I Invented Sex
Encyclopedia
"I Invented Sex" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz
, and features Canadian recording artist Drake
. Together, they wrote the song alongside Tony Scales and its producer, Los Da Mystro. It was released to urban
airplay as the third single from Songz's third studio album Ready
on October 13, 2009. The song features a sensual message, accompanied by heavy percussion. "I Invented Sex" received positive reviews, and reached number forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100
, and became Songz's first song to top the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. Its official remix features fellow R&B singers Keri Hilson
and Usher
. The accompanying music video, containing a parental advisory warning, is the follow-up to the "Say Aah
" video.
, Songz said, "It's a groove record. It's got that knock at the same time. It's sexy at the same time. Conceptually, it's mind-blowing to tell a woman, 'You gonna think we invented sex when we're done.' That's where I am." The song was recorded at 11th Street Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
. The official remix of the song features fellow American R&B singers Usher
and Keri Hilson
. Another remix features Willie Taylor
of R&B group Day26
. R&B singer Chris Brown freestyled the song in his first mixtape, In My Zone, with the title "Invented Head."
said the song, along with the intro, "Panty Droppa", were "swagga-oozing" and "expertly build the mood with chopped and screwed vocals and exploding percussion, respectively." Drake's closing rap has been described as "Best I Ever Had
"-esque. David Jeffries of Allmusic noted the song as a standout track from Ready. Complimenting the wide appeal of song's title, DJBooth said that, "With a high-caliber guest feature and a radio-ready sound, this single should be just the thing to boost the already-substantial sales of Songz’ third album."
In the song's remix, Songz makes references to Tiger Woods
, as he also refers to "going in like a Lil Wayne
-Drake
song." DJBooth said that Songz sings alongside, "Usher, who basically invented the modern sexual r&b blueprint that Songz is following, and Hilson, who more than holds her own alongside the boys with some scintillating vocals and hilarious 'soldier at attention' sexual entendres." The review goes on to state, "These three may not have invented sex, but they sure make listening to music while having sex more enjoyable."
. The following week, it moved up to eighty, and eventually peaked at forty-two. It spent twenty weeks on the chart over 2009–10 eventually falling off the chart on the week ending March 10, 2010. The song also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
, making it Songz's first number one the chart.
", while Drake does not appear in the it. The video carries a parental advisory warning. A combination video was released for the clips of "I Invented Sex" and "Say Aah", as they were later released separately. Songz confirmed to MTV News
that the previous would be a continuation of the latter. On the "I Invented Sex" clip, Songz said, "It's very sensual. The idea I had, it came from a banned Calvin Klein ad. It was a dude and two girls and they was touching and kissing. I was like, 'Man, I wanna do that.' We didn't go all the way there. I didn't have two girls — we simulated best we could, and it's more sensual than raunchy.". It ranked at number twenty-two on BET: Notarized Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.
on December 11, 2009. The song was then performed again with "Say Aah
" on It's On with Alexa Chung
, and then on The Mo'Nique Show
In January, both Songz and Drake appeared at West Hollywood's House of Blues
to perform the song. As a part of a medley with one of his musical influences, Stevie Wonder
, "I Invented Sex" was sung at the 2010 BET Honors
on February 1, 2010. He performed the song once again on 106 & Park
on February 11, 2010 for "Love Week" with a medley of "Neighbors Know My Name
", and "Say Aah
". He again performed it in March 2010 at MTV
's Spring Break 2010, in Acapulco, Mexico. Keri Hilson and Usher joined Songz to perform the official remix at WHTA's Jingle Ball in December 2009.
Source
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
, and features Canadian recording artist Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
. Together, they wrote the song alongside Tony Scales and its producer, Los Da Mystro. It was released to urban
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
airplay as the third single from Songz's third studio album Ready
Ready (Trey Songz album)
Ready is the third studio album by American R&B singer Trey Songz. The album, his first studio release since 2007's Trey Day, was released by Songbook and Atlantic Records on August 31, 2009, in the United States...
on October 13, 2009. The song features a sensual message, accompanied by heavy percussion. "I Invented Sex" received positive reviews, and reached number forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and became Songz's first song to top the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. Its official remix features fellow R&B singers Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
and Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
. The accompanying music video, containing a parental advisory warning, is the follow-up to the "Say Aah
Say Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
" video.
