Everyone Nose
Encyclopedia
"Everyone Nose" is the first single by American band N.E.R.D from their third studio album Seeing Sounds
. The song was accompanied by music video
and was directed by Diane Martel
. A video for the remix of the song featuring Kanye West
, Lupe Fiasco
and Pusha T
was also filmed and directed by Hype Williams
.
The song was generally well-received by critics. N.E.R.D promoted the song through numerous tours and festivals. The song peaked at number seventeen on the Japan Hot 100 Singles and at number forty-one on the UK Singles Chart
, but failed to chart in the United States.
and Chad Hugo
and produced by The Neptunes
. The title of the song derives from the subject of social snorting cocaine
in lavatories
among women. "Yes, when the girls go in the bathroom, they're powdering their faces with that other white stuff," N.E.R.D said. Andrew Coleman, the band's engineer
, explained the song's bridge
, saying it is the "breakdown" of the girl: "you can imagine a girl who is totally coked out of her mind dancing and sweating."
The beat was inspired by a rare video clip that Missy Elliott
showed to N.E.R.D. Williams "lost his mind, the way these people were dancing and these crazy beats". The song begins with an acoustic bass
patch from a Roland 5080 and continues with drums from the Triton Extreme. Coleman, explained the beat was inspired by the "Baltimore B-More sound". He went on to say that "Timbaland
is scratching in there, too. The big Latin section is again, all Pharrell—all the same instruments; he just flipped the programming. That is the Latin club explosion part, mostly programmed beats with some buckets."
(Kanye West
, Lupe Fiasco
, Pharrell
) and Pusha T
that was available as an iTunes
and Zune Marketplace bonus track with the purchase of Seeing Sounds
. When asked why the song was remixed, Hugo replied with, "We wanted something with more of a straight-ahead, club-bumping beat, just a different take on it. We like to remix, dismantle, take apart shit and put it back together. It's just like a Rubik's Cube
: When you can't solve it, you just break it and you put it back together." Williams added, "We think that 'Everyone Nose' in its current form already hits a certain demographic a certain way, so I just wanted to go and do something different."
claimed that the song would be "destined to go down as [one] of 2008's most interesting hip-hop cuts." Addi Stewart of Now
magazine said the song "is straight groovy, baby!" Many praised the beat
; Nick Levine of Digital Spy
said, "It's a triumph of beats over melody, but few would deny that those beats sound pretty good as they're dropping." The Daily Mirror described the beat as "nicely buffeted electropop", noting its "trickily timed beats, synthesised horns and playful vocal jousting". Scott Lowe of IGN
said the song featured an "intriguing jazzy beat layered over pounding bass". Others panned the song's sound and lyrics, saying Williams "lampoons partygoing cokeheads by sounding like Baha Men
after five too many rails" and that the lyrics were "about as shallow and trite as an inflatable kiddy swimming pool, but less fun".
The remix has also garnered positive reviews; Lowe noted that "Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pusha T make an appearance on a somewhat more enjoyable remixed version of [the song]", which added a "nice outside perspective to the otherwise tiresome track". Tom Breihan of The Village Voice
called the remix "pretty great" compared to the "horrible hammering" of the original song. He criticized West's lyrics, saying he was "back to talking about girls on his verse again […] without any of the humane warmth he used to sometimes bring." The song was number 32 on Rolling Stone
In response to the positive reception from listeners, Williams said, "We love the reaction that we get [from that song]. They know what we're talking about." Shay Haley, a member of the band, went on saying, "Me, personally, I'm shocked it's being embraced the way it is. I feel like it sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to what you hear every day on the radio… It's just our personal observation of what we've seen over the past couple of years, so we felt like making a party record out of it."
and the Diesel Bash. Toby Green of The Guardian
attended a concert at The Roundhouse
in London and gave the performance four out of five stars, saying "Pharrell's knack is connecting with the crowd. Many bands tell the audience they want to party with them, but N.E.R.D seem to mean it."
and co-directed by T.A.G. It was filmed in a New York club with revelers as an "orgiastic party" video, tying with the photo site lastnightsparty.com, with cameos made by Kanye West
, Lindsay Lohan
and Samantha Ronson
. A giant dancing nose and unclothed strippers were set to appear in the video, but were censored with "removed by request" slates.
During filming inside a Madison
nightclub in New York, a fight broke out on the set of the music video and nearly shut down production. One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Lohan and West both visited the set at different times during the shoot, but were not present at the time of the fight. Union workers threatened to walk off the set, complaining that the production team behind the video failed to hire enough security and felt the environment had become unsafe.
