Tempo (Lizzo song)

"Tempo" is a song by American singer and rapper Lizzo featuring American recording artist Missy Elliott for her third studio album and major-label debut Cuz I Love You (2019). The song was originally released as a promotional single on March 20, 2019, before being released as the album's second single on July 26, 2019.

"Tempo"
Single by Lizzo featuring Missy Elliott
from the album Cuz I Love You
B-side
ReleasedJuly 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)
Genre
Length2:55
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Lizzo
  • Ricky Reed
  • Sweater Beats
  • Dan Farber
  • Nate Mercureau
  • Tobias Wincorn
Lizzo singles chronology
"Blame It on Your Love"
(2019)		 "Tempo"
(2019)		 "Good as Hell (Remix)"
(2019)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"Get It"
(2018)		 "Tempo"
(2019)		 "Throw It Back"
(2019)
Music video
"Tempo" on YouTube

The single was written by the two artists with contributions from Antonio Cuna (a.k.a. Sweater Beats), Tobias Wincorn, Theron Thomas, Dan Farber, and Eric Frederic (a.k.a. Ricky Reed). The recording uses a sample from an electronic recording/composition entitled "Nescafé" by Raymond Scott (from his album Manhattan Research, Inc.), who is credited as a co-writer.[3] Lizzo and Reed co-produced the track with Farber, Wincorn, Sweater Beats, and Nate Mercereau. Musically, "Tempo" is an R&B and trap composed of a bass-heavy, woodwind-inspired beat. It contains lyrics about body positivity, and has been described by one music critic as an "ode to curvaceous women".[4]

"Tempo" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the artists' performances and deemed it a club track. Commercially, it entered several component charts in Belgium and the United States. The song was promoted by an accompanying music video, directed by Andy Hines. It was released on July 26, 2019, the same day as the single's official release.[5]

Composition

"Tempo" is a "nostalgia-filled"[6] R&B, trap,[1] and funk-pop[2] song with a length of two minutes and fifty five seconds. The song begins with a powerful guitar riff, before breaking into the song's chorus: "Slow songs, they for skinny hoes. Can't move all of this here to one of those".[7] It contains a "bass-heavy" and woodwind-inspired beat, before closing with a flute solo.[8][9] Elliott's verse was added to the track after Lizzo had heard the song's completed instrumental.[10] Described as "fiery twerk-team anthem" by NPR,[8] "Tempo" is an "ode to curvaceous women"[6] containing "self-assured" and "feel good" lyrics,[7][11] followed by Elliott's "curve-celebrating" verse in the bridge.[11]

Critical reception

"Tempo" received positive reviews from music critics. Will Lavin, writing for NME, called the track "fierce" and "up-tempo".[10] Brendan Wetmore of Paper praised the song as "the kind of track that you don't even have to try to dance to". He also labelled it "a song for the club".[9] Joshua Bote, writing for NPR, reacted positively to the song, calling it "a track that flows freely with their combined confidence and mic skills".[8] Mike Wass of Idolator called the song "an unrepentant banger".[7] Ben Kaye, writing for Consequence of Sound, praised Elliott's verse, writing "the slapping '90s beat is perfect for Missy [Elliott]".[12]

Accolades
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2019 BET Hip Hop Awards Impact Track Nominated [13]
MTV Video Music Awards Best Power Anthem Nominated [14]

Music video

Lizzo announced the song's music video on July 25, 2019.[15] The video, directed by Andy Hines, was released on July 26, 2019.[10] It features Lizzo, dressed in a blue coat and red cowboy hat,[9] partying in a diner parking lot with several dancers and cars in the background.[16][17] Missy Elliott jumps out of a car in a tracksuit to perform her verse.[1][9] David Renshaw of The Fader called the video "joy-filled".[5]

Track listing
Tempo[18][19]
No.TitleLength
1."Tempo" (featuring Missy Elliott)2:55
2."Juice"3:15
3."Cuz I Love You"2:59
Total length:9:09

Personnel

Adapted from Tidal.[19]

