Laundromat (song)

"Laundromat" is a song by American singer Nivea for her eponymous debut album (2001). It was released on April 1, 2003, as the third single from the album. American singer-songwriter R. Kelly wrote and produced the track. It is an R&B and pop duet between Nivea and Kelly. The lyrics revolve around a laundromat as a metaphor for infidelity and the breakdown of a relationship.

"Laundromat"
Single by Nivea
from the album Nivea
ReleasedApril 1, 2003 (2003-04-01)
Recorded2001—2002
StudioRock Land Studios (Chicago)
Genre
Length4:24
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)R. Kelly
Producer(s)Kelly
Nivea singles chronology
"Don't Mess with My Man"
(2002)		 "Laundromat"
(2003)		 "25 Reasons" / "Ya Ya Ya"
(2003)

Critical response to "Laundromat" was primarily positive; several music critics praised its sound and composition while others were critical of Kelly's role as Nivea's duet partner given allegations that he had sexual relations with underage girls. Commercially, the recording peaked in the United States at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart. Internationally, it reached a peak position of number 33 on the UK Singles Chart as a double A-side with "Don't Mess with My Man".

In its accompanying music video, Nivea sings, dances, and does her laundry in a laundromat while accompanied by female back-up dancers. American actor Nick Cannon plays the part of Nivea's boyfriend, and lip-synchs Kelly's parts. In July 2013, American singer Solange Knowles performed a cover version of the song in a laundromat as a part of the "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign. Her performance received positive reviews from critics, who felt it was an appropriate song choice for the venue. Knowles said that she listened to the song while recording her third album A Seat at the Table (2016).

Recording and release

American singer-songwriter R. Kelly wrote, produced, and arranged "Laundromat". Nivea's vocals were recorded by Abel Garibaldi, Andy Gallas, and Ian Mereness at the Rock Land Studios in Chicago. Mereness mixed the song with assistance from Jason Mlodzinski and Kelly. Garibaldi and Mereness also served as programmers for the single, with the help of assistant programmer Mlodzinski. Colin "CL" Lampkin and Nivea were the executive producers.[1]

"Laundromat" was initially released on January 1, 2003, as a double A-side with Nivea's 2002 single "Don't Mess with My Man".[2][3] Following the commercial success of "Don't Mess with My Man",[4] it was distributed as the third single from Nivea's self-titled debut album on April 1, 2003.[5][6] It was sent to contemporary hit and rhythmic radio stations, and received airplay on urban playlists alongside "Don't Mess With My Man".[5] A CD single of the song was first made available in the United Kingdom,[6] before it was released internationally in late April.[7][8] "Laundromat" was also featured on the 2003 compilation albums Totally R&B and Flow 93.5 Hot Wax.[9][10][11]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

A duet between Nivea and Kelly, "Laundromat" is an R&B and pop song that lasts four minutes and 24-seconds.[12][14] Kelly's vocals are uncredited on the album's liner notes.[1][14] Vibe's Laura Checkoway described Nivea's vocals as a "sugary soprano".[13] Music critics identified several different musical influences on "Laundromat".[12][13][15] AllMusic's Alex Henderson described it as a slow jam with "some '70s sweet soul influence",[12] while Checkoway called the single an "R&B jam-meets-detergent jingle".[13] Hank Shteamer, Elias Leight, and Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that the instrumental is a "bubbly funky arrangement", but clarified that its lyrics have a "tragic core".[15]

In the single, a laundromat serves as a metaphor for infidelity and the breakdown of a relationship.[15][16] Lyrics about doing the laundry symbolize the singer's "effort to wash [an ex-boyfriend's] memory from her life", with love defined through the dirty clothing discussed in the chorus. The song opens with Nivea throwing shade at her ex-boyfriend by singing: "You're a lying, cheating, son of a [...]"[14][15] In the chorus, Kelly sings the following laundry-related lyrics: "Soap, powder, bleach, towels / Fabric softener, dollars, change / Pants, socks, dirty drawers / I'm headed to the laundromat."[16]

