Rumors (Lizzo song)

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"Rumors"
Single by Lizzo featuring Cardi B
Written2020-2021
ReleasedAugust 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length2:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lizzo singles chronology
"Cuz I Love You"
(2020) 		"Rumors"
(2021) 		"About Damn Time"
(2022)
Cardi B singles chronology
"Wild Side"
(2021) 		"Rumors"
(2021) 		"Shake It"
(2022)
Music video
"Rumors" on YouTube

"Rumors" is a song by American singer and rapper Lizzo, featuring fellow American rapper Cardi B. The song was released on August 13, 2021, through Nice Life Recording and Atlantic Records, alongside a music video. The single marked Lizzo's first release in over two years, following her 2019 album Cuz I Love You. The song was written by the two artists alongside Nate Mercereau, Steven Cheung, Theron Thomas, Torae Carr, and its producer Ricky Reed.

Background and release

In October 2020, American singer and rapper Lizzo announced that her fourth studio album was nearing completion, saying she had "a few more songs to write".[1] On January 18, 2021, American singer SZA confirmed she had heard new material by the singer. She explained that Lizzo played her "the best song I ever heard in my life" and that it made her cry.[2] On August 1, Lizzo told fans that she had an exciting post to share the next day.[3][4] On August 2, announced on social media that "Rumors" would be released on August 13.[5] The single was made available for pre-order in different formats.[6] The release of the song marked Lizzo's first release in over two years, since the release of her third studio album, Cuz I Love You, on April 9, 2019.[7]

An accompanying music video for "Rumors" was released alongside the song on August 13, 2021.[8]

Composition

"Rumors" was written by Lizzo, Cardi B, Torae Carr, Theron Thomas, Nate Mercereau, Steven Cheung, and its producer Ricky Reed.[9] Musically, the song is set in the key of B minor, with a tempo of 118 beats per minute. The vocals in the song span from F♯3 to D5.[10]

The song features Lizzo "talking her shit over a simple piano melody. It quickly warps into anonymous, stomping future funk, complete with rubbery synth, handclaps, and electric guitar."[11] Lyrically, it "sees Lizzo confront the 'shit on the internеt' that's clung to her since she conquered the mainstream in 2019."[12]

Critical reception

Rating it with five stars out of five, Nick Levine of NME stated that "Rumors" is a "brilliant return from Lizzo that combines her signature sense of fun with some well-placed spikiness."[12] Dubbing it "half a twerk jam and half a radio jingle" that "will be a big hit", Vulture's Craig Jenkins opined that "the journey from the rote, familiar drums and bass underneath the verses to the trippy harmonies and boisterous big-band arrangements around the chorus is too slow of a build."[13] Comparing it to "Truth Hurts", Eric Torres of Pitchfork wrote that the single "feels slapped together from different parts of Lizzo's past hits: the bellowing horns, squealing guitar solos, and endless confidence are all here."[11]

Accolades

Critical rankings for "Rumors"
Publication Critics' lists Rank Ref.
Billboard The Best Songs of 2021 38 [14]
The New York Times (Jon Pareles) Best Songs of 2021 5 [15]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for "Rumors"
Year Organization Award Result Ref(s)
2021 MTV Video Music Awards Song of Summer Nominated [16]

Commercial performance

"Rumors" debuted at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lizzo's third and Cardi B's tenth top 10 single on the chart. Lizzo also achieved her third number one and Cardi B her seventh on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[17] It debuted at number three on the Rolling Stone Top 100 moving 136,000 units, including 15 million US streams.[18] It also became Lizzo's first entry on Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. US, debuting at numbers 12 and 29, respectively.[19][20]

Music video

The video for "Rumors", directed by Tanu Muino, references the Muses from Disney's Hercules in a set inspired by ancient Greece. The closing pose echoes the neoclassical painting Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David. During the video Lizzo and Cardi wear golden attires, togas, and Ionic column-inspired headdress, as artwork gets animated.[21][22]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

