Sugar (Flo Rida song)
"Sugar" is a song by American rapper Flo Rida, featuring American pop/dance singer Wynter Gordon. The song's chorus samples the song "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Italian electronic music group Eiffel 65.[1] The song was written by Flo Rida, The Jackie Boyz, Jeffrey Jey, Maurizio Lobina, and Massimo Gabutti, and was produced by DJ Montay for Flo Rida's second album, R.O.O.T.S.. The song was released as the album's third official single in March 2009 as a digital download.
"Sugar" | ||||
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Single by Flo Rida featuring Wynter Gordon | ||||
from the album R.O.O.T.S. | ||||
Released | March 17, 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2009 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:12 (album version) 4:01 (radio edit) | |||
Label | Poe Boy, Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Flo Rida, The Jackie Boyz, Jeffrey Jey, Maurizio Lobina, Massimo Gabutti | |||
Producer(s) | DJ Montay | |||
Flo Rida singles chronology | ||||
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Wynter Gordon singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Sugar"
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The single became the second top 10 single from R.O.O.T.S., debuting at #25, and peaking at #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,[2] fueled by high sales from digital downloads. The single has also been successful in other countries, reaching the top ten in Canada,[3] and on other Billboard subcharts.[2] Following the song's success in the U.S., the song was released May 25, 2009, in the United Kingdom.[4]
Background
Speaking to MTV News, Flo Rida said, "Wynter is a brand-new artist coming off of Atlantic Records. She has a beautiful voice. She matched the song very well, so we went along with it." Wynter was originally hired by the song's writers as a female vocalist to reference the song for them. "It sounded really good when I did it," she told Billboard. "They said, 'We'll keep you on it. This could be good for you.'"[5]
Critical reception
On reviews for the album, the song received a mixed reception, due to criticism on the use of the sample of "Blue (Da Ba Dee)". Billboard magazine reviewed the single positively, said "'Sugar', rides an unlikely interpolation of 'I'm Blue (Da Ba Dee)' by Eiffel 65", but consider it one of the highlights of the album. However, AllMusic said that the song is "shameless enough to incorporate elements of Eiffel 65's Euro-trash earworm 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)'", but chose it as a track pick.[6] Rap-Up said, "Hate him or love him, you gotta hand it to Flo Rida for mastering the hit-making formula. His second single off R.O.O.T.S., “Sugar,” samples Eiffel 65's “Blue (Da Ba Dee).” Flo's Atlantic Records labelmate Wynter Gordon gets her first major feature singing the hook. This has top 10 written all over it."[7]
Meanwhile, in the UK, noted urban writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul stated "Flo Rida finally proves once-and-for-all that he's no one-trick-pony, with the melodic uptempo single 'Sugar' effectively relying on a familiar Euro-dance sample to bring the party".[8]
Music video
![](../I/m/Flo_Rida_Sugar_set.jpg)
A music video for the song was filmed on April 10, 2009 in South Beach, Florida. It opens with a female doctor followed by Flo Rida walking into an operation room with a quick shot of Wynter then Wynter and Flo Rida standing beside one another. It then cuts to Wynter performing set choreography interspersed with female dancers then her dancing solo with flashes of Flo Rida in the operation room with the same female doctor spotted earlier in the music video. The next primary scene showcases Flo Rida in front of other men each seated in a hut on the beach as they spot the doctor in a white bikini walking out from the water. Flo Rida moves out of his seat and progresses forward to greet the doctor but then confusingly realises that she is not actually there. Next Flo Rida and the doctor are seen to be next to each other on the same beach, she following with her arms on him as he raps. They walk to a store in the shape of another hut where Flo Rida purchases ice cream for the both of them. He turns around, confused again as the doctor doesn't appear anywhere in sight. The next scene displays the pair with the doctor seducing Flo Rida then comforting him with food. He then turns her way and once again, she doesn't appear. The final vision incorporates Flo Rida woken up by the doctor in the operation room & being escorted out, yet she then raises her arm and directs him to follow her back into the room by seductively holding up a bunch of grapes. Flo Rida looks at the camera, smiles and closes the door as the video comes to a close. The music video was uploaded to YouTube on May 16, 2019 as part of the 10 year anniversary of Flo Rida's album R.O.O.T.S..
Chart performance
"Sugar" made a "Hot Shot Debut" at number twenty-five on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Flo Rida's highest debut on the chart. The song made a jump to number seven in its sixth week on the chart, selling 127,000 downloads, a 61% increase from the previous week and eventually reached a peak position of #5.[9] In Canada it made a "Hot Shot Debut" at #8 on the Canadian Hot 100.
The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 35 from album downloads alone and has so far peaked at number eighteen. This marked "Sugar" Flo Rida's then-third highest charting single in the UK, and with 18 weeks inside the top 100 UK singles chart, it is his fourth longest chart runner behind only "Low" (75 weeks), "Right Round" (24 weeks) and "Elevator" (20 weeks).[10] It has so far peaked at number 20 in Australia.[11]
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Monthly charts
Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[49] | Gold | 20,000* |
Japan (RIAJ)[50] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[51] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- "Sugar by Flo Rida Songfacts". songfacts.com.
- Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Flo Rida
- "Flo Rida and Wynter - Sugar". acharts.us.
- "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads". radio1.gr.
- Songfacts. "Sugar by Flo Rida - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- AllMusic ((( R.O.O.T.S. (Route of Overcoming the Struggle) - Overview )))
- "New Music: Flo Rida f/ Wynter – 'Sugar'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- Stephen Clark - Design. "FLO RIDA: Let It Ride". bluesandsoul.com.
- "Flo Rida". Billboard.
- Official Charts Company - Flo Rida - Sugar
- http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50 [Australia Singles Chart]
- "Australian-charts.com – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Austriancharts.at – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Ultratop.be – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "Ultratop.be – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200922 into search.
- "Flo Rida – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Flo Rida. (subscription required)
- "Flo Rida feat. Wynter: Sugar" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- "Lescharts.com – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar" (in French). Les classement single.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Flo Rida featuring Wynter". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "Charts.nz – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar". Top 40 Singles.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200921 into search.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar". Singles Top 100.
- "Swisscharts.com – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "Flo Rida Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
- "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay (Set 21, 2009)". Billboard Brasil. No. 1. BPP Promoções e Publicações. October 2009. p. 79.
- "End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Urban Singles 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- "Airplay Detection Tophit 200 Yearly – 2009". Tophit. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
- "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
- "Rap Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- "Canadian single certifications – Flo Rida feat. Wynter Gordon – Sugar". Music Canada.
- "Japanese single certifications – Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 27, 2016. Select 2015年10月 on the drop-down menu
- RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - "Sugar" by Flo-Rida. RIAA.com. Retrieved 2009-11-08.