Send It On (D'Angelo song)
"Send It On" is a song by American R&B recording artist D'Angelo. It was released by Virgin Records on March 25, 2000, as a radio single in promotion of D'Angelo's second studio album Voodoo (2000). He wrote the song, with his brother Luther Archer and R&B singer Angie Stone, in 1998 at a recording studio in Virginia after the birth of his son. It was produced by D'Angelo at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
"Send It On" | ||||
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Single by D'Angelo | ||||
from the album Voodoo | ||||
B-side | "Send It On" (Album Version) | |||
Released | March 25, 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Studio | Electric Lady Studios in New York | |||
Genre | R&B, neo soul, soul | |||
Length | 4:39 | |||
Label | Virgin, EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) | D'Angelo, Angie Stone, Luther Archer | |||
Producer(s) | D'Angelo | |||
D'Angelo singles chronology | ||||
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As Voodoo's fourth single, "Send It On" peaked at number 33 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.[1] The music video for the song featured footage from the album's supporting tour, "The Voodoo Tour".[2]
Background
Following the birth of his son, D'Angelo composed Voodoo's first song, "Send It On", in 1998 at a recording studio in Virginia, which started the album's recording.[3] The song was produced by D'Angelo at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Official credits for "Send It On" were attributed to R&B singer Angie Stone and D'Angelo's brother Luther Archer.[4]
Music and lyrics
The song is about honesty and faith in love, and features classic soul arrangements with trumpeter Roy Hargrove playing flugel horn. It features an interpolation of Kool & the Gang's "Sea of Tranquility" (1969).[5] The song also has an arrangement of live guitar, bass and kick-drum, while D'Angelo's falsetto vocals contain spiritual highs and soulful lows.[5] Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters wrote that the song "evokes the late '70s sounds of Angela Bofill ('I Try')."[6] Another critic described the song's horn-driven sound as reminiscent of the work of Sam Cooke.[7]
On D'Angelo's vocal style on "Send It On", a Billboard magazine reviewer stated "In this musical setting, he sounds less like Prince (as he did on 'Untitled') and more like he's developing his own unique style-which bears the undeniable influence of Prince, Al Green, and Otis Redding."[5] Entertainment Weekly's Matt Diehl called the song a "stately soul ballad like they just don't make anymore".[8]
Track listing
- CD Maxi single
- "Send It On" (Radio Edit) – 4:39
- "Send It On" (Album Version) – 5:56
- "Send It On" (Call Out Hook) – 0:12
Personnel
Credits adapted from album booklet liner notes.[4]
- Produced by D'Angelo
- All vocals performed by D'Angelo
- Vocal and musical arrangements by D'Angelo
- Guitar: C. Edward Alford
- Bass: Pino Palladino
- Drums: Ahmir Thompson
- Flugel horn and Trumpet: Roy Hargrove
- All other instruments: D'Angelo
Chart performance
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9] | 20 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 33 |
Notes
- Billboard Music Charts - Send It On. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-08-09.
- Rosen, Craig. D'Angelo's 'Voodoo' Still Casting a Spell. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
- PR. "Press Release: Voodoo". Virgin Music: January 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-12-20.
- Track listing and credits as per liner notes for Voodoo album
- Columnist. "Singles Reviews: 'Send It On'". Billboard. 28. June 3, 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-08-09.
- Neal, Mark Anthony. Review: Voodoo. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-04-03.
- Van Dorston, A.S. Review: Voodoo Archived 2009-08-16 at the Wayback Machine. Fast 'n' Bulbous. Retrieved on 2009-04-03.
- Diehl, Matt. Review: Voodoo. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-04-03.
- "D'Angelo Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "D'Angelo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
References
- Saul Williams, D'Angelo (2000). Voodoo. (CD liner notes). Virgin Records America, Inc., 338 N. Foothill Road, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.