  • Lizzo – vocals, songwriting
  • Cardi B – featured vocals, songwriting
  • Ricky Reed – songwriting, production, programming, horn arrangement, bass synthesizer, keyboards
  • Nate Mercereau – songwriting, co-production, guitar, keyboards
  • Tele – songwriting, co-production, programming, guitar, keyboards
  • Theron Thomas – songwriting
  • Torae Carr – songwriting
  • Donald Hayes – alto vocals, tenor vocals, baritone saxophone
  • Lemar Guillary – horn arrangement, trombone, bass trombone
  • Thomas Pridgen – drums
  • Mike Cordone – flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Victor Indrizzo – percussion
  • Emerson Mancini – mastering
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Leslie Brathwaite – vocal mixing
  • Bill Malina – engineering
  • Evan LaRay – engineering
  • Patrick Kehrier – assistant engineering

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Rumors"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[47] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Rumors"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various August 13, 2021
[48]
Italy Radio airplay Warner [49]
United States August 17, 2021 Contemporary hit radio Atlantic [50]
Rhythmic contemporary radio [51]

References

  1. ^ "Lizzo has 'a few more songs' to write before her new album is finished". Music-News.com. October 27, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Langford, Jackson (January 19, 2021). "SZA appears to tease new Lizzo music: 'Best song I ever heard in my life'". NME. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Blake, Cole (August 1, 2021). "Lizzo Teases New Music: 'You Really Gon Like My Post Tomorrow'". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Grant, Sean (August 2, 2021). "Is Lizzo hinting at a release of new music?". The Source. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Martoccio, Angie (August 2, 2021). "Lizzo Announces New Single 'Rumors': 'New Era, Bitch'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Aswad, Jem (August 2, 2021). "Lizzo Returns on August 13 With New Single, 'Rumors'". Variety. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Kenneally, Evan (August 2, 2021). "Lizzo Releasing 'Rumors,' First New Song in 2 Years, Next Week". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Jones, Marcus (August 13, 2021). "Lizzo and Cardi B set off 'Rumors' in their epic new music video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Lizzo (August 13, 2021). "Credits / Rumors (feat. Cardi B)". Tidal. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rumors". Musicnotes.com. August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Torres, Eric (August 13, 2021). "Listen to "Rumors" [ft. Cardi B] by Lizzo". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Levine, Nick (August 13, 2021). "'Rumors', Lizzo's new song with Cardi B, is a dizzying, multi-layered return". NME. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Jenkins, Craig (August 13, 2021). "If Lizzo Still Makes You Uncomfortable, Oh Well". Vulture. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Billboard Staff (December 7, 2021). "The 100 Best Songs of 2021: Staff List". Billboard.
  15. ^ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsay (December 7, 2021). "Best Songs of 2021". The New York Times.
  16. ^ "Vote for the MTV VMA Group of the Year and Song of the Summer starting tomorrow". Lakes Media Network. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  17. ^ Trust, Gary (August 23, 2021). "The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber's 'Stay' Leads Hot 100 for Third Week, Lizzo & Cardi B's 'Rumors' Bows in Top Five". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  18. ^ "The Kid Laroi's 'Stay' Holds at Number One, as Lizzo, Cardi B's 'Rumors' Debuts at Number Three". Rolling Stone. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "Rumors Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Rumors Chart History (Global Excl. US)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  21. ^ "Lizzo, Cardi B Are Goddesses Smashing 'Rumors' in New Video". Rolling Stone. August 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "Watch Lizzo and Cardi B's Classics-Inspired Collab, 'Rumors'". August 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "Lizzo & Cardi B – Rumors". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "Lizzo & Cardi B – Rumors" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  26. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  28. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  29. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas". Billboard Japan. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  30. ^ "2021 33-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  31. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lizzo & Cardi B– Rumors". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  32. ^ "Lizzo & Cardi B – Rumors". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  33. ^ "Lizzo & Cardi B – Rumors". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  34. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (November 22, 2021). "Top Airplay 100 - Connect-R şi Smiley o ţin pe Rita pe primul loc!" [Top Airplay 100 – Connect-R and Smiley keep Rita at number one!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  35. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 20/08/2021 to 26/08/2021". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  36. ^ "Lizzo & Cardi B – Rumors". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  37. ^ "Lizzo & Cardi B – Rumors". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  39. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  40. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  41. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  42. ^ "Lizzo Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  43. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  45. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Lizzo – Rumors". Music Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Lizzo – Rumors". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  47. ^ "American single certifications – Lizzo – Rumors". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  48. ^ Citations concerning the release history of "Rumors":
  49. ^ "Lizzo "Rumors" | (Radio Date: 13/08/2021)". Radiodate.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  50. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  51. ^ "Top 40/Rhythmic: Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
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