It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for fans of OutKast’s Andre 3000. On Monday, the eccentric genius told MTV News that he plans to capitalize on his recent series of attention-grabbing guest verses with a full solo LP (awesome!). And last Tuesday, he released a solo effort of a different kind—a full-length soundtrack of kiddie ditties that he wrote and performed for his Cartoon Network show, Class of 3000 (not so awesome). It’s always cool to hear something new from Andre, but these two developments got me thinking about something old: Namely, "Millionaire," the song he produced and appeared on for Kelis four years ago. Check out the video below, and click through for my take.
I’d been vaguely aware of the song for a while, but it took a randomiPod appearance a few weeks back for me to recognize it as thestone-cold classic that it is. Dre provides a deliciously blinkyelectro backdrop for his own soulful wailing and nimble rapping.(Critics often talk about how he all but stopped rhyming after Stankonia—I’mguilty of using that shorthand myself—but we shouldn’t forget that hewas spitting the occasional diamond-sharp rap verse even at the heightof his experimental space-pop phase.) And Kelis—a chronicallyunderrated singer, but that’s a post for another day—never gave abetter performance than her breathy vocals here. Trading coybattle-of-the-sexes lyrics, they make a positively charming pair."Millionaire" is just about as free-wheeling, far-out, and funky asOutKast’s "Hey Ya!" or Kelis’ "Milkshake," two songs from roughly thesame time period. So how come it never came close to matching thosetunes’ staggering successes? I’m not sure how to answer that question,except to point out that it was a decent-sized hit over in Europe—yet another point to the credit of that continent’s open-minded pop listeners.
Any ideas on why "Millionaire" didn’t make Kelis and Dre a mint,PopWatchers? Or am I the only one that can’t stop playing this song onrepeat?
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Tasty was Kelis’ best album by far and Millinaire is just one of the great songs on the album, which was allarmingly underrated. At the time she was on Pharrell label and th label flopped around the same time the album came out. She has been on like 4 labels in the US but only on 1 in Europe and that is why she is better marketed in the UK. She has been with Virgin UK since she came out in the late 90’s.
Man i thought I was the only one who LOVES this song. I’m equally suprised at it’s underwhelming reception. Maybe the video which excludes both artists hampered it’s success. Fantastic song….AMAZING ALBUM.
Pretty much the same as CONFIDENTIAL already stated, and you also forgot to mention that Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” was also breaking at the time. In fact ARISTA sent me promos of both “Milkshake” and “The Way She Moves” and “Hey Ya!” in early August, and the albums all came out that Fall. Following up “Milkshake” with any track off the album seemed impossible, but ARISTA followed up the two MASSIVE OutKast hits with the ONLY song on the double album to include both Dre & Big Boi “ROSES” since they had finally found mainstream success. And thats when the Neptunes’ Star Trak label began talks to go to Interscope, and when Kelis & Pharrell began to grow apart since Kelis maintained they were talkented producers, but they had no idea how to run a record label.
to note another crying shame was Brandy’s Full Moon album. Yes she did get pregnant during the her promo tour but what an entirly great album… Shame.
Confidential, wasn’t it Brandy’s AFRODISIAC album?? FULL MOON was closer to 10 years ago…?
No I’m talking album Full Moon. It actually came out in 2002.
This was easily my favorite song off of Kelis’ “Tasty” album. I played this song about 1,000 times over. Whever I would have guests over and I played this song, everybody wanted to know what it was. I honestly believe that the video for the song hurt it by not having the artists in it. The video is cute, but just does NOT match even the songs lyrics of loneliness despite success.
I’ve never heard this song before–thanks for enlightening me! And I actually love the video. The kids are so soulful and grave, I really loved it!
I love this song. I never knew there was video for it and I can give the same reasoning other posters did: It didn’t showcase either star. This song and Flashback were hot tracks off of ‘Tasty’.
Dissenting voice says: “Not feeling it.”
