Clumsy (Fergie song)

"Clumsy"
Single by Fergie
from the album The Dutchess
B-side
  • "Get Your Hands Up"
  • "Fergalicious"
Released September 25, 2007 (2007-09-25)
Format
Genre
Length 4:00
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) will.i.am
Fergie singles chronology
"Big Girls Don't Cry"
(2007)		 "Clumsy"
(2007)		 "Party People"
(2008)
Music video
"Clumsy" on YouTube

"Clumsy" is a song recorded by American singer and rapper Fergie for her debut studio album, The Dutchess (2006). The song was released as the album's fifth single on September 25, 2007. It was written by Fergie, Bobby Troup and will.i.am, who also produced the track. It was partially recorded in Los Angeles and in the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The song's lyrics about being clumsy and in love flow alongside its computerized and bleeping beat taken from "The Bubble Bunch" by Jimmy Spicer, as well as a sample of "The Girl Can't Help It", originally performed by Little Richard.

The song received generally mixed to positive reviews. Critics praised the Little Richard sample and the goofy lyrics on feelings of love. Some critics deemed it to be the album's highlight and pop at its finest, while others considered it flat. "Clumsy" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Fergie's fifth straight top ten hit in the US. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold over two million downloads in the country. Internationally, the song peaked in the top five in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The song's music video, directed by Marc Webb and Rich Lee, is stylized like a pop-up book and features Swedish model Alex Lundqvist as Fergie's love interest.

Background

"Clumsy" was written by Fergie, Bobby Troup and will.i.am, who produced the song. It was partially recorded at Stewcha Studios in Los Feliz, California and in the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.[1] will.i.am said, "'Clumsy' was recorded in the John Lennon bus [a traveling music education lab], like in a parking lot in Pittsburgh right next to Shakey's. ... To be able to record on the road, that's a task and a half."[2] In an interview with The Associated Press, Fergie stated, "I'm not a promiscuous girl - like I talk about in ”Clumsy”, I'm always the girl with the boyfriend in serious relationships."[3] The song was mixed by Tony Maserati at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, California.[1] "Clumsy" was announced as the fifth single from The Dutchess in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the song was released as a double A-side alongside "Fergalicious".[4] A remix featuring Soulja Boy Tell 'Em was released to digital stores on December 18, 2007.[5]

Composition and critical reception
"Clumsy"
A sample of "Clumsy", featuring its "The Bubble Bunch" and "The Girl Can't Help It" samples.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song samples "The Girl Can't Help It" by Little Richard.[6] The song's computerized beeps flow alongside Fergie singing about being clumsy and in love,[6] with the bridge consisting of the lines "You got me trippin', stumblin', flippin', fumblin' / Clumsy cuz I'm fallin in love".[7] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, "Clumsy" is set in the time signature of common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of C major with Fergie's vocal range spanning from the note of G3 to the note of F5.[8] Daniel Wolfe of About.com commented, "The songstress is “slippin’ and stumblin’” all over a laid-back beat and Casio keyboard lines."[6] The electronic beeps of the melody are sampled from 1982's "The Bubble Bunch" by early hip-hop artist Jimmy Spicer.[9] Alex Fletcher from Digital Spy, commented on its resemblance to Tweet's 2002 single "Oops (Oh My)". He went on to say that he was not impressed with "Clumsy", writing that it is "a proper stinker" and "[f]latter than a pancake that's been sat on by the cast of Celebrity Fit Club."[10]

Daniel Wolfe of About.com rated "Clumsy" three out of five stars, and wrote that it is "another tasty bubblegum treat from one of pop music's biggest rising stars." He called the song "a good bit of breezy pop fun", but wrote that it "may not be as immediately engaging as her previous hits" and that "there is nothing striking or even slightly epic about the tune." However, he praised the sample of "The Girl Can't Help It", Fergie's "melodious, breathy vocal runs", and the song's goofy lyrics on love.[6] Sal Cinquemani of Slant called the song "crafty, candy-coated pop at its finest".[11] Norman Mayers of Prefix cited "London Bridge" and "Clumsy" as the album's highlights.[12] While reviewing the double A-side featuring "Fergalicious", Azeem Ahmad of MusicOMH wrote that "Clumsy" is "the antidote to the haphazard Fergalicious."[4]

Chart performance

"Clumsy" debuted at number 91 on the October 27, 2007 chart of the Billboard Hot 100.[13][14] In its fifth week on the chart, the song was the "greatest digital gainer", and rose from number 20 to number 12.[15] In its ninth week, the song reached its peak of number five, and stayed there for six non-consecutive weeks.[16][17] The song became the fifth single from Fergie's debut album The Dutchess to reach the top five on the chart, making The Dutchess the first debut album since Milli Vanilli's debut album Girl You Know It's True (1989) to spawn five top five singles.[18] "Clumsy" spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and 12 weeks inside the top ten.[17] The song also reached number two on Pop Songs,[19] and number 89 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[20] "Clumsy" was certified platinum on February 22, 2008 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[21] It has sold 2,138,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, becoming Fergie's fifth single to sell two million downloads.[22] "Clumsy" is Fergie's fourth most downloaded song, behind "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Fergalicious" and "Glamorous", and ahead of her first single, "London Bridge".[22]

