4th of July (Fireworks)
Encyclopedia
"4th of July" is the second single from Kelis
' fifth album, Flesh Tone
. It samples "You're My Heart (Pilotpriest Remix)" by Lioness
. The song was listed at #51 on the list of the NME
's best tracks of 2010. Three different art works have been made for the single, one for the CD single and digital EP releases in the UK, the digital remixes single in the US and the international single.
has said that the song is "mainly frazzled, sonically-saturated electro that reminds us of The Love Below at its most boxing-clever". Robert Copsey from Digital Spy
rated it with 4/5 stars, saying "This latest single has a head-spinning structure that sets it apart from the average club track, while the singer uses the accompanying video as an excuse to rock a Native American
headdress. However, it's the "You make me high" breakdown that's the real cherry here, making '4th Of July' that rare handbag house banger that's also a lovely, uplifting song about motherhood". A negative review came from Fraser McAlpine from BBC Chart Blog
who rated it 2/5 stars, saying "There are dance noises, there is singing, there are words, but they don't ever synthesise into something that makes any kind of impact whatsoever". The Unreality Shout review was positive, awarding it 4/5 stars, saying "'4th Of July (Fireworks)', is a wonderfully written love song. It recalls the same kind of production that was the norm for dance tracks back in 2000-2004, whilst enlisting the help of DJ Ammo
to update things to create a songs that is both stuttering and slurring, both cold and warm, both happy and melancholy, with a pulsing bass-line, and Kelis' brassy vocals showering the track with icy classiness". The song was a Track Pick from the Allmusic review from Flesh Tone.
at 198, the following week it fell to 200. The song was a bigger hit on the US Hot Dance Club Songs Chart, where it peaked at 4. It also became a top 40 hit on the official charts in Belgium
, Slovakia
, and the United Kingdom
. As well as a top 10 dance hit on the UK Dance Chart
.
and VEVO
. A making version (Behind The Scenes version) of the video was uploaded 18, June 2010 On VEVO. It started filmimg in late May 2010. John Rankin Waddel said about the video and he said, The video for the 4th of July, is kinda a mix of ideas, it is a very hot video, that the idea of, the minute you hear the song you feel good right away, so we wanted it, to make a warm video. The material in the video is wearing big long dresses, Normally, the dresses are shoulder-ed or none-shoulder-ed. The video uses heat or electrical stuff, with light.
The music video was filmed one day from a early morning to a late night. Photos of the video was posted a few days before the video premiered. It made UK Television Late June 2010. A teaser was posted June, 11 2010.
on June 18th. Kelis performed the song on The Today Show
and 106 and Park. In the UK, Kelis performed the song on Later with Jools Holland
, the Glastonbury Festival 2010
and on July 4, 2010 she performed it on T4 on the Beach
as well as Alan Carr: Chatty Man
which aired that same night.
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
' fifth album, Flesh Tone
Flesh Tone
Flesh Tone is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Kelis, first released on May 14, 2010. Recorded while the singer was an unsigned artist and while pregnant with her first child, the record is an ode to motherhood and is a distinct departure from the urban sound of her previous...
. It samples "You're My Heart (Pilotpriest Remix)" by Lioness
Lioness (band)
Lioness is a Canadian indie rock dance band formed in January 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:The band was formed by Ronnie Morris and Jeff Scheven, former rhythm section of controller.controller and No Dynamics' vocalist Vanessa Fischer...
. The song was listed at #51 on the list of the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
's best tracks of 2010. Three different art works have been made for the single, one for the CD single and digital EP releases in the UK, the digital remixes single in the US and the international single.
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from music critics. Gavin Haynes from NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
has said that the song is "mainly frazzled, sonically-saturated electro that reminds us of The Love Below at its most boxing-clever". Robert Copsey from Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
rated it with 4/5 stars, saying "This latest single has a head-spinning structure that sets it apart from the average club track, while the singer uses the accompanying video as an excuse to rock a Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
headdress. However, it's the "You make me high" breakdown that's the real cherry here, making '4th Of July' that rare handbag house banger that's also a lovely, uplifting song about motherhood". A negative review came from Fraser McAlpine from BBC Chart Blog
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
who rated it 2/5 stars, saying "There are dance noises, there is singing, there are words, but they don't ever synthesise into something that makes any kind of impact whatsoever". The Unreality Shout review was positive, awarding it 4/5 stars, saying "'4th Of July (Fireworks)', is a wonderfully written love song. It recalls the same kind of production that was the norm for dance tracks back in 2000-2004, whilst enlisting the help of DJ Ammo
DJ Ammo
DJ Ammo is an American disc jockey and music producer from Los Angeles, California. He has co-produced "The Time " along with three other songs from The Black Eyed Peas' sixth studio album, The Beginning, and "4th of July " by Kelis.-External links:** at Discogs...
to update things to create a songs that is both stuttering and slurring, both cold and warm, both happy and melancholy, with a pulsing bass-line, and Kelis' brassy vocals showering the track with icy classiness". The song was a Track Pick from the Allmusic review from Flesh Tone.
Chart performance
"4th of July (Fireworks)" debuted on the Irish Singles ChartIrish 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...
at 198, the following week it fell to 200. The song was a bigger hit on the US Hot Dance Club Songs Chart, where it peaked at 4. It also became a top 40 hit on the official charts in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, 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...
. As well as a top 10 dance hit on the UK Dance Chart
UK Dance Chart
The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
.
