4 Minutes (Madonna song)

Infobox Single |
Name = 4 Minutes


Artist = Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland [cite album-notes |title = Hard Candy |albumlink = Hard Candy (Madonna album) |bandname = |publisherid = |location = |mbid = cd2c4216-f748-4199-b675-cf7f977abcd4]
Album = Hard Candy
B-side = Ring My Bell (Non-LP Track) / US 7" white vinyl
Published =
Released = Start date|2008|03|17
(see release history)
track_no =
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Dance-pop, R&B, alternative hip hop, urban
Length = 4:04 (album version)
3:10 (radio edit)
Writer = Madonna, Nate "Danja" Hills, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, Justin Timberlake
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = Timbaland, Danja, Justin Timberlake
Certification = (see worldwide sales)
Chronology = Madonna singles
Last single = "Hey You" (2007)
This single = "4 Minutes" (2008)
Next single = "Give It 2 Me" (2008)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Justin Timberlake singles
Type = singles
Last single = "Release"
(2008)
This single = "4 Minutes" (2008)
Next single =Extra chronology 2
Artist = Timbaland singles
Type = singles
Last single = "Elevator" (2008)
This single = "4 Minutes" (2008)
Next single = "Dangerous" (2008)

"4 Minutes" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her eleventh studio album "Hard Candy". It was released as the lead single from the album on March 17, 2008 by Warner Bros. Records and features American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake and Timbaland who also co-wrote and produced the song. It was mixed by Demacio Castellon. [ cite web | url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul08/articles/it_demo.htm | title=Secrets of the Mix Engineers: Demo Castellon | publisher=Sound on Sound magazine | author=Paul Tingen | date=July 2008 ] The single scored Madonna her 37th "Billboard" Hot 100 Top 10 hit, making her the artist with the most Top 10 hits in the history of the chart, surpassing Elvis Presley. [ cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003784083 | title=Mariah, Madonna Make Billboard Chart History | publisher=Billboard | date=2008-04-02 | accessdate=2008-04-04 ] In the UK, she retained her record for the most number one singles for a female artist, this being her 13th. [ cite web | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3789058.ece | title=Madonna goes to No. 1 for the 13th time | publisher=The Times | author=Veronica Schmidt | date=2008-04-21 | accessdate=2008-04-21 ] The video has been one of the most watched videos on YouTube in 2008, and the most watched video of Madonna's career, with over 50 million views in just 6 months, as of October 8th, 2008. [watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfUjfioAnKY]

ong information

The song is sometimes referred to as "4 Minutes to Save the World", including by Madonna herself. [ cite web | url=http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24657&iframe=roo&channel=GMTV%20Highlights&clipid=1441_gmtv_1732 | title=Latest Clips - Madonna Exclusive | publisher=GM.tv | date=2008-04-04 | accessdate=2008-04-08 ] The song received its first airing when co-producer Timbaland played part of the song at a concert on December 16, 2007 in Philadelphia. cite web | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/02/15/madonnas-new-album-and-video-exclusive-rolling-stone-preview/ | title=Madonna's new album and video | publisher=Rolling Stone | date=2008-02-15 | accessdate=2008-04-04 ] After brief appearances on YouTube and Perez Hilton, Warner Bros. quickly got the clips removed for copyright infringement. [ cite web | url=http://www.drownedmadonna.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19382| title=Warner Bros. Orders Removal Of "4 Minutes To Save The World" From Websites | publisher=Drowned Madonna | date=2007-12-17 | accessdate=2008-04-17 ] Additionally, part of the song was played on a French radio station on February 29, 2008, later leaking online as a radio rip from the broadcast. [ cite web | url=http://www.accuracast.com/search-daily-news/blogs-7471/warner-youtube-dailymotion-scramble-to-pull-madonna-track/ | title=Warner Music, YouTube Scramble To Pull Madonna Track | publisher=AccuraCast.com | date=2008-03-03 | accessdate=2008-04-04]

Despite the title, the song lasts slightly more than four minutes while the radio version lasts around 3 minutes.

