Normani x Calvin Harris
Normani x Calvin Harris[2] is an EP by American singer Normani and Scottish producer Calvin Harris. It was released on October 22, 2018. It is classified as an EP by media outlets[3][4][5] and as a single by iTunes.[6] It features the songs "Checklist" featuring Wizkid and "Slow Down". "Checklist" was intended to be released as a single on November 9, 2018, but was later canceled and replaced by Normani's collaboration with 6lack titled "Waves".[7][8][9]
Normani x Calvin Harris | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
EP by Normani and Calvin Harris | ||||
Released | October 22, 2018 | |||
Recorded | June 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 6:14 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer | Calvin Harris | |||
Calvin Harris chronology | ||||
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Background
According to Normani, Harris reached out to her for the collaboration; she said: "he was like 'yo, what do you think of this?' I was like, 'this shig is fire!' I am a huge fan of his."[10] The pair recorded and finished the singles in June 2018.
Music
The EP features two songs, "Slow Down" and "Checklist" (featuring Nigerian singer Wizkid). The former has a groovy, house-styled production in which Normani pleads with a lover to return her feelings.[11][12] Wandera Hussein of The Fader praised Normani's vocal performance by saying the singer sings "heavenly" on the song's hook.[11] "Checklist" features a danceable beat with heavy influences of Afrobeats and dancehall music.[13] On it, Normani delivers some rapid, half-rapped flirty lines.[12]
Complex noted that the two tracks feature a production style similar to Harris's 2017 album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, "although featuring a more reggae-inspired edge".[4] Rolling Stone called the songs "clubby R&B with tropical tinges", saying Normani hits a "bouncy pop stride" on "Checklist", and noting "Slow Down" "does exactly the opposite of what the title teases: it's a slow jam that builds up to a house-y dancefloor burner for the verses".[1]
Promotion
News of the collaboration was revealed in June 2018.[14] Normani teased the project at the 2018 American Music Awards, saying a song was to be released "in the next few days".[15] Normani also posted a short clip online of herself writing "Oct. 22" on a piece of red tape before a voice off-camera tells her to "drop the pen".[16]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Checklist" (featuring Wizkid) | 2:49 | |
2. | "Slow Down" |
| 3:25 |
Total length: | 6:14 |
Charts
"Checklist"
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland (IRMA)[17] | 76 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[18] | 22 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19] | 86 |
UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 98 |
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[21] | 1 |
"Slow Down"
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[22] | 37 |
US R&B Digital Songs (Billboard)[23] | 14 |
References
- Spanos, Brittany (22 October 2018). "Normani, Calvin Harris Team on New Club-Bangers 'Slow Down,' 'Checklist'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "Normani x Calvin Harris". Spotify. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- Gilke, Chloe (22 October 2018). "[LISTEN] Normani X Calvin Harris Release A Mini-EP Of Club-Ready Beats". Uproxx. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- Price, Joe (22 October 2018). "Normani and Calvin Harris Release 2 New Songs Together". Complex. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "Calvin Harris And Normani Drop Two-Song Project 'Normani X Calvin Harris'". Entertainment Tonight. 22 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "Normani x Calvin Harris – Single by Normani, Calvin Harris". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "NORMANI & CALVIN HARRIS FT WIZKID "Checklist" - (Radio Date: 09/11/2018)". radiodate.it. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- "Normani & 6LACK's "Waves" Earns #73 Ranking At Rhythmic Radio". Headline Planet. 2018-12-10. Archived from the original on 2019-08-15. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
- "Calvin Harris to release new single with Normani". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- Hussein, Wandera (22 October 2018). "Normani and Calvin Harris share two-song project Normani X Calvin Harris". The Fader. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- Nied, Mike (22 October 2018). "Normani Links Up With Calvin Harris On 'Checklist' & 'Slow Down'". Idolator. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- "Wizkid Teams Up With Normani and Calvin Harris on 'Checklist'". OkayAfrica. 2018-10-22. Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- "Normani and Calvin Harris Collaboration Dropping October 22nd | Billboard News". Billboard. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- White, Jack (10 October 2018). "Calvin Harris to release new single with Normani 'in the next few days'". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "Normani and Calvin Harris' Collab Has A Release Date". MTV UK. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 5 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201844 into search. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- "World Digital Song Sales: November 3, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- "Calvin Harris Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- "R&B Digital Song Sales: November 3, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.