Music video
The video was co-directed by Kelis, John "Rankin" Waddell and Nicole Ehrlich in the desert outside of Los Angeles.Synopis and concept
The video begins with kelis walking on a desert, there is another scene of her wearing a white fur dress suit on the desert, In the chorus it shows her in front of a red laser ball, The next scene shows her in a glass box with flames and fire coming outta the ground, the next chorus shows kelis with a microphone in front of a lamp what turns orange coloured but normally something for a fake sun, A new scene shows her in a pool full of warm water and dancing in front of fireworks, holding sparkerlers. As the video ends it shows kelis waving her arms in the air with affects of fire burning.Release and Reception
The video debuted June 16th on YouTubeYouTube
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 VEVO
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
. A making version (Behind The Scenes version) of the video was uploaded 18, June 2010 On VEVO. It started filmimg in late May 2010. John Rankin Waddel said about the video and he said, The video for the 4th of July, is kinda a mix of ideas, it is a very hot video, that the idea of, the minute you hear the song you feel good right away, so we wanted it, to make a warm video. The material in the video is wearing big long dresses, Normally, the dresses are shoulder-ed or none-shoulder-ed. The video uses heat or electrical stuff, with light.
The music video was filmed one day from a early morning to a late night. Photos of the video was posted a few days before the video premiered. It made UK Television Late June 2010. A teaser was posted June, 11 2010.
Live Performances
Kelis performed the song for the first time on North American television on The Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
on June 18th. Kelis performed the song on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
and 106 and Park. In the UK, Kelis performed the song on Later with Jools Holland
Later with Jools Holland
Later... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night line-up, usually at around 11pm to 12 midnight...
, the Glastonbury Festival 2010
Glastonbury Festival 2010
The 2010 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts took place in Pilton, Somerset, England in June 2010.The festival was headlined by Gorillaz, Muse, and Stevie Wonder. U2 were initially announced as headliners, but withdrew on 25 May 2010 citing Bono's recent back surgery...
and on July 4, 2010 she performed it on T4 on the Beach
T4 on the Beach
T4 On The Beach is a British one day music event which is held on the beach at Weston-super-Mare and televised for Channel 4. The event began in 2003 as Pop Beach in Great Yarmouth, changing to the current title and venue in 2005....
as well as Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The award-winning show is on Channel 4. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music....
which aired that same night.
Track listing
-
- Digital download
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" - 5:29
-
- CD Single
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Radio Edit) - 3:10
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Calvin Harris Remix) - 5:38
-
- UK Remixes EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
- UK Remixes EP
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Club Version) - 3:39
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Richard X Remix) - 6:20
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Calvin Harris Remix) - 5:38
-
- U.S. 4th of July The Remixes EP
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (RuskoRusko (musician)Christopher Mercer, more commonly known as Rusko, is an English dubstep record producer and DJ who was born on 26 January 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:Rusko graduated from Leeds College of Music with a degree in Music Performance...
Remix) - 4:10 - "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Richard XRichard XRichard Philips, best known by his stage name Richard X, is a British songwriter and music producer. Gaining attention as a pioneer of the bootleg craze, Richard X has earned success as a producer and remixer. He has helmed hit singles for artists including Annie, Kelis, Liberty X, Rachel Stevens...
Remix) - 6:20 - "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Burns Remix) - 5:22
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Calvin HarrisCalvin HarrisCalvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
Remix) - 5:39 - "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Fernando GaribayFernando GaribayFernando Garibay is a Mexican music producer, DJ, and songwriter. He was the official musical director for musician Lady Gaga during the making of her third album Born This Way.Garibay has been making records since the age of sixteen...
Remix) - 5:17
-
- U.S. Remixes Remixed EP
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (DJ DLG Lazor Arena Remix) - 7:07
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (WaWa Remix) - 3:10
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Saul Ruiz Club Mix) - 7:33
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Hector Fonseca Remix) - 8:56
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" (Zoned Out Remix) - 7:47
Credits and personnel
"4th of July (Fireworks)" was recorded at Casa de Kelis and was mixed at Paper V.U. Studios.- Written by: KelisKelisKelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
, Jean BaptisteJean Baptiste KouameJean Baptiste Kouame, often referred to simply as Jean Baptiste, is a songwriter and record producer.-2009:*The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.**"Boom Boom Pow" *Blake Lewis - Heartbreak on Vinyl**"Left My Baby for You"-2006:...
, Damien "Ammo" LeroyDJ AmmoDJ Ammo is an American disc jockey and music producer from Los Angeles, California. He has co-produced "The Time " along with three other songs from The Black Eyed Peas' sixth studio album, The Beginning, and "4th of July " by Kelis.-External links:** at Discogs...
, Jamie Munson, Anthony Burns, Vanessa Fischer, Ronald Morris, Jeff SchevenLioness (band)Lioness is a Canadian indie rock dance band formed in January 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:The band was formed by Ronnie Morris and Jeff Scheven, former rhythm section of controller.controller and No Dynamics' vocalist Vanessa Fischer... - Produced by: Damien "Ammo" Leroy
- Instruments: Damien "Ammo" Leroy
- Recorded by: Brian B Russ
- Mixed by: Dylan Dresdow
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | June 8, 2010 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
will.i.am music Will.i.am music group will.i.am music group is a vanity label founded by hip hop artist will.i.am of the The Black Eyed Peas. Other than will.i.am, there are popular artists such as Fergie, Macy Gray and Sérgio Mendes signed to the label... |
| United Kingdom | July 4, 2010 | Polydor Records Polydor Records Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone... |
|
| July 5, 2010 | CD Single |