The Man (Aloe Blacc song)

"The Man"
Single by Aloe Blacc
from the album Lift Your Spirit
Released January 28, 2014
Format Digital download
Recorded 2013
Genre
Length 4:16 (album version)
3:29 (radio edit)
Label Interscope
Writer(s)
Producer(s) DJ Khalil, Dontae Winslow
Aloe Blacc singles chronology
"Wake Me Up"
(2013)		 "The Man"
(2014)		 "Here Today"
(2014)

"The Man" is a song by American vocalist Aloe Blacc. First included on his EP Wake Me Up, the song was later released as the second single from his third studio album Lift Your Spirit by Interscope Records. Blacc co-wrote the track with its producers, DJ Khalil, as well as Sam Barsh and Daniel Seeff. Elton John and Bernie Taupin are also credited as co-writers, because the song's chorus is built upon an interpolation of the line " You can tell everybody" from John's 1971 single "Your Song", co-written with Taupin.

The song has become Blacc's most successful single as a solo artist to date; it sold 2.5 million copies in the United States as of December 2014,[1] peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, the song has topped the charts in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. On January 22, 2014, a remix of "The Man" featuring American rapper Kid Ink was released.

Music video

A lyric video to accompany the release of "The Man" was first released to YouTube on January 10, 2014.[2]

The song's official music video followed on March 3, 2014.[3] The video takes place in the 1960s and 1970s and gives tribute to figures and events significant to African American culture during that era.

Below is a list of tributes to people/events in the music video.

0:39 Marvin Gaye 'Whats going on' album cover
0:39-0:54 Violence and racial injustice at the time
0:54-1:12 Civil Rights and Vietnam war protest
1:12-1:45 Louis Armstrong or Clifford Brown
1:45-2:25 Stevie Wonder
2:25-2:57 Muhammad Ali
2:57-3:05 Soul Train
3:19-3:37 Malcolm X
3:37-3:49 African American's role in politics [Barack Obama]
3:49----Martin Luther King, Jr.
3:59----Selma to Montgomery marches aka "Bloody Sunday"
4:18----1968 Olympics Black Power salute (back, right corner)

Commercials

In December 2013, "The Man" was used as the backdrop for a series of Beats by Dre commercials promoting the company's "Hear What You Want" campaign, which featured several notable sports personalities, including NFL players Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks and Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, NBA player Kevin Garnett of the Brooklyn Nets, and Chelsea FC football player Cesc Fabregas, wearing Beats headphones to block out the sound of heckling from disgruntled fans.[4]

The song was used extensively at the 2014 NFL Draft, being played 108 times over the course of the three day event.[5] MLB also used the song for its ads for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. The ad shows different highlights and celebrations of possible All-Stars for 2014.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 29
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 46
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 14
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[11] 35
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[12] 16
Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 11
Europe (Euro Digital Songs)[14] 1
France (SNEP)[15] 23
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 22
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[17] 33
Hungary (Single Top 40)[18] 28
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[23] 11
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[24] 10
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[25] 1
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[26] 21
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27] 59
South Africa (EMA)[28] 8
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] 46
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 40
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 1
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[33] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[34] 8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[35] 5
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[36] 20
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[37] 18
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[38] 17
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[40] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
Australia (ARIA)[41] 65
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[42] 78
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43] 39
US Billboard Hot 100[44] 48

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[45] Platinum 70,000
Italy (FIMI)[46] Gold 15,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Gold 7,500
Sweden (GLF)[48] 2× Platinum 80,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[50] Platinum 2,500,000[1]
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[51] 2× Platinum 5,200,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United States[52][53][54] January 21, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Interscope Records
Rhythmic contemporary radio
February 4, 2014 Urban adult contemporary radio
United Kingdom[55] March 28, 2014 Digital download
United States[56] June 10, 2014 Digital download (Draft Day mix)

References

  1. 1 2 "The Big 9 in 2014: Interscope". HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ AloeBlaccVEVO (January 10, 2014). "Aloe Blacc – The Man (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ AloeBlaccVEVO (March 3, 2014). "Aloe Blacc – The Man (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Yuscavage, Chris (December 11, 2013). "Colin Kaepernick's New Beats By Dre Commercial Has Seahawks Fans Super Heated". Complex (Complex Media). Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Glasspiegel, Ryan. "NFL ESPN Supposedly Played the "I'm the Man" Song 108 Times During NFL Draft". The Big Lead. The Big Lead. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Aloe Blacc – The Man". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201417 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201423 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Euro Digital Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Aloe Blacc – The Man". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 14, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2014" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Aloe Blacc – The Man". VG-lista. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-04-12". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  26. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201418 into search. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  27. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201429 into search. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  28. ↑ "South African Airplay Chart Top 10 - April 15, 2014". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Aloe Blacc – The Man" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-04-12" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-04-12" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Adult R&B Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Aloe Blacc. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  41. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  42. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts – Top Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2014". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  45. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart - 24/03/2014". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 17, 2014. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Aloe Blacc in the field Filtra. Select 2014 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  47. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Aloe Blacc - The Man" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  49. ↑ "British single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 18, 2014. Enter The Man in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  50. ↑ "American single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 5, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  51. ↑ "Certificeringer - Aloe Blacc - The Man". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Urban/UAC". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  55. ↑ "The Man – Single by Aloe Blacc". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  56. ↑ "The Man (Draft Day Mix) – Single by Aloe Blacc". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved April 10, 2014.

External Links

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