La La La (Naughty Boy song)
"La La La" | ||||||||||
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Single by Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith | ||||||||||
from the album Hotel Cabana | ||||||||||
Released | 18 May 2013 | |||||||||
Format | Digital download | |||||||||
Recorded |
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Genre | ||||||||||
Length | 3:40 | |||||||||
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Writer(s) |
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Naughty Boy singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"La La La" is a single by British record producer Naughty Boy, featuring vocals from Sam Smith. It was released on 18 May 2013 as the second single from Naughty Boy's debut album Hotel Cabana (2013) and the deluxe version of Smith's debut album In the Lonely Hour. The track reached number one in 26 countries, including on the UK Singles Chart.
At its time of release it was confirmed by the Official Charts Company as the fastest selling single of 2013 in the UK.[3] By the end of 2013, "La La La" was the sixth fastest-selling single of the year in the UK, selling 145,000 copies in the first week.[4] This song is used as the theme song for the film The Internship.
Production and composition
According to Naughty Boy, "La La La" was conceived from experiences similar to the song "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, which "came from something [he] felt". He states that, "It was just before everything popped up and she was somebody I neglected while I was trying to find me. When I found me, she found it best to neglect me. It's cool... Covering my ears like a kid and saying, 'La. La. La.' It's the man-kid in me."[5]
"La La La" was written by Khan, Jonny Coffer, Al-Hakam El Kaubaisy, Frobisher Mbabaz, James Murray, Jimmy Napes, Mustafa Omer, and Sam Smith.[6] Although Naughty Boy originally intended to write the song with Emeli Sandé, she was on tour at the time, and he wrote it with Sam Smith instead. Naughty Boy said "It just had to be Sam because where it went from there is perfect.”[7] Naughty Boy and Komi produced the track, with co-production handled by Mojam.[6] The song was produced using Logic Pro, FL Studio 11 and Reason.[8] It was recorded and mixed at Cabana Studios (Ealing Studios) in Ealing, West London, and mastered by Stuart Hawkes at Metropolis Mastering Studios in London, UK.[6] The song was finished in three hours,[9] and was the last done for Hotel Cabana.[10]
"La La La" plays for three minutes and 40 seconds. The piece is performed in F♯ minor, with the chord progression of F♯m—C♯m—D followed for most of the song, and Sam Smith's vocal ranges two octaves in the key of C♯, from a fourth to a sixth octave. The song performs in common time at a tempo of 126 beats per minute. The track has tones of liquid drum & bass and old-school garage, and a hook layered with a Hindi/Bollywood vocal sample.[11]
Release
"La La La" premiered on BBC Radio 1Xtra in May 2013.[12] Smith and Naughty Boy performed "La La La" at the 2013 Jingle Bell Ball held by Global Radio.[13]
The track's producer/co-writer Komi also released a remix ("La La La" - Komi and JL remix) which has received considerable airplay.[14]
Music video
A music video to accompany the release of "La La La" was first released on YouTube on 18 April 2013 at a total length of four minutes and three seconds.[15] The video is directed by Ian Pons Jewell (who studied at the University College for the Creative Arts, now the University for the Creative Arts[16]) and shot in 4 days[9] in La Paz, Salar de Uyuni and Potosí (Cerro Rico), Bolivia. Ian Pons Jewell was commissioned by Virgin EMI to create the concept for the video, which focuses on a child's magical journey. Jewell said that others compared the video to the Wizard of Oz and a local legend of the demon El Tio and that both legends influenced the concept of the video.[17]
Synopsis of the video
In the music video,[15] a young boy is being verbally abused by a man who is presumably his father. Looking out of his apartment window, he sees an unusually dressed man and his dog standing on the pavement outside. The boy then puts his fingers in his ears and begins singing 'La la la' in response to his father's outburst. Running out of the apartment, the boy joins the mysterious figure outside and pets his dog. Seeing the boy outside, the father picks up an egg from a birds nest on the window-sill and throws it down at the boy.
The boy and dog run away and the scene cuts from evening to daytime. The boy is walking the dog along a city street, and he goes into a store front and downstairs. In the basement of the building, he finds a gymnasium and a scared looking man who is covered in dust. The man holds a stereo which is providing music for a group of women doing aerobics with one woman who is obviously a leader and abuses both the man and the others since their mascara is running down their cheeks from crying. The boy encourages the man to leave, but he appears reluctant. The boy then mimes the act of putting his fingers in his ears and singing 'La la la', and the man responds by turning off the volume on the stereo. One of the women begins yelling at the man, and he puts his fingers in his ears and sings 'La la la' in response to her tirade. The dusty man, boy and dog leave the gymnasium and are followed by the woman who yells after them as they leave.