It’s a little too fast, a little too shapeless, not enough “oomph”
Kelis has always been a fantastic singer, but she just gets lost in the shuffle here in the U.S. because she doesn’t shake her tits and ass too much to get any notice. Sad but true…and I have to say that this song was one of only three on “Tasty” that were hot. Her first CD “Kaleidoscope” was the BEST one she put out; fantastic beats, and great lyrics as well…classic.
I love Kelis and this track. But I gotta disagree with other posters here and say that her first album was better than “Tasty.” What I love about this song is probably what prevented it from being a hit; it grows on you over time, lacks an obvious melody and is almost a little creepy in its monotone (which is not on accident). Kelis never gets enough praise. It could be because she takes a LOT more risks than other R&B artists, and truthfully, some don’t work at all. But she is really exciting
Some people may not recognize Kelis’ brilliance as an artist because a lot of her talent is eclipsed by her (very sexual, no?) marriage to Nas. I love “Tasty,” and my favorite track is by far ‘Marathon.’ I’m such a sucker for string melodies. Unfortunately, I was a little let down by “Kelis Was Here.”
You need to do this more. I totally missed this song and downloaded it from iTunes immediately after watching the video. Daily life makes normal, music engulfment sometimes impossible. Please continuing to do your job like this. Thanks.
PopWatch does this Why Wasn’t It A Big Hit? segment regularly. Check out this link…http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/why_wasnt_this_a_huge_hit/index.html
I was so happy to see this. I thought I was the only one who LOVED tasty. Such a great album. I don’t think there is a dud on that album. Even the nasty “In Public” is good. My favorites–Millionair, Keep it down (I think this has a video too) and Sugar Honey Ice Tea. Why is Kelis cursed–always a hit single (See: I hate you so much right now, Baby I got your money, milkshake& Bossy) but she can’t sell albums. Can someone explain this to me. She is very talented. Luv her.
I loved this song. I didn’t know it had a video though. The kids are cute.
I remember thinking that it was strange that Kelis didn’t release another single from the Tasty cd after Milkshake.
In other words, I think Kelis and her managers need to have a serious discussion with her record company’s marketing department.
I was studying in London when this song came out, and I LOVED it. Couldn’t get enough of it. But a number of my friends didn’t understand why I was so obsessed. They missed the beats. They missed the humor. They missed the quality. And it was totally their loss.
I saw Kelis in concert a few years ago in Vienna. She came on stage very late, dressed in sloppy everyday jeans, ran through a few songs, one or two hits of hers, then left in a bored and frustrated huff.
Underrated maybe, but unprofessional as well.
I just heard this song on KCRW and was thinking the same thing (I thought it was a new track and a guaranteed hit). Lost gem I guess.
I remember when this song came out I could so relate to the deeper meaning of this song, now 4 years later I found this song again and all the memories came flooding back. I am an artist my self and did a remake of this song around the same time and am writting a blog about my thoughts of the Kelis’s song,
In short I think this song was exposing how they can still be empty when they are famous and rich but because the “mainstream” implys that you will be happy I think this song contradicted the mainstreams vision and do it wasnt pushed because of that reason…purely my opinion weather its fact or not Only God knows…
Turns out the song was a hit in europe so i stand corrected I read an article about the song here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millionaire_(song)
I remember in October 2004 when I heard the new release “Millionaire” by Kelis and Andree 3000, being a fan of electro beats this tune was explosive for me. As I began to listen to the lyrics I laughed because I actually woke up mad early that morning…but as the song progressed I took interest to the main message which was like a word to me. Now four years later I listened to the same song and thought about the lyrics, so here are my thoughts from a few of the highlighted lyrics.
Mama I’m a Millionaire but I feel like a bum. [Andre 3000]
Many people who are not rich feel that when they get money they will feel great because they can get what they want, but here Andre 3000 expresses that he feels less than great. In fact it seems like he’s feeling the same as someone who wakes up with no job or hope of ever feeling better.
I woke up early this morning, but i still ain’t seen the sun. [Andre 3000]
I don’t know what this meant but I thought as a Christian my mood would be the same a
I didnt have enought space to write so To read more of my thoughts on this song click this link
http://balivamusic.co.uk/back/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=33
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