Beautiful (Akon song)

"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. The song has also been released in other three international versions, with different featured artists replacing both Colby's vocals and Kardinal's rapping: in Portuguese with Brazilian singer Negra Li, in Dutch with Dutch singer Brace, and in Spanish with Mexican singer Dulce María. The original version peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, the original version peaked within the top ten of the charts in Israel and the United Kingdom.

"Beautiful"
Single by Akon featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall
from the album Freedom
ReleasedJanuary 6, 2009 (2009-01-06)
Recorded2008
Genre
Length5:12 (album version)
3:51 (radio edit)
3:19(UK radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
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 (Brazilian edition)
by Akon featuring Negra Li
Beautiful (Mexican edition)
by Akon featuring Dulce María
Negra Li singles chronology
"Ainda Gosto Dela"
(2008)		 "Beautiful"
(2009)		 "Tudo de Novo"
(2012)
Dulce María singles chronology
"El Regalo Más Grande"
(2009)		 "Beautiful"
(2009)		 "Inevitable"
(2010)

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, on 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 Laura Daniel (Riley's voice actor from The Barefoot Bandits) replaced Kardinal Offishall's rapping lines.

Track listing
UK and Europe CD single[1]
  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[2]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) - 4:07
  2. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) [Dance Mix] - 4:01
Mexico CD single[3]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Dulce Maria) - 4:06
Korea CD single
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring BoA) - 4:06

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 38
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 16
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[7] 18
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[8] 29
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 34
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[10] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 13
Israel (Media Forest)[12] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 12
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 (OCC)[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
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[25] 4

Monthly charts
Chart (2009) Position
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)[26]
Original version		 76
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)[26]
Remix featuring Negra Li		 37

Year-end charts
Chart (2009) Position
Australia (ARIA)[27] 65
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[28] 45
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[29] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 88
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 46
Russia Airplay (Tophit)[32] 77
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 96
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34] 49
US Billboard Hot 100[35] 54
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[36] 29

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[39] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

The Sri-Lankan pop group Gravity performed the song live at the 2009 premier music competition "TNL Onstage"".

References
  1. "Akon Featuring Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis - Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  2. "Akon featuring Negra Li – Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  3. "Akon featuring Dulce María – Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  4. "Australian-charts.com – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. "Akon Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200915 into search.
  8. "Akon – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Akon. (subscription required)
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  10. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Akon featuring Colby O'Donis & K Offishall". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall and Colby O'Donis – Beautiful Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. "Charts.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. "ČNS 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 (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. "Akon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  23. "Akon Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  24. "Akon Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  25. "Akon Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  26. "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay (Set 21, 2009)". Billboard Brasil. No. 1. BPP Promoções e Publicações. October 2009. p. 79.
  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. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  29. "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz.
  30. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  31. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  32. "Airplay Detection Tophit 200 Yearly – 2009". Tophit. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  33. "Årslista Singlar – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  34. "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  35. "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  36. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  37. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020.
  38. "British single certifications – Akon Ft K Offishall/C O'Donnis – Beautiful". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Beautiful in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  39. "American single certifications – Akon – Beautiful". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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