Kelly (song)

"Kelly" is a song recorded by American singer Kelly Rowland. Rowland self-released the song on November 22, 2018. It is a hip hop and R&B song, and some critics referred to it as influenced by trap music and club music. Rowland boasts about herself in the lyrics. The song received mixed reviews from critics.

Not to be confused with Kelly Song or The Kelly Song.

"Kelly"
Promotional single by Kelly Rowland
ReleasedNovember 22, 2018
Recorded2018
Genre
Length3:01
Labelself released

Composition and lyrics

"Kelly" is a hip hop and R&B song,[1][2] which some critics described as inspired by trap music[1][3] and club music.[1][4] HotNewHipHop's Karlton Jahmal connected the song with "the Atlanta trap sound".[5] Idolator's Mike Wass wrote that the composition had an uptempo "staccato beat",[2] and other commentators noted the single for its bass and synthesizer.[5][6] Several media outlets compared Kelly Rowland's vocals to rapping.[5][6] Wass referred to Rowland as being in "full hip-hop mode".[2] Rowland praises herself throughout the song,[3][7] including boasts about her "class, ass, a man, whips, drip".[8]

Release

Rowland self-released "Kelly" on November 22, 2018.[4][9][10] The song was later made available for digital download on November 30.[10] It was Rowland's first solo release since her fourth studio album Talk a Good Game in 2013.[11] According to HipHopDX's Trent Clark, Rowland used "Kelly" as a gift to her fans.[12] Prior to the song's release, the singer teased lyrics on her Instagram.[13] Rowland used the single cover as her Instagram account's wallpaper.[12] She later shared other photos from the same shoot on the social media platform.[14] The single led to the hashtag #GoKellyGo.[15]

Critical reception

The critical response to "Kelly" was mixed. Essence's Sydney Scott and Uproxx's Cherise Johnson cited the song as a highlight during the week of its release,[1][16] and Hollywood Life's Courteney Larocca summed it up as "FIRE".[14] Wass praised the single as catchy, but wrote that it "takes a couple of listens to fully process".[2] Jezebel's Clover Hope criticized "Kelly" as "not a super earworm hit", but felt it was "something sufficient to bop to".[17]

Format
Digital download[10]
  1. "Kelly" – 3:01

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
US R&B Digital Songs (Billboard)[18] 14

Release history
RegionFormatDateLabel
Various YouTube[9] November 22, 2018 Kelly Rowland
Digital download[10] November 30, 2018

References
  1. Johnson, Cherise (November 26, 2018). "All The Best New R&B From This Week That You Need To Hear". Uproxx. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018.
  2. Wass, Mike (November 26, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Returns With A Gritty Mantra Called "Kelly"". Idolator. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  3. Iasimone, Ashley (November 24, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Releases New Track 'Kelly'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018.
  4. Thompson, Desire (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Hops In Her Bag With New Single "Kelly"". Vibe. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018.
  5. Jahmal, Karlton (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Drops Off Self-Titled Single On Thanksgiving". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018.
  6. D-Money (November 26, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Shows Us A Different Side Of Herself On 'Kelly'". SoulBounce.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
  7. Maicki, Salvatore (November 23, 2018). "Hear Kelly Rowland's new song "Kelly"". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018.
  8. Cowen, Trace William (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Returns With New Single "Kelly"". Complex. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018.
  9. "Kelly (Official Audio)". November 22, 2018. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018 – via YouTube.
  10. "Kelly - Single". Apple Music. November 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018.
  11. Blais-Billie, Braudie (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Shares New Song "Kelly": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018.
  12. Clark, Trent (November 23, 2018). "Kelly Rowland Drops Off Trappy Self-Titled Single". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018.
  13. "New Music: Kelly Rowland - 'Kelly'". Rap-Up. November 23, 2018. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018.
  14. Larocca, Courteney (November 30, 2018). "Kelly Rowland, 37 Goes Topless To Promote New Music — Sexy Pics". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019.
  15. Gant, Essence (December 12, 2018). "Here's What Kelly Rowland's Real Hair Looks Like". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018.
  16. Scott, Sydney (November 30, 2018). "From Kelly Rowland To Saweetie: 9 New Singles We Loved This Week". Essence. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
  17. Hope, Clover (November 30, 2018). "Miley Cyrus Possibly Finds Her Place, and Kelly Rowland Talks Her Shit". Jezebel. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018.
  18. "Kelly Rowland – Kelly – R&B Digital Songs Chart history". Billboard.
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