Lions, Tigers & Bears
Encyclopedia
This article is about the song. For the comic book series, see Lions, Tigers and Bears
.
"Lions, Tigers & Bears" is the third single released from American R&B–soul
singer Jazmine Sullivan
's debut album Fearless
. The song impacted radio on November 11, 2008, and was officially released on December 16, 2008 as the third single. The track received a Grammy Nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Best R&B Song.
animals, but she's scared to love because of potential heartbreak. Sullivan said that, "the lions, tigers and bears reference represents my career in the music business."
Opinions: Lions, Tigers & Bears is another one of Jazmine's quirky excursions that takes you in an unusual (and beautiful) direction. Where some rappers and singers will imply use beats that imply a 3/4 beat while playing in 4/4, she goes past any notion of implication by writing and performing an R&B song as a waltz(!). In fact, this song is more about the waltz than it is R&B and the orchestral arrangement is nothing short of fantastic. While Jazmine sings about everything she's not scared of but that one thing, a string section plucks softly on the one, accompanying a harp that carries the lead while a violin section fills the higher ends with long tones that float along the rhythm. Going into the bridge the orchestra blossoms with sound as piccolos subtly signal the pending rise and a french horn section blazes a majestic harmonic backdrop behind Jazmine that makes your skin tingle. That is all an aside to Jazmine's personal effort, which is tremendous. It takes some serious songwriting and vocal chops to pull this off and she did it with near ease. This is her dark horse song, one that may never get radio play but is deserving of being called one of the best on the album.
(as is the title of the song) , meeting with blue color in intersection, where a couple is having a fight. Later, orange is introduced as the main color of another couple's outfits as they argue in the balcony of an apartment, while a tiger
arrives and runs through the streets. A third couple is introduced, bringing the color purple to the town.
During the bridge, Jazmine performs on top of a skyscraper, still surrounded by the violins. The violins are then attacked by the tiger, creating a heart
-shaped area of purple mist around Jazmine. Once the bridge is completed, the video returns to Jazmine performing at the yellow brick road (which again, is inspired by The Wizard of Oz, like the title of the song ) and a brain appears and the girl in the blue and walks away from the guy she is seeing. A lion of courage appears on the back of the man's jacket in purple and he gets the "courage" to walk away. A heart appears on the girl in orange and she embraces her lover. This is in direct reference to The Wizard of Oz and the tinman
, the lion
and the scarecrow
. The video ranked at #88 on BET
's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.
Lions, Tigers and Bears
This article is about the comic book series. For the song, see Lions, Tigers & Bears.Lions, Tigers and Bears is a comic book series from Image Comics and Hermes Press, created by Mike Bullock with artwork by Jack Lawrence, Paul Gutierrez, Michael Metcalf, Mike Wieringo and Bob Pedroza.The story...
.
"Lions, Tigers & Bears" is the third single released from American R&B–soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
's debut album Fearless
Fearless (Jazmine Sullivan album)
Fearless is the debut album of American R&B recording artist Jazmine Sullivan, released September 23, 2008, on J Records. Production for the album took place during 2007 to 2008 and was handled by several record producers, including Missy Elliott, Stargate, Carvin & Ivan, Wyclef Jean, and Salaam...
. The song impacted radio on November 11, 2008, and was officially released on December 16, 2008 as the third single. The track received a Grammy Nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Best R&B Song.
Background
"Lions, Tigers and Bears" uses a sample from Salaam Remi's "Sheila's Playground". It was written by Jazmine Sullivan and W. Mann. The song is a soulful melody about love and heartbreak using instrumentation of a violin. The protagonist states that she's not scared of things most people fear, such as facing carnivorousCarnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
animals, but she's scared to love because of potential heartbreak. Sullivan said that, "the lions, tigers and bears reference represents my career in the music business."
Reception
Soul Bounce reviewed the song:Her latest, "Lions, Tigers & Bears," seemingly belies the "Fearless" album title, with Jazzy breaking down to a perspective paramour that kings of the jungle, Seigfried & Roy's crew AND Yogi are all cool with her, but this love thing? Yeah, scary as hell. What I love most about this track is the haunting melody, and of course, that voice. Lawd .
Opinions: Lions, Tigers & Bears is another one of Jazmine's quirky excursions that takes you in an unusual (and beautiful) direction. Where some rappers and singers will imply use beats that imply a 3/4 beat while playing in 4/4, she goes past any notion of implication by writing and performing an R&B song as a waltz(!). In fact, this song is more about the waltz than it is R&B and the orchestral arrangement is nothing short of fantastic. While Jazmine sings about everything she's not scared of but that one thing, a string section plucks softly on the one, accompanying a harp that carries the lead while a violin section fills the higher ends with long tones that float along the rhythm. Going into the bridge the orchestra blossoms with sound as piccolos subtly signal the pending rise and a french horn section blazes a majestic harmonic backdrop behind Jazmine that makes your skin tingle. That is all an aside to Jazmine's personal effort, which is tremendous. It takes some serious songwriting and vocal chops to pull this off and she did it with near ease. This is her dark horse song, one that may never get radio play but is deserving of being called one of the best on the album.
Music video
A music video premiered on Sullivan's MySpace blog promoting Jazmine Sullivan's single on January 29, 2009. It shows her performing in the middle of a gray-colored town while surrounded by floating, transparent violins. The town eventually becomes more colorful as time progresses. First, a golden color is seen spreading on the street inspired by The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
(as is the title of the song) , meeting with blue color in intersection, where a couple is having a fight. Later, orange is introduced as the main color of another couple's outfits as they argue in the balcony of an apartment, while a tiger
Hungry Tiger
The Hungry Tiger is a fictional character from The Oz books by L. Frank Baum.The Hungry Tiger is a massive beast who is friends with the Cowardly Lion. He is always hungry, no matter how much he eats, and longs to eat a "fat baby," though he never would because his conscience will not allow him to...
arrives and runs through the streets. A third couple is introduced, bringing the color purple to the town.
During the bridge, Jazmine performs on top of a skyscraper, still surrounded by the violins. The violins are then attacked by the tiger, creating a heart
Heart (symbol)
The heart has long been used as a symbol to refer to the spiritual, emotional, moral, and in the past, also intellectual core of a human being...
-shaped area of purple mist around Jazmine. Once the bridge is completed, the video returns to Jazmine performing at the yellow brick road (which again, is inspired by The Wizard of Oz, like the title of the song ) and a brain appears and the girl in the blue and walks away from the guy she is seeing. A lion of courage appears on the back of the man's jacket in purple and he gets the "courage" to walk away. A heart appears on the girl in orange and she embraces her lover. This is in direct reference to The Wizard of Oz and the tinman
Tin Woodman
The Tin Woodman, sometimes referred to as the Tin Man or the Tin Woodsman , is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum...
, the lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
and the scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
. The video ranked at #88 on BET
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...
's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.
Credits
- Produced by: Salaam Remi
- Recorded by: Salaam Remi, Franklin Emmanuel Socotto
- Written by: Jazmine Sullivan, Salaam Remi
- Instruments: Salaam Remi
Remixes
- FabolousFabolousJohn David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
is featured on the official remix. - The-DreamThe-DreamTerius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
has covered the song. - Yo GottiYo GottiMario Mims better known by his stage name Yo Gotti, is a southern rapper from the northern side of Memphis, Tennessee who was previously known as Lil Yo.-Independent Albums:Yo Gotti released a string of independent albums...
has recorded a freestyle
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. 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... |
74 |
| U.S. Billboard 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,... |
10 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
November 11, 2008 | J Records J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:... , Puppy Love, Arista Arista Records Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records... |