Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)

Background

"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was one of the first songs that Furtado worked on with producer Rodney Jerkins for The Spirit Indestructible. The singer stated that the song's instrumentation was influenced by the 1990s hip hop and R&B as a tribute to the music she listened to in her teenage years, also citing inspiration from hip hop group Odd Future's "dark sound[ing], heavy and visceral" sound as she tried to recreate a similar style on "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)".

The lyrics of "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" also concern Furtado's teenage period, with the singer describing the song's lyrical content as "my swagger-in-spades, rhyme-writing 14-year-old self find[ing] liberation through hip hop and R&B attending 'music jams' in suburban Victoria". There are references to Furtado's favourite groups at the period — such as Salt-n-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest and Blackstreet, many of whom were produced by Jerkins himself — and her teenage wardrobe. The song's title references the hoop earrings she liked to wear. Furtado said that the song describes "a certain unique swagger you have at that young age and that the music gives you," and that she was "the kid who used to pick up the mic at parties and just rock the crowd, sing my way through the storm and know my voice could penetrate." The singer stated that as "hip-hop was super-exotic to us in Canada", she felt that "it was very liberating, finding that confidence through the music".

Composition

"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was written by Furtado, with production and additional writing being provided by Jerkins.The R&B song features a sound evocative of the genre in the 1990s, infused with hip hop beats, electropop influences, and staccato percussion. Robbie Daw of Idolator noticed the use of pitch-correcting software Auto-Tune on Furtado's voice.

Furtado's manager Chris Smith stated that "Big Hoops" was an attempt to translate Furtado's versatility as "a free-range artist", being "free form; not contained versus a structured typical song." As an in-joke to Smith's reaction to when he first heard the track, the song starts with the manager saying "Time release the fresh", Furtado laughing at the phrase, and Interscope Records A&R representative Thom Panunzio replying “You’re 100 percent right Chris.” The title and intro, during which Furtado chants "the bigger the better" against a bass line, references the character finding strength in the size of her earrings.

Release and reception

Smith declared that "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was not originally intended as a single, only "a big club banger", as he and Furtado felt the track's status as "a song that would be the best of Nelly, Nelly’s attitude, Nelly’s freshness" would not be "really about chart positions". Eventually it became the lead single for The Spirit Indestructible. Furtado stated that the song earned this status because it represented her intentions "to detach myself from all shackles and play freely" as her ambitious younger self was always "pushing the boundaries". It was released via digital download on April 17, 2012, and was released physically in Germany on May 18, 2012.

Critical reception

"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" has received mixed to favourable reviews from music critics, some of whom compared the vocals on the song to those of Rihanna in songs like "Rude Boy" and "Cheers (Drink to That)". Billboard's Maria Sherman wrote that "Big Hoops" is "easily in the running to be one of the best summer club anthems of the year", and "if this song doesn't roll out the carpet for her comeback, nothing will." MTV reviewer Jenna Hally Rubenstein praised Jerkins' production and the song's originality, considering that "Big Hoops" was "unlike anything you've heard in a hot minute".

Robbie Daw of Idolator, gave the song a mixed review, criticizing the singer's "unnecessary Rihanna-esque vocal delivery" while adding that it "isn't the strongest lead single we've heard from an album." Jessica Sager of Pop Crush rated it 0.5 out of 5 stars, comparing Furtado's vocals to the ones of a "child wailing through a cardboard tube." She also wrote that "Sager also noted that the singer "wants to depart from Loose as well, but she doesn’t have anything to say beyond getting dressed and having a guy ignore her" and concluded that "the song is more irritating than catchy, and the beat isn’t strong enough to make many people dance." Melinda Newman of HitFix deemed the song "It’s a meaningless little ditty that is all about the military beat and bragging rights. It doesn’t have enough of a hook to work its way up the radio charts, but will likely do very well in the clubs.

Chart performance

"Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" debuted at number sixty on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and peaked at number twenty-eight. It debuted at number forty-six on the Belgian Tip Chart, where it reached a peak of number twenty-four. On the Dutch singles chart, the track debuted at number eighty-one and peaked at twenty-six. On the UK Singles Chart, "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" debuted at number fourteen, becoming Furtado's highest charting single since 2006's All Good Things (Come to an End). On the North American Billboard charts, the song became Furtado's first since 2010's "Night Is Young" to not enter the Billboard Hot 100. However, "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" reached the top forty of the Pop Songs chart and the top ten of the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Smith felt the underperformance was helped by moving The Spirit Indestructible's release date, "so there’s no need to get this thing that supposed to be this club banger intro track and force it up the chart."

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" was directed by Little X, who previously worked with Furtado on the video for "Promiscuous". The video premiered on May 3, 2012 in Much Music, and on May 7, 2012 on VEVO.

The video opens with Furtado strolling down a city block wearing a giant pair of stilts. After several outfit changes, Furtado is seen accompanied by Native American hoop dancers, including champion hoop dancer Tony Duncan. The dancers create shapes with their hoops as a giant Furtado towers over the cityscape.

Becky Bain of Idolator wrote that "the singer struts down a city street in a pair of stilts, exuding the most swag we’ve ever seen from someone nearly 12 feet tall. Eventually, Nelly grows to Godzilla-esque proportions – and so does her jewelry. Those really are some big hoops." Jenna Rubenstein of MTV News wrote that "Nelly's 'Big Hoops' video is totally weird and makes no sense. Do we care? No. Because any gal that can look that hot while on stilts deserves our full respect."

Two alternate videos were produced: a "lyrics" video and a "Home Made" video, directed by Aaron A and filmed in a parking lot on Sunset Boulevard during the production of The Spirit Indestructible's album artwork.

Live performances

In May 2012, Furtado performed "Big Hoops" on UK show Alan Carr: Chatty Man. Furtado performed the song for the first time in the United States during the 2012 Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2012, and in Canada during the 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards on June 17, 2012. It is part of her setlist on The Spirit Indestructible Tour, which started on January 2013.

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from The Spirit Indestructible album liner notes.