American Boy
"American Boy" is a song recorded by British rapper and singer Estelle for her second studio album Shine (2008). It features vocals from American rapper Kanye West. The song was written by Estelle, West, will.i.am, John Legend, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, and Keith Harris. It was produced by will.i.am, and uses the beat from the song "Impatient" from his own third studio album Songs About Girls (2007). "American Boy" is a breezy disco-funk song that lyrically describes a romance with an American suitor. The song's conception came after Legend, Estelle's mentor, suggested she write a song about meeting an American man.
"American Boy" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Estelle featuring Kanye West | ||||
from the album Shine | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | 31 March 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2007 | |||
Studio | The Record Plant (Hollywood, California)
| |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 4:44 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | will.i.am | |||
Estelle singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Kanye West singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
|
"American Boy" was released by Atlantic Records as the album's second single on 31 March 2008. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its fresh sound and production. The song reached the top five in many European and Oceanic markets, and peaked at number-one in Belgium and Estelle's native United Kingdom. It also achieved success in the United States, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Estelle's breakout song in the country. The song earned many nominations, and ultimately won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The music video, featuring a variety of celebrity guests, earned a Video Music Award nomination for Best UK Video. Estelle and West performed the song at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards and 2008 Grammy Awards. "American Boy" was featured in the 2009 film Obsessed.
Background and composition
— Timothy Gabriele of PopMatters commenting about "American Boy".[1]
"American Boy" was written by Estelle, will.i.am, John Legend, Kanye West, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir and Keith Harris. It was also produced by will.i.am and recorded over the instrumental of his song "Impatient", from his third studio album Songs About Girls (2007). The credits of Lopez, Speir, and Harris were the result of this sampling.[2] In a 2008 interview with Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, Estelle explained how the song came to fruition: "We were just messing about in the studio, joking around. And John (Legend) just said to me 'Why don't you write a song about meeting an American boy?'. So I was like 'Well, that's pretty easy' - because I have a lot of male friends out there in New York. And I unwittingly ended up creating a new ladies' anthem!"[3] Although Estelle has stated publicly that the "boy" is an amalgam of male friends, it is rumored to be American comedy writer Sam Means, whom she met at the Museum of Planes in Lyon, France. She also spoke about West's involvement on the song, commenting "Kanye basically just brought his own cheeky self to the track, his own sense of humour. At first he was like 'How can you rap over a dance beat?' - and now he's DONE it!"[3] Instrumentation on the track includes drums, keys, synths, and bass; the former were provided by will.i.am while Caleb Speir provided the latter. will.i.am also co-recorded and co-engineered the song with Padriac Kerin at The Record Plant in Hollywood, Florida as well as Hit Factory Criteria and Circle House Studios in Miami. Serge Tsai mixed the song and recorded West's rap at Platinum Sound Recording Studios in New York City.
"American Boy" is a disco and funk song that, according to the sheetmusic published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., is set to metronome of 120 beats per minute.[4][5] Estelle's vocals, which have been described as "sweet" and "flirty", ranges from B3 to E5.[2][4] Timothy Gabriele of PopMatters described Estelle's vocals as those of one connecting "with her inner soul chanteuse."[1] West's rap verse has been described by The New York Times's Jon Caramanica as "perfunctory" and idling "cool".[1][6] Lyrically, the song describes a foreign woman's interest in a male American suitor, listing places such as New York and Los Angeles as sites she wants to visit.[2] Timothy Gabriele of PopMatters found the song's lyrics to be about "the thrill of new experience, the excitement of a being in a fresh, unexplored environment while simultaneously meeting someone new."[1]
Release
"American Boy" was released as the second single from Shine on 24 March 2008.[7] "American Boy" was released on third CD single formats, as well as a promo single, a maxi single, and 12" picture discs. The second CD single contains a radio remix of the song by UK dance and remix group Soul Seekerz.[8] The third CD single features "Lift to Me", a song recorded by American rapper and producer Hi-Tek, featuring Estelle, for his fourth studio album Hi-Teknology 3(2007). It also includes the music video for the single.[9] The maxi single includes several remixes of the song by Soul Seekerz and TS7 as well as the uncensored version, the version excluding West rap segment, and the song's instrument.[10] The promo single features remixes by TS7 and different versions of the single.[11] The 12" disc includes the TS7 remix and remixes of the previous single "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)" by British electronic duo The Count & Sinden and British disc jockey Aaron Ross.[12] The 12" promo features "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)" and instrumental versions of both songs.[13]
Reception
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | |
Digital Spy |
Mariel Concepcion of Billboard called "American Boy" "a charming duet with West."[15] Andy Kellman of Allmusic, Luke Bainbridge of Observer Music Monthly and Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine named the song as a standout on its parent album.[5][16][17] Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song a four star rating, listing the chemistry between Estelle and West, the song's beat and Estelle's vocals as the song's highlights. Lamb also added "This song is perfection for a slick, summery glide across the dance floor."[2]
Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy found "American Boy" to "boasts bags of self-confidence ("Don't like his baggy jeans but I like what's underneath 'em," she purrs at one point), a winning chorus and sultry, super-sleek production from Will.i.am and John Legend" while commenting "it shouldn't have taken a guest spot from the self-proclaimed King of Hip-Hop to make this tune a hit."[14] Timothy Gabriele of PopMatters called the song "an essential piece of ebullient summer musical manna rained down from empyreal heights and granted to us passive listeners as one final gift before the world spirals off into an inescapable vortex of cyclones, earthquakes, economic collapse, and a doom-sealing Presidential race."[1] Joshua Love of Pitchfork praised the song's hook and will.i.am's production work.[18] while Omar Jenning of The Skinny was dismissive of West's rap interlude.[19] Ben Hogwood of musicOMH lauded the song as an example of how "Estelle has added a large pinch of soul to take her music to the next level."[20]
Accolades
In 2009, "American Boy" earned Estelle and Kanye West a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, while receiving a nomination for Song of the Year.[21][22] The song received a nomination for BRIT Award for Best British Single.[23] The single won Best Song at the 2008 MOBO Awards.[24] The song was nominated for Best R&B/Urban Dance Track at the 2009 International Dance Music Awards.[25] It received a nomination for Outstanding Duo or Group at the 40th NAACP Image Awards.[26] "American Boy" was nominated for Best International Song at the NRJ Music Awards 2009.[27] The song won Best Collaboration at both the 2008 UK Urban Music Awards,[28] and the 2009 Urabn Music Awards.[29] The music video earned a nomination at the 2009 MTV Australia Awards for Best Collaboration.[30]
"American Boy" was listed number 7 on the 100 Best Songs of 2008, published by the music magazine Rolling Stone.[31] The song also ranked the 10th best song of 2008[32] and 238th on the Top 500 songs of the 2000s, published by Pitchfork Media.[33] The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual critics' poll ranked "American Boy" at number 2 to find the best music of 2008, after M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes". MTV listed the song fourth on its list of "Best Songs of 2008".[34] PopMatters named "American Boy" the best single of 2008.[35] BBC America listed "American Boy" at eighty-five on its list of "Top 100 British Songs of the 21st Century".[36]
Chart performance
"American Boy" proved to be an international success, outperforming Estelle's previous singles in the United Kingdom and stands as her most successful single worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 72 on 31 March 2008. It dropped out of the Top 75 the following week and re-entered at number one a week later, where it remained for four consecutive weeks.[37] It lasted thirty two weeks on the singles chart, earning a platinum certification for sales exceeding 600,000 copies. It landed on the UK year end chart at number six and on the end of the decade chart at number 83. In Ireland, "American Boy" entered the singles chart number eight and rose to peak at number two one week later.[38]
In the Flanders region of Belgium, "American Boy" entered the chart at number 41 on 26 April 2008. The song advanced to the top twenty in the following week and inside the top ten three weeks later. It reached the chart's summit on 7 June 2008, where it remained for another week.[39] The song charted in the top five for eleven consecutive weeks and lasted a total of twenty four weeks on the chart.[39] "American Boy" reached number four in the Wallonia region of Belgium and lasted twenty five weeks on the chart.[40] The song also reached number one in Slovakia;[41] number three in Denmark,[42] France,[43] Hungary[44] and Italy;[45] and number five in Germany,[46] the Netherlands,[47] and Switzerland.[48]
In Australia, "American Boy" entered the singles chart at number seven, earning the title of the weeks "highest debut".[49] The song rose to number three four weeks later, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks.[50] "American Boy" earned a platinum certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales exceeding 70,000 units. In New Zealand, the single debuted at number 25 on 31 March 2008 and rose to its peak position of number five four weeks later. The song remained on the chart for thirteen more weeks.[51]
"American Boy" experienced great chart success in the United States. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on 3 May 2008, slowing rising the chart until it reached number 11 almost four months later.[52][53] It was later removed from iTunes resulting in its fall to number 37 on 6 September 2008.[54] The song was re-added to iTunes, causing a resurgence in downloads that aided its rise to its peak position of number nine on 27 September 2008, selling 91,000 downloads.[55][56] "American Boy" became Estelle's highest charting single in the United States, ahead of "Thank You" (2011), which only peaked at number 100. It ended the year at number 39 on the Hot 100 year-end chart and as the thirty-third best selling song of 2008.[57] The song was also her best selling single there, selling 2 million downloads and earning a double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[58] As of September 2009, "American Boy" was the 25th best-selling downloaded song of all time in the UK,[59] and as of November 2011, it was the 17th best-selling digital song by a British artist in the United States.[60]
Music video
The music video for "American Boy" was directed by Syndrome. It features guest appearances by John Legend, Kardinal Offishall, Sa-Ra's Taz Arnold, Kidz in the Hall's Naledge and Double-O, Danger Mouse, Consequence, Hi-Tek, Ryan Leslie, T.I., Brandon Hines, LL Cool J, and 106 & Park's Terrence J, among others. The music video was nominated for Best UK Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to The Ting Tings' single "Shut Up and Let Me Go" (2008).[61][62] The video also ranked at number 45 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008 countdown, while its spin-off channel BET J listed it at number 10 on the year-end Last Call 2008! Top 50 Countdown.