On the Canadian Hot 100, "Clumsy" debuted at number 79 on the issue dated October 27, 2007.[23] On January 5, 2008, the song reached number four.[24] In Australia, the song debuted at number 120 on the issue dated November 25, 2007. The next week, it peaked to number three, where it stayed for three weeks.[25] The song has been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales of 35,000 units.[26] On the issue dated September 24, 2007, "Clumsy" entered the chart in New Zealand at position 31. On its sixth week on the chart, it reached its peak of number four.[27] The song has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for sales of 7,500 copies.[28]

Music video

The music video for "Clumsy" was directed by Marc Webb and Rich Lee in Los Angeles.[29] MTV spoke of the clip, saying, "The surreal, humorous clip features Fergie falling head over heels — get it? — for love in various scenarios."[29] Most scenes in the video were shot using a green screen.[30] Swedish model Alex Lundqvist portrays Fergie's love interest in the video. Lundqvist spoke of the experience with the Swedish magazine Aftonbladet, saying that "it was really fun" and that "Fergie is so sympathetic and cool".[30] The video premiered on October 12, 2007 on AOL Music.[31]

On a space shuttle, Fergie accidentally presses the airblock button (top), causing her love interest to get swapped out in space (bottom).

The video is done in the style of a pop-up book. It begins with the book opening, displaying the directors' names, the artist and the title. Fergie begins to sing and the page flips to reveal a pop-up concert, featuring Fergie with a beehive hairstyle, a pink dress, and black Opera gloves, followed by a pop-up of a DSquared² fashion show where Fergie is attracted to a man (Alex Lundqvist) in the audience. Another page flip reveals Fergie in a car, and she sees the man again. She then shows off with the car, but it breaks down and the man leaves. During the song's middle eight, she is singing in a pop-up space shuttle and at the same time at the concert, she knocks down a dancer and the stage begins to collapse. While in the shuttle, she accidentally presses the airlock button, which swaps the man out in space. After this, Fergie is shown in a plane, flying around a pop-up world. To conclude the video, Fergie is getting ready on a rooftop photo shoot and she sits down on a ledge to read a text message, and she falls off the building and the man catches her. They walk off toward a sunset and the book closes.

Rap-Up deemed the video to have a "cool concept".[32] Tamar Anitai of MTV Buzzworthy wrote that the video "is basically an amalgam of many things we find hard to resist: Amy Winehouse-style retro-nuevo beehives, free falling, fake planes, cheesy acting, En Vogue-era little black dresses, old-school video games and um, hot dudes, including one who, unsurprisingly, looks like Josh Duhamel." The writer noted that the video's pop-up style was similar to HP's "The Computer is Personal Again" commercials. She concluded saying, " the video is fairly saturated with product placements. As much as we love MAC and DSquared, it's hard to miss those blatant shout outs, as well as the fairly gratuitous Motorola plug."[33]

Live performances

Fergie performed "Clumsy" alongside her previous single "Big Girls Don't Cry" on the 2007 American Music Awards on November 18, 2007.[34] She also performed the song on NBC's The Today Show alongside "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Barracuda" with part of "Welcome to the Jungle" on May 20, 2008.[35] She performed the song on the Verizon VIP Tour,[36] in which the song's use of "The Girl Can't Help It" sample was reduced.[37]

Track listing

  • Digital download[38]
  1. "Clumsy" (Radio edit) – 3:21
  2. "Clumsy" (Revisited) – 3:30
  1. "Clumsy" – 4:01
  2. "Clumsy" (Instrumental) – 4:00
  3. "Clumsy" (Revisited) – 3:31
  • UK Fergalicious / Clumsy[40]
  1. "Clumsy" – 4:00
  2. "Fergalicious" – 4:52
  • US Digital EP[5]
  1. "Clumsy" (Collipark Remix) (featuring Soulja Boy Tell 'Em) – 3:51
  2. "Clumsy" (Party Rock Remix)(ft LMFAO) – 3:31
  3. "Get Your Hands Up" – 3:34

Credits and personnel

Source[1]

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2007–08) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[41] 53
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[42] 2
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[43] 16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 4
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[44] 12
Denmark (Tracklisten)[45] 34
Germany (Official German Charts)[46] 50
Ireland (IRMA)[47] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48] 84
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 4
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[49] 14
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 15
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[51] 62
US Billboard Hot 100[52] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 89
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[53] 20

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia (ARIA)[54] 2× Platinum 140,000^
New Zealand Gold[28]
United States 2× Platinum[21]

