Give It to Me (Timbaland song)

"Give It to Me"
Song

"Give It to Me" is a song recorded by Timbaland, with featured artists Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, for Timbaland's second solo album, Shock Value (2007). It was released as the album's first single (see 2007 in music). According to Media Traffic, it is the eleventh most successful single of 2007 on the United World Chart. The song has been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

History

This single was originaly titled "Crowd Control". "Give It to Me" features Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland. Each of the three featured artists has a single verse in the song separated by the chorus, which is sung by Furtado. A line in Furtado's verse is about pop singer Fergie's appearance and comment that she is not "promiscuous" in her 2006 single "Fergalicious". Furtado said on Big Boy's Neighborhood (Power 106 FM) that a couple of lines of "Give It to Me" are directed at Fergie and explained why she wrote those lines.

In an interview with MTV, Timbaland said the target of his verse was producer Scott Storch, with whom he co-wrote Timberlake's 2002 single "Cry Me a River". Though production on the song is credited solely to Timbaland, Storch has claimed that he helped produce it and did not receive due credit. On February 27, in response to the song, Scott Storch released a diss towards Timbaland, "Built Like That" featuring Nox.

It is rumored Timberlake's verse is aimed at pop artist Prince. Prince reportedly started a feud during an Emmy after-party, claiming that "For whoever is claiming that they are bringing sexy back, sexy never left!", which caused Timberlake's response. When the song was released, it was rumored that Timberlake's verse was aimed at pop singer Janet Jackson, but this rumor was denied by MTV News, which wrote, "A source close to the record said that Timberlake's lyrics have nothing to do with his infamous Super Bowl co-star—but he is responding to another pop artist who has seen career heights few other singers can boast." One suggested target of the diss is the R&B star, Usher, who Timberlake has had a rivalry with in the past.

The song officially premiered on 102.7 KIIS-FM in Los Angeles on January 16, 2007, when Timbaland made an appearance on the On Air with Ryan Seacrest morning show. The single was released on U.S. radio on January 25. Radio play in major markets such as Phoenix, Dallas, and Boston started earlier.

A remix of "Give It to Me", titled "Laugh at 'Em (Give It to Me)", was leaked on April 16. The remix features Jay-Z, who was originally supposed to be featured on Shock Value but did not finish his part in time, and Justin Timberlake. It uses a different Timbaland beat. On May 15, it was released as a digital download. There is also a remix featuring Ja Rule. It is the same song as the original version, but Rule begins the same with his verse. Since July 2008, Furtado has been performing the song with the chorus of Madonna's "Give It 2 Me" tacked on to the ending of the song, which incidentally is taken from the Timbaland and Justin Timberlake-produced album Hard Candy (although "Give It 2 Me" itself is produced by Pharrell).

Chart performance

The song debuted at number eighty-seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 2007, coincidentally, it was the week when Furtado's Say It Right took over the top spot. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April—when it rose to that position from number forty-two in one week, making it the third biggest rise to number one in the chart's history—because of sales of 248,000 digital downloads. It became Timbaland's first number-one on his own, Furtado's third and Timberlake's fourth consecutive. It is the sixth number-one produced by Timbaland & Danjahandz in under twelve months; others include "SexyBack", "My Love", and "What Goes Around...Comes Around" by Timberlake and "Promiscuous" and "Say It Right" by Furtado. The single also peaked at number one on the Billboard Pop 100.

On the UK Singles Chart, "Give It to Me" debuted at number eight and rose to number one the following week, with sales of 27,760 that week. On the United World Chart, it debuted at number forty, and in its third week, it rose from twenty-seven to number three.

Music video

File:GiveItToMeTimbaland.jpg

Timbaland in the music video for "Give It to Me"

On February 26, the music video for "Give It to Me" was premiered on MTV's Total Request Live. It shows Timbaland, Furtado, and Timberlake performing the song at the 2007 Grammy Awards pre-show concert, and is intercut with footage from a studio recording session and from inside Timbaland's tour bus. The clip also shows Furtado singing on a balcony. The video was directed by Paul "Coy" Allen & Timbaland and appeared at number ninety-eight on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2007 countdown.

