Kelly (song)
"Kelly" is a song recorded by American singer Kelly Rowland. Rowland self-released the song on November 22, 2018. It is a hip hop and R&B song, and some critics referred to it as influenced by trap music and club music. Rowland boasts about herself in the lyrics. The song received mixed reviews from critics.
"Kelly" | |
---|---|
Song by Kelly Rowland | |
Released | November 22, 2018 |
Recorded | 2018 |
Genre | |
Length | 3:01 |
Label | self released |
Composition and lyrics
"Kelly" is a hip hop and R&B song,[1][2] which some critics described as inspired by trap music[1][3] and club music.[1][4] HotNewHipHop's Karlton Jahmal connected the song with "the Atlanta trap sound".[5] Idolator's Mike Wass wrote that the composition had an uptempo "staccato beat",[2] and other commentators noted the single for its bass and synthesizer.[5][6] Several media outlets compared Kelly Rowland's vocals to rapping.[5][6] Wass referred to Rowland as being in "full hip-hop mode".[2] Rowland praises herself throughout the song,[3][7] including boasts about her "class, ass, a man, whips, drip".[8]
Release
Rowland self-released "Kelly" on November 22, 2018.[4][9][10] The song was later made available for digital download on November 30.[10] It was Rowland's first solo release since her fourth studio album Talk a Good Game in 2013.[11] According to HipHopDX's Trent Clark, Rowland used "Kelly" as a gift to her fans.[12] Prior to the song's release, the singer teased lyrics on her Instagram.[13] Rowland used the single cover as her Instagram account's wallpaper.[12] She later shared other photos from the same shoot on the social media platform.[14] The single led to the hashtag #GoKellyGo.[15]
Critical reception
The critical response to "Kelly" was mixed. Essence's Sydney Scott and Uproxx's Cherise Johnson cited the song as a highlight during the week of its release,[1][16] and Hollywood Life's Courteney Larocca summed it up as "FIRE".[14] Wass praised the single as catchy, but wrote that it "takes a couple of listens to fully process".[2] Jezebel's Clover Hope criticized "Kelly" as "not a super earworm hit", but felt it was "something sufficient to bop to".[17]
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
US R&B Digital Songs (Billboard)[18] | 14 |
Release history
Region | Format | Date | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Various | YouTube[9] | November 22, 2018 | Kelly Rowland |
Digital download[10] | November 30, 2018 |
References
- Johnson, Cherise (November 26, 2018). "All The Best New R&B From This Week That You Need To Hear". Uproxx. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018.
- Wass, Mike (November 26, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Returns With A Gritty Mantra Called "Kelly"". Idolator. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
- Iasimone, Ashley (November 24, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Releases New Track 'Kelly'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018.
- Thompson, Desire (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Hops In Her Bag With New Single "Kelly"". Vibe. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018.
- Jahmal, Karlton (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Drops Off Self-Titled Single On Thanksgiving". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018.
- D-Money (November 26, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Shows Us A Different Side Of Herself On 'Kelly'". SoulBounce.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
- Maicki, Salvatore (November 23, 2018). "Hear Kelly Rowland's new song "Kelly"". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018.
- Cowen, Trace William (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Returns With New Single "Kelly"". Complex. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018.
- "Kelly (Official Audio)". November 22, 2018. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018 – via YouTube.
- "Kelly - Single". Apple Music. November 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018.
- Blais-Billie, Braudie (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Shares New Song "Kelly": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018.
- Clark, Trent (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Drops Off Trappy Self-Titled Single". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018.
- "New Music: Kelly Rowland - 'Kelly'". Rap-Up. November 23, 2018. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018.
- Larocca, Courteney (November 30, 2018). "Kelly Rowland, 37 Goes Topless To Promote New Music — Sexy Pics". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019.
- Gant, Essence (December 12, 2018). "Here's What Kelly Rowland's Real Hair Looks Like". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018.
- Scott, Sydney (November 30, 2018). "From Kelly Rowland To Saweetie: 9 New Singles We Loved This Week". Essence. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
- Hope, Clover (November 30, 2018). "Miley Cyrus Possibly Finds Her Place, and Kelly Rowland Talks Her Shit". Jezebel. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018.
- "Kelly Rowland – Kelly – R&B Digital Songs Chart history". Billboard.