The single officially debuted on radio on March 17, 2008, and was released digitally in the UK on the same day. It was released digitally worldwide (except USA) on March 18, 2008 and in the US on March 25, 2008. Fact|date=March 2008 The song was also used for a television advertisement for Sunsilk that began to air on March 17. [ cite web | url=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080314/aqf508.html?.v=2 | title=Madonna's New Single '4 Minutes' to Debut in New Sunsilk(R) Ad | publisher=Yahoo.biz | date=2008-03-14 | accessdate=2008-03-14 ] The song was also included in the 2008 film Get Smart as well as being used in the end credits (and here is where the "4 Minutes to Save the World" title comes into play: in the film, the song is used to relay a message to Maxwell Smart about a bomb that's about to detonate in the Walt Disney Concert Hall). The Music Video has been viewed over 50 million times as of October 8th, 2008. [watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfUjfioAnKY]

The song was performed during the Hard Candy Promo Tour and the Sticky & Sweet World Tour.

Reception

The "Rolling Stone" magazine described the song as having "a marching band aesthetic as blasting brass play a scale-like riff", and called the song "a loud, busy, energetic track." "Billboard" magazine reviewer and editor Chuck Taylor said that with the song Madonna "is poised to score her first top 10 hit since 2005's 'Hung Up.' ... There's an awful lot going on in the busy dance track ... but the trade-off chorus between Madge and Justin ... is hooky enough unto itself to sell the song." [ cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3ie4bd24ee9875ae5648800d6508cece71 | title=4 Minutes | publisher=Billboard.com | author=Chuck Taylor | date=2008-03-29 | accessdate=2008-04-14 ] BBC Music described "4 Minutes" as sounding "so futuristic it could realistically have been beamed in from the end of the world." [ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7336448.stm | title=Review: Madonna's Hard Candy | publisher=BBC Music | author=Mark Savage | date=2008-04-08 | accessdate=2008-04-14 ] "4 Minutes" was called one of "Hard Candy"'s saviors by "The Independent", who noted that "the Mardi Gras marching-band bumping rumbustiously along" is one of the album's "most ambitious offerings." [ cite web | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-madonna-hard-candy-warner-brothers-807609.html | title=Album: Madonna, Hard Candy (Warner Brothers) | publisher=The Independent | author=Andy Gill | date=2008-04-11 | accessdate=2008-04-14 ] Heidi Kotanski of "Common Sense Media" wrote, "While the afrobeat horn breaks drive the energy of the single, Madonna takes back stage to Timberlake's best impersonation of Michael Jackson and the overpowering erratic electronic sounds signature of Timbaland's production." [ [http://www.commonsensemedia.org/music-reviews/4-Minutes-to-Save.html "4 Minutes to Save the World" (CD single)] Common Sense Media] Chris Sosa of "Musicouch" described the song as "big, loud, and borderline obnoxious" but still mainting a "summer-anthem quality". [ [http://www.musicouch.com/Genres/Pop/Four-Minutes-Madonna.126262 4 Minutes: Madonna ] ]

Radio success

The single broke a record in Canada when it debuted at number one on the Canadian CHR Audience chart. This was the first time any single debuted at the top of the chart. The song entered Canada's CHR Spin's Chart at number 5, the second song to debut within the Top 10. This song also entered Canada's All Format Audience chart at number 2, the highest debut ever on the chart. [ cite web | url=http://www.drownedmadonna.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=20713 | title=Madonna sets Radio Record in Canada!!! | publisher=DrownedMadonna.com | date=2008-03-26 | accessdate=2008-04-04 ]

"4 Minutes" debuted at number twenty-three on United States' CHR/Top 40 National Airplay radio chart. It was also that chart's most added song of the week, with over seventy new stations. cite web | url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/formats/charts/pop_chart.asp | title= ®R&R CHR/Top 40 National Airplay | publisher=Radio & Records | date=2008-04-04 | accessdate=2008-04-04 ] "4 Minutes" debuted at number eighteen on the Radio & Records Pop Chart on March 26, 2008.

Chart performance

"4 Minutes" has topped the charts in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom and reached the Top 5 in Austria, France, Japan, Russia, Sweden and the United States, becoming Madonna's first chart-topper single in two years since "Sorry" and one of her most successful releases in her career.

"4 Minutes" has also become a success in Oceania. "4 Minutes" made its debut at number-three on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and ascended to its peak at number-one two weeks later, where it spent three consecutive weeks. [ [http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna+%26+Justin&titel=4+Minutes&cat=s australian-charts.com - Madonna & Justin - 4 Minutes ] ] "4 Minutes" has since been certified Platinum by ARIA for sales in excess of 70,000 copies. [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Singles.htm http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Singles.htm ] ] In New Zealand "4 Minutes" made its debut at number-fifteen on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart, and ascended into the top ten in its third week on the chart. "4 Minutes" eventually reached its peak at number-three in its fifth week. [ [http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna+%26+Justin&titel=4+Minutes&cat=s charts.org.nz - Madonna & Justin - 4 Minutes ] ] "4 Minutes" is certified Gold by RIANZ for sales in excess of 7,500 copies.

