Lose Control (Let Me Down)
Encyclopedia
"Lose Control" is a song performed by American recording artist Keri Hilson
featuring Nelly
, taken from her second studio album, No Boys Allowed
(2010). The song was produced by Norwegian duo StarGate
, who wrote the song with Nelly and Ester Dean
. "Lose Control" was sent to rhythmic contemporary
radio in the United States on May 10, 2011, as the album's fourth single.
, produced by Norwegian duo StarGate
. The track opens with a keyboard
riff that reverberates. As stated by Nadine Cheung of AOL Music, it features "Hilson's impeccable vocals layered over slinky synths
". Karen Tye of Adelaide Now described "Lose Control" as a "B-grade version of Rihanna
's "What's My Name?
" (2010). Cheung also commented that on the song, Hilson "is instantly attracted to a guy in the club who knows just how to move." During the chorus, Hilson encourages her man to put his hands on her body and lose control. Nelly later delivers his "sexually charged verse" by "confidently telling his lady friend just how he rolls". Robbie Daw of Idolator
compared Nelly's line "on the way you shaking your anus", to Kesha
's "Cannibal" (2010). After three and a half minutes, "Lose Control" segues into the slow jam
"Let Me Down".
magazine and editors of USA Today
, chose "Lose Control" as one of the stand out songs from the album. Aamir Yaqub of SoulCulture.co.uk said the song has a "Rihanna vibe to it probably owed to the production by StarGate". A writer for DesiHits
described it as a dance track that was "pure and simple". Andrew Martin of Prefix Mag wrote that "It's unlikely that any new singles off Keri Hilson's No Boys Allowed will have the same chart success as "Pretty Girl Rock
". But if any of them can do it, it's 'Lose Control'." Spence D. of IGN Music
gave the song a mixed review, stating that it would not fall so flat if the rest of the album had "half the sassy spirit" of "Pretty Girl Rock".
reported that Hilson would be filming the music video to "Lose Control" with director Colin Tilley
, who previously directed "One Night Stand
" and "In the Air
", her collaboration with UK rapper Chipmunk
. Images from the shoot leaked online in April 2011. The video premiered on Vevo
on May 20, 2011. In the video, Hilson seductress comes out after the sun goes down, oozing sex appeal as she shakes, winds, and rolls across the screen. She models a handful of warrior princess looks on land and in a lagoon, getting hot and heavy with Nelly, who gets dragged by her crew through the sand.
on June 16, 2011. Shortly after the performance, "Kelly Hilson" became a trending topic on Twitter
after the show's host Cat Deeley
mispronounced her name and called her Kelly Hilson instead.
Source
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
featuring Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
, taken from her second studio album, No Boys Allowed
No Boys Allowed
No Boys Allowed is the second studio album by American recording artist Keri Hilson, released on December 17, 2010 through Mosley Music and Zone 4 Records. On the album, Hilson is reunited with Timbaland and Polow da Don, who executively produced the album, as they did with her debut release...
(2010). The song was produced by Norwegian duo StarGate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, who wrote the song with Nelly and Ester Dean
Ester Dean
Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
. "Lose Control" was sent to rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
radio in the United States on May 10, 2011, as the album's fourth single.
Composition
"Lose Control" is a song featuring American rapper NellyNelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
, produced by Norwegian duo StarGate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
. The track opens with a keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
riff that reverberates. As stated by Nadine Cheung of AOL Music, it features "Hilson's impeccable vocals layered over slinky synths
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
". Karen Tye of Adelaide Now described "Lose Control" as a "B-grade version of Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
's "What's My Name?
What's My Name? (Rihanna song)
"What's My Name?" is mid-tempo electro-R&B song, produced by Norwegian producers, StarGate, who return Rihanna to the "Island-pop" of her early career with a backing track consisting of "heavy reggae" and ska beats with synthesised organs. Bill Lamb from About.com noted that before Rihanna's vocals...
" (2010). Cheung also commented that on the song, Hilson "is instantly attracted to a guy in the club who knows just how to move." During the chorus, Hilson encourages her man to put his hands on her body and lose control. Nelly later delivers his "sexually charged verse" by "confidently telling his lady friend just how he rolls". Robbie Daw of Idolator
Idolator (website)
Idolator is a music blog. Created by the blog network Gawker Media in August 2006, Idolator was later sold to rival blog network Buzz Media, which also owns music blog Stereogum. From the 2007 departure of original head writer Brian Raftery until November 2009, the blog's head writer was Maura...
compared Nelly's line "on the way you shaking your anus", to Kesha
Kesha
Kesha village is a small village nestled in the mountains of Yongshun County, northwestern Hunan province, China, located at latitude 29 05' 50", longitude 109 57' 9". The name is pronounced in Standard Chinese. The official language is Manderin Chinese....
