Blindfold Me
Encyclopedia
"Blindfold Me" is the second US single
from Kelis
' fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here
(2006). The single, released in October 2006, features American rapper Nas
. The Nas-featured version of the song was chosen for the single version, and only appears on international pressings of Kelis Was Here, while the North American edition has the original no-rap version.
The song is about blindfold
ed sex. Kelis talks about how her lover experiments with her body, unaware of what to do. Nas raps about the male experience and dominance
of the act.
"Blindfold Me" did not receive a commercial release, due to unknown reasons (possibly because of the song's racy nature), and was instead sent to radio stations as a promotional single
.
After Jive
decided not to release the song as a commercial single in US, Virgin
, Kelis's European label, decided that the Cee-Lo-featured "Lil Star
" would instead be the second official single from the album in Europe.
Despite not being a single in Europe, "Blindfold Me" received considerably heavy airplay on many European radio stations, mostly in Italy, where it landed at number eight on the Italian Top 20 Summer, and Albania (number four on the Albanian Top 50 Radio Hip-Hop). The song also charted at number one on the Australian Radio Metro chart on January 1, staying on the countdown for three months.
"Blindfold Me" was expected to be released in the United Kingdom as the lead single from Kelis's best-of album The Hits
, due to the fact it had not been previously issued as a single there. However, this did not happen and the song was not included on the album, thus "Blindfold Me" remains Kelis's the only single not to be released there.
for "Blindfold Me", shot in September 2006 in Los Angeles
, California
, and directed by Marc Klasfeld
—who had previously worked with Kelis on "Bossy" earlier that year—, premiered on BET
's Access Granted
on September 6, 2006. It takes place at night, and it opens with Kelis in a dim parking lot trying to find her car, when a men wearing a black hooded overcoat suddenly comes up and covers her eyes as she says "blindfold me". Kelis is then blindfolded and tied to a chair, relating to the song's theme of BDSM
. The video also depicts Kelis on a beach
in red night vision
, in an icy
atmosphere where her breath can be seen, in a jungle
-type setting wearing a Leopard-patterned
outfit, and lying down on black velvet
holding a whip
. Later on, the man is revealed to be Nas, who unties Kelis from the chair and proceeds to perform his rap segment while she dances suggestively next to him, still blindfolded. At the ending, Nas walks Kelis back to the same parking lot she was in the beginning and then disappears. She takes her blindfold off and walks away.
Promo 12" single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from Kelis
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...
' fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here
Kelis Was Here
Kelis Was Here is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Kelis, released in the United States on August 22, 2006 by LaFace Records and Jive Records...
(2006). The single, released in October 2006, features American rapper Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
. The Nas-featured version of the song was chosen for the single version, and only appears on international pressings of Kelis Was Here, while the North American edition has the original no-rap version.
The song is about blindfold
Blindfold
A blindfold is a garment, usually of cloth, tied to one's head to cover the eyes to disable the wearer's sight. It can be worn when the eyes are in a closed state and thus prevents the wearer from opening them...
ed sex. Kelis talks about how her lover experiments with her body, unaware of what to do. Nas raps about the male experience and dominance
Top (BDSM)
In BDSM, a top or dominant is the partner in a BDSM relationship or in a BDSM scene who takes the active or controlling role over that of the bottom or submissive partner....
of the act.
"Blindfold Me" did not receive a commercial release, due to unknown reasons (possibly because of the song's racy nature), and was instead sent to radio stations as a promotional single
Promotional recording
A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available...
.
After Jive
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
decided not to release the song as a commercial single in US, Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, Kelis's European label, decided that the Cee-Lo-featured "Lil Star
Lil Star
"Lil Star" is the second international single from Kelis' Grammy Award-nominated fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here . Released outside US , the single features Cee-Lo, who is known for being a half of the duo Gnarls Barkley...
" would instead be the second official single from the album in Europe.
Despite not being a single in Europe, "Blindfold Me" received considerably heavy airplay on many European radio stations, mostly in Italy, where it landed at number eight on the Italian Top 20 Summer, and Albania (number four on the Albanian Top 50 Radio Hip-Hop). The song also charted at number one on the Australian Radio Metro chart on January 1, staying on the countdown for three months.
"Blindfold Me" was expected to be released in the United Kingdom as the lead single from Kelis's best-of album The Hits
The Hits (Kelis album)
The Hits is the first greatest hits album by American R&B singer Kelis, released in the United States on March 11, 2008 by Jive Records, Zomba Label Group, and Legacy Recordings.-History:...
, due to the fact it had not been previously issued as a single there. However, this did not happen and the song was not included on the album, thus "Blindfold Me" remains Kelis's the only single not to be released there.
Music video
The sexually-charged videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Blindfold Me", shot in September 2006 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and directed by Marc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld
Marc Klasfeld is an American music video director. He has directed over two hundred music videos for artists such as Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Foo Fighters, Jewel, Sum 41, Avril Lavigne and many others with multiple MTV award wins and nominations...
—who had previously worked with Kelis on "Bossy" earlier that year—, premiered on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's Access Granted
Access Granted
Access Granted is an American television series that features an in depth look at the planning and production of R&B and hip hop music videos. Each week, a different artist and their new music video are featured, with the video premiering at the end of the episode. The series began airing in 2001...
on September 6, 2006. It takes place at night, and it opens with Kelis in a dim parking lot trying to find her car, when a men wearing a black hooded overcoat suddenly comes up and covers her eyes as she says "blindfold me". Kelis is then blindfolded and tied to a chair, relating to the song's theme of BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
. The video also depicts Kelis on a beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
in red night vision
Night vision
Night vision is the ability to see in low light conditions. Whether by biological or technological means, night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches: sufficient spectral range, and sufficient intensity range...
, in an icy
Ice
Ice is water frozen into the solid state. Usually ice is the phase known as ice Ih, which is the most abundant of the varying solid phases on the Earth's surface. It can appear transparent or opaque bluish-white color, depending on the presence of impurities or air inclusions...
atmosphere where her breath can be seen, in a jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
-type setting wearing a Leopard-patterned
Leopard (pattern)
Leopard is a term used to describe a spotted color pattern, particularly in the hair coat or skin of animals, but also used to describe spotting patterns in plants and fabrics...
outfit, and lying down on black velvet
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
holding a whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
. Later on, the man is revealed to be Nas, who unties Kelis from the chair and proceeds to perform his rap segment while she dances suggestively next to him, still blindfolded. At the ending, Nas walks Kelis back to the same parking lot she was in the beginning and then disappears. She takes her blindfold off and walks away.
Track listings and formats
Promo CD single- "Blindfold Me" (Single Version featuring Nas)
- "Blindfold Me" (Album Version)
- "Blindfold Me" (Instrumental)
- "Blindfold Me" (A Capella)
- "Blindfold Me" (CD-ROM Video)
Promo 12" single
- Side A:
- "Blindfold Me" (Main)
- "Blindfold Me" (Instrumental)
- Side B:
- "Blindfold Me" (Main)
- "Blindfold Me" (A Capella)
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
91 |