International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)

Infobox Single
Name = International Players Anthem (I Choose You)


Artist = UGK featuring OutKast
from Album = UGK (Underground Kingz)
Released = 2007
Format = CD
Recorded = 2006
Genre = Southern Rap
Length = 4:25
Label = Zomba Music Group
Writer = Bun B, Pimp C, Andre 3000, Big Boi
Producer = DJ Paul & Juicy J
Chronology = UGK singles
Last single = "The Game Belongs To Me"
(2006)
This single = "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)"
(2007)
Next single =

"International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" is a single by UGK on their album UGK (Underground Kingz), featuring OutKast.

Background

The beat was produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia, and utilizes a sample of "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch. It was originally a song called Player's Anthem and featured Three 6 Mafia, though it was later remixed into Int'l Player's Anthem. As well as that, the song was originally used on a song by Project Pat, "Choose U"; from his album, Layin' da Smack Down. The sample was also used in Rap's A Hustle by Cormega on his album The Realness (released July 24, 2001).

The video was awarded Video of the year at the 2007 annual BET Hip-Hop awards and again at the 2008 annual BET Awards.

The song has been nominated for a Grammy.

This song was #10 on "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. [No byline (December 11, 2007). [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601851/the_top_50_albums_of_2007/3 "The 100 Best Songs of 2007"] "Rolling Stone". Retrieved 2007-12-21]

The song hit #70 on the Billboard Hot 100, [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3085952&cdi=9368030&cid=09%2F01%2F2007 Top Music Charts - Hot 100 - Billboard 200 - Music Genre Sales ] ] making it their first song to chart there.

Video

The music video is centered around the fictional wedding of Andre 3000, progressing through the men's waiting room before the ceremony, the wedding itself, the reception, and the afterparty dance.The video Premiered on MTV Jams on June 4, 2007Before the wedding ceremony, Bun B and friends ridicule Andre for supposedly rushing into getting married, and poke fun at him for wearing a red kilt ("I've got Scottish in my family," Andre calmly states). DJ Paul humorously says that it makes him look like Roddy Piper of WWE. Andre defends his decision to get married, saying that he is ready to take the next step in life, and in turn berates his friends for not looking to get into commitments themselves.

During the wedding, Andre constantly flirts with members of the bridal party, as well as past flings who are scattered throughout the congregation. Interestingly, the audience remains seated as the bride (played by actress Salina Soto (CSI:NY, Forbidden) marches to the altar, a boy plays with an oversize toy spaceship, and one of Andre's past flings makes a side remark to him (the verse that is being rapped), to the dismay of her date. A choir and its director, T-Pain,sing the "I Choose You" vocals as the wedding progresses, while the groomsmen and other friends implore Andre to "keep your heart, 3 stacks!"

Later at the afterparty, two of Andre's past flings get into an argument while attempting to catch the bride's bouquet, which escalates into a full-blown fist fight that destroys the wedding cake and much of the buffet. The male onlookers are pleasantly shocked, the bride is almost reduced to tears, but the rest of the main characters (including the bride) all smile at the end, apparently having a good time.

At the BET Hip Hop Awards in October, 'Int'l Player's Anthem,' was nominated for top Hip Hop Video and won Best Collaboration.

The video features cameos by Bishop Don "Magic" Juan, DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia, Chamillionaire, T-Pain, Fonzworth Bentley, David Banner, Kardinal Offishall, Katt Williams, Big Gipp, Alex Thomas, along with actor Lukas Haas. [ [http://videos.onsmash.com/v/aajVLX2ISEbRAChf UGK & Outkast - Int'l Player's Anthem (Extended Cut) ] ] .This became the last video appearance of Pimp C before his death in December 4, 2007 .

At the 2007 BET Hip Hop Awards, Kanye West won the Best Hip Hop Video award but felt this video deserved it more. He called Big Boi during his acceptance speech, who felt Kanye deserved it.

Remix

The official remix features Three 6 Mafia.

Chamillionaire recently used the instrumental for the track for a freestyle titled "Ima Playa Fasho" from his latest mixtape Mixtape Messiah 3.
Crooked I also used this beat on week 13 in his "Hip-Hop Weekly" series.The song is also used as the first and last sample on Girl Talk's 2008 album, Feed the Animals.

References

External links

*youtube|vLAFoFdM1ws|Music video for "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)"