Roses (Outkast song)

"Roses"
Single by OutKast
from the album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Released	May 25, 2004
Format	CD single
Genre	R&B, soul, hip hop
Length	6:09
Writer(s)	André 3000, Big Boi, Matt Boykin
Producer(s)	André 3000, Dojo5
Certification	Platinum (ARIA)[1] Platinum (RIAA)
OutKast singles chronology
"The Way You Move" (2003) "Roses" (2004) "Ghetto Musick"/"Prototype" (2004)

"Roses" is a song by American hip hop duo OutKast. It was released in May 2004 as the third single from their 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It appears on André 3000's The Love Below disc, and is the only track on his disc to feature Big Boi. The track was largely popular in the United Kingdom and United States where it peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also had large popularity in Australia, reaching #2 on the Australian Singles Chart.

Music video

The video heavily references the stage musical West Side Story and features cameo appearances from Paula Abdul, Lukas Haas, Kevin McDonald, Fonzworth Bentley, members of the Dungeon Family, Katt Williams, Faizon Love, and DeRay Davis.

An unknown person is flipping through a Stankonia yearbook and comes on the photo of Caroline Jones (played by April Clark), "Biggest Flirt". After Caroline leaves the bathroom with her girls, Big Boi is shown with his crew. He opens a response to the note he gave to Caroline, asking if she'd be his valentine. Rather than checking off the Yes or No boxes Big Boi put on the paper, she adds her own 'Maybe' option. Upset, Big Boi calls his crew to ride with him to the school.

André 3000 is shown to be heading a musical on stage, where he sings the song and parodies Caroline, though Caroline herself is oblivious to the parody. During this time, Big Boi’s crew, Speakerboxxx, drives to the school, performing acts of vandalism such as knocking mailboxes off. When Big Boi crashes the auditorium where the play is being held, Speakerboxxx announces their arrival, which is followed by the men on the stage announcing themselves as The Love Below.

Despite the pleas of the principal for no fighting, the two groups confront each other in the middle of the auditorium and start a large fight. Most of the students wind up in the fight, including the principal himself (played by Kevin McDonald). Big Boi moves away from the fight and directs his rap to an uncaring Caroline. In the end, an effeminate man (played by Katt Williams) hands Caroline a red rose and says, "Alright, now you be here with the Speakerboxes and the Love Ahead, or you can get with the Katt and some bread. Huh, what do you think? Shall we go? Moving..." As they leave together, he tells her to "take one final look at the past" as they pause, take a look at the chaos behind them, and depart. André 3000 himself is carried off, and the scene goes back to the yearbook, where the reader (presumably director, Bryan Barber) falls asleep after getting to "The End".

Track listings

UK CD1

1. "Roses" (album version) – 6:09
2. "Church" – 3:09

UK CD2

1. "Roses" (radio edit) – 4:14
2. "Roses" (album version) – 6:09
3. "Roses" (instrumental) – 4:43
4. "Roses" (video) – 4:14

UK 12" limited edition picture disc

1. "Roses" (album version) – 6:09
2. "Church" – 3:09

USA 12" vinyl single

1. "Roses" (radio edit) – 4:14
2. "Roses" (album version) – 6:09
3. "Roses" (instrumental) – 4:43
4. "Roses" (club mix) – 6:14
5. "Roses" (a cappella) – 5:25

Charts

Chart (2004)[2][3]	Peak position
Argentina (Argentina Top 20)	14
Australia (ARIA)[4]	2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5]	18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6]	47
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[7]	10
Denmark (Tracklisten)[8]	15
Europe (Official Top 100 Singles)	15
Germany (Official German Charts)[9]	21
Ireland (IRMA)	6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10]	22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	5
Norway (VG-lista)[12]	9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13]	65
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	9
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	12
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	7
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40	2

References

1. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
2. "Outkast - Roses: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
3. "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
4. "Australian-charts.com – OUTKAST – Roses". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Austriancharts.at – OUTKAST – Roses" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
6. "Ultratop.be – OUTKAST – Roses" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Ultratop.be – OUTKAST – Roses" (in French). Ultratip.
8. "Danishcharts.com – OUTKAST – Roses". Tracklisten.
9. "Musicline.de – OUTKAST Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – OUTKAST search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
11. "Charts.org.nz – OUTKAST – Roses". Top 40 Singles.
12. "Norwegiancharts.com – OUTKAST – Roses". VG-lista.
13. "Swisscharts.com – OUTKAST – Roses". Swiss Singles Chart.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics