'Why Wasn't This A Huge Hit?': Kelis and Andre 3000's "Millionaire"

ryan Mon, Nov 19, 2007 at 01:06 AM EST

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.

ginalee Fri, Jul 13, 2007 at 11:09 AM EST

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.

Fri, Jul 13, 2007 at 08:07 AM EST

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.

trw1570 Fri, Jul 13, 2007 at 07:36 AM EST

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.

Kizzy Fri, Jul 13, 2007 at 06:59 AM EST

I loved this song. I didn't know it had a video though. The kids are cute.

bussy26 Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:26 PM EST

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.

to Patt Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 11:22 PM EST

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

Patt Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 10:29 PM EST

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.

stephen Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 08:51 PM EST

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."

Fatima Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 04:55 PM EST

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

mjsmoke Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 03:35 PM EST

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.

junior Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:27 PM EST

Dissenting voice says: "Not feeling it."

It's a little too fast, a little too shapeless, not enough "oomph"

Mark M Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:15 PM EST

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'.

Jenna Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 02:06 PM EST

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!

Michael Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:38 PM EST

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.

confidential Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:32 PM EST

No I'm talking album Full Moon. It actually came out in 2002.

Phil Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:23 PM EST

Confidential, wasn't it Brandy's AFRODISIAC album?? FULL MOON was closer to 10 years ago...?

confidential Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:21 PM EST

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.

Phil Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 01:12 PM EST

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.

Drock Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 12:40 PM EST

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.

confidential Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 12:10 PM EST

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.