Laundromat (Nivea song)

"Laundromat"
An image of a woman wearing a yellow, orange, black, and red dress. She is standing against an orange background, with the words "Nivea" and "laundromat" surrounding her.
Single by Nivea
from the album Nivea
Released April 1, 2003 (2003-04-01)
Format
Recorded 2001
Genre
Length 4:23
Label Jive
Writer(s) R. Kelly
Producer(s) Kelly
Nivea singles chronology
"Don't Mess with My Man"
(2002)		 "Laundromat"
(2003)		 "25 Reasons" / "Ya Ya Ya"
(2003)

"Laundromat" is a song recorded by American singer Nivea. Jive and Zomba Records released it on April 1, 2003, as the third single from Nivea's eponymous debut album (2001). American singer-songwriter R. Kelly wrote and produced the track. Backed by an electric piano and an acoustic piano, it is a R&B and pop duet between Nivea and Kelly, and lyrically revolves around a laundromat as a metaphor for infidelity and the end of a relationship.

Critical response to "Laundromat" was primarily positive, with its sound and composition being praised. However, the choice of Kelly as Nivea's duet partner received a more mixed response, due to allegations that he had sexual relations with underage girls. Commercially, the recording peaked in the United States at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart. Internationally, it reached a peak position of number 33 on the UK Singles chart.

In the accompanying music video, Nivea sings, dances, and does her laundry in a laundromat while accompanied by female back-up dancers. It was listed as one of the worst visuals done in a laundromat by Phoenix New Times. American actor Nick Cannon played the part of Nivea's boyfriend, and lip-synched Kelly's parts due to allegations against him. In July 2013, American singer Solange Knowles performed a cover version of the song in a laundromat as a part of the "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign, receiving positive reviews for her performance. She also said that she listened to the song during the recording of her third album A Seat at the Table (2016).

Background and release

American singer-songwriter R. Kelly wrote, produced, and arranged "Laundromat". It was recorded with the guidance of Abel Garibaldi, Andy Gallas, and Ian Mereness. Mereness mixed the song with assistance from Jason Mlodzinski and Kelly. Garibaldi and Mereness also served as programmers for the single, with the help of assistant programmer Mlodzinski. Colin "CL" Lampkin and Nivea were the executive producers.[1]

"Laundromat" was initially released on January 1, 2003 as a double A-side with "Don't Mess with My Man".[2][3] Subsequently, following the commercial success of "Don't Mess with My Man",[4] it was distributed as the third single from American singer Nivea's self-titled debut album on April 1, 2003. It was additionally sent to contemporary hit and rhythmic radio stations, and received airplay on urban playlists alongside "Don't Mess With My Man".[5] A CD single of the song was first made available in the United Kingdom,[6] before being released internationally in late April.[7][8]

Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Laundromat"
A 15-second sample of the song, where Kelly delivers vocals for the refrain. The lyrical content of the track is laundry-related.[9]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Laundromat" is an R&B and pop song that lasts four minutes and 23 seconds.[10][11] It is a duet between Nivea and Kelly, whose vocal delivery is uncredited.[11] The single is composed in the key of E major and has a tempo of 128 beats per minute.[12] According to the Music Genome Project, it features influences from hip hop music and is built on a "call and response vocal harmony" or antiphony. The track's instrumentation is provided by an electric and acoustic piano.[13]

Nivea's vocals on "Laundromat", as well as on the rest of the album, was described as a "sugary soprano" by Vibe's Laura Checkoway, who called the song an "R&B jam-meets-detergent jingle".[14] Hank Shteamer, Elias Leight, and Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that its "bubbly funk arrangement can't conceal the song's tragic core".[15] The single was described as having "some '70s sweet soul influence" by AllMusic's Alex Henderson, who saw it as an example of a slow jam.[16]

In the lyrics, a laundromat serves a metaphor for infidelity and the end of a relationship.[9][15] It symbolizes "an effort to wash [an ex-boyfriend's] memory from [the singer's] life", with love being symbolized as dirty laundry in the chorus.[11][15] The song opens with Nivea throwing shade at her ex-boyfriend with the lyrics, "You're a lying, cheating, son of a [...]"[11][15] In the chorus, Kelly sings the following laundry-related lyrics, "Soap, powder, bleach, towels / Fabric softner, dollars, change / Pants, socks, dirty drawers / I'm headed to the laundromat."[9]

Critical reception

A dark-skinned man wearing a green jacket and sunglasses.
Kelly's contribution to the song received mixed response from media outlets.[9][14][17]