Live performances
Estelle performed "American Boy" at various awards shows, where the song also earned her nominations for several categories. She first performed it on The Friday Night Project on 21 March 2008. Estelle performed the song with Kanye West at the Fête de la Musique on 21 June 2008.[63] She performed the song at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards with Kanye West singing his rap section, during an image of then newly elected United States president Barack Obama appeared on a giant screen. She later performed it at the 2008 World Music Awards, hosted in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with a live band.[64] Estelle performed a mash up of the song with the Ting Tings "Shut Up and Let Me Go" and "That's Not My Name" at the 2009 BRIT Awards.[65] West also performed the track at the Coke Live Music Festival in 2011.
Covers and parodies
Busta Rhymes produced a remix version of the song with Estelle, taking over Kanye West's rap section. The song has also been covered by many artists, including Kid Mac BMK and Casey Donovan, Fall Out Boy, and Sam Sparro. Most notably, Sparro's acoustic rendition of the song was performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge appearing on the station's third compilation album and as a B-Side to his single "21st Century Life".[66] Popular versions include a shortened, lively jazz a cappella rendition performed by Howard University's Afro Blue during Season 3 of the NBC hit show The Sing-Off. The song has also received international parodies, with the name being changed to the synonymous countries. These parodies include Hamish & Andy's "Armenian Boy", Only Won and Larissa Lam's "Cantonese Boy", Bost & Bim's "Jamaican Boy", and Chris Moyles' "Somerset Boy". In a 2009 episode of Gavin & Stacey, James Corden & Sheridan Smith performed West's second verse in character as Smithy and Rudi.[67] In 2014, Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) covered the song in the Glee season-finale episode "The Untitled Rachel Berry Project." Australian singer Greg Gould released a live in the studio cover version on his debut EP 'Don't Let Go' featuring Black Eyed Peas' musical director Printz Board on trumpet. The EP debuted on the Australian iTunes Charts at #16.
Both Lost Frequencies and Dutch DJ Brooks have produced a remix version of the song in 2019.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "American Boy".
|
|
Credits and personnel
- Locations
- Recorded and engineered at The Record Plant in Hollywood, Florida; Hit Factory Criteria Miami and Circle House Studios in Miami.
- Mixed and recorded (West's vocals) at Platinum Sound Recording Studios in New York City.
- Personnel
- Songwriting - will.i.am, Estelle, John Legend, Kanye West, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, Keith Harris
- Vocals - Estelle, Kanye West
- Additional vocals - John Legend
- Production - will.i.am
- Recording - will.i.am, Padriac Kerin, Serge Tsai (West's vocals)
- Engineering - will.i.am, Padriac Kerin
- Drum programming - will.i.am
- Keys - will.i.am
- Synthesizer - will.i.am
- Bass - Caleb Speir
- Mixing - Serge Tsai
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Shine, Atlantic Records, HomeSchool Records.[71]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[107] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Belgium (BEA)[108] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[109] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[110] | Gold | 150,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[111] | Gold | 7,500 |
United Kingdom (BPI)[112] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000 |
United States (RIAA)[113] | 2× Platinum | 2,300,000[114] |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- Gabriele, Timothy (27 May 2008). "Estelle: Shine". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Lamb, Bill. "Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"". About.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Lewis, Pete. "To Estelle and Back". Blues & Soul. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- "Digital Sheet Music – Estelle "American Boy"". MusicNotes.com. EMI Music Publishing.