MTV
initially refused to play "Everyone Nose" because of lyrical references to cocaine
. When the website received 5,000 hits in its first week, MTV softened and aired a clean version without the URL
, which frustrated T.A.G.; Rebecca Skinner commented, saying, "All artists want their videos to be seen on as many platforms as possible. However MTV is not what [it] used to be—yet another reason why the online component to this is important."
A music video for the remix of "Everyone Nose" featuring Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco
and Pusha T
was shot in July and was directed by Hype Williams
. "The concept [is based on] old '80s video-game graphics playing behind us while we're rhyming," Williams said. "We just want to have fun with the project. In a day and age where the record industry is what it is, I'm lucky enough to be on a label that understands and they'll just let us have fun."
United Kingdom CD single
Remix Single
Seeing Sounds
Seeing Sounds is the third studio album by American funk rock band N.E.R.D released June 10, 2008 on Star Trak Entertainment and Interscope Records in the United States. After ending their contract with Virgin Records in 2005, the band felt their previous album Fly or Die was too consistent. Using...
. The song was accompanied by music video
Music 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...
and was directed by Diane Martel
Diane Martel
Diane Martel is a music video director and choreographer.-Choreographer:1989*Bloodhounds of Broadway 1991*"Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M...
. A video for the remix of the song featuring Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
and Pusha T
Clipse
Clipse is a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed in 1992 by brothers Malice and Pusha T , the group is heavily affiliated with production team The Neptunes and signed to Star Trak Entertainment.- Exclusive Audio Footage :The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, New...
was also filmed and directed by Hype Williams
Hype Williams
Harold "Hype" Williams , previously known as HYPE, is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child....
.
The song was generally well-received by critics. N.E.R.D promoted the song through numerous tours and festivals. The song peaked at number seventeen on the Japan Hot 100 Singles and at number forty-one on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, but failed to chart in the United States.
Composition
The song was written by Pharrell WilliamsPharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
and Chad Hugo
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist...
and produced by The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
. The title of the song derives from the subject of social snorting cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
in lavatories
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
among women. "Yes, when the girls go in the bathroom, they're powdering their faces with that other white stuff," N.E.R.D said. Andrew Coleman, the band's engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, explained the song's bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
, saying it is the "breakdown" of the girl: "you can imagine a girl who is totally coked out of her mind dancing and sweating."
The beat was inspired by a rare video clip that Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
showed to N.E.R.D. Williams "lost his mind, the way these people were dancing and these crazy beats". The song begins with an acoustic bass
Acoustic bass guitar
The acoustic bass guitar is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar...
patch from a Roland 5080 and continues with drums from the Triton Extreme. Coleman, explained the beat was inspired by the "Baltimore B-More sound". He went on to say that "Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
is scratching in there, too. The big Latin section is again, all Pharrell—all the same instruments; he just flipped the programming. That is the Latin club explosion part, mostly programmed beats with some buckets."
Remix
The song produced a remix featuring Child Rebel SoldierChild Rebel Soldier
Child Rebel Soldier, shortened CRS, is a hip hop supergroup composed of hip hop artists Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell Williams.-History:...
(Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
, Pharrell
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
) and Pusha T
Pusha T
Terrence Thornton better known by his stage name Pusha T is an American recording artist, occasional actor and one half of the critically acclaimed hip hop duo Clipse. He is also the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Re-Up Records along with his brother Gene 'Malice' Thornton...
that was available as an iTunes
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and Zune Marketplace bonus track with the purchase of Seeing Sounds
Seeing Sounds
Seeing Sounds is the third studio album by American funk rock band N.E.R.D released June 10, 2008 on Star Trak Entertainment and Interscope Records in the United States. After ending their contract with Virgin Records in 2005, the band felt their previous album Fly or Die was too consistent. Using...
. When asked why the song was remixed, Hugo replied with, "We wanted something with more of a straight-ahead, club-bumping beat, just a different take on it. We like to remix, dismantle, take apart shit and put it back together. It's just like a Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.Originally called the "Magic Cube", the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980 and won the German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle that...
: When you can't solve it, you just break it and you put it back together." Williams added, "We think that 'Everyone Nose' in its current form already hits a certain demographic a certain way, so I just wanted to go and do something different."
Critical reception
Critical responses to the song were generally positive. Christian Hoard of Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
claimed that the song would be "destined to go down as [one] of 2008's most interesting hip-hop cuts." Addi Stewart of Now
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
magazine said the song "is straight groovy, baby!" Many praised the beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
; Nick Levine of 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....
said, "It's a triumph of beats over melody, but few would deny that those beats sound pretty good as they're dropping." The Daily Mirror described the beat as "nicely buffeted electropop", noting its "trickily timed beats, synthesised horns and playful vocal jousting". Scott Lowe of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said the song featured an "intriguing jazzy beat layered over pounding bass". Others panned the song's sound and lyrics, saying Williams "lampoons partygoing cokeheads by sounding like Baha Men
Baha Men
The Baha Men are Bahamian singers in a Bahamian band. They play a modernised style of Bahamian music called Junkanoo.-Early career as High Voltage :...
after five too many rails" and that the lyrics were "about as shallow and trite as an inflatable kiddy swimming pool, but less fun".
