Billionaire (song)

"Billionaire"
Single by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars
from the album Lazarus
Released March 9, 2010[1]
Recorded 2009
Genre
Length 3:29
Label Fueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) The Smeezingtons
Travie McCoy singles chronology
"Differently"
(2009)		 "Billionaire"
(2010)		 "Need You"
(2010)

"Differently"
(2009)		 "Billionaire"
(2010)		 "Need You"
(2010)
Bruno Mars singles chronology
"Nothin' on You"
(2009) Nothin' on You2009		 "Billionaire"
(2010) Billionaire2010		 "Just the Way You Are"
(2010) Just the Way You Are2010

"Billionaire" is the debut single by American recording artist Travie McCoy, featuring guest vocals from Bruno Mars. It is the lead single from McCoy's debut studio album, Lazarus. The song was produced by The Smeezingtons, which consists of Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine. Lyrically, McCoy imagines what would happen if he became a billionaire, referencing all the good he would do to others with the money along with his desire to be on the cover of Forbes magazine, "smiling next to Oprah and The Queen".[2] As of July 2011, the song has sold 3 million digital downloads, making it Mars' third single to do so.[3] The song was also included in Mars' performance in Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show in 2014. It was released in the UK via digital download on July 26, 2010.[4] It became McCoy's most successful single to date.

Background

Bruno Mars came up with the lyrical concept for "Billionaire" during a trip to London in which he was given £240 ($350) by his record label to live on for 11 days. He found the amount of money to be insufficient, and explained "We were like, 'Is this the biggest mistake we've ever made? We thought we were broke in California; what are we going to do here?' So we've got no money, and I'm walking the streets and came up with, 'I wanna be a billionaire, so frickin' bad.'"[5] With the song, McCoy intended to avoid "superficial" lyrics in the wake of an economic recession, and added "There’s something to sing about here; if I was in the position to have a ridiculous amount of money, would I be selfish or selfless?’ I just took that concept and ran with it."[6]

Later, Mars explained to Forbes that his own finances inspired him to write the tune.“I wouldn’t have to worry about, you know, ‘I can’t afford to get breakfast, so I’ll wait until lunchtime to eat,’” he said, explaining the song’s origins at his manager’s Hollywood Hills home. “If I was a billionaire, none of that would matter. I’d be eating diamond cereal.”[7]

During the summer of 2009, The Smeezingtons (Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine) were booked for a week of studio sessions writing for Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B and McCoy.[8] At the end of the week the group had created a scratch demo version of "Billionaire". The B.o.B song "Nothin' on You" was also conceived at this time.[8] McCoy later joined The Smeezingtons in the studio to complete the full song.[8] The radio edit of the song replaces the word Fucking with freaking and is 3:06 long instead of 3:30. The radio edit is available for download on iTunes.

The music video appeared in MTV animated series Beavis and Butthead in the episode "Whorehouse".

Composition

The song features a "reggae backbeat" and acoustic guitar.[9] "Billionaire" is "acoustic pop-reggae" and presages Mars' Doo-Wops & Hooligans, as "laid-back soft rock, with gentle reggae inflections, hang-loose sentiments and all."[10]

[11]

Controversy

In January 2014, Bruno Mars and Travie McCoy were sued by Demetrius Orlandus Procter regarding copyright infringement allegations made by Procter relating to "Billionaire"; Procter accused the song's authors of stealing the song from him, despite the fact that Procter didn't put any dollar amount on what he was owed. In the lawsuit, McCoy and Mars were requested to take charge to "destroy all copies of Plaintiffs' Recording that Defendants have downloaded onto any computer hard drive or server without Plaintiffs' authorization and shall destroy all copies of that downloaded recording transferred onto any physical medium or device."[12]

