A Toast to Men

"A Toast to Men"
A blonde woman wearing a tan dress is sitting in front of a colorful wall with holes. The image contains text about the song title, the artist's name, and promotional material on the music video.
Single by Willa Ford featuring Lady May
Released October 21, 2003
Format
Genre Pop
Length 3:12
Label Lava
Songwriter(s) Willa Ford, Rhonda Robinson, Toby Gad
Producer(s) Toby Gad
Willa Ford singles chronology
"Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)"
(2001) Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)2001		 "A Toast to Men"
(2003) A Toast to Men2003

"A Toast to Men", also known as "F*ck the Men (A Toast to Men)"[1][2] and "A Toast to Men (F**ck the Men)",[3] is a song recorded by American singer Willa Ford, featuring vocals by Lady May. It was released on October 21, 2003, and was intended to be a single for her cancelled second album SexySexObsessive. Toby Gad produced the song and wrote it with Ford and Rhonda Robinson. Ford had spent approximately two years working on material for a follow-up to her debut album Willa Was Here (2001). She said that she wanted to revolutionize pop music through using the word "fuck". After SexySexObsessive was shelved, "A Toast to Men" was promoted as a solo single. Ford was hesitant on whether or not Lava Records would release the song given its provocative content.

A pop song with dance influences, its lyrics are based on Ford's experiences at a sorority party; it has a hook reminiscent of sorority chants. An extended play (EP) and a music video were released to promote the song. It was featured in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business. "A Toast to Men" received positive reviews from critics, who noted its composition and Ford's sex appeal. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.

Background and composition

"A Toast to Men" was produced by Toby Gad, who contributed to the songwriting with Willa Ford and Rhonda Robinson. Tom Coyne served as the track's mastering engineer.[2] The track features vocals by American rapper Lady May.[2] Ford spent roughly two years working on material following the release of her debut album Willa Was Here (2001).[4] The concept for the song was developed from her experiences at a sorority party.[5] While discussing the inspiration for the single, Ford said that she heard girls at a sorority party doing a chant, and felt like writing a song using it. She was uncertain if her record label would release the song given its provocative content. When talking about her intentions behind the lyrics, she confessed: "I was part of the revolution, as far as changing the way people think of pop music. I wanted it to be sexy and fierce and be OK to say the word 'fuck.' I just needed some time to get out of it and figure out what the fuck was going on."[4]

"A Toast to Men" is a pop song that lasts three minutes and 12 seconds.[6][7] The hook contains the lyrics "Here's to the men we love to love / Here's to the men in love with us / Here's to the men that pass on us / Fuck the men, let's drink to us"; Billboard 's Chuck Taylor wrote that it is reminiscent of "an age-old sorority chant".[6] Gil Kaufman of Rolling Stone described the song as a "salty sorority chant into a female-empowerment anthem", adding that it contains elements of dance music.[4]

Release and promotion

On October 21, 2003, "A Toast to Men" was released for digital download.[7] An extended play (EP), which included four remixes alongside the original version of the song, was later made available on November 18 of the same year.[1][3] The track was promoted as a part of Ford's second album SexySexObsessive; the record was ultimately cancelled, with "A Toast to Men" made available as a "solo single".[5]

Following its release, media outlets questioned if radio personalities could be say the single's full title on air due to its inclusion of an obscenity.[5] The lyrics were edited to better accommodate radioplay.[6] It was placed on heavy rotation on both radio stations and television.[8] According to Jay Hainsworth of IGN, the song was "surrounded by controversy due to its risqué lyrics".[9] A music video was released to promote the single.[6] The song was featured in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business.[5]

Reception

"A Toast to Men" has received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Chuck Taylor praised the single for its "pop hook and catchy chants", but felt that its intention to shock the listener was too overt. Taylor positively responded to the song's music video, writing that it was "saucy (but graciously playful)" and "add[ed] fuel to the flamboyant raunch".[6] A writer from Maxim said that Ford "proved she's still a hellcat" through the release of "A Toast to Men",[10] while a commentator from AskMen wrote that she "decided to hit hard again" with the song.[8] Gil Kaufman praised the single as a combination of "Christina Aguilera's dance-influenced raunch with Pink's confessional pop".[4]

"A Toast to Men" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales chart on December 6, 2003.[11] It also peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.[5]

Track lists

Digital download[7]
No.TitleLength
1."A Toast to Men" (Edited version with Intro)3:12
EP[1][3]
No.TitleLength
1."F*ck the Men (A Toast to Men)"3:12
2."F*ck the Men (A Toast to Men)" (Johnny Budz Explicit Mix)5:58
3."F*ck the Men (A Toast to Men)" (Suraci & Jemini Naughty Club Mix)5:36
4."F*ck the Men (A Toast to Men)" (Suraci & Jemini Bad Girl Club Mix)3:09
5."F*ck the Men (A Toast to Men)" (GoodandEvil Explicit Remix)3:26

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[2]

Management
  • Lava Records
Personnel
  • Songwriting – Willa Ford, Rhonda Robinson, Toby Gad
  • Production – Tony Gad
  • Mastering engineer – Tom Coyne

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[11] 11
Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales[5] 45

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Worldwide October 21, 2003 Digital download[7] Lava Records
November 18, 2003 CD single[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "A Toast to Men - EP". Apple Music. November 18, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Willa Ford". Tidal. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "A Toast to Men (F**k the Men)". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kaufman, Kaufman (December 2, 2003). "Willa Ford Toasts Girl Power". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carter, Brooke (November 16, 2016). "What Happened to Willa Ford – News & Updates". The Gazette Review. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, Chuck (November 22, 2003). "Singles". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "A Toast to Men - Single". Apple Music. October 21, 2003. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Interview: Willa Ford man toast". AskMen. July 20, 2007. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012.
  9. ↑ Hainsworth, Jay (February 17, 2009). "Babe of the Day: Willa Ford". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Willa Ford". Maxim. Biglari Holdings. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Hot Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. December 6, 2003. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
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