Get Ur Freak On
"Get Ur Freak On" is a song by American recording artist Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and produced by Elliott and Timbaland for her third studio album Miss E... So Addictive (2001). Based on heavy bhangra elements, a popular music and dance form from the Punjab state of India,[2] the song features a six-note base that is a Punjabi melody played on a tumbi and rhythm and bassline played on tabla.[3]
"Get Ur Freak On" | ||||
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Single by Missy Elliott | ||||
from the album Miss E... So Addictive | ||||
Released | March 13, 2001[1] | |||
Recorded | 2001 | |||
Studio | Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:56 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
Missy Elliott singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Get Ur Freak On" on YouTube |
Released as the album's first single on March 13, 2001, the track reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Internationally, "Get Ur Freak On" became a top ten success in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where it became her first solo top ten hit, peaking at number four. A remix of the song featuring Nelly Furtado was a dance club hit during this period, and was used both in the soundtrack and in the background of the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) starring Angelina Jolie. The song is also heard in The Rundown (2003) starring Dwayne Johnson (remixed with AC/DC's "Back in Black") and The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) starring Steve Carell.
In December, the song was listed 14th on Rolling Stone's Best Songs of the Decade ranking, and later at number 466 on their The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time updated list of 2010.[4] In 2002, "Get Ur Freak On" was named the best single released in the year 2001 by The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual year-end critics' poll. The song also lists at number seven on Pitchfork Media's Top 500 Songs of the 2000s and number 16 on VH1's Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop. In 2011, NME placed it at number 17 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[5] In April 2014, the song was remixed with The Black Keys' song "Keep Me" for the original soundtrack to Neighbors (2014).[6] It was heard once in the TV spots for Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween.
On the Billboard magazine issue dated February 21, 2015, "Get Ur Freak On" re-entered at #40, more than a decade after its original chart run. This re-entry was spawned by Missy Elliott's performance at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show that occurred earlier in the month.
Background
At the beginning of the song, a man says in Japanese: 「これからみんなでめちゃくちゃ踊って騒ごう、騒ごう。」 "Kore kara minna de mechakucha odotte. Sawagou, sawagou". Translated into English, it means: "Everyone start dancing together wildly now. Let's make some noise, let's make some noise." Before the second chorus (after Missy says "Let me throw you some"), the song samples German artist Karunesh’s song “Solitude” from the album Global Spirit. The outro of the song features the man who speaks Japanese saying "Ichi, ni, san, shi", translating to "One, two, three, four."
The music video was directed by Dave Meyers. Rappers Ludacris, LL Cool J, Timbaland, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, Master P, Spliff Star, Lil' Romeo, Eve, Nate Dogg and singer Nicole Wray make cameo appearances in the video.
This tune was also utilized in Bubba Sparxxx's debut single "Ugly", in whose video Elliott makes a cameo.
Cover versions
In 2005, Scottish acoustic rocker KT Tunstall released her version of "Get Ur Freak On" performed for BBC Radio Live Lounge on certain versions of the single for "Suddenly I See".
Anda Adam's single "Nai, Nai" from her debut album Confidențial (2005) samples the Elliot's track.
Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra released a surf rock rendition on the 2007 album "Hits the Hits."
American rock band Eels also released a version of "Get Ur Freak On" on Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. I, having frequently performed it live during the Shootenanny! tour several years previously.
On the comedy show Fonejacker, the track was parodied by Kayvan Novak as he tried to get a record shop owner to identify the track by singing the tune with nonsensical lyrics.[7]
In Britney Spears' Britney: Piece of Me revamped Vegas residency show, "Get Ur Freak On" was performed as a medley along with other Elliott songs.
Though not covered, the melody of the song was sampled in the song “ILoveYourAunt” by American rappers A$AP Ferg and $ki Mask the Slump God.
Japanese experimental music group Satanicpornocultshop sampled lyrics from "Get Ur Freak On" in their 2010 song "[r.i.p.] Tide."
Track listings
United States12-inch vinyl[8]
Promotional CD[9]
United Kingdom12-inch special edition[10]
CD single[11]
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Europe12-inch vinyl[12]
Promotional CD[13]
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Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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References
- Kenon, Marci (April 14, 2001). "Elliott's Third Album Is 'So Addictive'" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 113 no. 15. p. 36. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- Archived April 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Archived June 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME.COM. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- "iTunes - Music - Neighbors (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". iTunes. Apple.com. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- "YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- Get Ur Freak On (US 12-inch vinyl disc). Missy Elliott. Elektra Records. 2001. 67190-0.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Get Ur Freak On (US promo CD liner notes). Missy Elliott. Elektra Records. 2001. PRCD 7480-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Get Ur Freak On (UK 12-inch vinyl disc). Missy Elliott. Code Blue. 2001. BLU 021 T, 7559-67255-0.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Get Ur Freak On (UK CD single liner notes). Missy Elliott. Elektra Records. 2001. E7206CD, 7559-67206-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Get Ur Freak On (European 12-inch vinyl sleeve). Missy Elliott. Elektra Records. 2001. E7206T, 7559-67205-0.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Get Ur Freak On (European promo CD liner notes). Missy Elliott. Elektra Records. 2001. PR02479.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Australian-charts.com – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Austriancharts.at – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Ultratop.be – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Ultratop.be – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Missy Elliott Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18 no. 19. May 5, 2001. p. 19. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- "Lescharts.com – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Get Ur Freak On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- "Italiancharts.com – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". Top Digital Download. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- "Charts.nz – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Swisscharts.com – Missy %22Misdemeanor%22 Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "Missy Elliott: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- "Missy Elliott Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- "Missy Elliott Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "Rapports annuels 2001" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- "British single certifications – Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- Copsey, Rob (August 13, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Top 20 biggest singles on the Official UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- "American single certifications – Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 24, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.