Like a Surgeon (Ciara song)
Encyclopedia
"Like a Surgeon" is a song by American recording artist Ciara
, taken from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride
. The dark and aggressive mid-tempo R&B
song written by The-Dream
and co-written/produced by Tricky Stewart
. It was sent to radio as the album's third single, exclusively in the United States, in June 2009. It follows in the footsteps of Ciara's previous top-ten R&B single, "Never Ever
" and her top-ten pop
single "Love Sex Magic
".
Critics gave the song a mixed reception, most disliked the use of hospitals/medicine as a metaphor for sex and felt that the song did not best showcase Ciara's vocals. However there was some praise for the aggressive and slick production. Based solely upon reviews and airplay, "Like a Surgeon" peaked at number fifty-nine on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. The song was never really promoted, receiving no music video, single cover or live performances.
noted the single in volume 121, issue 24 of its magazine. It follows "Never Ever
" as the second R&B single from Fantasy Ride
, though it is the third overall single as the pop-flavoured "Love Sex Magic
", a duet with Justin Timberlake
, was also released. Following speculation of its release, "Like a Surgeon" debuted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart at number ninety-two, rising to number seventy-five upon being reviewed by Billboard magazine. It managed to peak at number fifty-nine. Ciara had tweeted that she would film a video for "Like a Surgeon" alongside her international single "Work
", however the video for the US single was never filmed.
said that "The only major disaster is "Like a Surgeon," which is filled with creepy, ill-conceived metaphors for sex". New York Times said that "The welcome dash of female sexual aggression on “Like a Surgeon” is an unexpected twist". All music
said "On the hypnotically winding "Like a Surgeon", the-Dream provides some of his best, gimmicky, post-R. Kelly similes and metaphors, delivered by Ciara with all the necessary arrogance: "I appreciate your recovery time, but you need a physical one more time". The Boston Globe
said that "The droning, hook-free "Like a Surgeon" [is] not an A-game effort for songwriting team Tricky and The-Dream". Pitchfork Media
said that "The-Dream and Tricky Stewart tend to fill their tracks with empty spaces, and Ciara's voice needs hall-of-mirrors production to really register, so slight, minimal tracks like "Ciara to the Stage" and "Like a Surgeon" leave her sounding stranded". Dotmusic
said " 'Like A Surgeon' and 'Pucker Up' make a lot of noise, piling on synths, stutters and bleeps, but are neither killer club tunes nor decent pop". BBC Music
said that "Only Like a Surgeon with its somewhat bizarre sex/hospital metaphors may leave you at a loss for words".
But Billboard
, gave the song a very positive review, by saying that 'Surgeon' finds the young siren operating under the guise of a sexual braggart on a song that sounds like it may have been modeled after the late Aaliyah's more ambitious album tracks. Tricky Stewart creates a tense production template for the singer to explore a darker, sexier side than listeners may be used to hearing from her. Plodding synth lines, an unusual bassline and a stop-and-go rhythm add up to one of Ciara's most interesting singles to date".
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, taken from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ciara. It was released on May 3, 2009 in the UK by RCA Records and May 5 in the United States on LaFace Records. The album combines R&B and hip hop sound from her previous albums along with a new pop and dance direction.The album...
. The dark and aggressive mid-tempo R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
song written by The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
and co-written/produced by Tricky Stewart
Christopher Stewart (music producer)
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart is an American songwriter, music producer, music publisher, executive producer, recording industry executive and recording studio owner. In a career spanning 16 years, Stewart, at the helm of his company RedZone Entertainment, is responsible for over 25 million...
. It was sent to radio as the album's third single, exclusively in the United States, in June 2009. It follows in the footsteps of Ciara's previous top-ten R&B single, "Never Ever
Never Ever (Ciara song)
"Never Ever" is a song performed by R&B singer Ciara. It is the first official single from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. The song features rapper Young Jeezy, was produced by Polow da Don, and was co-written by Ciara and Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams, who both produced and co-wrote Ciara's...
" and her top-ten pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
single "Love Sex Magic
Love Sex Magic
"Love Sex Magic" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara, taken from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. Featuring fellow American recording artist Justin Timberlake, the song was written by Timberlake and his production team The Y's, as well as Ciara and Mike Elizondo. The Y's and...
