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Laundromat (song)

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This article is about the Nivea song. For other songs, see Laundromat (disambiguation).

"Laundromat"
The single's cover, with Nivea wearing a wearing a yellow, orange, black, and red dress while standing against an orange background.
Single by Nivea
from the album Nivea
ReleasedApril 26, 2003 (2003-04-26)
StudioRock Land (Chicago)
Genre
Length4:24
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)R. Kelly
Producer(s)R. Kelly
Nivea singles chronology
"Don't Mess with My Man"
(2002) 		"Laundromat"
(2003) 		"25 Reasons" / "Ya Ya Ya"
(2003)

"Laundromat" is a song that was recorded by American singer Nivea and released on her 2002 self-titled debut album. Jive released it as a double A-side single along with "Don't Mess with My Man" on April 26, 2003. R. Kelly wrote and produced the song, and performed some uncredited vocals on the recording, which is a R&B and pop track. "Laundromat" was recorded and mixed in Chicago, and was one of the last songs to be produced for the album. The song is structured as a telephone call in which Nivea breaks up her boyfriend, who is played by Kelly. The lyrics use the laundromat as a metaphor for the washing away of an old relationship.

Critics gave the song mixed reviews but praised Kelly for his contributions. In the US, "Laundromat" peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 92 on the Billboard Year-End chart for Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Journalists cited the single's heavy airplay and its appearance on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart to show 2003 allegations Kelly carried out sexual abuse did not hurt his career. "Laundromat" reached number 33 on the UK Singles Chart, number 89 on the Scottish Single Chart, and number 98 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.

"Laundromat" was supported through live performances and a music video. Nivea did not perform the song with Kelly. The song's accompanying music video was filmed in a laundromat and includes Nick Cannon in Kelly's role. In 2013, Solange Knowles covered "Laundromat" in a laundromat; her performance was praised by critics, who enjoyed the song choice and the laundromat venue.

Production and release[]

After Nivea's debut solo single "Don't Mess with the Radio" under-performed in 2001, her record label Jive delayed the release of her self-titled debut album to the following year.[1] During this time, she worked with R. Kelly on the songs Ya Ya Ya", "The One for Me", and "Laundromat" for the album; these were the last songs to be added to Nivea prior to its release.[2][3]

A photograph of R. Kelly.
R. Kelly (pictured in 2007) wrote and produced "Laundromat".

Kelly wrote, arranged, and produced "Laundromat", and performed uncredited vocals on the track.[2][4] In a 2003 Sister 2 Sister interview, Nivea said she did not know Kelly had not been credited and denied claims this was done to hide his involvement with the song.[3] "Laundromat" was recorded and mixed at Rock Land recording studio, Chicago. Kelly mixed the song with Ian Mereness, who programmed it with Abel Garibaldi. Jason Mlodzinski assisted with mixing and programming. Andy Gallas recorded the track with Mereness and Garibaldi. Tom Coyne mastered all of the songs for Nivea, including "Laundromat".[2]

Jive released "Laundromat" as a double A-side single with "Don't Mess with My Man" on the week of April 26, 2003.[5] "Don't Mess with My Man" was previously distributed as a single on June 3, 2002;[6] according Billboard's Carla Hay, it was "still in heavy rotation at many radio stations" in 2003.[1] "Laundromat" was made available as a 12-inch single and a CD single, and releases had varying track listings.[7] Nivea did not perform the single with Kelly and told audiences; "R. Kelly's not here". His part was performed by a singer named Katrelle.[3] The song appeared on the 2003 compilation albums Totally R&B and Flow 93.5 Hot Wax;[8][9] While reviewing the former, AllMusic's Any Kellman praised "Laundromat" as one of the album's highlights.[8]

Nzingha Stewart filmed the music video for "Laundromat" in a laundromat.[10] Nick Cannon plays Nivea's boyfriend and lip syncs to Kelly's vocals. While discussing Kelly's absence, author Mark Anthony Neal wrote; "A man accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with minors obviously cannot show up in a music video cooing in the ear of a teenager". In 2002, Kelly and Cannon collaborated on videos for "Ignition (Remix)" in 2002, and with "Feelin' Freaky" in 2003. Neal believed Kelly was helping Cannon, who was "trying to translate kiddie fame into a sustainable career".[11] In a 2014 article for Phoenix New Times, Troy Farah criticized "Laundromat" for having one of the six worst music videos to be filmed in a laundromat, and described it as "Ewww".[12]

Music and lyrics[]

