B-side "In a Dream" Genre Dancehall-Pop | Released April 27, 2004 Length 3:54 | |
Format CD single
digital download
maxi single
12" single Recorded 2003; The Hit Factory
(New York City, New York) | ||
"Move Ya Body" is a song recorded by American duo Nina Sky. It was released in April 2004 as the lead single from their debut album Nina Sky. The song features rapper Jabba. There is a remix to the song with Jamaican deejay Vybz Kartel. The song became the duo's only solo single to reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, as such Nina Sky is often regarded as a one hit wonder, though they did appear on N.O.R.E.s "Oye Mi Canto", which made it to number 12 on the Hot 100. The song ranked at number 250 on Blender's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. It was also featured as soundtrack in 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty.
Contents
Background
Record producer the Jettsonz introduced the girls to Cipha Sounds, a hip hop DJ. Cipha Sounds was impressed when he heard the girls sing and suggested that they compose a song using the "Coolie Skank" riddim. The twins wrote "Move Ya Body" in response, and recorded a demo. The demo got them signed as Nina Sky to the label Next Plateau/Universal. After writing "Move Ya Body," Nina Sky quickly wrote more songs to form their debut album, released in June 2004.
Composition
"Move Ya Body" has a length of three minutes and fifty-four seconds. It features a guest appearance by rapper Jabba and was written by Nicole Albino, Natalie Albino, Cordel Burrell, Luis Diaz, Paul George, Curtis Bedeau, Gerald Charles, Brian George, Elijah Wells and Lionel Bermingham while it was produced by Wells and Bermingham. It was recorded in 2003 in The Hit Factory studios, located in New York City. The song contains lyrics from Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam's song, "Can You Feel the Beat". The title of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam's song was repeated many times during the song.
Commercial performance
The song was a huge hit and also Nina Sky's only top forty hit and one of rare singles by duo to chart (the others include "Turnin' Me On" and "Curtain Call". It charted at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number twenty-two on the 2004 Billboard Year-End Chart. It also reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on 26 January 2005. It also reached top ten in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and US Billboard charts Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic Top 40. Song earned duo two nominations for International Dance Music Award (Best Pop Dance Track and Best New Dance Artist (Group)) and one nomination for Soul Train Lady of Soul Award (Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo), all in 2005. Duo won one award for the song, Rapgra Award (Utwor R'n'B) in 2004.
Music video
An accompanying music video for the song was released in 2004. Posted in 2012, it was viewed over two million times on YouTube. However it was never posted on Nina Sky's official channel and it became unavailable few years later. The video had 34 second shorter length than the song. It features guest appearances from Jabba, Cipha Sounds and Angie Martinez. The whole video takes place in a nightclub and features twins, mostly singing and dancing to the song.
Track listing
- "Move Ya Body" (Radio Edit) – 3:30
- "Move Ya Body" (Instrumental) – 3:30
- "Move Ya Body" (Call Out Hook) – 0:19
- "In a Dream" (Radio Edit) – 3:25
- "In a Dream" (Acappella) – 3:25
- "Move Ya Body" (Main Pass)
- "Move Ya Body" (Instrumental)
- "Move Ya Body" (Summer Funk Vocal Mix)
- "Move Ya Body" (Summer Funk Dub Mix)
- "Move Ya Body" (Radio Edit) – 3:30
- "Move Ya Body" (Jiggy Joint Radio Mix) – 3:30
- "In a Dream" (Radio Edit) – 3:25
- "Move Ya Body (Video Album Version) - 4:30
- "Move Ya Body" – 3:30
- "Move Ya Body" – 3:54
- "Move Ya Body" (Hyperspace Remix) – 4:28
- "In a Dream" – 3:32
- "Move Ya Body" (music video)