".
Critics gave the song a mixed reception, most disliked the use of hospitals/medicine as a metaphor for sex and felt that the song did not best showcase Ciara's vocals. However there was some praise for the aggressive and slick production. Based solely upon reviews and airplay, "Like a Surgeon" peaked at number fifty-nine on the US 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,...
chart. The song was never really promoted, receiving no music video, single cover or live performances.
Radio and chart performance
The single was sent to US radio stations in June 2009. BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
noted the single in volume 121, issue 24 of its magazine. It follows "Never Ever
Never Ever (Ciara song)
"Never Ever" is a song performed by R&B singer Ciara. It is the first official single from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. The song features rapper Young Jeezy, was produced by Polow da Don, and was co-written by Ciara and Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams, who both produced and co-wrote Ciara's...
" as the second R&B single from Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ciara. It was released on May 3, 2009 in the UK by RCA Records and May 5 in the United States on LaFace Records. The album combines R&B and hip hop sound from her previous albums along with a new pop and dance direction.The album...
, though it is the third overall single as the pop-flavoured "Love Sex Magic
Love Sex Magic
"Love Sex Magic" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara, taken from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. Featuring fellow American recording artist Justin Timberlake, the song was written by Timberlake and his production team The Y's, as well as Ciara and Mike Elizondo. The Y's and...
", a duet with Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, was also released. Following speculation of its release, "Like a Surgeon" debuted on the US 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,...
chart at number ninety-two, rising to number seventy-five upon being reviewed by Billboard magazine. It managed to peak at number fifty-nine. Ciara had tweeted that she would film a video for "Like a Surgeon" alongside her international single "Work
Work (Ciara song)
"Work" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara, from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride . It was co-written by Ciara, Nate "Danja" Hills, Marcella Araica and Missy Elliott and produced by Danja with additional production by Araica. The song was released on July 24, 2009, by LaFace...
", however the video for the US single was never filmed.
Critical reception
"Like a Surgeon" received generally mixed reviews. Slant MagazineSlant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
said that "The only major disaster is "Like a Surgeon," which is filled with creepy, ill-conceived metaphors for sex". New York Times said that "The welcome dash of female sexual aggression on “Like a Surgeon” is an unexpected twist". All music
All Music
All Music was an Italian free-to-air television station which mainly broadcast music videos and music programs. Originally called Rete A, the name was changed to Rete A - All Music , and for a brief period was affiliated before with MTV Italy and after with VIVA.-History:In late 2004 the former...
said "On the hypnotically winding "Like a Surgeon", the-Dream provides some of his best, gimmicky, post-R. Kelly similes and metaphors, delivered by Ciara with all the necessary arrogance: "I appreciate your recovery time, but you need a physical one more time". The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
said that "The droning, hook-free "Like a Surgeon" [is] not an A-game effort for songwriting team Tricky and The-Dream". Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
said that "The-Dream and Tricky Stewart tend to fill their tracks with empty spaces, and Ciara's voice needs hall-of-mirrors production to really register, so slight, minimal tracks like "Ciara to the Stage" and "Like a Surgeon" leave her sounding stranded". Dotmusic
Dotmusic
Dotmusic was a music website that existed as a standalone website from June 1995 to December 2003. Initially intended as the web complement to the UK music industry trade magazine Music Week, the site was relaunched in December 1998 as a website for music fans.In addition to music news, reviews,...
said " 'Like A Surgeon' and 'Pucker Up' make a lot of noise, piling on synths, stutters and bleeps, but are neither killer club tunes nor decent pop". BBC Music
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....
said that "Only Like a Surgeon with its somewhat bizarre sex/hospital metaphors may leave you at a loss for words".
But Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, gave the song a very positive review, by saying that 'Surgeon' finds the young siren operating under the guise of a sexual braggart on a song that sounds like it may have been modeled after the late Aaliyah's more ambitious album tracks. Tricky Stewart creates a tense production template for the singer to explore a darker, sexier side than listeners may be used to hearing from her. Plodding synth lines, an unusual bassline and a stop-and-go rhythm add up to one of Ciara's most interesting singles to date".
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US '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,... |
59 |