Format and track listing

U.S. 12" vinyl

1. "Give It to Me" (radio edit) – 3:33
2. "Give It to Me" (album version) – 3:58
3. "Give It to Me" (instrumental) – 3:57

Australian CD single

1. "Give It to Me" (radio edit) – 3:33
2. "Give It to Me" (instrumental) – 3:58
3. "Come Around" (featuring M.I.A.) – 3:57
4. "Give It to Me" (music video) – 3:58

Remixes

• Give It To Me (Roberto Bedross Club Mix) 6:14
• Give It To Me (Kelly Houston Remix Part 1) 6:37
• Give It To Me (Kelly Houston Remix Part 2)
• Give It To Me (Samuel Remix) 4:06
• Give It To Me (HitMixers Remix) 5:17
• Give It To Me (Therapy Electronic Session) 7:41
• Give It To Me (E-Thunder Hard & Nervous Gay Pride Mix) 8:29
• Give It To Me (DJ VNO Private Club Mix) 6:45
• Give It To Me (Ranny's Big Room Mix) 7:08
• Give It To Me (Jones & Joey C. Vibelicious Club Mix) 9:02
• Give It To Me (Arcadious & Groove Dee House Remix) 6:37
• Give It To Me (Patrick Vee Remix) 4:28
• Give It To Me (Midas Touch Remix) 4:15
• Give It To Me (Blake Accurate Remix) 4:12
• Give It To Me (Blaster Project Dance Mix) 4:46
• Give It To Me (DJ Ohma Remix) 6:05
• Give It To Me (D.R Remix) 3:22
• Give It To Me (Sta Remix) 6:18
• Give It To Me (Jeremy Word Mix) 7:03
• Give It To Me (DJ LGV House Remix 2007) 5:52
• Give It To Me (Luminfire's Orinoco Mix 'n' Mash) 4:05
• Give It To Me (Bert's Piano Man Vocal Mix)
• Give It To Me (Bert's Piano Man Dub)
• Give It To Me (Bert's Piano Man Radio Mix) 3:45
• Give It To Me (Amnesty International Remix)
• Give It To Me (Sonic Electro Mix)
• Give It To Me (Sam998899's Club Mix)
• Give It To Me (Sam998899's Radio Mix)
• Give It To Me (Tyler Nelson Dark Anthem Mix)
• Give It To Me (Benevolent 12 Inch Remix)
• Give It To Me (Benevolent Radio Remix)
• Give It To Me (Aetomos Remix)
• Give It To Me (Funked Off DJ's Mix)
• Give It To Me (Dave Aude Club Mix)
• Give It To Me (DJ'Bass Remix)
• Give It To Me (DJ Much Glamour Remix)
• Give It To Me (Pretty Lights Remix)

Chart positions

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	16
Austria Top 75 Singles	3
Belgium Singles Top 50	4
Bulgarian National Top 40	1
Brazil Hot 100 Singles	4
Canadian Hot 100	1
Chile Top 100 Dance Club Mix	6
Czech IFPI Chart	4
Denmark Airplay Chart	2
Dutch Top 40	7
European Singles Chart	2
Indonesian Single Top	5
Ireland Singles Chart	2
Israel Singles Chart	2
Italy Singles Chart	8
Finland Top 20 Singles	6
France Singles Chart	7
Germany Single Chart	3
Latvia Airplay Chart	1
New Zealand Singles Chart	2
Norway Singles Chart	4
Polish National Top 50	1
Portugal Singles Chart	3
Romanian Singles Chart	2
Russian Airplay Chart	5
South Africa	1
Sweden Singles Chart	21
Switzerland Singles Chart	6
Turkish Top 20 Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	1
United World Chart	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100	1