"Laundromat" received a primarily positive response from music critics. It was featured on Rolling Stone's list of "10 Classic Sad-Phone-Call Songs" released before British singer-songwriter Adele's 2015 single "Hello".[15] Chuck Taylor of Billboard wrote that the song expertly included elements of R&B and pop music, calling it a "novel, ear-pricking single". The review concluded by saying that it was a positive step forward for the singer's career.[11] Nivea's vocals were praised by Vibe's Sean Fennessey, who said that she "never sounded fresher or sharper".[18] Ykigs of YouKnowIGotSoul agreed, and opined Kelly and Nivea had strong vocal performances on the single.[19] AllMusic's Alex Henderson chose "Laundromat" as one of the three highlights from Nivea, alongside "Don't Mess with My Man" and "Don't Mess with the Radio" (2001).[16]

Commentators had a more mixed reaction to the choice of Kelly as a duet partner for Nivea. "Laundromat" was included in Fuse's list of the top six most random Kelly collaborations. While the website expressed doubt about the use of the laundromat as a metaphor, it pointed to Kelly's vocal performance during the chorus was the song's highlight.[9] However, Vibe's Laura Checkoway viewed the "banter between the barely legal Nivea and Kelly [as] unsettling" due to the allegations of him having sexual relationships with girls under the age of consent.[14] Echoing this thought, writer Mark Anthony Neal agreed with Checkoway, and expressed discomfort in taking his daughter to concerts that included "music written and produced by a man accused of having sexual relations with underage women".[17]

Commercial performance

Upon its release, "Laundromat" experienced minor success in the United States. For the week of March 8, 2003, it peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining on the chart for nine weeks.[20] During the same week, it also reached number 20 the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart, and was present on the chart for 20 weeks.[21] It further appeared on the year-end Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart at number 92.[22] Internationally, "Laundromat" reached a peak position of number 33 on the UK Singles Chart after spending two weeks on the chart. It marked Nivea's second top 40 entry; her collaboration with Mystikal on "Danger (Been So Long)" (2000) was the first.[23]

Music video

An accompanying music video for the song premiered in February 2003.[5] It begins with Nivea ending her relationship with her boyfriend after she caught him cheating on her. Over the rest of the visual, Nivea is shown singing, dancing, and doing her laundry in a laundromat while accompanied by female back-up dancers.[15] BET aired the video, and included it on its signature countdown show 106 & Park.[24] In 2003, the clip was included on a CD single alongside the radio edit and instrumental of "Laundromat', and a remix of "Don't Mess With My Man".[25]

American actor Nick Cannon played the part of Nivea's boyfriend, and lip-synched Kelly's vocal delivery. Cannon had previously appeared as a disc jokey in the music video for the latter's 2002 "Ignition (Remix)". In his article "Bringing Up Daddy: A Black Feminist Fatherhood", writer Neal concluded that Kelly choose to be absent from several music videos during the early 2000s due to the accusations of his sexual relationships with minors. Neal followed this up by saying it would be inappropriate for Kelly to "show up in a music video cooing in the ear of a teenager".[17] It was listed as one of the "6 Worst Music Videos Shot in Laundromats" by Phoenix New Times's Troy Farah, who simply described it as "Ewww".[26]

Solange Knowles version

On July 29, 2013, American singer Solange Knowles performed "Laundromat" at the Atlantis Super Wash Laundromat in Boerum Hill, as a part of Uncapped, a series of live concerts sponsored by Vitaminwater and The Fader, and the "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign.[27] The song was performed in a medley with American experimental rock band Dirty Projectors' track "Stillness Is the Move" (2009) while dancing on top of washing machines. Concerning this, the singer confessed, "This laundromat has me feeling the drama queen, so excuse my theatrics".[28] Knowles sang both of Nivea and R. Kelly's parts, while being accompanied by a six-person band.[27][29] Additionally, the song was altered to better fit her style.[28]

Vitaminwater's Ben Garnero explained the decision to set the concert in a laundromat as an opportunity "to take on these iconic, mundane moments and tackle Mondays in New York and these places you never expect to see a show".[27] The event was attended by approximately 125 people.[27] "Laundromat" was praised as an appropriate choice for the venue by The Fader and TheDrop.[29][30] Fuse included the performance in its list of the 31 best covers of 2013, further praising Solange for her vocal dlivery, but also writing, "we love this cover mostly for the fact it was performed in an actual laundromat".[31]

When asked by an interviewer about the thought process behind her performance, Knowles described "Laundromat" as one of her most-played songs, and one that she always wanted to cover.[29] During a 2016 interview with Vogue, she said that she constantly listened to the track during the recording of her third album A Seat at the Table (2016).[32]

Track listings

12" single[2][3]
No. Title Length
1. "Laundromat (Radio Edit)"   4:23
2. "Laundromat (Instrumental)"   4:23
3. "Don't Mess With My Man (Remix)"   3:52
CD single[8][33]
No. Title Length
1. "Laundromat (Radio Edit)"   4:25
2. "Laundromat (Instrumental)"   4:22

