Hey Mama (David Guetta song)

"Hey Mama"
Single by David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack
from the album Listen
Released	16 March 2015
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2014
Genre	Electro house trap
Length	3:12
Label	Parlophone Atlantic
Writer(s)	David Guetta Bebe Rexha Ester Dean Sean Douglas Giorgio Tuinfort Onika Maraj Nick van de Wall
Producer(s)	David Guetta Afrojack Giorgio Tuinfort
David Guetta singles chronology
"What I Did for Love" (2015) "Hey Mama" (2015) "Sun Goes Down" (2015)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology "Truffle Butter" (2015) "Hey Mama" (2015) "The Night Is Still Young" (2015) Bebe Rexha singles chronology "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" (2014) "Hey Mama" (2015) "All the Way"(2015) Afrojack singles chronology "Turn Up the Speakers" (2014) "Hey Mama" (2015) "SummerThing!" (2015)

"Hey Mama" is a song by French DJ and record producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from Trinidadian-American singer and rapper Nicki Minaj and Albanian-American singer Bebe Rexha, as well as production from Dutch DJ and record producer Afrojack. The song was released on 16 March 2015 as the fourth single from Guetta's sixth studio album, Listen (2014).

Background and composition

The artists co-wrote the song with Ester Dean, Sean Douglas, and Giorgio Tuinfort; the latter co-produced it with Guetta and Afrojack. The intro and post-chorus features a prominent sample from "Rosie", an Alan Lomax recording from the 1940s.^[1]

Rexha explained to Billboard why she wasn't initially credited as a featured artist on the track: "We talked about it - I actually emailed Guetta about it. I really wanted to be featured on it, because, you know, I've been signed and dropped, and now signed a second time, so it's been hard. What ended up happening was that it looked like a lot of names on the title, so they wanted to keep as many low features as possible. That's what I was told, and it makes sense to me. I guess more than two [featured] names doesn't look good on the radio. It's tough hearing your voice on the radio, on a chorus, and knowing that people think it's another artist."^[2] As of June 2015, Rexha is officially credited in all instances of the song's mention.^[3]

"Hey Mama" is the third collaboration between Guetta and Minaj, following Nothing but the Beat singles "Where Them Girls At" (which features Minaj and Flo Rida) (2011) and the double-platinum "Turn Me On" (2011).

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Hey Mama" is written in the key of E minor with a tempo of 86 beats per minute. The vocals in the song span from A₃ to E₅.^[4]

Critical reception

"Hey Mama" was well received by the critics, with many praising the discothèque nature of the song. Bianca Gracie of Idolator described it as "a crazed electro-house/trap sound", noting Minaj's "rap flow into a island-tinged romp."^[5] It was described by Direct Lyrics as an "intelligently-produced radio-friendly EDM-island sound", whilst Richard Baxter of Popology Now complimented the track's electronic styles, describing Bebe Rexha as the "star" of "Hey Mama" with her "hook heavy chorus".^[6]

Several music companies and reviewers chose "Hey Mama" as the highlight of the album, with Billboard describing it as a "bombastic island-flavored jam"^[7][8] and the Associated Press stating Minaj and Afrojack had produced "a startling R&B bump and funk gem."^[7] Minaj, in particular, received positive reviews for her vocals, with Newsday calling the track Minaj's "most undeniable hit" since her song "Super Bass",^[9] and The Guardian describing Minaj's vocals as a highlight from the album.^[10]

The song's lyrics, on the other hand, have been subject to criticism from feminist media, with many of them calling the lyrics sexist.^{[11][12][13][14]} Katie Barnes of Feministing described the song's second verse ("Yes I do the cooking/ Yes I do the cleaning/ Plus I keep the na-na real sweet for your eating/ Yes you be the boss and yes I be respecting / Whatever that you tell me cause it's game you be spitting") as "pretty terrible," stating that, "It doesn’t matter if the verse is accompanied by a bumpin’ beat, the lyrics still present a retro ideal of what a woman should be and how she should treat her man."^[13] Katherine Burks of The Lala called the lyrics "horribly misogynistic bullshit."^[12] Alex Kritselis of Bustle found the lyrics "seriously groan-inducing," noting that "the whole 'I'll do whatever you want, whenever you want' vibe" made him "more than a little uneasy."^[15]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number eight on the Hot 100, becoming Guetta's sixth top 10 in the US, also making Minaj's 12, Afrojack's second since Pitbull's "Give Me Everything", and Rexha's first as singer but 2nd as writer after the no. 1 Hot 100 Hit The Monster by Eminem featuring Rihanna. It spent six weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Hey Mama" spent five weeks within the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. The song peaked at 10 and remained there for 4 weeks until it rose and peaked at nine. It peaked at number two in the UK R&B Chart.

