Redbone (song)

"Redbone"
Single by Childish Gambino
from the album "Awaken, My Love!"
ReleasedNovember 17, 2016 (2016-11-17)
Recorded2016
GenrePsychedelic funk[1]
Length
  • 5:27 (album version)
  • 3:27 (radio edit)
LabelGlassnote
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Childish Gambino
  • Ludwig Göransson
Childish Gambino singles chronology
"Me and Your Mama"
(2016) 		"Redbone"
(2016) 		"Terrified"
(2017)

"Redbone" is a song recorded by American singer Childish Gambino, the stage name of Donald Glover. It was released on November 17, 2016, and serves as the second single from his third studio album "Awaken, My Love!"[2] The song received three Grammy Award nominations including Record of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, eventually winning the award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.[3] In 2021, it was ranked No. 383 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[4]

Background

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Following the release of "Me and Your Mama", Gambino released the song on November 17, 2016, premiering on Annie Mac's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1, with the DJ describing it as "oozing with soul".[5][6]

Recording and production

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"Redbone" was written by Donald Glover and produced by Ludwig Göransson. In an interview with Triple J, Glover explained:

There wasn't a ton of vocal stuff done ... I think people hear "Redbone" and are like, "Oh, he pitched up his vocals," but there was no vocal pitching on the album—I just sang differently.[7]

Göransson recorded all the instruments starting out from a drum beat that Donald Glover was playing. The intro of the song is dominated by a recurrent slap bass line and the Maestro G-2 wah of a vintage Telecaster that plays the melody while a synth organ makes the counterpoint. An old Rhodes conduct the base chords in D minor as other instruments get in, like a clavinet, a mellotron, a glockenspiel and the Juno-106 synthesizer. The outro part ends with several fuzz guitar harmony licks, a doubled distorted acoustic guitar and some classic piano arrangements.[8] The song is based on "I'd Rather Be with You" by Bootsy's Rubber Band.[9][10]

Critical reception

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"Redbone" was critically acclaimed upon release, resulting in its inclusion in several publications’ year-end best songs lists.[11][12][13] Critics primarily praised the track as a faithful homage to P-Funk and 1970s R&B, as well as for Glover's vocals.[14][15][16][17] In a positive review, Pitchfork’s Sheldon Pearce called the track "a full-blown funk slow jam" which "parses love, lust, reconciliation, generations of black soul, and wokeness".[18] Slant Magazine, which ranked the song as the Best Single of 2017, described it as "a creepin’ tribute to the pre-quiet-storm R&B characterized by the Delfonics and the Floaters" and highlighted the "Thundercat-worthy popping bassline" and "insistent glockenspiel diddling strike",[13] with author Jonathan Wroble noting the song's "wah-wah guitar and slap bass, distant chimes, and pitch-shifted vocals", calling them "robotic and soulful at once".[19] Jason Woodbury of Flood Magazine compared the song to "Prince’s erudite R&B" and called Glover's falsetto singing "remarkable".[15] NME ranked the song 14th in its Best Songs of the Decade list, noting Glover's "bold reinvention as a 70s soul’n’funk crooner" and that his singing "incredibly, wasn’t pitch-shifted in the studio".[20] Editors from Rolling Stone included the track in the publication's 100 Greatest Songs of the Century So Far list in 2018, stating that it distilled the spirit of "that Seventies black music that felt like they were trying to start a revolution".[14]

Commercial performance

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"Redbone" was a sleeper hit in the United States, debuting at number 75 on Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated December 10, 2016.[21] The song then re-entered and peaked at number 12 on the chart for the week of August 19, 2017,[22] making it Gambino's highest-charting single at the time (since surpassed by "This Is America") and his first top 20 single. The song became Childish Gambino's first ever number-one single on the Adult R&B chart.

The track was voted into fifth place in Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2016.[23]

Usage in media

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The 2017 film Get Out, directed by Jordan Peele, features the song during the film's opening scene.[24]

The song became a popular internet meme, following its re-entry to the Billboard charts, consisting of various remixes of the song in certain themes and scenarios. During a concert in June 2017, Glover acknowledged the meme onstage before leading into a performance of the song.[25]

During the 2018 Grammy Awards, an Apple ad showing off iPhone X's Animoji effect aired, in which the song was used, with an animated alien head singing the song.[26]

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Redbone"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] 5× Platinum 350,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[56] Gold 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[57] 4× Platinum 320,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[58] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
France (SNEP)[59] Diamond 333,333‡
Italy (FIMI)[60] Gold 25,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[61] Gold 20,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62] Platinum 30,000‡
South Africa (RISA)[63] Gold 10,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[64] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[65] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[67] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Gadsby, E (February 5, 2018). "Top 25 Childish Gambino Songs". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Childish Gambino Gets Smooth & Soulful on New Track 'Redbone'". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  3. ^ Kreps, Daniel (November 28, 2017). "Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars Lead 2018 Grammy Nominees". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 14, 2021. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Childish Gambino – Redbone". BBC Radio 1. November 17, 2016. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  6. ^ "Childish Gambino's "Redbone" will help fill the Prince-shaped hole in your heart". November 17, 2016. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  7. ^ "Childish Gambino: "There Was No Vocal Pitching on the Album"". Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "The Making of Childish Gambino's "Redbone" with Ludwig Göransson". May 10, 2017. Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  9. ^ "Redbone". WhoSampled. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "Songfile". Song Code RVA0OF. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  11. ^ Billboard Staff (December 13, 2017). "Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Roffman, Michael (December 27, 2017). "Top 50 Songs of 2017". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Slant Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 25 Best Singles of 2017". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Hoard, Christian; Weingarten, Christopher R.; Dolan, Jon; Leight, Elias; Spanos, Brittany; Exposito, Suzy; Grow, Kory; Grant, Sarah; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Greene, Andy; Hermes, Will (June 28, 2018). "The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
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  20. ^ NME (December 4, 2019). "The Best Songs Of The Decade: The 2010s". NME. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
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  23. ^ "Flume Wins Triple J Hottest 100 Of 2016". Archived from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  24. ^ Clark, Trent (February 23, 2017). "Jordan Peele Explains Why Childish Gambino's "Redbone" Was Perfect For "Get Out"". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  25. ^ Burgess, Omar (June 4, 2017). "Donald Glover Hints at Final Childish Gambino Album During Governor's Ball Set". Complex. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
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  44. ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
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  46. ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  47. ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  48. ^ "Childish Gambino Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  49. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  50. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  51. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2017". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  52. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  53. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
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  56. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Childish Gambino" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  57. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone". Music Canada. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  58. ^ "Danish single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  59. ^ "French single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  60. ^ "Italian single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  61. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 14, 2021. Enter Redbone in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2017 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  62. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  63. ^ "South Africa certifications". Recording Industry of South Africa.
  64. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  65. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Childish Gambino" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  66. ^ "British single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  67. ^ "American single certifications – Childish Gambino – Redbone". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
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