Reception

"Laundromat" received a primarily positive response from music critics. Chuck Taylor of Billboard praised the track for its inclusion of elements from R&B and pop music. Taylor described it as a "novel, ear-pricking single", and felt it was a positive step forward in the singer's career.[14] Nivea's vocals were praised by Vibe's Sean Fennessey, who said that she "never sounded fresher or sharper".[17] Alex Henderson chose "Laundromat" as one of the three highlights from Nivea, alongside "Don't Mess with My Man" and "Don't Mess with the Radio" (2001).[12] Following the release of British singer-songwriter Adele's 2015 single "Hello", "Laundromat" was featured on Rolling Stone's list of ten classic sad-phone-call songs.[15]

Commentators had a mixed reaction to the choice of Kelly as Nivea's duet partner. Nicole James of Fuse ranked "Laundromat" as one of the top six most random Kelly collaborations. While James cast doubt on the effectiveness of the laundromat as a metaphor, she pointed to Kelly's vocal performance during the chorus as the song's highlight.[16] However, Laura Checkoway viewed the "banter between the barely legal Nivea and Kelly [as] unsettling" because of the allegations that he had sexual relationships with girls under the age of consent.[13] In his 2010 article "Bringing Up Daddy: A Black Feminist Fatherhood", African-American studies academic Mark Anthony Neal wrote that he was uncomfortable with the thought of taking his daughter to concerts that included material written and produced by a man with such accusations against him.[18]

For the week of March 8, 2003, "Laundromat" peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining on the chart for nine weeks.[19] During the same week, it also reached number 20 the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart, and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks.[20] It also appeared on the year-end Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart at number 92.[21] Internationally, "Laundromat" reached a peak position of number 33 on the UK Singles Chart after spending two weeks on it, charting as a double A-side with "Don't Mess with My Man".[22] It marked Nivea's second top 40 entry; her 2000 collaboration with Mystikal for "Danger (Been So Long)" was the first.[23]

Music video

An music video accompanying the song premiered in February 2003,[5] and was included on BET's signature countdown show 106 & Park.[24] The same year, it was released on a CD single, alongside the radio edit and instrumental of "Laundromat' and a remix of "Don't Mess With My Man".[25] The clip begins with Nivea ending her relationship after she catches her boyfriend's infidelity. Throughout the rest of the visual, Nivea is shown singing and dancing while completing her laundry in a laundromat. She is accompanied by a group of female back-up dancers.[15] Phoenix New Times's Troy Farah criticized the clip as one of the six worst music videos shot in a laundromat, and simply described it as "Ewww".[26]

In the video, American actor Nick Cannon plays the part of Nivea's boyfriend, and lip-synchs Kelly's vocals. Cannon had previously appeared as a disc jokey in the music video for the latter's 2002 "Ignition (Remix)". Mark Anthony Neal concluded that Kelly choose to be absent from several music videos during the early 2000s due to the accusations concerning his sexual relationships with minors. Neal explained it would be inappropriate for Kelly to "show up in a music video cooing in the ear of a teenager".[27]

Solange Knowles version

On July 29, 2013, American singer Solange Knowles performed "Laundromat" at the Atlantis Super Wash Laundromat in Boerum Hill, as a part of Uncapped, a series of live concerts sponsored by Vitaminwater and The Fader, and the "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign.[28] Knowles performed it as part of a medley with American experimental rock band Dirty Projectors' track "Stillness Is the Move" (2009) while dancing on top of washing machines. Concerning this, the singer confessed, "This laundromat has me feeling the drama queen, so excuse my theatrics".[29] Knowles sang both Nivea and R. Kelly's parts, while accompanied by a six-person band.[28][30] Additionally, the song was altered to better fit her style.[29]

When asked by an interviewer about her thought process for the performance, Knowles described "Laundromat" as one of her most-played songs, and one that she always wanted to cover.[30] During a 2016 interview with Vogue, she said that she had constantly listened to the track during the recording of her third album A Seat at the Table (2016).[31]