Year-end charts

Chart (2007) Position
Australian Singles Chart[55] 52
Chart (2008) Position
Australian Singles Chart[56] 99
Canadian Hot 100[57] 32
Billboard Hot 100[58] 26

Release history

Region Date Format
United States[59] September 25, 2007 Rhythmic radio
Top 40/Mainstream radio
Worldwide[60][61] November 10, 2007 Digital download
United Kingdom[40] November 12, 2007
Germany[62] November 23, 2007 CD single

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Dutchess (Liner Notes). Fergie. Interscope, will.i.am. 2006.
  2. ↑ Moss, Corey (2006-08-28). "Meet A New Fergie On Each Track — Introducing The Dutchess". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  3. ↑ "Fergie free from the Peas". The Age Company. Associated Press. 2006-09-25.
  4. 1 2 Ahmad, Azeem. "Fergie - Fergalicious/Clumsy". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  5. 1 2 "Clumsy [feat. Soulja Boy Tell 'Em]". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Wolfe, Daniel. "Fergie - Clumsy". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  7. ↑ "'Clumsy' Fergie Takes A Spill, But Recovers With Style". Access Hollywood. NBC Universal, Inc. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  8. ↑ "Digital Sheet Music – Fergie – Clumsy". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing.
  9. ↑ "Fergie's "Clumsy" sample of Jimmy Spicer's "The Bubble Bunch"". www.whosampled.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  10. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (2007-11-17). "Fergie: 'Clumsy'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  11. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (2006-09-18). "Fergie: The Dutchess". Slant. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  12. ↑ Mayers, Norman (2006-10-13). "Ferige: The Dutchess". Prefix. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  13. ↑ "Soulja Boy Begins Sixth Week Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  14. ↑ "US Singles Top 100 (October 27, 2007)". aCharts.us. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  15. ↑ "Brown Fends Off Keys, Timbaland To Remain No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  16. ↑ "Hot 100 - Week of December 22, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  17. 1 2 "Fergie - Clumsy - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  18. ↑ "Chart Beat: The Girl Can't Help It". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  19. 1 2 "Fergie – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Fergie. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  20. 1 2 "Fergie – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Fergie. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  21. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum - Clumsy by Fergie". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  22. 1 2 Grein, Paul (2010-07-23). "Chart Watch Extra: Gaga's Nice Round Number". Yahoo! Blog. Yahoo, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  23. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 - Week of October 27, 2007 - Biggest Jump". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  24. 1 2 "Fergie – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Fergie. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  25. 1 2 "Australian-charts.com – Fergie – Clumsy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  27. 1 2 "Charts.org.nz – Fergie – Clumsy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  28. 1 2 "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles - December 16, 2007 - RadioScope New Zealand". RadioScope. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  29. 1 2 "Fergie Falls Head Over Heels In 'Clumsy' Clip; Plus David Banner, Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Sarah Silverman & More, In For The Record". MTV News. MTV Networks. 2007-09-25. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  30. 1 2 Fahrman, Sofi (2008-01-18). "Dolce & Gabbana sponsrade mitt bröllop". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  31. ↑ Lamb, Bill (2007-10-12). "Snap Judgment - Fergie - Clumsy Video". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  32. ↑ "Video: Fergie - 'Clumsy'". Rap-Up. 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  33. ↑ Anitai, Tamar (2007-10-16). "Fergie's New 'Clumsy' Video". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  34. ↑ "2007 American Music Awards: Performances". Rap-Up. 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  35. ↑ "Video: Fergie Performs on 'Today'". Rap-Up. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  36. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (2007-06-23). "Singing, Dancing, Stamina: The Work of Pop Stardom". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  37. ↑ Mackey, Brian (2008-08-09). "Fergie rocks the state fair". pjstar.com. GateHouse Media, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  38. ↑ "Fergie - Clumsy MP3 Downloads". 7 digital Sweden. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  39. ↑ "Clumsy - EP by Fergie". iTunes Store New Zealand. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  40. 1 2 "Clumsy / Fergalicious - Single by Fergie". iTunes Store UK. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  41. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Fergie – Clumsy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  42. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Fergie – Clumsy" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  43. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Fergie – Clumsy" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  44. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200813 into search. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  45. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Fergie – Clumsy". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  46. ↑ "Musicline.de – Fergie Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  47. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 47, 2007". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  48. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Fergie – Clumsy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  49. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200750 into search. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  50. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Fergie – Clumsy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  51. ↑ "Fergie: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  52. ↑ "Fergie – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Fergie. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  53. ↑ "Fergie – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Fergie.
  54. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  56. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  57. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  58. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  59. ↑ "Available for Airplay - 25/9 - 2007". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  60. ↑ "Clumsy - Single by Fergie". iTunes Store Australia. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  61. ↑ "Clumsy - Single by Fergie". iTunes Store New Zealand. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  62. ↑ http://www.amazon.de/Clumsy-Fergie/dp/B000X1YD5O/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1339965281&sr=1-1
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