Pound the Alarm
| "Pound the Alarm" | |
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| Song |
"Pound the Alarm" is a song by Trinidadian-American recording artist Nicki Minaj, taken from her second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Production of "Pound the Alarm" was handled by RedOne, Carl Falk, and Rami Yacoub, while writing was provided by Minaj, RedOne, Falk, Yacoub, Bilal Hajji, and Achraf Jannusi.
The Eurodance and house-pop song received mixed reviews from music critics claiming that it was too similar to the album's lead single, "Starships", but some calling it a potential club hit. Upon the album release, "Pound the Alarm" charted on several major charts around the world, including the Canadian Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. It was certified platinum in Australia with sales of over 70,000 and gold in New Zealand. It was also certified Gold in the United States with sales over 500,000. Pound The Alarm has so far sold 554,729 (Gold) copies in the United States.
It was officially confirmed as Minaj's fourth single from the album, and second international single with a release date of July 2, 2012 in the UK and July 17, 2012 in the US.[1][2] The song debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart at #16, and #39 on the US Pop Chart. The song also marks Minaj's third solo top 10 entry in the UK, following her 2011 hit "Super Bass" and more recent single, "Starships", when it peaked at position #8 in August 2012.[3] It also peaked at #5 in Scotland.
Background and composition
On May 24, 2012; A poll was posted on Minaj's official website asking the fans to choose the next single(s). The poll is divided into three categories. The third and final category asks to choose between "Pound the Alarm", "Whip It", and "Va Va Voom". "Va Va Voom" had the most votes and won the poll. "Whip It" came in second and "Pound the Alarm" came in third.[4] Minaj confirmed on Twitter on June 6, 2012 that she's choosing "Pound the Alarm" as the next single instead of "Va Va Voom" due to the amount of radio requests "Pound the Alarm" is getting in the UK, Australia, and France.[5][6][7][2] In the United States, the song was released as the second mainstream single and fourth single overall from the album on July 17, 2012.[8]
"Pound the Alarm" is a Eurodance song produced by RedOne, Falk, and Rami. It is composed in common time in the key of C# minor, with a tempo of 125 BPM.[9] The song makes use of electronic dance, techno, and house-pop in its composition, while also being influenced by rave.[10][11] After each chorus there is a "frantic" eurodance and dubstep breakdown, and also features the sounds of alarms, weaving beats, and "seize-the-night" lyrics.[12][13]
Critical reception
"Pound the Alarm" has received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Andrew Unterberger of Popdust gave the song a mixed review, and compared it to works of Jennifer Lopez, Taio Cruz, The Black Eyed Peas, and Beyoncé.[12] Billboard editor Andrew Hampp gave the song a negative review, stating that it's a "Starships sound-alike" and saying the only difference is that "Nicki does a little bit more singing than she does on her current single, but otherwise the two tracks are virtually indistinguishable. Even the chorus is a rewrite."[14] Entertainment Weekly gave a positive review by describing the song as "The perfect trunk rattler to blast from your pink Barbie Bentley, with booming synths that build to a brain-numbing epiphany: 'Music. Makes Me. High.'”[15] Slant Magazine stated that "Pound The Alarm (along with Starships, Whip It, and Automatic) are "retro-techno-pop earsores comprised of indiscriminately arranged bits of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It", Rihanna's "We Found Love", and pretty much any recent Britney Spears or Katy Perry song you can name", adding that "Her repeated exhortation on "Pound the Alarm" to get things "hotter and hotter and sexy and hotter" is about as weak as club-jam come-ons get".[16]
Music video
The video was shot in Trinidad at Queen’s Park Savannah on July 4, 2012 and what was seen as a carnival themed video.[17] Open auditions were held for the video on set. 500 people are scheduled to appear in the music video and were asked to come wearing carnival attire in order to get into the video.[18] Director Benny Boom, who filmed Minaj's "Beez in the Trap" and "Right by My Side" videos, is also directing her "Pound the Alarm" video.[19] Minaj released a 'behind the scenes' video of the shoot on July 13, 2012. It premiered on Minaj's VEVO account on Tuesday, July 31, 2012.
Synopsis
The video for "Pound the Alarm" begins with Minaj on a building, singing and looking over the town. She pays tribute to Trinidad and Tobago, her birthplace, and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.[20] The video opens with a steelpan version of the song, and shots of different locations in Port of Spain. Then the flag of Trinidad and Tobago appears before Minaj is shown standing in a bird eye view of Port of Spain. Minaj is wearing a custom made Trinbagonian flag-themed bra and high-rise panties. She then is seen walking down an alleyway in a red carnival costume, joined by other women in the same Trinbagonian carnival attire, they are seen partying and dancing to the song. In this scene Minaj has a large feathered headdress on. Minaj is then seen onstage holding a concert with Trinbagonian artistes: Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, while confetti comes down and the audience throw up the Trinbagonian flag. Many Trinbagonian carnival characters appear in the video such as Dame Lorraine, Blue Devil, Jab Jab, Moko Jumbies (people walking on stilts) and others. Towards the end of the video Minaj is sitting on top of a stereo speaker, while fireworks appear in the night sky. Minaj forms a conga line, and does some choreography with her backup dancers. Minaj and other women are dancing sensually on each other; the local term for this dance is called "wining". Towards the end of the video Minaj is seen in front of her cousins from Trinidad,[21] and wrapping a Trinbagonian bandanna around her mouth. The video ends with Minaj walking towards a bright light still dressed in Carnival attire.
Of the video, Romeo's Corner said "Other than being a very colorful video and the beautiful Trinidad as its' backdrop, I don't see how this video could do anything with 'Pound The Alarm' other than having fun."[22]
Live performances
Minaj performed Pound the Alarm live at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend on June 23, 2012 as part of the line-up on the main stage. Minaj performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 13, 2012.[23] The song was also included in Minaj's Pink Friday Tour. She also performed the song on The Today Show, along with "Starships".
Credits and personnel
- Recording[24]
- Recorded at Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood, California, United States
- Mixed at Conway Recording Studios
- Personnel[24]
- Nicki Minaj – songwriter
- RedOne – songwriter, producer, backing vocals, instruments
- Carl Falk – songwriter, producer, mixing, instruments
- Rami Yacoub – songwriter, producer, mixing, instruments
- Bilal Hajji – songwriter, backing vocals
- Achraf Jannusi – songwriter, backing vocals
- Trevor Muzzy – recording, mixing, vocal editing
- Ariel Chobaz – recording
- Jon Sher – recording assistant
- Jeanette Olsson – backing vocals