Beautiful (Akon song)

"Beautiful"
Single by Akon featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall
from the album Freedom
Released	January 6, 2009
Format	CD single digital download
Recorded	2008
Genre	Electronic, dance-pop
Length	5:12 (album version) 3:51 (radio edit)
Label	Konvict Muzik Universal Motown
Writer(s)	Colby Colón Jason Harrow Aliaune Thiam Jaylien Wesley Giorgio Tuinfort
Producer(s)	Aliaune Thiam Jaylien Wesley
Akon singles chronology
"What's Love" (2008) "Beautiful" (2009) "Day Dreaming" (2009) Colby O'Donis singles chronology "Don't Turn Back" (2008) "Beautiful" (2009) "I Go Crazy" (2009) Kardinal Offishall singles chronology "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (2008) "Beautiful" (2009) "Put Your Drinks Up" (2009)

"Beautiful" is the third single from Akon's third studio album, Freedom. The song features American pop singer, Colby O'Donis and a rap verse from Canadian rapper, Kardinal Offishall. "Beautiful" was released to radio on January 6, 2009.

Cover versions

Several cover versions of the song have been recorded. The most notable version of the song is by Sri-Lankan pop group Gravity, who performed the song live at the 2009 premier music competition "TNL Onstage"", resulting in it soon becoming the most aired track on TNL Radio during the months that followed.^[1] Australian Clare Bowditch also included a cover of the song as a bonus track on her 2010 studio album Modern Day Addiction.

Different versions

The song has also been recorded in three international versions: in Portuguese, with Brazilian singer and actress Negra Li, in Dutch, with Dutch singer Brace, and in Spanish, with Mexican singer/actress/songwriter Dulce María. The rap from the original was removed, and Colby O'Donis' vocals were also removed in favor of the other singers.

The Spanish version was first performed in an event at Mexico, in April 1, 2009. On the next day, it was leaked for airing and on the internet. The Portuguese version was leaked two days before.

The music videos in Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish were released at YouTube on June 2, 8 and 9, respectively.

On the Australian compilation album So Fresh Summer 2010 only, a version features a singing verse sung by Hayley Williams of Paramore replaced Kardinal Offishall's rapping lines.

Track listing

UK and Europe CD single^[2]

1. "Beautiful" (featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall) - 5:13
2. "I'm So Paid" (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy) - 4:29

Brazil CD single^[3]

1. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) - 4:07
2. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) [Dance Mix] - 4:01

Mexico CD single^[4]

1. "Beautiful" (featuring Dulce Maria) - 4:06

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[5]	14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6]	38
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7]	16
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[8]	18
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[9]	29
Germany (Official German Charts)[10]	34
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[11]	2
Ireland (IRMA)[12]	13
Israel (Media Forest)[13]	7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14]	24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15]	13
Norway (VG-lista)[16]	16
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[17]	22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18]	28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19]	34
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20]	8
US Billboard Hot 100[21]	19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[22]	11
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23]	61
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24]	5

Certifications

Country	Certification (sales thresholds)
United States	2x Platinum[25]
Australia	Platinum[26]

Year-end charts

End of year chart (2009)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	65[27]
Hungarian Singles Chart[28]	11
New Zealand Singles Chart[29]	46
UK Singles Chart[30]	49
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	54[31]

References

1. "Gravity". Facebook. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
2. "Akon Featuring Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis - Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
3. "Akon featuring Negra Li – Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
4. "Akon featuring Dulce María – Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
5. "Australian-charts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
6. "Ultratop.be – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Akon – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Akon.
8. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200915 into search.
9. "Akon – Chart history" European Hot 100 for Akon.
10. "Kardinal Offishall/?type=single Musicline.de – Akon Feat.O'Donis,Colby/ Kardinal Offishall Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
11. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
12. "Chart Track: Week 12, 2009". Irish Singles Chart.
13. "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall and Colby O'Donis – Beautiful Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
15. "Charts.org.nz – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Top 40 Singles.
16. "Norwegiancharts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". VG-lista.
17. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200909 into search.
18. "Swedishcharts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Singles Top 100.
19. "Swisscharts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Swiss Singles Chart.
20. "Akon: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
21. "Akon – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Akon.
22. "Akon – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Akon.
23. "Akon – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Akon.
24. "Akon – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Akon.
25. "Gold & Platinum - February 22, 2011". RIAA. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
26. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
27. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
28. "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz.
29. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
30. "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
31. "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics