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Closer (Ne-Yo song)

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Wikipedia article




"'Closer'" is a song by American recording artist Ne-Yo. The song was produced by Stargate. It was released as the lead single from Ne-Yo's third studio album, 'Year of the Gentleman' (2008).

"Closer" peaked at number seven on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Closer" topped the charts in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several other countries, including Australia, Austria, Germany, Finland, Ireland and New Zealand.

Background



"Closer" marked a musical departure for Ne-Yo, taking on a dance-pop style over the more rhythmic and urban sound his songs usually possess. In the song, Ne-Yo sings of having an urging attraction to a woman he sees, having the desire to "come closer" to her. His attraction to her becomes stronger, and almost hypnotic, as he sings, "And I just can't pull myself away, under a spell I can't break/I just can't stop." The song was featured in episodes of The CW shows 'Gossip Girl' and '90210'.

Speaking in May 2008 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Ne-Yo explained the inspiration behind the song: "It was very much inspired by just the vibe of some of these house and techno clubs we went to while we were in London. You know, kinda smoky, kinda dark and mysterious... With just that constant, four-on-the-floor house beat that just really gets bashed into your skull the whole time you're there, by the way the music makes you feel. I basically tried to capture that energy and put the Ne-Yo spin on it. And 'Closer' was the end result."

Chart performance



"Closer" peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his seventh top ten hit on the chart. While having a relatively weak peak on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs for a Ne-Yo song, peaking outside of the top twenty at number 21, "Closer" instead had surprising success on Top 40 radio. After losing its bullet and falling down the charts on CHR/Top 40, suddenly the track exploded and frequently had the biggest bullet on pop radio, at times with over +1000. It has become his biggest U.S. radio hit, despite the lack of Urban airplay, becoming his first song to top the Hot 100 Airplay chart. As of August 2011, "Closer" has sold nearly 2,000,000 digital downloads in the US alone, making it Ne-Yo's best-selling song as a lead artist.

In the United Kingdom, "Closer" debuted at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart based solely on downloads. After seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, and upon the release of the physical CD single, "Closer" climbed to the summit of the chart on June 29, 2008 for the week ending date July 5, 2008 becoming Ne-Yo's second number one single in Britain following "So Sick" in March 2006. "Closer" spent a total of 11 weeks in the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. In Ireland, "Closer" initially peaked at number 12 on the Irish Singles Chart for four weeks before jumping to number three. In Germany, the song peaked at number four on the German Singles Chart, becoming Ne-Yo's highest charting single there at that time. In Italy, "Closer debuted at number 37 on the Italian Singles Chart. In addition, it peaked within the top 10 or top 20 in Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.

In New Zealand, the song jumped 15 spots from number 20 to number five on the New Zealand Singles Chart and eventually reached a peak of number three on the chart. It has also been certified Platinum, with sales of over 15,000. In Australia, "Closer" debuted at number 17 on the ARIA Singles Chart before peaking at number eight on the chart, becoming Ne-Yo's second top ten single in Australia after "So Sick" in 2006.

Music video



The video was filmed at Santa Clara Studios, California.[http://mybestlyric.blogspot.com/2008/06/video-lyrics-ne-yo-closer-mp3.html Top Billboard Today Online] Accessed July 8, 2008 It was directed by Melina Matsoukas who also directed his "Because of You" and "Do You" video. Ne-Yo wore a "gentleman-looking" suit dancing with a woman. Other shots also show him alone in the center of the spotlight being backed up with four dancers, or with a Matchless motorcycle. A number of on-set pictures from the video leaked over the Internet.

The video premiered on BET on April 25, playing every hour of the day with the last airing being at 7 pm.Nigel D (April 11, 2008). [http://realtalkny.rawkus.com/2008/04/topic/topic/pictures/ne-yo-on-the-set-of-his-new-video-for-closer Ne-Yo On The Set Of His New Video For Closer] 'Real Talk NY'. Accessed April 22, 2008. It features Ne-Yo performing dance moves, with lyrics from the song occasionally appearing on-screen.

The video was nominated in the "Best Dancing in a Video" category at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, but it lost to Pussycat Dolls's "When I Grow Up" which both songs would appear in 'Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3' a year later.

Awards and nominations



"Closer" was ranked number 60 on 'Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008."[https://web.archive.org/web/20081229022607/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24947047/the_100_best_singles_of_2008/15 The 100 Best Songs of 2008]". 'Rolling Stone' (December 25, 2008). Retrieved January 12, 2009 The song was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards held in February 2009, while the Stonebridge Radio Edit was nominated for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.[http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/grammys/2009/nominees.aspx Coldplay, Jay-Z and Ne-Yo Lead Grammy Nominations] Accessed February 8, 2009

Track listing



'UK CD single'

# "Closer" 3:54

# "Closer" (Agent X Bassline Remix) 5:22

# "Closer" (Instrumental) 3:54

# "Closer" (Video)

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



Cover versions



* Los Angeles-based modern rock/pop band, [https://www.myspace.com/icecreamfire Ice Cream Fire] covered the song on their 6-song demo, released via their websites in 2011.

* Las Vegas pop rock band The Higher covered the song on their June 2009 release, 'It's Only Natural'.

* Colorado comedy band Blue Dog And Sponge Cake recorded and released a version of the song in 2009.

* Laura White covered the song in the summer of 2009 at festivals she was playing.

* Australian Idol 2008 finalist Madam Parker covered this song on the Top 12 Idol's Idols night and was safe on the following verdict show. Parker recorded a cover for that season's Top 10 Cast Album.

* Romy Madley Croft of UK Mercury Music Prize winning band, The xx, covered the song in 2009. It was produced by UK electronic pop producers Kwes and Micachu and is featured in the two producer's collaborative mixtape Kwesachu Vol.1.

* Filipina actress Denise Laurel covered this song while impersonating Ne-Yo in the fourth week of Your Face Sounds Familiar (Philippines season 2).

See also



* List of number-one dance singles of 2008 (U.S.)

References



Category:Ne-Yo songs

Category:2008 singles

Category:2008 songs

Category:Def Jam Recordings singles

Category:Music videos directed by Melina Matsoukas

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:Song recordings produced by Stargate (record producers)

Category:Songs written by Ne-Yo

Category:Songs written by Mikkel Storleer Eriksen

Category:Songs written by Tor Erik Hermansen

Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles

pt:Closer (cano)

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