"4 Minutes" Madonna's 61st UK hit single made its debut on the Official UK Singles Chart at number-seven on March 23, 2008 based on download sales alone. [cite web |title=Estelle ends Duffy's U.K. chart dominance |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003729471 |publisher=Billboard.com |author=Paul Sexton |date=2008-03-24 |accessdate=2008-04-21] On April 20, 2008, 5 weeks after release it finally made No.1, "4 Minutes" became Madonna's record-breaking 13th number one single, and spent four consecutive weeks at number-one. To date, "4 Minutes" has sold 411,060+ downloads/singles in the UK and is so far the 5th best selling single in the UK of 2008. "4 Minutes" is also her most successful single in the US to date. [cite web |title=Madonna goes to No. 1 for the 13th time |author=Veronica Schmidt |publisher=The Times |date=2008-04-21 |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3789058.ece |accessdate=2008-04-21]

"4 Minutes" became Madonna's first Top 10 hit on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 since "Hung Up" in 2005 and her highest-charting U.S. single since "Music" in 2000. With the song Madonna scored her 37th "Billboard" Hot 100 Top 10 hit, making her the artist with the most Top 10 hits in the history of the chart, surpassing Elvis Presley. [cite web |title=Mariah, Madonna Make Billboard Chart History |publisher=Billboard |date=2008-04-02 |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003784083 |accessdate=2008-04-04] Based on its first week of airplay, the song made its debut on the U.S. Mediabase Top 40/Pop Airplay Chart at number 23 with an airplay bullet of over 2000. [cite web |title=Top 40 |work=Mediabase 24/7 - 7 Day Charts |publisher=Mediabase/Premiere Radio Networks |url= http://www.mmr247.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Charts.asp?format=h1R&showtopn=2000&cutoff=0&showyear=y&dpt=n |accessdate=2008-04-04] The single jumped from number 68 to number three on the "Billboard" Hot 100, spurred by digital download sales. The song sold 217,000 in its first week of wide release and entered the Hot Digital Songs chart at number two. The single has reached number one on both Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks. It has sold over 2,000,000 downloads in only a few weeks, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on June 12, 2008. It is Madonna's first Platinum single since Hung Up. [ [http://blog.divareport.com/2008/04/madonna-back-at-1.html All the latest news on your favorite Divas! DivaReport.com: Madonna back at # 1 ] ] In July of 2008, it reached double platinum status in the US. Her last single to reach double platinum status was Vogue. [ [http://www.mad-eyes.net/disco/hard-candy/charts/chart-news.htm Hard Candy, 4 Minutes, Give It 2 Me - Mad-Eyes - Madonna chart news ] ] [ [http://madonnalicious.typepad.com/madonnalicious/2008/07/4-minutes-passe.html#comments madonnalicious: 4 Minutes passes the 2 million mark ] ] In Spain, the single was certified 3x Platinum for more than 60,000 downloads. [cite web |title=SEMANA 26: del 23 al 29 de junio de 2008 |work=LISTA DE DESCARGAS DE CANCIONES |publisher=PROMUSICAE |language=Spanish |date=2008-07-02 |url=http://promusicae.es/listastonos/listas/Top%2020%20Week%202608.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-07-06 ]

Music video

The music video was filmed in four days at Black Island Studios in London: January 30, 2008 with Timbaland and from January 31 to February 2, 2008 with Madonna and Timberlake, directed by French duo Jonas & François (Justice's "D.A.N.C.E."), [ cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580723/20080131/madonna.jhtml | title=Madonna Sings 'Happy Birthday' To Justin Timberlake | publisher=MTV News | date=2008-01-31 | accessdate=2008-04-08 ] with choreography by Jamie King.

