Apple Music. February 26, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  86. ^ "Work – Kelly Rowland – CD single" (in French). France: Fnac. March 3, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  87. ^ "Work – Single". Apple Music. March 15, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  88. ^ "New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 17th March 2008" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 17, 2008. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022 – via Pandora archive.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Work_(Kelly_Rowland_song)&oldid=1255258096"