Say Somethin' (Mariah Carey song)

"Say Somethin'"
Song

"Say Somethin'" is a song written by Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Chad Hugo, and Pharrell Williams for Carey's tenth studio album The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). Snoop Dogg appears as a featured artist on the track rapping one verse. It received mixed reviews from music critics and was released in 2006 as the album's sixth single (fifth in North America). It peaked outside the top forty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the top forty in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Writing and theme

"Say Somethin'" and "To the Floor" (also co-written by The Neptunes), another track from The Emancipation of Mimi, are the first songs since Carey's debut album Mariah Carey (1990) which she has not produced. The Neptunes have implemented a strict policy of not allowing others to co-produce with them (except on Beyoncé Knowles's "B'Day" and Madonna's "Hard Candy"). Because Carey had wanted to work with The Neptunes for a substantial amount of time, she conceded and did not produce the songs.

The lyrics of "Say Somethin'" describe two people being introduced at a nightclub. They begin to experience mutual lust, however, each is waiting for the other to first express their feelings for one another. Eventually, the woman becomes irritated and takes the initiative ("If it's worth your while, say somethin', say somethin'"). The man reveals that the song was produced by the Neptunes and then proposes a joint-visit to the restroom to engage in a quickie; it is not revealed whether or not the woman accepts.

History

"Say Somethin'" became the first song from The Emancipation of Mimi to leak onto the internet when it did so in November 2004. Music websites such as All Access, record stores, magazines, MTV, Billboard and Carey's record company Universal Music Group reported numerous radio impact dates for the single. In late 2004, the Friday Morning Quarterback magazine's online edition at FMQB.com said that the press was the one generating the buzz on the song and wrote on their website: "Get ready for a change of style, substance and texture. If you've had the good fortune to get a sample of the new single from your Island rep, lucky you ... The production is way fresh and Mariah's approach is just as refreshing ... Mariah should be back in Pop music's prime time in no time!" The leaked track was already being played on several radio stations back in 2004 due to requests from listeners. Erik Bradley, music director at WBBM-FM/B-96 Chicago, described the song as an "instant mega-smash" on radio.

Promotional material for the song had already been commissioned when "It's like That," which was one of the very last songs recorded for the album, replaced it. In December 2004 Universal Music Italy finally announced that the album's first single had been changed and that "Mariah is still recording her album under the supervision of label executive L.A. Reid, and is possibly recording a new song that will be the lead single." Some time later, Snoop Dogg told MTV.com that "Say Somethin'" would be the third single. Carey protested the release of the song, instead suggesting "Shake It Off" as the album's third single, and publicly stated in interviews that her fans wanted "Shake It Off" as a single more than "Say Somethin'."

Despite Carey's comments, her record label scheduled "Say Somethin'" for release as the next single. Carey continued to lobby for the release of "Shake It Off," and the record company eventually granted her wish and replaced "Say Somethin'" with "Shake It Off." A compromise was formed to release the songs as a double A-side. The plan was to have "Shake It Off" released to Rhythmic radio stations and "Say Somethin'" released to top-forty Mainstream/pop stations. "Shake It Off" was an instant hit on both formats before "Say Somethin'" had been solicited, and the release of the song was again cancelled.

The song was then slated for release as the third single outside of the U.S. and in the UK, but again, those plans were aborted and "Get Your Number" became the album's third non-U.S. single.

It was also rumored to be the third official single in the U.S, but the label wanted to re-release "The Emancipation of Mimi" with the third single being the new single from the re-release "Don't Forget About Us."

Reception

"Say Somethin'" received different reactions from music critics. Bill Lamb of About.com said of the song: "It is here at last and it is an event ... with the near perfect vocal match of Mariah Carey and rapper Snoop Dogg nothing more is needed... the combination is magic. You will be singing this tune and dancing along for months to come."

Other reviewers, such as Billboard magazine, were less receptive to the song: "Underneath the surface, the scantly produced drum'n'bass album track is simply a series of gimmicks, the kind employed to boost lesser artists' careers. The melody line is palpable and Carey's vocal is appreciable, but "Somethin'" is mostly a reminder of a time when Carey required others to boost her chart heft. Those days are over. "Fly Like a Bird" [the album's sixth U.S. single] is a classic; why muddy the water with this release?"

"Say Somethin'" was released as a single a year and a half after initial reports that it would be released. It officially impacted rhythmic and Top 40 radio stations in the U.S. on April 3, 2006, while "Fly like a Bird" was released to Urban radio stations. It was the first single from The Emancipation of Mimi to miss the top twenty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100; it peaked at 79 and remained on the chart for five weeks.

In the UK "Say Somethin'" did not perform as well as Carey's previous singles, reaching number 27 and remaining in the top forty for one week.

Video and remixes

The music video was directed by Paul Hunter and was filmed in Paris, France in March 2006. Producer and co-writer Pharrell Williams is featured as Carey's love interest, and Carey can be seen in several outfits from the Louis Vuitton 2006 Spring Collection in the video. Snoop Dogg's parts were subsequently filmed in the U.S. According to Carey, getting Dogg to Paris for the video shoot proved to be just too much: "If you guys think I’m a diva, Snoop is like next-level hip-hop king", she said. "So his requirements to get to Paris are like, beyond platinum edition." The video premiered on MTV on April 12, 2006, the one-year anniversary of the release of The Emancipation of Mimi, and it reached number 1 for five non-consecutive days on MTV's Total Request Live countdowns.

Carey commissioned several of her favorite disc jockeys to remix the supposed first single from her new album. In November 2004 Peter Rauhofer's official site announced that he had remixed "Say Somethin'," although the remix was never released to the public. A November 15, 2004 Billboard magazine article reported that the first track from The Emancipation of Mimi would be remixed by former Pound Boys member David C., but that version never materialized. In late 2005 a house remix by frequent collaborator David Morales was leaked onto the internet. It was a low-quality recording of the demo the DJ originally produced in late 2004 and presented at a club in Montreal; fans nicknamed the demo the Stereo Experience mix. In March 2006 several official versions of the Morales remixes had been pressed on promo CDs. These dance remixes were re-recorded with all-new vocals by Carey (without Snoop Dogg). According to Morales himself, audience reaction was very positive. On May 27, 2006 the song took the number 1 spot on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Songs chart (becoming the fourth single from The Emancipation of Mimi to do so), and two further club remixes were released: the Sugardip Mix and Sugardip Dub.

The urban remix is called the So So Def remix and was produced by long-time collaborator Jermaine Dupri. Carey re-recorded her vocals on the track and changed the chord progression and a few lines of the original lyrics. The So So Def remix, which includes a guest appearance by rap group Dem Franchize Boyz, takes the song into a whole different direction with a darker, hip-hop beat whilst retaining the song's feel-good vibe. The So So Def remix became available to download on the U.S. iTunes Store on July 11, 2006.

Formats and track listings

European CD single

1. "Say Somethin'" (Album Version)
2. "Say Somethin'" (Morales Radio Edit)

Australian/European CD maxi-single

1. "Say Somethin'" (Album Version)
2. "Say Somethin'" (Stereo Anthem Mix)
3. "Say Somethin'" (Stereo Dub)
4. "Say Somethin'" (Video)

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	26
European Singles Chart	60
German Singles Chart	63
Irish Singles Chart	23
Swiss Singles Chart	55
UK Singles Chart	27
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	79
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1

Release history

Country	Release Date
United States	April 3, 2006 (2006-04-03)
United Kingdom	June 5, 2006 (2006-06-05)