The music video begins with Timbaland performing his opening lines, in front of a screen showing exactly four minutes in the format of minutes:seconds:frames (SMPTE). A black graphic line seems to destroy his speaker equipment, turning the vibrating part to dust, and liquefying the volume knob. After some brief scenes of Madonna and Timberlake standing faced back to the camera, it shows Madonna leaning on car while pushing it back into a house where Timberlake and Madonna both sing while removing a piece of clothing as the black graphic line that supposedly has 'got' Timbaland follows them both, the people living in the house seem oblivious to the black crystalline background as it turns their skin and part of their flesh transparent. Madonna and Timberlake then jump out the window (the fact that the house is just a set is not hidden as the other side of the window is shown to be a set) and end up in car junk yard where they begin to dance and evade the black shapes at the same time, as a dancing duo stand on top of a car (Japanese hip-hop dancing duo "Hamutsun Serve" [Hamutsun Serve video can be viewed here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yY5et2t2dn4] ). Their fate is unknown, but supposedly they are eaten away by the black background as well. After this they both run into a supermarket while the same black background follows them, Madonna and Timberlake begin singing in the aisle of the supermarket while shoppers carry on as normal. Madonna and Timberlake move on to start dancing on the conveyor belt at the checkouts. Madonna is then seen (legs only) walking through an office building while the black background stalks her. They then run into a bathroom and remove another piece of clothing while the black background follows outside, they then run out of the bathroom and appear to walk in to the same room Timbaland was seen in before, they immediately start performing choreography in front of the screen, now counting down from four minutes. They continually dance and remove a final piece of clothing from each other as the black background comes at them from both sides. The video ends with the black background finally catching up to them while they stop dancing and move closer to each other, as it starts to turn their skin and flesh transparent, Timberlake's chest disappearing to reveal his ribcage, and the right of Madonna's jaw disappearing.

The music video was released in some countries on iTunes Store on April 3, 2008. It also made a television premiere on MuchMusic at midnight on April 6, 2008 and on MTV's TRL on April 7, 2008.

The video has been nominated for a VMA at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards in the "Best Dancing In A Video" category

As of September 12, 2008, the video is the 14th most watched music video by an artist on YouTube. [ [http://www.youtube.com/browse?s=mp&t=a&c=10&l=&b=0 YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ]

*Directors: Jonas & François
*Producer: Greg Panteix
*Director of Photography: Dan Landin
*Editor: Danny Tull
*Production Company: 75

Track listings and formats

4 Minutes was released in a staggering amount of formats, and unusually, each format was accorded a separate release date. In the UK, almost two months separated the release of the song as a download and the final format release of a 12" picture disc. [ [http://www.thepopnet.com/page8.htm Pop! Net - Australian Charts ] ] ;UK CD 1
(slimline jewelcase)(2-471292 0-5439-19939-5-3)
#"4 Minutes" (Album Version) — 4:04
#"4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Remix) — 5:39

;UK / AUS CD Single
(slimline jewelcase)
#"4 Minutes" (Album Version) — 4:04
#"4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Remix) — 5:39
#"4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Remix) — 6:16

;UK 12" Vinyl
(Picture Disc)(0-9362-49860-1-0)
*A1. "4 Minutes" (Radio Edit) — 3:10
*A2. "4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Edit) — 4:57
*B1. "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Remix Edit) — 4:39
*B2. "4 Minutes" (Tracy Young House Radio) — 3:33

;International CD Single
(cardsleeve)(2-471356 0-5439-19939-4-6)
#"4 Minutes" (Album Version) — 4:04
#"4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Remix) — 5:39

;US 7 TRACK PROMOTIONAL CD
#"4 Minutes" Same 6 tracks as US Maxi-Single but includes the otherwise unavailable (Tracy Young House Dub) — 7:54;EU / US Maxi CD Single
(2-463036 0-9362-49871-2-3)
# "4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Remix) — 5:39
# "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Remix) — 6:16
# "4 Minutes" (Tracy Young House Mix) — 7:55
# "4 Minutes" (Peter Saves Paris Remix) — 8:52 (misprinted as 8:37)
# "4 Minutes" (Rebirth Remix) — 7:57
# "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Dirty Dub) — 4:52

;U.S. Digital Maxi Single
# "4 Minutes" (Edit) — 3:11
# "4 Minutes" (Peter Saves Paris Edit) — 4;49
# "4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Edit) — 3:23
# "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Dirty Dub Edit) — 4:05

;U.S. 2 x 12" Vinyl
(Special Jacket)(0-463228 0-9362-49870-9-3)
*A1. "4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Remix) — 5:39
*A2. "4 Minutes" (Peter Saves Paris Remix) — 8:52 (misprinted as 8:37)
*B1. "4 Minutes" (Tracy Young House Mix) — 7:55
*B2. "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Dirty Dub) — 4:52
*C1. "4 Minutes" (Album Version) — 4:05
*C2. "4 Minutes" (Rebirth Remix) — 7:57
*D1. "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Remix) — 6:16

Release history

References