Music video

The official video (directed by Hannah Lux Davis) was released on May 19, 2015. The video begins with Guetta walking through a desert with a group of people to find a machine inside the box. Scenes of a holographic Minaj intercut the video while other scenes include other people being shrouded in curtains and dancing while during the chorus, Guetta and the others are seen driving in their vehicles through the desert.. During the chorus and bridge, everyone goes crazy while Minaj raps. The video ends with a video of a couple of sharks swimming around the underwater in the picture and to where the people dive through a neon heart light. The video ends with Guetta standing in the desert.^[16] Rexha and Afrojack also appear in the video. Some people related the video to Mad Max: Fury Road, which came out around the time the video was released.

As of November 2016, the video has received over 920 million views.^[17]

Live performances

On 17 May 2015, Guetta and Minaj performed the song for the first on 2015 Billboard Music Awards along with "The Night Is Still Young".^[18] On 30 May 2015, Minaj and Rexha also performed the song together for the first time on the iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party 2015 in Las Vegas, joined by Guetta on stage.^[19]

Track listing

• Digital download (Afrojack remix)^[20]

1. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack) (Afrojack Remix) – 3:17

• Remixes EP^[21][22]

1. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (Afrojack Remix) – 3:17
2. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (GLOWINTHEDARK Remix) – 4:15
3. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (Noodles remix) – 5:02
4. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (Modern Machines Remix) – 4:11
5. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (DJ LBR Remix) – 3:23
6. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (Club Killers Remix) – 4:01
7. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (Extended Remix) – 4:42
8. "Hey Mama" (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack) (Davoodi Remix) – 2:53

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[23] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[24] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[26] 9 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 9 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[28] 31 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] 4 Denmark (Tracklisten)[30] 13 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 6 France (SNEP)[32] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 9 Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[34] 1 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[35] 3 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[36] 5 Hungary (Single Top 40)[37] 8 Ireland (IRMA)[38] 5 Israel (Media Forest)[39] 3 Italy (FIMI)[40] 13 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[41] 82 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[42] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[43] 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[46] 13 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[47] 8 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[48] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[49] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[50] 10 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[51] 9 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[52] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[53] 8 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[54] 1 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[55] 34 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[56] 30 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[57] 2 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[58] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Rank Australia (ARIA)[59] 47 Germany (Official German Charts)[60] 34 Israel (Media Forest)[61] 27 Italy (FIMI)[62] 37 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[63] 34 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[64] 54 US Billboard Hot 100[65] 31 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[66] 39 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Australia (ARIA)[67] Platinum 70,000^^ Austria (IFPI Austria)[68] Gold 15,000^* Belgium (BEA)[69] 2× Platinum 60,000^* Canada (Music Canada)[70] 2× Platinum 160,000^^ Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[71] Platinum 60,000^^ Germany (BVMI)[72] Platinum 400,000^^ Italy (FIMI)[73] 2× Platinum 100,000 New Zealand (RMNZ)[74] Platinum 15,000^* Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75] Gold 20,000^^ Sweden (GLF)[76] 2× Platinum 80,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[77] Gold 400,000 United States (RIAA)[78] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Worldwide[20]	16 March 2015	Digital download	What A Music
United States[79]	17 March 2015	Mainstream radio	Atlantic Parlophone
United Kingdom[80]	4 May 2015		Parlophone
France[21]		Digital download
Germany[22]	5 June 2015	CD single

Awards

"Hey Mama" has received three nominations: Best Collaboration at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards,^[81] Song of Summer at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards,^[82] and Best Collaboration at the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards.^[83]

References

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