The Way I Are
Encyclopedia
"The Way I Are" is a song by Timbaland
, released as the second single from his second album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
. The song is known in part for its incorrect grammar. The song samples "Push it
", a 1987 hit by group Salt-n-Pepa
, and features R&B
singer Keri Hilson
and uncredited vocals from rapper D.O.E.
, both of whom are signed to Timbaland's Mosley Music Group
label. It was released digitally worldwide in May 2007.
The song is featured in a 2007 McDonald's
commercial; it not only plays in the background, but the viewer sees at the beginning a DJ
placing the "The Way I Are" record onto a turntable. The song was also featured on Dancing with the Stars
when Spice Girls
member Melanie Brown
performed her freestyle dance to the live band's version of the song with her professional partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy
. The song is on the soundtrack of NBA Live 08
on all consoles. It was featured in the movie Step Up 2: The Streets where it was Moose's ringtone (played by Adam Sevani). It was also featured in the pilot of the CW's hit Gossip Girl
. The song scored Timbaland his second #1 single in the United Kingdom
, after "Give It to Me
"' had topped the listing that April.
in Greater Manchester
, United Kingdom
, on May 18, 2007. It was directed by Shane Drake
.
Drake commented on the video and said:
The video version includes an extra verse from Timbaland's brother Sebastian
. This verse was added to 'pad out' the song, as the album version of the song has an elongated period of time in which nothing but the beat is played.
Though being unusual for American music video productions, the video world premiered and received its first official airing on June 15 on the German music television channel VIVA.
The video also includes three English freestyle football
players. A "director's cut" of the video is now on YouTube
and it features Timbaland in a black cab and shows him in a more casual perspective. The music video has received over 80 million views on YouTube.
European CD single
French CD single
at number seventy-eight, climbed to #40 on June 30, 2007, and eventually peaked at number three on August 25, 2007 for four non-consecutive weeks, and eventually spent nineteen consecutive weeks inside the top ten. "The Way I Are" has also spent three consecutive weeks at number-one on the U.S. Billboard Pop 100
, becoming Timbaland's second number-one on this chart. The song has sold 2,562,000 downloads to date in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at #84 in June 2007 and climbed its way up the charts reaching #1 on 4 August for 2 weeks. The song went on to spend an impressive 45 weeks inside the UK Top 100
.
The song peaked at number one for five consecutive weeks on the Irish Singles Chart
, and also peaked at number two for two non-consecutive weeks in New Zealand
, spending a total of twenty-one weeks on the chart. It was ranked as the third-biggest song of 2007 there. The song also peaked at number four in Austria
, and number five in Germany
, where it is Timbaland's second consecutive top-five hit in both nations. In France, a mix of the song featuring French singer Tyssem
was released, and peaked at number two becoming Timbaland's highest peaking single there.
"The Way I Are" peaked at number one on the Canadian Hot 100
and the European Hot 100 Singles Chart, as well as peaking at number one in countries such as Norway
and Israel
. The song became Timbaland's highest peaking single thus far in the Netherlands where it peaked at number four, until "Apologize
" peaked at number two.
The song became a major hit in Australia
where it reached number one, and became Timbaland's first top-ten entry on the ARIA charts
(not counting a plethora of collaborations) and also his first number-one single. The single has become so successful that it managed to revive interest in not only Timbaland's album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
but also his two previous singles "Give It to Me
" and "Throw It on Me
", with "Give It to Me" re-entering the top 50 and "Throw It on Me" entering the top 50 for the first time. The Way I Are got an ARIA certification of platinum.
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, released as the second single from his second album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Shock Value, is the second solo studio album, and fifth album overall, by record producer and rapper Timbaland. It is Timbaland's first release on his own imprint, the Interscope Records-distributed Mosley Music Group. Shock Value features a long list of guest artists, among them Fall Out Boy,...
. The song is known in part for its incorrect grammar. The song samples "Push it
Push It (Salt-N-Pepa song)
"Push It" is a song by the group Salt-N-Pepa, released as a single in 1986. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA...
", a 1987 hit by group Salt-n-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
, and features R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
and uncredited vocals from rapper D.O.E.
D.O.E.
D.O.E. is an American rapper/songwriter, born in North Side Queens.-Biography:Growing up in North side Queens, D.O.E. looked up to Hip-Hop legends like Slick Rick, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur and Wu-Tang Clan for years before deciding to showcase his passion for rap music...