Remix

The official remix features Mars, his Nappy Boy labelmates T-Pain & R&B group One Chance, Jon A. Gordon, Michael A. Gordon and Atlanta-based rapper Gucci Mane. The remix was produced by Young Fyre.[13] There is also a Jawaiian remix done by a band called Big Every Time (known has B.E.T. for short) from Hawaii a DJ Mike D remix. UK rapper Professor Green also covered the song on BBC Radio 1.[14] In 2011, Only Won released a "Geeked out" remix video titled, "I Wanna Be An Engineer" which was a parody that reached viral status and caught the attention of CNN, Discovery Channel, and FIRST Robotics Competition.[15]

Music video

The music video was filmed in Los Angeles, California and was first broadcast on MtvU on May 6, 2010. It begins with Mars playing a guitar while sitting on a wall at Venice Beach and singing the opening chorus. The scene switches to McCoy rapping while driving a Mini Cooper with Mars in the passenger seat. Throughout the video, McCoy is shown helping four people, as well as one large group at the end. The first thing he does is give a guy a new skateboard after he broke his own in half; the second is buying an unknown, aspiring artist's CD; the third is getting out of the Mini Cooper and giving the keys to a teenager trying to hitchhike to Geneva, New York and the fourth is giving a graffiti artist some more spray paint after his ran out. The video then switches to Venice Beach, where the group in question run dry on beer in their cooler, but McCoy and Mars come in and hand out more beers to restore life to the party. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz can also be seen in the video riding on the back of a scooter with McCoy.

Track listing

  • Digital download[16]
  1. "Billionaire" – 3:29
  2. "Bad All By Myself" – 3:24
  3. "Superbad (11:34)" – 3:12
  • Digital download – Deluxe single[17]
  1. "Billionaire" – 3:29
  2. "Billionaire" (Acoustic) – 3:32
  3. "Billionaire" (Music Video)
  4. "Billionaire" (Party Rock Remix) (featuring LMFAO & Gucci Mane) – 3:14
  1. "Billionaire" – 3:29
  2. "Bad All By Myself" – 3:24

Glee version

The song was covered on the television show Glee during the second-season premiere episode "Audition". Sung by Chord Overstreet, Cory Monteith, Harry Shum, Jr., Kevin McHale and Mark Salling, the song debuted and peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Credits and personnel

  • Production – The Smeezingtons
  • Drum Programming: The Stereotypes
  • Live Drums: Eric Hernandez
  • Bass: Brody Brown and Charles Monez
  • All other music and instruments by The Smeezingtons
  • Recorded by Ari Levine at Levcon Studios, Los Angeles, CA
  • Mixed by Ari Levine at Levcon Studios, Los Angeles, CA
  • Mastered by: Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, New York, NY

Charts and certifications

Claudia Leitte version

"Famosa"
Single by Claudia Leitte featuring Travie McCoy
from the album As Máscaras
Released May 7, 2010[61]
Format Airplay
Genre Reggae, soul
Length 3:30
Label Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Songwriter(s) Claudia Leitte, Travie McCoy, Bruno Mars, Ari Levine, Philip Lawrence
Producer(s) Robson Nonato
Claudia Leitte singles chronology
"As Máscaras (Se Deixa Levar)"
(2009)		 "Famosa"
(2010)		 "Don Juan"
(2010)

"As Máscaras (Se Deixa Levar)"
(2009)		 "Famosa"
(2010)		 "Don Juan"
(2010)
Travie McCoy singles chronology
"Billionaire"
(2010) Billionaire2010		 "Famosa"
(2010) Famosa2010		 "Need You"
(2010) Need You2010

"Famosa" (English: Famous) is a song by Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte featuring Travie McCoy. It was released on May 7, 2010 as the second single from the album As Máscaras. The stylized title features a dollar sign and S.A. (which generally designates corporations) – in this case, used to indicate the strong money appeal of the song and its storyline. The song is a version of McCoy's "Billionaire", consisting of the same original lines by McCoy while Leitte adds new verses in Portuguese of her own instead of Mars’.

Its new lyrics make references to Jô Soares' talk show, the reality show Big Brother Brasil, the social network Twitter and the late TV hostess Hebe Camargo, a dear friend of Leitte.[62]

A solo version of the song was also promoted by Sony Music, with alternate rap verses sung by Leitte replacing those of McCoy.

