Pony (Ginuwine song)
Encyclopedia
"Pony" is the first single of American
R&B
singer Ginuwine
, released as a single from his first LP, Ginuwine...The Bachelor
, in 1996. The song was written by Ginuwine with Swing Mob
associates Static Major
and Timbaland
, who produced the recording. "Pony"'s lyrics describe a blatant sexual come-on: "If you're horny, let's do it / Ride it; my pony."
Timbaland's production was unique among R&B releases of the day: "Pony"'s instrumentation features a start-stop rhythm pattern similar to drum and bass
music, a bassline and melody formed by vocoded
vocal samples, and a cartoon slide whistle
. Along with his concurrent work for Aaliyah
's One in a Million LP, "Pony" and Ginuwine...the Bachelor marked the emergence of Timbaland as a successful R&B producer. The beat was also used for a remix of Jodeci
's song "Freek 'N You".
The single peaked at number one on the Billboard
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks for two weeks November 16, 1996, to November 30, 1996, and reached number six on Billboards Hot 100 on November 23, 1996.
The song is featured in the soundtrack of the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV, in the radio station known as The Vibe 98.8, a soul and R&B radio station. It was also featured in Season 1, Episode 6 of Undressed
and an episode of American dad entitled, I Am the Walrus
.
The song has two popular rock-oriented covers from Daniel Wesley
and Far
. However, the former changed most of the lyrics while the latter is an accurate cover.
directed by Michael Lucero.
The song's remix featured a rap by Timbaland, and was featured in a second video directed by Christopher Erskin. Three unofficial remix music videos were created later, featuring rappers Big Pun
, 50 Cent
and Lil Wayne
. Two remixes have the beat sped up with Ginuwine's verse, while the other has a different beat, using Big Pun's verse from "Still Not A Player
".
Australian Single
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
singer Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
, released as a single from his first LP, Ginuwine...The Bachelor
Ginuwine...the Bachelor
-Album:-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*art direction – Cozbi Sanchez-Cabrera*assembling – Alex Perialas, Jerry Conaway Jr*assistant engineering – Jason Arnold*coordination – Nadine Hemy*engineering – Jimmy Douglass, Alex Perialas...
, in 1996. The song was written by Ginuwine with Swing Mob
Swing Mob
Swing Mob consisted of members of the various collectives and/or record labels associated with Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Elliott with the group Sista, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, Playa, Darryl Pearson, Tweet with the group Sugah, Majik, Jimmy Douglass Stevie J., Maija Max, Bazaar Royale and Chad...
associates Static Major
Static Major
Stephen Ellis Garrett also known as Static Major, was a Grammy Award-Winning American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa. Static Major gained posthumous fame for appearing on Lil Wayne's 2008 album Tha Carter III on the...
and Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, who produced the recording. "Pony"'s lyrics describe a blatant sexual come-on: "If you're horny, let's do it / Ride it; my pony."
Timbaland's production was unique among R&B releases of the day: "Pony"'s instrumentation features a start-stop rhythm pattern similar to drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
music, a bassline and melody formed by vocoded
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
vocal samples, and a cartoon slide whistle
Slide whistle
A slide whistle is a wind instrument consisting of a fipple like a recorder's and a tube with a piston in it. Thus it has an air reed like some woodwinds, but varies the pitch with a slide. The construction is rather like a bicycle pump...
. Along with his concurrent work for Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
's One in a Million LP, "Pony" and Ginuwine...the Bachelor marked the emergence of Timbaland as a successful R&B producer. The beat was also used for a remix of Jodeci
Jodeci
Jodeci is an American band, whose repertoire includes R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina: Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo,...
's song "Freek 'N You".
The single peaked at number one on the 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...
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks for two weeks November 16, 1996, to November 30, 1996, and reached number six on Billboards Hot 100 on November 23, 1996.
The song is featured in the soundtrack of the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV, in the radio station known as The Vibe 98.8, a soul and R&B radio station. It was also featured in Season 1, Episode 6 of Undressed
Undressed
Undressed is an American anthology series that aired on MTV from July 26, 1999 to September 5, 2002. The series was created and executive produced by British director Roland Joffé.-Synopsis:...
and an episode of American dad entitled, I Am the Walrus
I Am the Walrus (American Dad!)
"I Am the Walrus" is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of American Dad!. It first aired on Fox in the United States on March 27, 2011. This episode mainly centers around Stan and his son Steve, who are both competing for the dominant role of the house. Steve is the first person to finish...
.
The song has two popular rock-oriented covers from Daniel Wesley
Daniel Wesley
- External links :* official site* at CBC Radio 3* Fitzgerald, Nicole. "", Pique Newsmagazine, 11 October 2007.*...
and Far
Far (band)
Far is a band from Sacramento, USA.-Releases :After a number of local releases including their first demo tape Sweat A River, Live No Lies and two independent albums Listening Game and Quick they signed to Epic/Immortal Records and released their first major record, Tin Cans With Strings To You...
. However, the former changed most of the lyrics while the latter is an accurate cover.
Music video
"Pony" was promoted by a music 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...
directed by Michael Lucero.
The song's remix featured a rap by Timbaland, and was featured in a second video directed by Christopher Erskin. Three unofficial remix music videos were created later, featuring rappers Big Pun
Big Pun
Christopher Lee Rios , better known by his stage name Big Pun , was an American rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s...
, 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
and Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne 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...
. Two remixes have the beat sped up with Ginuwine's verse, while the other has a different beat, using Big Pun's verse from "Still Not A Player
Still Not a Player
"Still Not a Player" is a hip-hop song, written and performed by Puerto Rican-American rapper Big Punisher , produced by Knobody and featuring singer Joe. It was featured on his 1998 debut album Capital Punishment....
".
Single track listing
US Maxi-Single- Pony (Album Version) (4:13)
- Pony (Extended Mix) (5:20)
- Pony (Ride It Mix) (5:05)
- Pony (Mad Love Club Mix) (4:32)
- Pony (Mad Love Beat Mix) (4:29)
- Pony (Black Market Slowride Mix) (4:31)
Australian Single
- Pony (Album Version) (4:13)
- Pony (Extended Mix) (5:20)
- Pony (Instrumental) (5:18)
- Pony (A Cappella) (3:48)
Peak positions
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Songs | 28 |
| UK Singles Chart | 16 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 3 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 30 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 8 |
| German Singles Chart | 22 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 5 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 29 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 72 |
| End of year chart (1997) | Position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 62 |