, both of whom are signed to Timbaland's Mosley Music Group
Mosley Music Group
Mosley Music Group is a record label created by producer Tim "Timbaland" Mosley. It operates as an imprint of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.-History:...
label. It was released digitally worldwide in May 2007.
The song is featured in a 2007 McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
commercial; it not only plays in the background, but the viewer sees at the beginning a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
placing the "The Way I Are" record onto a turntable. The song was also featured on Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
when Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
member Melanie Brown
Melanie Brown
Melanie Janine "Scary Spice" Brown , often better known as Mel B, is an English pop singer-songwriter, actress, author and television presenter...
performed her freestyle dance to the live band's version of the song with her professional partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maksim Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-American Latin Ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. He is best known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series Dancing with the Stars, on which he first appeared in season two...
. The song is on the soundtrack of NBA Live 08
NBA Live 08
NBA Live 08 is the 2007 installment of the NBA Live series by EA Sports. It was released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PC , and PlayStation Portable. This is the first NBA video game to include all three next-generation consoles...
on all consoles. It was featured in the movie Step Up 2: The Streets where it was Moose's ringtone (played by Adam Sevani). It was also featured in the pilot of the CW's hit Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
. The song scored Timbaland his second #1 single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, after "Give It to Me
Give It to Me (Timbaland song)
"Give It to Me" is a song recorded by Timbaland, with featured artists Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, for Timbaland's second solo album, Shock Value . It was released as the album's first single...
"' had topped the listing that April.
Music video
The music video for the song was shot in the City of SalfordCity of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, on May 18, 2007. It was directed by Shane Drake
Shane Drake
Shane C. Drake is an American music video director originally from Redding, California. He has directed videos for bands such as Trivium, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Angels & Airwaves, Flo Rida, Timbaland, Blindside, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Almost, Hawthorne Heights and...
.
Drake commented on the video and said:
The video version includes an extra verse from Timbaland's brother Sebastian
Sebastian (rapper)
Garland Mosley , commonly known by his stage name Sebastian, is an American rapper and songwriter...
. This verse was added to 'pad out' the song, as the album version of the song has an elongated period of time in which nothing but the beat is played.
Though being unusual for American music video productions, the video world premiered and received its first official airing on June 15 on the German music television channel VIVA.
The video also includes three English freestyle football
Freestyle Football
Freestyle football, also known as freestyle soccer in North America, is the art of expressing yourself with a football, while performing various tricks with any part of the body...
players. A "director's cut" of the video is now on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and it features Timbaland in a black cab and shows him in a more casual perspective. The music video has received over 80 million views on YouTube.
Track listing
UK CD single- "The Way I Are" (Extended Version) (featuring Keri Hilson, D.O.E. & Sebastian)
- "The Way I Are" (Timbaland vs. NephewNephew (band)Nephew is a Danish rock band, formed in 1996, in Århus. They had their breakthrough in 2004 with the release of their second album USADSB. The release coincided with lead singer Simon Kvamm's highly successful appearances on Danish television in the cult comedy show Drengene fra Angora, which...
) (featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E.)
European CD single
- "The Way I Are" (Radio Edit) (featuring Keri Hilson)
- "Give It to Me" (Laugh at 'em) Remix (featuring Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z)
- "The Way I Are" (Timbaland vs. Nephew) (featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E.)
- "The Way I Are" (Video)
French CD single
- "The Way I Are" (French Version) (featuring Tyssem)
- "The Way I Are" (Radio Edit) (featuring Keri Hilson)
Official versions and remixes
- Album Version (featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E.) - 2:59
- Extended/Video Version (featuring Keri Hilson, D.O.E. & Sebastian) - 3:34
- Radio Edit (featuring Keri Hilson) - 3:19
- Instrumental - 3:34
- Japanese Version (featuring Hiromi & WISEWISE (music), better known by his stage name Wise, is a Japanese hip hop musician who raps in both Japanese and English. His father is Japanese and his mother is American and during high school he lived in the United States. He is affiliated with the creative group Kazenohito...
) - 3:12 - French Version (featuring TyssemTyssemTyssem is a 26-year-old Pop-Hip hop French singer/songwriter. She was born in Paris in 1984, and grew up in the south of France, around Toulouse. She later moved back to Paris to pursue her musical career.-Biography:...
