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This Is How We Do It
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = This Is How We Do It
| cover = ThisIsHowWeDoIt.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Montell Jordan
| album = This Is How We Do It
| released = February 6, 1995
| recorded = 1994
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:37 (album version)
3:59 (radio edit)
3:39 (without rap)
| label = Def Jam
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Somethin' 4 da Honeyz
| next_year = 1995
}}
"'This Is How We Do It'" is the debut single by American singer Montell Jordan. It was released by Def Jam Recordings on February 6, 1995 as the lead single from his debut album, also titled 'This Is How We Do It'. The single was Def Jam's first R&B release.
The song is representative of the hip hop soul style popular at the time. The song features Jordan singing over an enhanced Teddy Riley drumbeat sample of Slick Rick's "Children's Story" which in turn has an added interpolation of the bass of Bob James' "Nautilus". "This Is How We Do It" peaked at number one on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 on April 15, 1995, rising from number six the previous week and displacing Madonna's "Take a Bow" from the top spot. It remained at number one for seven consecutive weeks. It was also number one for seven weeks on the R&B singles chart. The single sold one million copies domestically and earned a platinum certification from the RIAA.
The song earned Jordan a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards. The same year, the song was named Best R&B 12-inch at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami.
Critical reception
Ralph Tee from British magazine 'Music Week's 'RM' Dance Update wrote, "This record is typical of everything that urban contemporary soul is about with its chugging swing/funk rhythms and intense Aaron Hall-style vocal and it's been flying out on import lately. Its main appeal is the infectious multi-vocal chorus, blasting out the song's title to ram home its anthemic qualities." He added that "there's masses of dancefloor appeal". Another editor, James Hamilton described "This Is How We Do It" as a "soulfully whined, chanted and rapped rolling jackswing joller".
Track listing
* 'CD single, Europe (1995)'
#"This Is How We Do It" (LP Version) 3:59
#"This Is How We Do It" (LP Instrumental) 3:44
#"I Wanna" (LP Version) 5:25
#"This Is How We Do It" (Acappella) 3:47
* 'CD single, UK (1995)'
#"This Is How We Do It" (Radio Mix) 3:43
#"This Is How We Do It" (Tee's Radio Mix) 3:46
#"This Is How We Do It" (Tee's Club Mix) 5:19
#"This Is How We Do It" (Barr 9 Mix) 4:05
#"This Is How We Do It" (Tee's Dub Mix) 4:51
#"This Is How We Do It" (Wino Mix) 3:58
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
The Party (This Is How We Do It)
Dutch DJ Joe Stone released a remixed version of the song in 2015 with Jordan credited as the featured artist.
Background
Formats and track listings
Charts
Release history
In other media
*The original song is featured in the 2002 film 'Ali G Indahouse', along with the 'Rishi Rich' Mix of the cover performed by British girl group 'Mis-Teeq'. The Mis-Teeq version was released as a double A-side with Roll On and peaked at Number 7 on the UK charts, faring four places better than the original.
*In 2005, a cover of the song by Michael Copon was performed on the short-lived, all-celebrity reality competition series 'But Can They Sing?' during week 4.
*A remix of the song was the theme for the TV series 'Howie Do It'.
*The 2007 film 'Freedom Writers' plays the song during a montage sequence of students getting along.
*The song was sung by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in the 2008 film 'Step Brothers'.
*The song was used in a couple of Hyundai commercials in Canada throughout 2015.
*The 2012 film 'American Reunion' this song was played during the reunion scene.
*In 2015 and 2016, the song appeared in ads for satellite provider Dish Network.
*The 2015 film 'Pitch Perfect 2' the song was sung by Pieter (Flula Borg) and Kommissar (Birgitte Hjort Srensen) of the Das Sound Machine During the Riff-Off.
*The song was sung by Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Adam Devine, and Aubrey Plaza in the film 'Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates'.
*The song was sung by Maya Rudolph in season 1 of the show 'Forever'.
*In 2020, the song appears in a commercial for the American retail company Big Lots.
*The song has been featured twice in the "Masked Universe", the American part of an international reality television franchise and aired by the Fox Broadcasting Company. In 2019, rapper T-Pain sung the song on 'The Masked Singer' while dressed up as "Monster", and in 2021 Brian McKnight did a dance number to the song on 'The Masked Dancer' as "Cricket".
*The song was also featured in the game Saints Row IV, plying in the in-game radio, and during the final cutscene after the president defeats Zinyak.
*In 2021, the song appears in a commercial for The General (insurance) which includes a cameo by Montell Jordan and frequent spokesperson Shaquille O'Neal.
See also
* List of 'Billboard' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1995
* List of number-one R&B singles of 1995 (U.S.)
References
Category:1994 songs
Category:1995 debut singles
Category:2002 singles
Category:Montell Jordan songs
Category:Mis-Teeq songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe
Category:Songs written by Montell Jordan
Category:Music videos directed by Hype Williams
Category:New jack swing songs
Category:Def Jam Recordings singles
Category:Spinnin' Records singles
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