The pair then come across a vendor on the street. The boy gives him some coins, and he takes out what appears to be a human heart from a collection in his cart. He holds the heart in the air, the boy looks at him and then slips it inside the jacket pocket of the dusty man. The boy then looks onto the road and sees a traffic policeman dressed in an unusually coloured police uniform, made of knitted fabric matching the man's face which is also made of knitted fabric in place of skin. His exaggeratedly-sized nose and ears are also made of knitted fabric. The traffic policeman is dancing as he directs traffic. The boy mimes the ear plugging and singing to the traffic policeman, and he then performs the gestures himself. The three of them leave together, and the scene cuts to their journey into a mountainous region outside of the city. They walk along disused railway tracks and pass a discarded, unplugged television that still shows images on the screen. Their journey then takes them across long, flat plains of salt flats, with the traffic policeman carrying the sleeping boy and the dusty man walking the dog.
The scene cuts to nightfall where they have set up a camp fire. The boy sleeps in the arms of the traffic policeman while the dusty man holds and pats the dog. The scene cuts to the next day, where they walk up a hillside towards a disused mine. Leaving the dog tied up at the entrance, they venture inside the mine. They discover El Tío sitting immobile at the end of a tunnel. At the sight of the figure, the boy begins crying and is hugged and comforted by both men. The men then leave, and the boy remains kneeling before the figure and singing 'La la la' with his fingers in his ears. The video ends with the two men and the dog having left the mine and they are shown walking away.
Critical reception
Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review, stating:
As the Wizard of Oz reimagining in the accompanying music video suggests, Naughty Boy is at his best when presenting tales of heartbreak with an otherworldly streak. "Yes our love is running out of time/ I won't count the hours, rather be a coward/ When our words collide," newcomer Sam Smith confesses to his beau over rattling beats and bewitching synths. It results in a soulful, ear-snagging masterpiece that will go down[18]
Accolades
It won in both the "Best Song" and "Best Video" categories at the 2013 MOBO Awards.[19][20] The song was nominated for a 2014 BRIT Award for Best British Single.[21]
Commercial performance
"La La La" was announced to be the fifth biggest-selling song of 2013 in the United Kingdom.[22] Its video was the eighth most popular YouTube video of 2013, and the United Kingdom's top trending video of the year.[23] By October 2015, it had sold 1.04 million copies in the UK.[24] In the United States, it reached number nine on the Billboard Pop Digital Songs chart.[25]
Track listing
Digital download | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "La La La" (featuring Sam Smith) | 3:40 |
2. | "La La La" (Komi and JL Remix) | 3:40 |
3. | "La La La" (Kaos Remix) | 3:54 |
4. | "La La La" (Pále Remix) | 5:34 |
5. | "La La La" (DEVolution Remix) | 5:47 |
6. | "La La La" (My Nu Leng Remix) | 5:00 |
US digital download[26] | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "La La La" (featuring Sam Smith) | 3:41 |
Credits
- Recording[6]
- Recorded and mixed at Cabana Studios (Ealing Studios) in Ealing; West London, UK.[6]
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering in London, UK.[6]
- Personnel[6]
- Jonny Coffer - songwriter, strings
- Al-Hakam "Komi" El-Kaubaisy - songwriter, producer, instruments, programming
- Shahid "Naughty Boy" Khan - songwriter, producer, recording engineer, instruments, programming
- Wez Clarke - mix engineer
Charts
Certifications
Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
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Australia (ARIA)[83] | 2× Platinum | 140,000 |
Belgium (BEA)[84] | Gold | 15,000 |
Canada (Music Canada)[85] | Gold | 40,000 |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[86] | Gold | 15,000 |
Germany (BVMI)[87] | Platinum | 300,000 |
Italy (FIMI)[88] | 2× Platinum | 60,000 |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[89] | Platinum | 15,000 |
Sweden (GLF)[90] | 3× Platinum | 120,000 |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[91] | Platinum | 30,000 |
United Kingdom (BPI)[92] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000 |
United States (RIAA)[93] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000[94] |
Streaming | ||
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[95] | 4× Platinum | 7,200,000 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[96] | Gold | 4,000,000 |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Country | Release date | Format | Label |
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United Kingdom | 19 May 2013[97] | Digital download |
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Canada | 15 October 2013[98] | ||
United States | 10 December 2013[26][99] | Capitol | |
14 January 2014[100] | Contemporary hit radio |
References
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Naughty-Boy-3-Featuring-Sam-Smith-La-La-La/release/4661178
- ↑ "La La La - Naughty Boy - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ↑ Kreisler, Lauren. "Naughty Boy & Sam Smith's La La La is 2013's fastest selling single!". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ "2013 In Review: Avicii scores fastest selling single of the year". Official Charts Company. 2013-12-30.
- ↑ Krishnamurthy, Sowmya (12 November 2013). "Naughty Boy Outlines His Plan for Success". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Naughty Boy, (2013). Hotel Cabana. [Album Liner & Credits]. Naughty Boy Recordings under license to Virgin EMI Records.