's "Cannibal" (2010). After three and a half minutes, "Lose Control" segues into the slow jam
Slow jam
A slow jam an umbrella term for music with R&B and Soul influences. Slow jams are commonly R&B ballads or down tempo songs. The term is most commonly reserved for soft-sounding songs with heavily emotional or romantic lyrical content. This definition has led to intense debate over whether...
"Let Me Down".
Critical reception
Andy Kellman of Allmusic said "Lose Control" was one of the album's direct hits, "despite an anus/famous rhyme from Nelly". Anthony Osei of Complex magazine wrote, "We're a little curious as to why "Lose Control" wasn't her first choice as a single. You really can't go wrong with the production/songwriting combination of StarGate and Ester Dean. Future number-one hit?" Jason Richards of NOWNOW (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 and editors of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, chose "Lose Control" as one of the stand out songs from the album. Aamir Yaqub of SoulCulture.co.uk said the song has a "Rihanna vibe to it probably owed to the production by StarGate". A writer for DesiHits
DesiHits
-Background:DesiHits! is a multi-platform media company that produces and distributes fusion entertainment content aimed at the South Asian diaspora. The Company was founded in 2006 by Anjula Acharia-Bath, Ranj Bath and Arun Sandhu, and is headquartered in New York...
described it as a dance track that was "pure and simple". Andrew Martin of Prefix Mag wrote that "It's unlikely that any new singles off Keri Hilson's No Boys Allowed will have the same chart success as "Pretty Girl Rock
Pretty Girl Rock
"Pretty Girl Rock" is a mid-tempo R&B and pop song, that incorporates an interpolation of "Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington, Jr.. The song makes use of heavy drums and slinky piano and is built on bouncy R&B beats...
". But if any of them can do it, it's 'Lose Control'." Spence D. of IGN Music
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...
gave the song a mixed review, stating that it would not fall so flat if the rest of the album had "half the sassy spirit" of "Pretty Girl Rock".
Music video
In late March 2011, Rap-UpRap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
reported that Hilson would be filming the music video to "Lose Control" with director Colin Tilley
Colin Tilley
Colin Tilley is an award winning music video director for Riveting Entertainment who has written and directed music videos for artists including Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Diddy, Usher, Melanie Fiona, Keri Hilson, Wiz Khalifa and U.K. rapper Chipmunk among others. His most...
, who previously directed "One Night Stand
One Night Stand (Keri Hilson song)
"One Night Stand" is a song by American recording artist Keri Hilson, taken from her second studio album, No Boys Allowed. It features American R&B singer Chris Brown who co-wrote the song alongside Kevin McCall and Charlie Bereal, who also produced the track...
" and "In the Air
In the Air (Chipmunk song)
"In the Air" is a single by British pop rapper Chipmunk, released as the second single from his second studio album Transition. The song features American R&B singer Keri Hilson, and was released on 13 March 2011...
", her collaboration with UK rapper Chipmunk
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
. Images from the shoot leaked online in April 2011. The video premiered on 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...
on May 20, 2011. In the video, Hilson seductress comes out after the sun goes down, oozing sex appeal as she shakes, winds, and rolls across the screen. She models a handful of warrior princess looks on land and in a lagoon, getting hot and heavy with Nelly, who gets dragged by her crew through the sand.
Live performances
Hilson performed "Lose Control" live for the first time with Nelly during her visit to Australia in April 2011 for Supafest, the largest urban music festival. She also performed the song on the American version of So You Think You Can DanceSo You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)
So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions...
on June 16, 2011. Shortly after the performance, "Kelly Hilson" became a trending topic on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
after the show's host Cat Deeley
Cat Deeley
Catherine Elizabeth "Cat" Deeley is an English television presenter and model. Since 2006, Deeley has also been the host of So You Think You Can Dance in the United States, for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition...
mispronounced her name and called her Kelly Hilson instead.
Credits and personnel
- NellyNellyCornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
– songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, lead vocals - Mikkel Eriksen, Tor HermansenStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– songwriter, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Keri HilsonKeri HilsonKeri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
– lead vocals - Bryan "The Beard" Jones – recording
- Ester DeanEster DeanEster Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...
- songwriter
Source
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Romania (UPFR Romanian Top 100 The Romanian Top 100 is the national airplay-based singles chart of Romania. It is weekly and it started running in 1996. It is recognized as an official chart by the European division of Billboard, Music & Media.... ) |
33 |
| Slovakia (Slovak Airplay Chart Rádio Top 100 Oficiálna Rádio Top 100 Oficiálna is the name of the Slovakian national airplay chart published by the IFPI Czech Republic on a weekly basis since the cancellation of the Slovakian national section on December 31, 2009.... ) |
84 |
| 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,... (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... ) |
77 |
Radio add dates
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | May 10, 2011 | Rhythmic contemporary Rhythmic Contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may... radio |
Interscope Records Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:... |
| June 28, 2011 | Urban contemporary Urban contemporary Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music... radio |
||
| United Kingdom | September 16, 2011 | Urban radio BBC Radio 1Xtra BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1... |
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... |