Signs (Snoop Dogg song)

"Signs"
Single by Snoop Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake
from the album R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
Released 25 April, 2005 (U.K.)
Format
Recorded 2004
Length 3:56
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) The Neptunes
Snoop Dogg singles chronology
"Let's Get Blown"
(2004)		 "Signs"
(2005)		 "Ups & Downs"
(2005)
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"I'm Lovin' It"
(2003) I'm Lovin' It2003		 "Signs"
(2005) Signs2005		 "SexyBack"
(2006) SexyBack2006
Music video
"Signs" at Dailymotion.com

"Signs" is a song by American West Coast hip hop recording artist Snoop Dogg. It was released in United States & United Kingdom on April 25, 2005. The song is the third single released from Snoop Dogg's seventh studio album, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004). The song was produced by The Neptunes and features guest appearances by Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake.

The edited version of the song is used for the 2005 film Guess Who which stars Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. The song is played once during the film and again during the end credits.

Themes

The song looks at the topic of romance from several points of view, and in doing so, touches on other subjects such as illegal drugs, the city of Los Angeles, the perceived glamour of gang culture, and the lavish, hedonistic lifestyle led by many rappers and musicians.

The chorus, sung by Justin Timberlake, is about the moment when a man thinks a woman to whom he is sexually attracted may also be attracted to him. The man second-guesses what he thinks he has seen, expressing a wish that love (personified as Cupid in classical fashion) should not play around with his emotions. Meanwhile, another male observer (voiced by Snoop Dogg) opines that the Timberlake character is out of his element and should not bother attempting to further relations between himself and the object of his affection, since he lacks the necessary gangster credentials.

The verses of the song, rapped by Snoop Dogg, mainly following Snoop Dogg's attempts to charm a woman or women. The first verse starts with a brief introduction boasting about the song's hit potential, due to the involvement of Snoop himself and producers the Neptunes. Snoop then appears to become distracted by a passing woman, and attempts to charm her by offering to procure cannabis for her and mentioning his gang, the Crips. In the second verse, Snoop boasts about the glamorous side of his home city, Los Angeles. In the third verse (or bridging section), he redoubles his efforts at seduction by promising his interlocutor a flight on a private jet to London and the holiday resorts of Ibiza and watching Venus and Serena Williams in the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Charlie Wilson then provides a more experienced point of view on love, advising all concerned not to be foolish, to appreciate what they have, and not to be distracted by "a pretty face". This implies that the Timberlake and Snoop characters may already be in relationships, and are considering infidelity with the women mentioned in the song.

The song's three vocalists thus show three stages of a man's romantic life: Timberlake as the young ingenue; Snoop Dogg as the Casanova in his prime; and Wilson as the experienced older man dispensing advice to his younger companions.

Music video

The music video was directed by Paul Hunter and takes place in an underground boxing gym and at a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the most played video on the UK version of The Box in 2005.

Reception

The single reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart in May 2005 and #46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, it was more popular in Australia staying at #1 on the Australian Singles Chart for two weeks.

It was performed by Snoop Dogg at the Live 8 concert in London on July 2, 2005 along with a few of his other hits.

The song interpolates some lyrics from The Gap Band's 1982 "Early in the Morning" and Cheryl Lynn's 1978 "Got to Be Real".

Critical reception

David Jeffries highlighted and praised: "The up-tempo "Signs" with Justin Timberlake is glittery disco fun, but it ain't gonna keep Snoop from being himself."[1] RapReviews described:[2] "look for him sharing the spotlight with Snoop and Justin Timberlake on "Signs," although the D-oh-double-G still steals the show:

"It's legit, you know it's a hit When the Neptunes and the Doggy Dogg fin' to spit You know he's in - tune with the season Come here baby, tell me why you leavin? Tell me if it's weed that you need If you wanna breathe, I got the best weed minus seeds Ain't nobody trippin, V.I.P. they can't get in If somethin go wrong then you know we get to crippin"

Justin Timberlake does crip-hop? Sounds wrong, but it comes out just right."

Chart positions

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[32] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r-g-rhythm-gangsta-the-masterpiece-mw0000143761
  2. ↑ "Snoop Dogg :: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece :: Geffen Records".
  3. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  4. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  7. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Tracklisten.
  8. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in French). Les classement single.
  9. ↑ "Musicline.de – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  10. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  11. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  12. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 17, 2005". Irish Singles Chart.
  13. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Top Digital Download.
  14. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  15. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  16. ↑ "Charts.nz – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Top 40 Singles.
  17. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". VG-lista.
  18. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Singles Top 100.
  19. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Swiss Singles Chart.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  21. ↑ "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  23. ↑ "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2005". ARIA. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Urban Singles 2005". ARIA. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Dutch Year-End Charts 2005". MegaCharts. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2005". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2005". Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  29. ↑ "ARIA Charts — Accreditations - 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  30. ↑ ""Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1442 (Monday 10 January 2005)"". RadioScope. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  31. ↑ "British single certifications – Snoop Dogg feat. Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson – Signs". British Phonographic Industry. 2005. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Signs in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  32. ↑ "American single certifications – Snoop Dogg – Signs". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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