Music video

The video for the song was filmed in São Paulo and was released in July, 2010. It features footage of McCoy from the original "Billionaire" music video interpolated with scenes Leitte of Leitte portraying a character who has to choose between fame and love. The famous Oscar Freire street, known to contain numerous sophisticated stores and to be the point of buying for artists and millionaires, is heavily featured.

Chart positions

Chart (2010) Peak
position
BR Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[63] 3

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Billionaire (feat. Bruno Mars) – Single by Travie McCoy – Download Billionaire (feat. Bruno Mars) – Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. March 9, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  2. ↑ "Billionaire Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  3. ↑ Grein, Paul (July 20, 2011). "Week Ending July 17, 2011. Songs: Demi's Breakthrough | Chart Watch – Archives – Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars: 'Billionaire'". digitalspy.com. July 22, 2010. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  5. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (April 10, 2010). "Bruno Mars Steps Into Spotlight on 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ Graff, Gary (May 2, 2010). "Travie McCoy: New Name, New Direction". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ Zack O'Malley Greenburg (January 6, 2014). "From Cereal To Super Bowl: The Evolution of Bruno Mars". Forbes. Forbes, Inc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "Interview with Aaron Bay-Schuck". HitQuarters. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  9. ↑ Paine, Kelsey (May 6, 2010). "Pete Wentz in New Travie McCoy Video". Spin. SpinMedia. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  10. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (January 20, 2011). "Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  11. ↑ Lyle, Ashley (October 4, 2016). "Bruno Mars' Best Hip-Hop Collaborations". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  12. ↑ Ryan Book (January 30, 2014). "Bruno Mars and Travie McCoy sued over 'Billionaire' and bizarre time-traveling, song-stealing scheme". MusicTimes. MusicTimes Inc. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Nah Right! News". Nahright.com. June 14, 2010. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  14. ↑ professorgreentv (July 21, 2010). "Professor Green covers Travie McCoy 'Billionaire' for Radio 1 Live Lounge". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  15. ↑ Onlywon (January 18, 2011). "I Wanna Be An Engineer – (Billionaire Geeked Out Mix) by: Only Won – the Lyrical Engineer". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  16. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Billionaire - EP by Travie McCoy". iTunes. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014.
  17. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Billionaire (feat. Bruno Mars) - Deluxe Single by Travie McCoy". iTunes. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Billionaire by Travie Mccoy, Bruno Mars: Amazon.co.uk: Music". amazon.co.uk.
  19. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil. BPP: 100. October 2010.
  23. ↑ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Travie Mccoy Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Musicline.de – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  28. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 1, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  29. ↑ "Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  30. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Charts.nz – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". VG-lista. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Editia 03.10.2010". Webcitation.org. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  35. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Travie Mccoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. ↑ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  39. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Travie McCoy Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  46. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  47. ↑ "Charts Year End: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  48. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl – Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  49. ↑ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2010". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  50. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2010 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Topul celor mai difuzate piese în România în 2010" (in Romanian). România Liberă. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  52. ↑ "2010 Year-end UK Singles". BBC (BBC Online). December 26, 2010. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  53. ↑ "Best of 2010: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  54. ↑ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2011". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  56. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Travie McCoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Music Canada. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  57. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart > 6 September 2010". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  58. ↑ "British single certifications – Travie McCoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 23, 2016. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Enter Billionaire in the search field and then press Enter.
  59. ↑ "American single certifications – Travie McCoy feat. Bruno Mars – Billionaire". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  60. ↑ Paul Grein (September 27, 2012). "Week Ending Sept. 23, 2012. Songs: The Song That Is Sweeping The Globe". Yahoo! Chart Watch. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  61. ↑ "Claudia Leitte lança nova música "Famo$a"". Carnatal.com.br. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  62. ↑ Do G1, em São Paulo. "G1 – Nova música de Claudia Leitte faz referências a Jô Soares e 'BBB' – notícias em Pop & Arte". G1.globo.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  63. ↑ "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay" (in Portuguese). Billboard Brasil (Brazil: bpp) (2): 84. Agosto de 2010.
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