Shut Up and Drive

Production and release

"Shut Up and Drive" was written by Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert and produced by Sturken and Rogers. Al Hemberger recorded the song at Sunwatch in Saint James, Barbados and The Loft Recording Studios in Bronxville, New York. Hemberger also served as a mixing engineer and mixed "Shut Up and Drive" at The Loft Recording Studios, together with mixing assistant Roy Matthews. Sturken provided all of the instrumentation while Rihanna and Rogers sang the background vocals. The production manager of the song was Rob Heselden with Christie Moran serving as a production assistant. "Shut Up and Drive" was released as the second single from the album, following the worldwide chart-topper "Umbrella" (2007). The song premiered on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, on Rihanna's official website. It was sent to contemporary hit radio in the United States on June 12 and to rhythmic radio the following week. The single was later released as a CD single on August 27, 2007 in the UK.

Composition

"Shut Up and Drive" incorporates influences of the 1970s and 1980s musical styles. It samples New Order's 1983 single "Blue Monday". The song contains an upbeat opening sequence with a heavy guitar riff, which provides a pop rock sound. Tom Breihan from Pitchfork Media wrote that the song "begins with über-processed new wave guitars that sort of sound like the Cars". According to a digital music sheet published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Shut Up and Drive" is written in the key of E major and is set in simple time with a moderately fast groove. Rihanna's vocal range spans from the low note of F_#3 to the high note of B₄ and the song follows a chord progression of E₅–B₅–C♯₅–F♯₅–B₅–C♯₅. Lyrically, "Shut Up and Drive", as the title suggests, is about Rihanna looking for a driver, who will drive her around in her new car and take control over it. The lyrics also contain multiple references to various cars and car parts, including the 57' Cadillac.

Critical reception

"Shut Up and Drive" received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Bill Lamb from About.com commented that there are better songs on Good Girl Gone Bad, but "Shut Up and Drive" captures "the spirit of summer just as well as Rihanna's first hit 'Pon de Replay'". Lamb further continued, "The lyrics are pure fluff, and the vocals have the now familiar thin and reedy quality common to many of Rihanna's efforts. However, like any successful sports car, the look, feel, and speed of 'Shut Up and Drive' pull you in despite the model's shortcomings." Quentin B. Huff from PopMatters wrote that "Shut Up and Drive" is a sassier version of Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love" and Michael Jackson's "Speed Demon". He also stated that the song would have fit comfortably on Gwen Stefani's first album. Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine found that the song did not live up to its campy title, while Rodney Dugue from The Village Voice described it as simultaneously "goofy and sexually daring". Andy Kellman from AllMusic also referred to it as "a sleek, forthcoming proposition...as undeniable and rocking as Sugababes' 2002 UK smash 'Freak Like Me'". "Shut Up and Drive" won Most Popular R&B Song at the People's Choice Music Awards.

Chart performance

"Shut Up and Drive" debuted at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at number 15 several weeks later, failing to match the success of Rihanna's previous single "Umbrella". The song reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs, becoming Rihanna's sixth number-one song on that chart. "Shut Up and Drive" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Pop Songs and became Rihanna's seventh top 20 single on that chart. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of over 1,000,000 copies. "Shut Up and Drive" reached the top 10 on the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number six. "Shut Up and Drive" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on July 28, 2007, at number 65. After six weeks, the song peaked at number five and became Rihanna's fifth UK top 10 single. It stayed on the UK Singles Chart for 31 weeks, becoming her sixth longest charting song there. "Shut Up and Drive" has sold more than 230,000 copies in the UK.

In mainland Europe, the song achieved moderate success. It peaked in the top 10 in eight other countries including Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Italy. In Switzerland and Sweden, the song reached number 14 and number 31, respectively. "Shut Up and Drive" debuted and peaked at number four on the Australian Singles Chart, becoming the album's second top five single there. "Shut Up and Drive" was certified gold by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of over 35,000 copies. The song peaked at number 12 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and charted for 13 consecutive weeks.

Music video

Rihanna filmed the music video for "Shut Up and Drive" in a makeshift junkyard placed in Prague, the Czech Republic. It was directed by Anthony Mandler, who directed the videos for Rihanna's 2006 singles "Unfaithful" and "We Ride". The video was released, June 25, 2007, on the iTunes Store in the US. It begins with Rihanna, seen driving a Ferarri to a junkyard. As she enters the junkyard, the song begins. Many girls are repairing broken cars and Rihanna joins them while singing the song. Other scenes, showing Rihanna dancing on a car, are intercut. As the video progresses Rihanna and the girls get out from the junkyard and go to a race stage. Then, she is seen singing the songs lyrics to the drivers. Later, she becomes a car race starter and on her sign the both drivers begin their race. Scenes of Rihanna climbed on a navigate stair are shown. In the near end of the video, Rihanna is seen dancing and singing the song on a microphone together with her band, while wearing a black dress with white stars.

Live performances

Since its release, "Shut Up and Drive" has regularly been featured in Rihanna's live performances and tours. She performed the song for first time at the BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend on May 21, 2007, held in Preston, United Kingdom together with "Umbrella" and "Breakin' Dishes". Rihanna performed "Shut Up and Drive" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Palms in Las Vegas. For the performance, she was joined by American rock band Fall Out Boy. In late December, 2007, Rihanna was the guest star at the Late Show with David Letterman, where she gave a performance of "Shut Up and Drive".

She also performed it at the 2009 Super Bowl, which was held at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. According to Gil Kaufman from MTV, the performance featured "a chair dance, lots of funky wah-wah and screaming guitar solos, and graphics of spinning rims and neon speed gauges on the mega screens". Rihanna performed "Shut Up and Drive" on her three major tours: Good Girl Gone Bad (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth (2010–11) and the Loud Tour (2011). The performances of the song on the Last Girl on Earth and the Loud Tour shows, featured a car present on the stage. In a review of one of the shows from the Loud Tour, Jonathan McCambridge from Belfast Telegraph commented about the performance, "'During Shut Up And Drive', a car appeared from underneath the stage and a number of dancers then proceeded to pretend to batter the hell out of it for no obvious reason."

Usage in media

"Shut Up and Drive" is featured on the soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Wreck-It Ralph, where it is the song that plays when Ralph is putting Vanellope through driving school in Sugar Rush. The song is also featured in 2008 movies Wild Child, College Road Trip and 21. It was used in 2012 commercials for cars from the Japanese automobile maker Mazda.

The song was later used as a "Lip Sync for your Legacy" song on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 2). Contestants Tatianna and Alyssa Edwards performed this song for a chance to re-enter the competition; since both performed well, they both got to return.

Cover versions

The song was covered by the rock band Weep on their album Worn Thin. Ned Raggett of AllMusic praised Weep's interpretation in his review of Worn Thin, calling it a "revelation, turning the machine pop of one style into another with ease".

Though not a full cover, the song Oh! by Girls' Generation on their album Run Devil Run begins with long and recognizable section of the melody of Shut Up And Drive that is repeated in the chorus. The Girls' Generation version is faster (144 bpm) and higher (by 1 semitone).

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Good Girl Gone Bad.