"Laundromat" is a four-minute, 24-second R&B and pop song[4][13] that is performed in the style of a slow jam.[13][14] Billboard's Chuck Taylor reviewed the single as a pop track, describing it as straddling "the line between straight-up R&B and modern pop".[4] While writing for Vibe, Laura Checkoway referred to it as "an R&B jam-meets-detergent jingle".[15] AllMusic's Alex Henderson said "Laundromat" has "some '70s sweet soul influence" but noted Nivea did not follow the same neo soul trend as Mary J. Blige, Jaguar Wright, Alicia Keys, and Jill Scott.[13] The song uses the sounds of bursting bubbles and dripping water as a part of its instrumental;[16][17] Rolling Stone writers Hank Shteamer, Elias Leight, and Brittany Spanos identified a contrast between the single's sound and its lyrics, writing; "The bubbly funk arrangement can't conceal the song's tragic core".[18]

"Laundromat" is about the break-up of a relationship that occurs during a telephone call.[18] The song's lyrics use the laundromat as a metaphor for the washing away of an old relationship,[4][18] as exemplified in the chorus; "Soap, powder, bleach, towels / Fabric softener, dollars, change / Pants, socks, dirty drawers / I'm headed to the laundromat".[19] The song opens with Nivea arguing with Kelly, who is referenced as Keith;[3][4] she calls him "a lying, cheating, son of a …. " and later hangs up on him.[18] The New York Times's Neil Strauss described the track as having "a half-spoken and half-sung arrangement", and likened the chorus to a Burt Bacharach arrangement.[17] Taylor wrote after the opening, "Laundromat" moves into "dreamy vocal layers" and a "slow-grooving, sing-songy chorus".[4] While reviewing the album, Checkoway characterized Nivea's vocals as a "sugary soprano".[15]

Critical reception[]

"Laundromat" received mixed reviews from critics. Tracey Cooper of the Waikato Times praised the song, along with "Don't Mess With My Man" and "What You Waitin' For", for having a "cruisy groove and attitude" that would appeal to "the soul sistas".[20] The Herald Sun's Karen Tye described "Laundromat" as a "blend of silken phrasings and smooth R&B beats".[21] In a People article, Chuck Arnold highlighted the song's humor,[22] and Steve Jones, writing for the Gannett News Service, considered it one of the "clever tracks" in which Nivea "shows her moxie".[23] In 2007, Vibe's Sean Fennessey wrote Nivea "never sounded fresher or sharper" than on "Laundromat".[24]

Although he enjoyed the chorus and verses separately, Neil Strauss said they were incompatible in a single song, and criticized the lyrics as seeming "quickly written and unconvincingly delivered".[17] The Courier-Mail's Emma Chalmers enjoyed the chorus, but wrote that its "musical-style singing conversation doesn't come off overall".[25] A reviewer for Music Week disliked the laundry metaphor and said the song was overshadowed by "Don't Mess With My Man" on the double A-side release.[26] In her negative review of Nivea, the Edmonton Journal's Sandra Sperounes was critical of "Laundromat", writing; "You'll find more soul in a bottle of bath gel".[16]

Kelly was praised by reviewers, several of whom cited his songs as highlights of Nivea.[13][14] Chistie Leo of the New Straits Times said "Laundromat", as well as "Ya Ya Ya", had "catapulted [Nivea] to a promising start".[14] Some retrospective articles remained positive toward Kelly.[19][24] Fennessey included "Laundromat" in his 2007 list of Kelly's essential collaborations; in his entry for the song, he noted Nivea was "another in a long line of young females [he] has err, raised up … with his vocal talent".[24] In a 2013 Fuse article, a reviewer commended Kelly's performance of the chorus, although they were uncertain about using a laundromat as a metaphor.[19] Other critics had more negative responses.[15][16] While panning the choice of collaborators, Laura Checkoway wrote "the banter between barely legal Nivea and Kelly is unsettling".[15] Sperounes viewed Kelly's songs as the worst on Nivea and was critical of the album as a whole.[16]

Commercial performance[]

For the week of March 8, 2003, "Laundromat" peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart.[27][28] On the Billboard Year-End chart, it reached number 92 for the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs category.[29] Music journalists pointed to the single's success to discuss how allegations Kelly had carried out sexual abuse were not damaging his career.[30][31] In a USA Today, Steve Jones reported the song still received "heavy airplay".[30] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Sonia Murray said 14 months after Kelly was alleged to have made child pornography, ten of his songs, including "Laundromat", were on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart.[31] In a 2018 Vibe article, Khaaliq Crowder said Nivea found "modest success" with "Laundromat" and "Don't Mess with the Radio" but identified "Don't Mess With My Man" as her most successful single.[32]

"Laundromat" peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. It was Nivea's second top-40 entry following her 2000 collaboration with Mystikal, "Danger (Been So Long)".[33] "Laundromat" reached number two on the UK Independent Singles Chart and number eight on the UK R&B Singles Chart.[34][35] In Scotland, "Laundromat" peaked at number 89 on its single chart.[36] It reached number 98 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.[37] For these European charts, "Laundromat" charted with "Don't Mess with My Man" as part of its double A-side release.[38]

Solange Knowles cover[]

A photography of Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles (pictured in 2013) performed "Laundromat" at a laundromat.

