Motivation (Kelly Rowland song)

Background and release.

Here I Am was originally scheduled for release in 2010, but was pushed back numerous times. Initially the dance-influenced "Commander" served as the album's lead single for international territories while two separate singles were serviced in the United States. "Rose Colored Glasses" for the pop format and "Grown Woman" for the urban format. Rowland decided in September 2010 to re-enter the recording studios to work on new material for the album. This, coupled with creative issues such as naming the album, led to multiple pushbacks. "Motivation" was announced as the title for the album's new lead single during New York Fashion Week. It debuted online via Rap-Up magazine's website on March 2, 2011.

Speaking of how the record came about, Rowland said "Motivation came about when I was in the studio with [producers] Jim Jonsin and Rico Love, and we kind of were just vibing. I told Rico I wanted something really sexy ... and he came up with 'Motivation' along with Jim. It turned into this amazing record... I played [ 'Motivation' for Lil Wayne ] and he got on it, and it was just as simple as that." Along with the single announcement, Rap-Up said fans could expect the video and a remix produced by Diplo to premiere in April 2011. However, the electronic remix, produced by Diplo, premiered via Rap-Up on March 8, 2011.

Composition

"Motivation" is a R&B slow jam song written by Richard Butler (Rico Love), Jim Jonsin, Dwayne Carter and Danny Morris. The racy lyrics center around Rowland asking her man to use his hands all over her body, and are accompanied by a "synth-saturated beat" produced by Jonsin. In terms of instruments, "Motivation" uses sparse keyboard notes, programmed beats and pulsing synths in the chorus. Wayne adds a rap verse complementing Rowland's seductive suggestions, using the kitchen and a car as metaphors for sex. According to Scott Shetler from AOL Music, Rowland uses the lyrics to promise "to be her lover's motivation." Rowland called the record a mixture between dance and mash-up. When asked by MTV what Rowland thought of the song, she said,"It has that personality and characteristic to it that I don't think anybody can deny. That's why when Wayne dropped that insane verse on there ... I was like, 'You really brought that up even more.' He went into the studio and just did it. I don't think it takes much for Wayne to think. He just does it. He's so admirable."

Critical response

Ryan Brockington, from the New York Post, was amongst the first to review "Motivation." In his review, he said "The single is a big leap from the dance club synth pop that Kelly has been releasing the past year and it seems like she might be trying to shimmy her way back into the hip-hop world by teaming up with the Midas touch vocals of Lil Wayne." Both Rap-Up and AOL Music's Scott Shetler called the song "sexy." Becky Bain from Idolator disliked the song for not being memorable. The short review was summed up with the closing phrase, "she’s going to need another hit to help promote her album when it finally is ready to drop." Wesley Case from The Baltimore Sun complemented the song's sexy quality. "If this isn't the year's hands-down sexiest song thus far, it has to be in the discussion. Rowland, whose sultry voice could get a priest hot, weaving in and out of the minimal beat, and setting the table for Lil Wayne's stuttering, after-hours guest-verse. Stack the pieces together and it's an understated knockout that gets sexier with each spin." Billboard ranked it number five on their "Critics' Picks: 20 Best Songs of 2011"

"Motivation" was nominated for two awards at the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards including Best Dance Performance and Song of the Year.It won the award for Song of the Year and was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards, which was held on February 12, 2012.

Chart performance

Despite not being released for digital download until April 13, 2011, "Motivation" made its US chart debuted on April 2, debuting at number fifty-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In the weeks following it continued to rise thanks to urban airplay, eventually reaching number one in its tenth week on the chart, chart dated May 23, 2011. "Motivation" is Rowland's first solo number one as lead artist on a US Billboard composite chart (one combining airplay and sales), although she previously peaked at number one with Nelly on his 2002 single "Dilemma." It stayed at the top spot of the chart for six more weeks. In the same week that "Motivation" hit number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Lil Wayne, who is featured on the single, had a total of twelve songs on the chart.

Following its release, "Motivation" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-five, Rowland's highest Hot 100 debut as a solo artist. It reached number seventeen, Rowland's highest Hot 100 peak as a solo artist, and best chart position since "Dilemma" (by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland −2002), which reached number one. Additionally, it is the first single from Rowland to chart on the Hot 100 since her 2009 feature on David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over", which reached number seventy-six. The previous two lead singles, "Grown Woman" (2010) and "Rose Colored Glasses" (2010), from Here I Am, failed to enter the Hot 100, though the latter peaked at number fifty-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The producer of "Motivation", Jim Jonsin, said he was proud and confident of the song's success. "I’m really happy that things are going well for her on this record. A real concern for us was to get that smash for her... She’s a friend of ours as well, so to see her win is huge."

