Marvins Room
Encyclopedia
"Marvin's Room" is a song by the rapper Drake
. The song first debuted on his official blog October's Very Own on June 9, 2011. The track serves the first promotional single released from Drake's sophomore album Take Care
. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the US.
The song was allegedly recorded inside the studio of the same name
once owned by singer Marvin Gaye
.
The lyrics comprise Drake's late-night drunken rant to a former girlfriend over the phone while in a nightclub (a phenomenon referred to by critics as "drunk dialing
"). Despite his frustrations over their breakup and his obvious loneliness, Drake reiterates to her his superiority over his replacement and repeatedly cajoles her to return to him. He also mentions that the women with whom he has had sex and has provided financial support do not satisfy him. Ultimately, his plaintive requests go unrequited.
It is rumored that Drake wrote this song after an argument with a long time friend, Banna Boo [name shortened for privacy purposes], who broke his heart after she left him for NBA player Chris Paul. Drake makes subtle hints to his relationship with Banna throughout the "Take Care" album, most notably in his incessant references to his "exes in Texas" and affinity for "fat asses."
also gave plaudits to the single, saying that it is "a shrewd reminder of what sets Aubrey Drake Graham apart. Drake is a master insinuator, and these two songs carry a muted, creeping unease no one else in hip-hop is currently quite equipped to provide."
Ann Powers of NPR
Music's The Record drew comparisons between the song and the life and career of Marvin Gaye, stating that the song "taps into the magnetic but dangerous spirit of GAYE: not only his seduction skills, but his self-doubt, the vulnerability that made his music so profound and which eventually derailed him."
' YouTube
account on June 28, 2011. The song in the video is a shorter, slightly altered version of the official release.
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
. The song first debuted on his official blog October's Very Own on June 9, 2011. The track serves the first promotional single released from Drake's sophomore album Take Care
Take Care
Take Care is the second studio album by Canadian recording artist Drake, released November 15, 2011, on Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records. It is the follow-up to his 2010 debut album Thank Me Later. Production for the album took place during 2010 to 2011 and was handled by Noah "40"...
. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the US.
The song was allegedly recorded inside the studio of the same name
Marvin's Room (studio)
Marvin's Room is a recording studio founded by American soul musician Marvin Gaye.Created by the singer in 1975 shortly after renegotiating a deal with Motown Records, the singer built the studios in Los Angeles as a spacious apartment-like complex big enough to be a studio, a home and, for a...
once owned by singer Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
.
Composition
The song, is anchored by Noah "40" Shebib's trademark muted bass, a trend that manifests, in the words of Jayson Greene of Pitchfork Media, "like the fumes from music that's already evaporated-- a wisp of keyboard, a single watery thud of bass drum."The lyrics comprise Drake's late-night drunken rant to a former girlfriend over the phone while in a nightclub (a phenomenon referred to by critics as "drunk dialing
Drunk dialing
Drunk dialing is a pop-culture term denoting an instance in which an intoxicated individual places phone calls that he or she would not likely place if sober...
"). Despite his frustrations over their breakup and his obvious loneliness, Drake reiterates to her his superiority over his replacement and repeatedly cajoles her to return to him. He also mentions that the women with whom he has had sex and has provided financial support do not satisfy him. Ultimately, his plaintive requests go unrequited.
It is rumored that Drake wrote this song after an argument with a long time friend, Banna Boo [name shortened for privacy purposes], who broke his heart after she left him for NBA player Chris Paul. Drake makes subtle hints to his relationship with Banna throughout the "Take Care" album, most notably in his incessant references to his "exes in Texas" and affinity for "fat asses."
Critical reception
"Marvin's Room" was well-received by PopCrush, which gave the song 4.5 out of 5 stars and commented that "Not many rappers are capable of writing something with such an emotional impact." Jayson Greene of Pitchfork MediaPitchfork 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...
also gave plaudits to the single, saying that it is "a shrewd reminder of what sets Aubrey Drake Graham apart. Drake is a master insinuator, and these two songs carry a muted, creeping unease no one else in hip-hop is currently quite equipped to provide."
Ann Powers of NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
Music's The Record drew comparisons between the song and the life and career of Marvin Gaye, stating that the song "taps into the magnetic but dangerous spirit of GAYE: not only his seduction skills, but his self-doubt, the vulnerability that made his music so profound and which eventually derailed him."
Commercial reception
Following its release on Drake's official blog, it gained considerable popularity on various radio formats.Remixes
The song has spawned a number of remixes from various artists. Responding to the number of "Marvin's Room" remixes, Drake said:- JoJo ("Can't Do Better")
- Singer CLCL (singer)Lee Chae-rin , better known as CL , is a South Korean idol rapper, singer , and dancer. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, but spent much of her early life in various places where she learned English, French, and Japanese...
mashed-up "Can't Do Better" with Nicki MinajNicki MinajOnika Tanya Maraj , better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj; ), is a Trinidadian-born American recording artist...
's "Did It On'emDid It On'em"Did It On'em" is a song by Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj. It was written by Minaj with J. Ellington, Safaree Samuels, and Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford, who produced the track. The song served as the fourth single from her debut album, Pink Friday, in the United States while "Girls Fall...
" and G-DragonG-DragonAside from Big Bang, G-Dragon also made several solo appearances. After helping produce Taeyang's debut album, he recorded his own version of the album's lead single "Only Look At Me" , titled as the part two version to the song. The single was released digitally...
's "The Leaders" as a part of her group 2NE12NE1Both the song and the group became popular online: Fire topped Mnet's online chart and 2NE1 became a popular search term. The group was awarded three Cyworld Digital Music Awards; "Lollipop" and "Fire" both won "Song of the Month" and the group won "Rookie of the Month" for May 2009...
's NOLZA tour.
- Singer CL
- Teyana Taylor ("Her Room")
- Jodie AyshaJodie AyshaJodie Aysha Henderson, born in Leeds, is a British singer and song writer.-Biography:She is most recognised for collaborating with British Music Producer T2 on the song "Heartbroken" released in November 2007. Aysha wrote the song when she was 14 about her older sister who at the time was...
("Your Room") - Lil WayneLil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
("Marvin's Room"; included on his mixtape, Sorry 4 The WaitSorry 4 the WaitSorry 4 the Wait is a mixtape by rapper Lil Wayne, named "Sorry 4 the Wait" as an attempt to apologize for the continued delay of his senior album Tha Carter IV. Wayne said the mixtape would have about 10 songs and be similar to No Ceilings, with him using other artists' tracks and making a cover...
) - SammieSammieSammie Bush , better known by Sammie, is an American soul and pop singer. He is best known for his hit, "I Like It" from his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top . He returned with his second studio album, Sammie in 2006...
("Marvin's Room (Remix)") - Chris Brown ("Marvin's Room")
- Paula DeAndaPaula DeAndaPaula DeAnda is a Mexican American pop singer-songwriter and actress. She first came to prominence with her first single "Doing Too Much" that became a hit in the Southwest. She then got the opportunity to audition for Clive Davis who signed her to Arista Records on the spot...
("I Can Do Better") - Julian Goins (Rangers) "Marvin's Room"
- Cody SimpsonCody SimpsonCody Robert Simpson is an Australian pop singer from Gold Coast, Queensland, who is currently signed to US record label Atlantic Records.-Early life:...
("Evenings In London")
Music video
The music video for the song was released on Cash Money RecordsCash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
' YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account on June 28, 2011. The song in the video is a shorter, slightly altered version of the official release.
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peakposition |
|---|---|
| US 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... ) |
7 |