CD single[25]
No. Title Length
1. "Laundromat (Radio Edit)"   4:25
2. "Don't Mess With My Man (Remix)"   3:52
3. "Laundromat (Instrumental)"   4:22
4. "Laundromat (Video)"   4:26

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nivea.[1]

Management
Personnel

  • Arranged By – R. Kelly
  • Executive Producer – Colin "CL" Lampkin, Nivea B. Hamilton
  • Mixed By – Ian Mereness
  • Mixed By [Assistant] – Jason Mlodzinski
  • Mixed By [Co-mixed] – R. Kelly
  • Producer – R. Kelly
  • Programmed By – Abel Garibaldi, Ian Mereness
  • Programmed By [Assistant] – Jason Mlodzinski
  • Recorded By – Abel Garibaldi, Andy Gallas, Ian Mereness
  • Written By – R. Kelly

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 33
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 58
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 20

Year-end charts

Chart (2003) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs[22] 92

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Europe[2][3] January 1, 2003 12" single Zomba
United Kingdom[6] April 1, 2003 CD single Jive
Spain[7] April 23, 2003 Jive, Zomba
United States[8] April 24, 2003 Jive

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Nivea. Jive, Arista (Inlay cover). Nivea. September 25, 2001. 01241-44200-2.
  2. 1 2 3 "Laundromat - Nivea 12". Amazon.com. January 1, 2003. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Laundromat" / "Don't Mess With My Man" (Media notes). Nivea. Zomba Records. 2003. 9254820.
  4. ↑ "Chart Search". Billboard Hot 100 for Nivea Featuring Brian & Brandon Casey. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Hay, Carla (February 8, 2003). "Shelved For A Year, 'Nivea' Nevertheless Nets Top 10 Hit, Grammy Nod". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Nivea Laundromat [UK CD]". AllMusic. All Media Network. April 1, 2003. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Laundromat" (Media notes). Nivea. Jive. 2003. 9254999.
  8. 1 2 3 "Laundromat by Nivea". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 James, Nicole (October 21, 2013). "The 6 Most Random R. Kelly Collaborations". Fuse. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Nivea – Nivea". iTunes Store (US). September 25, 2001. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, Chuck (February 22, 2003). "Singles". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Laundromat Radio Edit". Beatport. September 17, 2010. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Laundromat". Pandora Radio. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 Checkoway, Laura (February 2003). "Nivea". Vibe. SpinMedia. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shteamer, Hank; Leight, Elias; Spanos, Brittany (October 23, 2015). "'Hello': 10 Classic Sad-Phone-Call Songs". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  16. 1 2 Henderson, Alex (September 25, 2001). "Nivea". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 Neal (2010): p. 47–48
  18. ↑ Fennessey, Sean (May 2007). "12 Play: We Belong Together". Vibe. SpinMedia. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  19. ↑ Ykigs (February 6, 2011). "Classic VIbe: Nivea "Laundromat" (Feat. R. Kelly) (2002)". YouKnowIGotSoul. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Chart Search". Billboard Hot 100 for Nivea. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Chart Search". Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Nivea. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  22. 1 2 "The Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks – 2003 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016.(subscription required)
  23. 1 2 "Nivea". UK Singles (Official Charts Company) for Nivea. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Nivea". Nivea's official website. Archived from the original on May 26, 2003.
  25. 1 2 "Laundromat" & "Don't Mess With My Man" (Media notes). Nivea. Jive. 2003. 9254822.
  26. ↑ Farah, Troy (June 30, 2014). "6 Worst Music Videos Shot in Laundromats". Phoenix New Times. Voice Media Group. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Hampp, Andrew (July 31, 2013). "Backbeat: Solange Makes the 'Boring Brilliant' at Brooklyn Laundromat Performance with Help from vitaminwater, The Fader". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Lynch, Joe (July 30, 2013). "Solange Sang Nivea's "Laundromat" in a Real-Life Laundromat Last Night". Fuse. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  29. 1 2 3 Dyer, Deidre (July 30, 2013). "Interview: Solange". The Fader. Andy Cohn. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  30. ↑ Fitzgerald, Trent. "Solange Gives Intimate Performance at Brooklyn Laundromat". TheDrop. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  31. ↑ "31 Best Covers of 2013: Miley Cyrus, Adam Lambert, Jared Leto, 1D & More". Fuse. December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016.
  32. ↑ Dyer, Deidre (September 28, 2016). "Solange Knowles Has a New Album and a New Look! Inside Her Surprising Beauty Inspirations for A Seat at the Table". Vogue. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Laundromat" (Media notes). Nivea. Jive. 2003. JDJ-40063-2.

Bibliography

External links

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