Vitaminwater's Ben Garnero explained the decision to set the concert in a laundromat as an opportunity "to take on these iconic, mundane moments and tackle Mondays in New York and these places you never expect to see a show".[28] The event was attended by approximately 125 people.[28] Deidre Dyer of The Fader praised "Laundromat" as an appropriate choice for the venue.[30] A writer for Fuse included the performance in its list of the 31 best covers of 2013, further praising Solange for her vocal delivery, but also wrote: "we love this cover mostly for the fact it was performed in an actual laundromat."[32]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nivea.[1]

Charts

Release history
Country Date Format Label
Europe[2][3] January 1, 2003 12" single Zomba
United Kingdom[6] April 1, 2003 CD single Jive
Spain[7] April 23, 2003 Jive, Zomba
United States[8] April 24, 2003 Jive
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References
  1. Nivea. Jive, Arista (Inlay cover). Nivea. September 25, 2001. 01241-44200-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Laundromat - Nivea 12". January 1, 2003. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  3. "Laundromat" / "Don't Mess With My Man" (Media notes). Nivea. Zomba Records. 2003. 9254820.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Chart Search". Billboard Hot 100 for Nivea Featuring Brian & Brandon Casey. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013.
  5. Hay, Carla (February 8, 2003). "Shelved For A Year, 'Nivea' Nevertheless Nets Top 10 Hit, Grammy Nod". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  6. "Nivea Laundromat [UK CD]". AllMusic. April 1, 2003. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  7. "Laundromat" (Media notes). Nivea. Jive. 2003. 9254999.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Laundromat by Nivea". Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  9. Kellman, Andy. "AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016.
  10. Totally R & B. WorldCat. OCLC 52700618.
  11. Flow 93.5 hot wax. WorldCat. OCLC 56197096.
  12. Henderson, Alex (September 25, 2001). "Nivea". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013.
  13. Checkoway, Laura (February 2003). "Nivea". Vibe. SpinMedia. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  14. Taylor, Chuck (February 22, 2003). "Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  15. Shteamer, Hank; Leight, Elias; Spanos, Brittany (October 23, 2015). "'Hello': 10 Classic Sad-Phone-Call Songs". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  16. James, Nicole (October 21, 2013). "The 6 Most Random R. Kelly Collaborations". Fuse. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  17. Fennessey, Sean (May 2007). "12 Play: We Belong Together". Vibe. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  18. Neal (2010): p. 47–48
  19. "Chart Search". Billboard Hot 100 for Nivea. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013.
  20. "Chart Search". Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Nivea. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013.
  21. "The Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks – 2003 Year End Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  23. "Nivea". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018.
  24. "Nivea". Nivea's official website. Archived from the original on May 26, 2003.
  25. "Laundromat" & "Don't Mess With My Man" (Media notes). Nivea. Jive. 2003. 9254822.CS1 maint: others (link)
  26. Farah, Troy (June 30, 2014). "6 Worst Music Videos Shot in Laundromats". Phoenix New Times. Voice Media Group. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  27. Neal (2010): p. 47–48
  28. Hampp, Andrew (July 31, 2013). "Backbeat: Solange Makes the 'Boring Brilliant' at Brooklyn Laundromat Performance with Help from vitaminwater, The Fader". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  29. Lynch, Joe (July 30, 2013). "Solange Sang Nivea's "Laundromat" in a Real-Life Laundromat Last Night". Fuse. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  30. Dyer, Deidre (July 30, 2013). "Interview: Solange". The Fader. Andy Cohn. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  31. Dyer, Deidre (September 28, 2016). "Solange Knowles Has a New Album and a New Look! Inside Her Surprising Beauty Inspirations for A Seat at the Table". Vogue. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  32. "31 Best Covers of 2013: Miley Cyrus, Adam Lambert, Jared Leto, 1D & More". Fuse. December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018.
  33. "Laundromat" (Media notes). Nivea. Jive. 2003. JDJ-40063-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  35. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  36. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

Bibliography
  • Neal, Mark Anthony (2010). "Bringing Up Daddy: A Black Feminist Fatherhood". In White, Aaronette M. (ed.). African Americans Doing Feminism: Putting Theory Into Everyday Practice. New York: SUNY Press. pp. 31–50. ISBN 978-1-4384-3141-3.
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