  • Lizzo – lead artist, songwriter, producer, programmer
  • Missy Elliott – featured artist, songwriter, additional vocals
  • Ricky Reed – songwriter, producer, instruments, programmer
  • Shelbeniece Swain – additional vocals
  • Theron Thomas – songwriter, additional vocals
  • Dan Farber – songwriter, co-producer, programmer
  • Nate Mercereau – co-producer, programmer
  • Sweater Beats – co-producer, programmer
  • Antonio Cuna – songwriter
  • Raymond Scott – songwriter, recorded sample
  • Tobias Wincorn – songwriter, co-producer, programmer
  • Ethan Shumaker – additional vocals, engineer
  • Chris Gehringer – masterer
  • Manny Marroquin – mixer
  • Robin Florent – mixer
  • Scott Desmarais – mixer

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[20] 38
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 29
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 30
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24] 53
US Digital Songs (Billboard)[25] 21
US Rap Digital Songs (Billboard)[26] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 48

Year-end charts
Chart (2019) Position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[28] 44

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Gold 40,000
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various March 20, 2019[lower-alpha 1]
  • Atlantic
  • Nice Life
July 26, 2019 [18][19]

Notes
  1. Release as a promotional single.

References
  1. Damshenas, Sam. "Lizzo and Missy Elliott star in fierce video for body-positive anthem Tempo". Gay Times. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  2. "The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  3. Raymond Scott historical timeline at RaymondScott.net
  4. Battle, Marquaysa (March 21, 2019). "Lizzo And Missy Elliott Dropped A Body-Positive Song Everyone Should Hear Today". RaveList. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. Renshaw, David. "Lizzo and Missy Elliott party in a parking lot in the "Tempo" video". The Fader. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  6. Saponara, Michael. "Lizzo Rocks a Giant Blue Fur Cape, Serves Serious Moves in 'Tempo' Video Featuring Missy Elliott: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  7. Nied, Mike. "Turn It Up! Lizzo & Missy Elliott's "Tempo" Is A Ferocious Banger". Idolator. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  8. Bote, Joshua. "Lizzo And Missy Elliott Trade Off On The Scorching-Hot 'Tempo'". NPR. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  9. Wetmore, Brendan. "Lizzo's 'Tempo' Video Has Diners, Drive-Ins and Ass Claps". Paper. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  10. Lavin, Will. "Watch as Lizzo and Missy Elliott take it back to the golden era of hip-hop videos with 'Tempo'". NME. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  11. Shaffer, Claire. "Lizzo, Missy Elliott Take Over the Parking Lot in 'Tempo' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  12. Kaye, Ben. "Missy Elliott joins Lizzo on new track "Tempo": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  13. "Cardi B Leads 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards With 10 Nominations: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  14. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 MTV VMAs". Billboard. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  15. @lizzo (July 25, 2019). "#TEMPO VIDEO DROPS TOMORROW Lizzo.lnk.to/INeedTempo LOVE YA @MissyElliott" (Tweet). Retrieved July 28, 2019 – via Twitter.
  16. Bloom, Madison. "Lizzo and Missy Elliot Drop New Video for "Tempo": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  17. Rettig, James. "Lizzo – "Tempo" (Feat. Missy Elliott) Video". Stereogum. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  18. "Tempo on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  19. "Tempo on TIDAL". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Lizzo Feat. Missy Elliott – Tempo" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Lizzo Feat. Missy Elliott – Tempo" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  22. "Ultratop.be – Lizzo Feat. Missy Elliott – Tempo". Ultratop (in French). Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  23. "Lizzo Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  24. "Dance Club Songs Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  25. "Lizzo – Tempo – Digital Songs Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  26. "Lizzo – Tempo – Digital Rap Songs Chart history". Billboard.
  27. "Lizzo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  28. "R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  29. "Canadian single certifications – Lizzo – Tempo Feat. Missy Elliot". Music Canada. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  30. "American single certifications – Lizzo – Tempo Feat. Missy Elliot". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 1, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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