Fireworks (Drake song)

Summary

"Fireworks" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American singer Alicia Keys from his debut album Thank Me Later (2010). The artists previous collaborated on Keys' "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)". Originally, it was supposed to be the fourth single, but it was changed to Fancy.

"Fireworks"
Song by Drake featuring Alicia Keys
from the album Thank Me Later
ReleasedMay 26, 2010[1]
Recorded2010
Genre
Length5:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Aubrey Drake Graham
  • Noah "40" Shebib
  • Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels
  • Christian "Crada" Kalla
  • Alicia (Keys) Cook
Producer(s)

Background edit

Fireworks was one of the most anticipated songs off Thank Me Later. It was originally thought that Kings of Leon was on the chorus, however, due to lack of sample clearance, it was announced at a concert that Alicia Keys would sing the chorus.[2]

Before his show at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania on Monday night April 5, 2010, Drizzy explained to MTV News why he was letting the crowd sample the song. "The song itself is the first song on the album; I think it's the biggest indicator of what the album is gonna be like," he said. "That's why I picked that song to go first, and that's why I wrote the first verse like that. It's really where I am in my life right now. I know they're looking forward to the album, so I want them to get a feel of how the story starts off." "Fireworks" starts with the actual sound of fireworks in the background. From there, Drizzy begins talking about his life, joking that his 15 minutes of fame started about an hour ago. "It truly is a story," he added of the album. "At no point in the album does it fall off and become about some songs I slapped together. It's all a story from beginning to end. Just like So Far Gone was. It's that time."[3]

The song is about Drake's relationship with Rihanna.[4]

Live performances edit

Drake has performed the song while on his recent tour and also performed the first verse of "Fireworks" at the 2010 BET Awards. The song was performed in a medley along with "Over" and the remix of Young Jeezy's "Lose My Mind".[5]

Charts edit

Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 71
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[7] 17

References edit

  1. ^ "New Music: Drake f/ Alicia Keys – 'Fireworks'". Rap-Up. Rap-Up, LLC. May 26, 2010.
  2. ^ "Universal Previews Drake's "Thank Me Later" Debut, "He Will Be Doing A Track W/ Dr. Dre & Eminem" - SOHH.COM". 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. ^ Reid, Shaheem (April 6, 2010). "Drake's 'Fireworks' Begins Story Of Thank Me Later". MTV News. Viacom Inc.
  4. ^ "Drake's Leaked 'Fireworks' Addresses Rihanna Relationship". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Drake & Young Jeezy: Fireworks/Over/Lost My Mind (BET Awards Performance)". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. June 28, 2010.
  6. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  7. ^ "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 2010-06-26". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.