Music video

The music video for "Motivation" was directed by Sarah Chatfield, at the end of March 2011. Frank Gatson served as the video's chroegrapher. Speaking during Roberto Cavalli's fashion show, Rowland said she was on the look out for "womanly, sexy designs" for a "feminine sexy video." She elaborated on the development of the video during an interview when MTV News' Jocelyn Vena. She told Vena, "We came up with the energy, and with Frank [Gatson] — and I don't know how he sees something, but he got it... I'm so thankful I have a great team that's thinking 10 steps ahead of me. With Sarah she understood; she got the concept. It was great the way everything came together." The video made its world premiere on BET's 106 & Park on April 4, 2011.

The video opens in a blue hue lit warehouse, with Rowland standing in the passageway before it cuts to her walking through the building checking out the ladies and men mingling. Rowland can then be seen in a purple swim suit & coat,doing various sexual choreographed routines with her many half dressed male backup dancers. The clip then shows Lil wayne in his own scene rapping his verse to the song. He can then be seen leaning against a wall and standing on a bed with the lights flashing while Rowland is simultaneously being entertained by a male dancer as she sits upon a chair. The video then continues with the crowd entwining with each other; full make out sections between females and their male counterparts, as well as partially dressed males feeling on each other's bodies, while the females also interact with each other. After more dancing from Rowland and her dancers, the video then ends with Rowland singing her final lines, surrounded by the sexually charged crowd. Jocelyn Vena of MTV commented that the video "plays to the song's sexy themes."

Remixes

"Motivation" has been remixed several times, mainly by Rowland's fellow R&B contemporaries who have each put their own angle on the song. The first remix, the song's official remix, was helmed by Alternative electronic music producer, Diplo. It replaces some of the song's original instruments with electronic ones, as well as adding "rapid hi-hats" Diplo also modifies Rowland's vocals, by "chopping and reconfiguring" them "over the dubstep-inspired instrumental." A So So Def remix of the song features female American rapper Da Brat. The unofficial remix, features a new introduction from Da Brat, and was released online to Rap-Up. R&B singers The-Dream and Jeremih also made remixes of the song, adding their own verses and "male perspective" to compliment Rowland and Lil Wayne's verses.Tyga also released a remix for his Mixtape "Well Done 2" entitled "Pussy Talkin'. In May 2011, R. Kelly joined the list of singers to create their own remix for "Motivation". In his version, R. Kelly adds additional verses and references his own songs such as "Pregnant". R. Kelly's remix of the song was praised by Rowland. Using her official Twitter account, Rowland said, "R. Kelly Motivation Remix is CRAAAZZZZZY!!!" R&B singer Mario also added his vocals to a remix of the song. On June 6, 2011, a second official remix for the song was uploaded. It replaces Lil Wayne with new verses from rappers Busta Rhymes, Trey Songz and Fabolous. Rhymes has a rapid-fire "bedroom"-themed verse, while Songz sings in his falsetto and Fabolous' verse is cut short by the re-introduction of Rowland's vocals. A third officially produced remix, the "Rebel Rock Remix," features on the deluxe edition of Here I Am.

BET Awards performance

On June 26, 2011, Rowland took to the stage of the 2011 BET Awards to perform "Motivation" for the first time. Hollywood News reported that according to social networking site Twitter, Rowland's performance of the song was the most anticipated of the evening. Appearing in the middle of Trey Songz performance of "Love Faces," Rowland ascended on stage where she was joined on stage by several shirtless male dancers. The performance was met with a positive reception from industry critics and fellow music entertainers, most of whom noted it as a highlight of the ceremony. Ed Masley from The Arizona Republic said that Rowland's performance was "the night's most soulful vocal [performance]." Roger Catlin from TV critic website Courant.com also lauded Rowland with praising, stating that Rowland offered "a live performance with Trey Songz trumping that of her more famous "sister" from Destiny's Child, Beyoncé." The Los Angeles Times' Gerrick D. Kennedy praised Rowland's sex appeal, noting that her "steamy performance sent tongues wagging" and was widely anticipated thanks to the serial delays with her album Here I Am (2011). Finally, MTV Rob Markman pointed out that following her performance "#kelly" began trending on Twitter. Additionally Markman said "[Rowland] received one of the loudest ovations of the night."

Credits