Background
When speaking about the record with MTV NewsMTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
, Songz said, "It's a groove record. It's got that knock at the same time. It's sexy at the same time. Conceptually, it's mind-blowing to tell a woman, 'You gonna think we invented sex when we're done.' That's where I am." The song was recorded at 11th Street Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The official remix of the song features fellow American R&B singers Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
and Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
. Another remix features Willie Taylor
Willie Taylor
Willie Taylor, , is an American singer and song writer. He is best known as a contestant from MTV's Making the Band 4, where he was chosen by Diddy to be a member and one of the main vocalists of the band Day26 on August 26, 2007.-Early life:Taylor is formerly a member of the Chicago-based group...
of R&B group Day26
Day26
Day26 is an American male R&B music group formed on August 26, 2007 by Sean "Diddy" Combs in a handpicked selection at the end of MTV's Making the Band 4. The group consists of Robert Curry, Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, and Michael McCluney. The moniker is a tribute to the day when Andrews,...
. R&B singer Chris Brown freestyled the song in his first mixtape, In My Zone, with the title "Invented Head."
Composition and critical reception
Ajitpaul Mangat of Tiny Mix TapesTiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
said the song, along with the intro, "Panty Droppa", were "swagga-oozing" and "expertly build the mood with chopped and screwed vocals and exploding percussion, respectively." Drake's closing rap has been described as "Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had (Drake song)
"Best I Ever Had" is the first single from Canadian rapper Drake's first EP So Far Gone. It first became prominent from the release of Drake's third mixtape of the same name. In 2009, the song was named the "Hot Rap Song" of the year by Billboard. The song's popularity helped Drake decide to...
"-esque. David Jeffries of Allmusic noted the song as a standout track from Ready. Complimenting the wide appeal of song's title, DJBooth said that, "With a high-caliber guest feature and a radio-ready sound, this single should be just the thing to boost the already-substantial sales of Songz’ third album."
In the song's remix, Songz makes references to Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, as he also refers to "going in like a Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
-Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
song." DJBooth said that Songz sings alongside, "Usher, who basically invented the modern sexual r&b blueprint that Songz is following, and Hilson, who more than holds her own alongside the boys with some scintillating vocals and hilarious 'soldier at attention' sexual entendres." The review goes on to state, "These three may not have invented sex, but they sure make listening to music while having sex more enjoyable."
Chart performance
On the week ending November 7, 2009, "I Invented Sex" debuted at number ninety on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The following week, it moved up to eighty, and eventually peaked at forty-two. It spent twenty weeks on the chart over 2009–10 eventually falling off the chart on the week ending March 10, 2010. The song also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, making it Songz's first number one the chart.
Music video
The music video was directed by Yolande Geralds, who also helmed the clip for "Say AahSay Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
", while Drake does not appear in the it. The video carries a parental advisory warning. A combination video was released for the clips of "I Invented Sex" and "Say Aah", as they were later released separately. Songz confirmed to MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
that the previous would be a continuation of the latter. On the "I Invented Sex" clip, Songz said, "It's very sensual. The idea I had, it came from a banned Calvin Klein ad. It was a dude and two girls and they was touching and kissing. I was like, 'Man, I wanna do that.' We didn't go all the way there. I didn't have two girls — we simulated best we could, and it's more sensual than raunchy.". It ranked at number twenty-two on BET: Notarized Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.
Live performances
Songz performed "I Invented Sex" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on December 1, 2009 and on 106 & Park106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
on December 11, 2009. The song was then performed again with "Say Aah
Say Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
" on It's On with Alexa Chung
It's On with Alexa Chung
It's On with Alexa Chung was an American live interactive talk and variety program that aired weekdays on MTV from June 15 to December 17, 2009...
, and then on The Mo'Nique Show
The Mo'Nique Show
The Mo'Nique Show is an American talk show hosted by comedienne actress Mo'Nique. Aired on BET, the series began October 5, 2009. She is the first African American woman to host her own late night show. The show's second and final season premiered on Monday, October 4, 2010.On July 18, 2011, BET...
In January, both Songz and Drake appeared at West Hollywood's House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
to perform the song. As a part of a medley with one of his musical influences, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, "I Invented Sex" was sung at the 2010 BET Honors
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
on February 1, 2010. He performed the song once again on 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
on February 11, 2010 for "Love Week" with a medley of "Neighbors Know My Name
Neighbors Know My Name
"Neighbors Know My Name" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz. It was written by Songz with Patrick Hayes and Troy Taylor, who produced the song with John Mcgee. It was released to rhythmic and urban airplay as the fifth and final single from his third studio album, Ready on February 16, 2010...
", and "Say Aah
Say Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
". He again performed it in March 2010 at MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Spring Break 2010, in Acapulco, Mexico. Keri Hilson and Usher joined Songz to perform the official remix at WHTA's Jingle Ball in December 2009.
Credits and personnel
- Songwriting – Trey Songz, Drake, Los Da Mystro, Tony Scales
- ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and all instrumentsMusical instrumentA musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
– Los Da Mystro - RecordingSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
– Scott Naughton - MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Jaycen-Joshua Fowler and Dave Pensado, assisted by Giancarlo Lino
Source
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | October 13, 2009 | Urban Urban contemporary Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music... airplay |