The remix has also garnered positive reviews; Lowe noted that "Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pusha T make an appearance on a somewhat more enjoyable remixed version of [the song]", which added a "nice outside perspective to the otherwise tiresome track". Tom Breihan of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
called the remix "pretty great" compared to the "horrible hammering" of the original song. He criticized West's lyrics, saying he was "back to talking about girls on his verse again […] without any of the humane warmth he used to sometimes bring." The song was number 32 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
In response to the positive reception from listeners, Williams said, "We love the reaction that we get [from that song]. They know what we're talking about." Shay Haley, a member of the band, went on saying, "Me, personally, I'm shocked it's being embraced the way it is. I feel like it sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to what you hear every day on the radio… It's just our personal observation of what we've seen over the past couple of years, so we felt like making a party record out of it."
Live performances
N.E.R.D promoted the song by performing it in several tours and festivals, including the Austin City Limits Music FestivalAustin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
and the Diesel Bash. Toby Green of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
attended a concert at The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
in London and gave the performance four out of five stars, saying "Pharrell's knack is connecting with the crowd. Many bands tell the audience they want to party with them, but N.E.R.D seem to mean it."
Music video
Williams contacted the T.A.G. ad agency to create an interactive video in the style of an integrated campaign to "hype" the single. The video for "Everyone Nose" was released May 14, 2008; it was directed by Diane MartelDiane Martel
Diane Martel is a music video director and choreographer.-Choreographer:1989*Bloodhounds of Broadway 1991*"Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M...
and co-directed by T.A.G. It was filmed in a New York club with revelers as an "orgiastic party" video, tying with the photo site lastnightsparty.com, with cameos made by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
and Samantha Ronson
Samantha Ronson
Samantha Judith Ronson is an English singer-songwriter and disc jockey who lives in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Ronson was born in London and raised in St John's Wood...
. A giant dancing nose and unclothed strippers were set to appear in the video, but were censored with "removed by request" slates.
During filming inside a Madison
Madison (town), New York
Madison is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 2,801 at the 2000 census.The Town of Madison contains a village also named Madison. The town is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
nightclub in New York, a fight broke out on the set of the music video and nearly shut down production. One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Lohan and West both visited the set at different times during the shoot, but were not present at the time of the fight. Union workers threatened to walk off the set, complaining that the production team behind the video failed to hire enough security and felt the environment had become unsafe.
MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
initially refused to play "Everyone Nose" because of lyrical references to cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. When the website received 5,000 hits in its first week, MTV softened and aired a clean version without the URL
Uniform Resource Locator
In computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....
, which frustrated T.A.G.; Rebecca Skinner commented, saying, "All artists want their videos to be seen on as many platforms as possible. However MTV is not what [it] used to be—yet another reason why the online component to this is important."
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
and Pusha T
Clipse
Clipse is a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed in 1992 by brothers Malice and Pusha T , the group is heavily affiliated with production team The Neptunes and signed to Star Trak Entertainment.- Exclusive Audio Footage :The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, New...
was shot in July and was directed by Hype Williams
Hype Williams
Harold "Hype" Williams , previously known as HYPE, is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child....
. "The concept [is based on] old '80s video-game graphics playing behind us while we're rhyming," Williams said. "We just want to have fun with the project. In a day and age where the record industry is what it is, I'm lucky enough to be on a label that understands and they'll just let us have fun."
Track listing
Digital single- "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" – 3:49
United Kingdom CD single
- "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" – 3:27
- "Spaz" – 3:50
Remix Single
- "Everyone Nose (Remix)" (Clean) feat. Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Lupe FiascoLupe FiascoWasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
and Pusha TPusha TTerrence Thornton better known by his stage name Pusha T is an American recording artist, occasional actor and one half of the critically acclaimed hip hop duo Clipse. He is also the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Re-Up Records along with his brother Gene 'Malice' Thornton...
– 3:53 - "Everyone Nose (Remix)" (Instrumental) – 3:49
- "Everyone Nose (Remix)" feat. Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Lupe FiascoLupe FiascoWasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
and Pusha TPusha TTerrence Thornton better known by his stage name Pusha T is an American recording artist, occasional actor and one half of the critically acclaimed hip hop duo Clipse. He is also the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Re-Up Records along with his brother Gene 'Malice' Thornton...
– 3:53
Charts
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Hot 100 Singles | 17 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
41 |