- ↑ Daw, Robbie (26 November 2013). "Naughty Boy On The Story Behind "La La La" & Working With Sam Smith: Idolator Interview". Idolator. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ "Exclusive: UK Superstar Naughty Boy Talks Producing For Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa, Emeli Sande & More". The Source. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- 1 2 "Naughty Boy – La La La (Behind The Scenes)". YouTube. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy - Hotel Cabana Track by Track". 2 September 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ↑ "Spotlight: Meet The 2013 Best Song Nominees: Disclosure, Naughty Boy, Rudimental, Wiley And Wretch 32". MOBO Awards. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Brand New Single – La La La feat Sam Smith". hotel-cabana.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy Feat. Sam Smith - 'La La La' (Live Performance, Jingle Bell Ball 2013)". Capital FM. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ↑ "[Remix] Naughty Boy – La La La (Feat. Sam Smith) (Komi & JL Remix)". Capital FM. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- 1 2 "Naughty Boy – La La La ft. Sam Smith". YouTube. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ↑ "Raft of Awards Closes Successful 2013 for UCA Alumnus". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ↑ "Adorable kid, exotic Bolivia star in magical 'travel' video". Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ↑ Lewis Corner. "Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith: 'La La La' – Single review". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk.
- ↑ "MOBO Awards 2013: Rudimental, Naughty Boy and Laura Mvula win prizes". Mirror Online. 2013-10-20.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy Wins Two MOBO's at the 18th Anniversary Awards". What's Good? Online. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ↑ "BRIT Awards 2014 nominations". 4Music. 2014-01-09.
- 1 2 Lane, Daniel (1 January 2014). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles Of 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ↑ "See the Top Trending, Music and News YouTube Videos of 2013". Mashable. 2013-12-11.
- ↑ Myers, Justin (24 October 2015). "Quiz: Who sold more?". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ↑ "Pop Digital Songs". Billboard. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- 1 2 http://www.amazon.com/La-Naughty-Boy/dp/B00GWVDPYO/
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- 1 2 3 "Ultratop.be – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Naughty Boy. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Naughty Boy. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Naughty Boy. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201336 into search.
- ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Tracklisten.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Euro Digital Songs for Naughty Boy.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith: La La La" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" (in French). Les classement single.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". GfK Entertainment.
- ↑ Greece Digital Songs : Nov 23, 2013. Billboard biz. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 24, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Top Digital Download.
- ↑ "Olt20.com: Artist Naughty Boy". The Official Lebanese Top 20. March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Luxembourg Digital Songs – Peak". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ↑ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. (subscription required)
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Naughty Boy Starring Sam Smith search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". VG-lista.
- ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ "Portugal Digital Songs – Peak". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 2013-06-01". Scottish Singles Top 40.
- ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201332 into search.
- ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" Canciones Top 50.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 2013-06-01" UK Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Official Asian Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 26 May – 1 June 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 2013-06-01" UK Dance Chart.
- ↑ "Official Urban Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. 26 May – 1 June 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Naughty Boy. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Naughty Boy. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Naughty Boy. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Naughty Boy. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Naughty Boy – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Naughty Boy. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Pop Rock General". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. 28 September 2013. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ↑ "2013 Year End Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
- 1 2 3 JAAROVERZICHTEN 2013 (in Dutch). ultratop.be/nl. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- 1 2 JAAROVERZICHTEN 2013 (in French). ultratop.be/nl. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ↑ "Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). VIVA. Viacom International Media Networks. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 - radios 2013" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Galgalaz 2013 year chart" (in Hebrew). Galgalaz. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ JAAROVERZICHTEN - SINGLE 2013 (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Top 50 Canciones Anual 2013". Promuiscae.es. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- ↑ "Year End 2014: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "Year End 2014: Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2013". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Naughty Boy – La La La". Music Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Certificeringer - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith - La La La" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith; 'La La La')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ↑ "Italian single certifications – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith in the field Filtra. Select 2015 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ↑ "Naughty Smith feat. Sam Smith - La La La" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith; 'La La La')". Hung Medien.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". British Phonographic Industry. 13 November 2015. Enter La La La in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ "American single certifications – Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith – La La La". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "Naughty Boy". RIAA. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ↑ "Certificeringer - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith - La La La" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ↑ "Top 100 Streaming - Semana 49: del 02.12.2013 al 08.12.2013" (PDF) (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ↑ "iTunes UK – Music – La La La (feat. Sam Smith) – EP by Naughty Boy". iTunes. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ↑ "iTunes – Music – La La La (feat. Sam Smith) – Single by Naughty Boy". iTunes Canada. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ "iTunes – Music – La La La (feat. Sam Smith) – Single by Naughty Boy". iTunes US. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ...". All Access. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
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