) - 3:23 - Timbaland vs. Nephew (Remix) (featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E.) - 3:50
- OneRepublic Remix (featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E.) - 3:33
- Jatins Desi Mix (featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E.) - 3:30
- Madcow Studios Mix "Ulduar"(Featuring Summergale & Cranius, a World of Warcraft version) - 3:17
Cover versions
- Danish rock band NephewNephewNephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
has remixed this song, including additional lyrics. - A World of WarcraftWorld of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
inspired parody was produced in which the two vocalists entice each other to go on a quest to Ulduar.
Release history
| Country | Release date |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Europe |
Chart performances
On the issue date of June 16, 2007, the single debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at number seventy-eight, climbed to #40 on June 30, 2007, and eventually peaked at number three on August 25, 2007 for four non-consecutive weeks, and eventually spent nineteen consecutive weeks inside the top ten. "The Way I Are" has also spent three consecutive weeks at number-one on the U.S. Billboard Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
, becoming Timbaland's second number-one on this chart. The song has sold 2,562,000 downloads to date in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at #84 in June 2007 and climbed its way up the charts reaching #1 on 4 August for 2 weeks. The song went on to spend an impressive 45 weeks inside the UK Top 100
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The song peaked at number one for five consecutive weeks on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, and also peaked at number two for two non-consecutive weeks in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, spending a total of twenty-one weeks on the chart. It was ranked as the third-biggest song of 2007 there. The song also peaked at number four in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and number five in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where it is Timbaland's second consecutive top-five hit in both nations. In France, a mix of the song featuring French singer Tyssem
Tyssem
Tyssem is a 26-year-old Pop-Hip hop French singer/songwriter. She was born in Paris in 1984, and grew up in the south of France, around Toulouse. She later moved back to Paris to pursue her musical career.-Biography:...
was released, and peaked at number two becoming Timbaland's highest peaking single there.
"The Way I Are" peaked at number one on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
and the European Hot 100 Singles Chart, as well as peaking at number one in countries such as Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The song became Timbaland's highest peaking single thus far in the Netherlands where it peaked at number four, until "Apologize
Apologize (song)
"Apologize" is a song written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder for OneRepublic's debut album Dreaming Out Loud. A remix version was included on the Timbaland album, Shock Value and on the deluxe version of Dreaming Out Loud...
" peaked at number two.
The song became a major hit in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where it reached number one, and became Timbaland's first top-ten entry on the ARIA charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
(not counting a plethora of collaborations) and also his first number-one single. The single has become so successful that it managed to revive interest in not only Timbaland's album, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Shock Value, is the second solo studio album, and fifth album overall, by record producer and rapper Timbaland. It is Timbaland's first release on his own imprint, the Interscope Records-distributed Mosley Music Group. Shock Value features a long list of guest artists, among them Fall Out Boy,...
but also his two previous singles "Give It to Me
Give It to Me (Timbaland song)
"Give It to Me" is a song recorded by Timbaland, with featured artists Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, for Timbaland's second solo album, Shock Value . It was released as the album's first single...
" and "Throw It on Me
Throw It on Me
"Throw It on Me" is a collaboration between Timbaland and The Hives from the album Timbaland Presents Shock Value. The Hives recorded vocals and guitar for the song. Timbaland played the song when he was a guest on Elliot in the Morning on DC 101. This song has also been on Verizon advertisements...
", with "Give It to Me" re-entering the top 50 and "Throw It on Me" entering the top 50 for the first time. The Way I Are got an ARIA certification of platinum.
Peak positions
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Russia (EMI Russian Music Charts The Russian Music Charts are Russian music industry standard popularity rankings compiled weekly by 2M and Tophit . Albums and tracks rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through retail data captured electronically each week from Russian music retailers... ) |
5 |
Year-end charts
| End of year chart (2007) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 11 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 23 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 17 |
| French Singles Chart | 13 |
| German Singles Chart | 16 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 4 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 22 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 21 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (2000–2009) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
53 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Platinum | 2007 | 70,000 |
| Belgium | Gold | September 29, 2007 | 25,000 |
| Denmark | 3x Platinum | November 9, 2007 | 45,000 |
| New Zealand | Gold | August 20, 2007 | 7,500 |
Chart successions
External links
- Official "The Way I Are" music video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....