- Kellman, Andy. "Shine - Estelle". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- Caramanica, Jon (5 May 2008). "CRITICS' CHOICE New CDs". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "American Boy". HMV. HMV Digital Limited. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (CD, Single)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (CD, Single, Enhanced)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (CDr, Maxi-Single, Promo)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (CDr, Single, Promo)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (Vinyl, 12", Single, Promo)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- Fletcher, Alex (11 March 2008). "Estelle ft. Kanye West: 'American Boy'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Concepcion, Mariel. "Shine - Estelle". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- Bainbridge, Luke (15 March 2008). "Reviews: 11-25". The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- Cinquemani, Sal (22 April 2008). "Estelle: Shine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Love, Joshua (27 May 2008). "Estelle: Shine". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Jenning, Omar (23 April 2008). "Estelle - Shine". The Skinny. Radge Media Limited. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Hogwood, Ben (31 March 2008). "Estelle – Shine". musicOMH. OMH. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "GRAMMY.com". Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
- "Lil Wayne, Coldplay Lead Nominations for 51st Annual Grammy Awards". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- "Estelle". BRIT Awards. BRIT Awards Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- "The MOBO Awards 2008". BBC. 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- "2009 International Dance Music Awards". Winter Music Conference. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- Tim Henley (11 January 2008). "2009 NAACP Image Awards Nominations". News OK. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "NRJ Music Awards 2009". Musique. 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "UMA Nominees & Winners 2008". Urban Music Awards. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- "Rihanna scoops two Urban Music wins". Metro. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- "MTV Australia Awards 2009 Nominees". MTV. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- "The 100 Best Singles of 2008". Rolling Stone. 25 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- "The 100 Best Tracks of 2008". Pitchfork. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- "Staff Lists: The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork Media. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- James Montgomery (9 December 2008). "The Best Songs Of 2008". MTV. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "The Best Singles of 2008". PopMatters. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "100 Greatest British Songs of the 21st Century". BBC America. 25 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "UK Singles Chart (March 29, 2008)". Official Charts Company. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – American Boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "Ultratop.be – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200822 into search.
- "Danishcharts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". Tracklisten.
- "Lescharts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy" (in French). Les classement single.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- "Italiancharts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". GfK Entertainment Charts.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
- "Swisscharts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "Australian Singles Chart (May 18, 2008)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien. 18 May 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "Australian-charts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Charts.nz – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". Top 40 Singles.
- "Billboard Hot 100 (May 3, 2008)". Billboard. aCharts.us. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "Billboard Hot 100 (August 30, 2008)". Billboard. aCharts.us. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "Billboard Hot 100 (September 6, 2007)". Billboard. aCharts.us. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- Grein, Paul (16 September 2008). "Week Ending Sept. 14, 2008: Metallica And The Hard Rock Pantheon". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "Billboard Hot 100 (September 27, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- Grein, Paul (31 December 2008). "Chart Watch Extra: The Year That Songs Overtook Albums". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- Grein, Paul (6 October 2009). "Week Ending Oct. 4, 2009: A Debut Like Buttah". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "Lady Gaga crowned queen of the downloads". The Telegraph. 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- "Chart Watch Extra: Adele Tops Brit Tally". Yahoo Music. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "2008 MTV Video Music Awards - Best UK Video". MTV Networks. MTV (Viacom). Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- "Ting Tings Win at The VMAS". MTV Networks. MTV (Viacom). Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- "Fête de la musique sur France 2 : Duffy, Estelle, Willem attendus" (in French). Le Blog TV News. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Singer Estelle performs at the World Music Awards 2008 at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club on November 9, 2008 in Monte Carlo, Monaco". MTV Networks. MTV (Viacom). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- Singh, Amrit (18 February 2009). "The 2009 BRIT Awards Looked Like This". Stereogum. Spin Media. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life (CD, Maxi-Single)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPwoc39BmqE
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (File, AAC, Single)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle Feat. Kanye West – American Boy (CD, Single)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- "Estelle – American Boy (File, WAV)". Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- Estelle (2008). Shine (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Estelle. London, England: Atlantic, HomeSchool.
- "Austriancharts.at – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Estelle Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200828 into search.
- "Ελληνικό Chart". Ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- "Estelle Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". VG-lista.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Estelle feat. Kanye West – American Boy". Singles Top 100.
- "Turkey Top 20 Chart (June 7, 2008)". Billboard Türkiye (in Turkish). Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- "Estelle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- "Estelle Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- "Estelle Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- "Estelle Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "2008 ARIA Urban Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- "Jahreshitparade 2008" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2008" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Rapports Annuels 2008" (in French). Ultratop 40. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Canadian Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- "2008 Year-End European Singles". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Single Jahrescharts 2008". MTV Europe (in German). Viacom International Media Networks. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 - radios" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- "Irish Charts - Best of 2008". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- "Japan Hot 100 – Year-End 2008" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2008". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2008". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Årslista Singlar – År 2008" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- "Swiss Year-End Charts 2008" (in German). Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- "Chart Plus Year End 2008" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- "Episode 2". Chart of the Decade. 31 December 2009. British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2008". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- "Guld OG Platin I August" (in Danish). IFPI. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Estelle; 'American Boy')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radio Scope. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- "British single certifications – Estelle – American Boy". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type American Boy in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "American single certifications – Estelle – American Boy". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- Smirke, Richard (2 March 2012). "Estelle Returns, Fresh Off A Smash Single and Breakup, with 'All of Me'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.