On July 29, 2013, Solange Knowles performed "Laundromat" at a laundromat in Boerum Hill as part of a series of live concerts called "Uncapped" that was sponsored by Vitaminwater and The Fader. Vitaminwater's brand manager Ben Garnero said the laundromat concert was intended to "take on these iconic, mundane moments and tackle Mondays in New York and these places you never expect to see a show".[39] The event was a part of the company's "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign and was attended by approximately 150 people.[40]

Knowles sang both Nivea's and Kelly's parts while dancing on top of washing machines.[40][41] When discussing her performance with Fuse, she said; "This laundromat has me feeling the drama queen, so excuse my theatrics".[40] For the concert, Knowles was accompanied by a six-person band.[39] She had rehearsed the cover five minutes before the show began.[40] Knowles performed the first 90 seconds of "Laundromat" before moving into Dirty Projectors' 2009 song "Stillness Is the Move".[40] When asked about her song choice, Knowles described "Laundromat" as one of her most-played songs and one she always wanted to cover.[41]

Critics praised Knowles's performance; The Fader's Deidre Dyer and a Fuse writer said she picked the perfect venue for the song.[41][42] The contributor for Fuse said they may have enjoyed it "mostly for the fact it was performed in an actual laundromat".[42] Fuse's Joe Lynch commended the arrangement, saying the band had modified the song for "Solange's casually funky vibe perfectly".[40]

Track listings[]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nivea:[2]

Recording locations[]

  • Recorded and mixed in Rock Land Studios in Chicago

Personnel[]

Charts[]

References[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ a b Hay 2003, p. 14.
  2. ^ a b c d Nivea 2001.
  3. ^ a b c d Nivea 2003, pp. 20–21.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Taylor 2003, p. 31.
  5. ^ Music Week 2003b, p. 27.
  6. ^ Radio & Records 2002, p. 43.
  7. ^ "Laundromat" 2003a; "Laundromat" 2003b; "Laundromat" 2003c; "Laundromat" 2003d; "Laundromat" 2003a
  8. ^ a b Kellman.
  9. ^ WorldCat.
  10. ^ a b "Laundromat" 2003c.
  11. ^ Neal 2006, pp. 278–279.
  12. ^ Farah 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d e Henderson.
  14. ^ a b c Leo 2003, p. 15.
  15. ^ a b c d Checkoway 2003, p. 138.
  16. ^ a b c d Sperounes 2003, p. E3.
  17. ^ a b c Strauss 2003, p. AR25.
  18. ^ a b c d Leight, Spanos & Schteamer 2015.
  19. ^ a b c James 2013.
  20. ^ Cooper 2003, p. 8.
  21. ^ Tye 2003, p. 98.
  22. ^ Arnold 2003, p. 44.
  23. ^ Jones 2002, p. D-4.
  24. ^ a b c Fennessey 2007, p. 87.
  25. ^ Chalmers 2003, p. P07.
  26. ^ Music Week 2003a, p. 7.
  27. ^ a b Billboard A.
  28. ^ a b Billboard B.
  29. ^ a b Billboard C.
  30. ^ a b Jones 2003, p. 9A.
  31. ^ a b Murray 2003, p. D3.
  32. ^ Crowder 2018.
  33. ^ a b Official Charts Company A.
  34. ^ a b Official Charts Company C.
  35. ^ a b Official Charts Company D.
  36. ^ a b Official Charts Company B.
  37. ^ a b Music & Media 2003, p. 12.
  38. ^ Music & Media 2003, p. 12; Official Charts Company A; Official Charts Company B; Official Charts Company C; Official Charts Company D
  39. ^ a b Hampp 2013.
  40. ^ a b c d e f Lynch 2013.
  41. ^ a b c Dyer 2013.
  42. ^ a b Fuse 2013.
  43. ^ "Laundromat" 2003b.
  44. ^ "Laundromat" 2003d.
  45. ^ "Laundromat" 2003a.
  46. ^ "Laundromat" 2003e.

Citations[]

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