Work (Ciara song)
Encyclopedia
"Work" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara
, from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride
(2009). It was co-written by Ciara, Nate "Danja" Hills, Marcella Araica
and Missy Elliott
and produced by Danja with additional production by Araica. The song was released on July 24, 2009, by LaFace Records
as the album's fifth and final single. Ciara described "Work" as a club-ready song of high-energy, and once considered choosing it as the album's first single. The song features Elliott, making it their third collaboration, following "1, 2 Step
" (2004) and "Lose Control
" (2005). Musically, "Work" is a fast-paced electropop and dance
song with elements of house
and hip hop
in its production and beat.
The song was met with mixed reviews from critics, with some calling it the album's strongest track and praising its hook
, while others dismissed it for being unoriginal and disappointing. "Work" enjoyed moderate commercial success, peaking at number 52 on the UK Singles Chart
and number 46 in Sweden. The song achieved its highest peak in Ireland, where it reached number 31. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Melina Matsoukas
and features Ciara and her dancers performing at a construction site.
and Missy Elliott
and produced by Danja with additional production by Araica. The song was recorded by Araica at Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles
, California and Goldmind Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was later mixed by Araica at the former studio, with assistance by Jared Newcomb. The vocal arrangement was handled by Ciara. The track was originally announced in June 2008. Later in October, it was revealed to be a duet with Missy Elliott. The collaboration became their third together, following Ciara's "1, 2 Step
" (2004) and Elliott's "Lose Control
" (2005). While being interviewed by MTV News
on the set of the music video for "Go Girl
", Ciara said, "I have a song with Missy, and it's crazy and out of this world. The energy is to the 10th power again." In an interview with Blogcritics
, Ciara elaborated on collaborating with Elliott, stating:
Originally, Fantasy Ride
was announced to be divided into three different discs that each represented a particular sound. "Work" was set to appear on the third disc, "Kingdom of Dance", featuring dance-oriented music. In an interview with Billboard
in August 2008, Ciara spoke of the song's inclusion on "Kingdom of Dance", stating, "This is a high-energy record. This is the type of song you can work out to; you're going to sweat up a storm in the club." The song and "High Price" were at one point in contention of serving as the album's lead single, but "Go Girl" was chosen instead. "Work" was ultimately released as the fifth and final single on July 24, 2009 in international territories. In Germany, the song was released as a CD single on August 21, 2009, alongside the B-side
"Fit of Love". "Work" was eventually released in the United States several months later on December 8, 2009, via digital download
only.
song with elements of house
in its production. The fast-paced song features dance and hip hop
beats, while using hand claps and synth
bleeps as its backdrop. Andrew Rennie of Canadian magazine Now
described the song's instrumentation as "kick drum
-heavy", and Joey Guerra of The Houston Chronicle called it a "frenetic club track". Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe
wrote that Ciara "nimbly navigates synth bleats and burps and a shake-and-shimmy beat". The song opens with lines by Elliott as she raps "When the song come on in the club, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up." Ciara then opens the first verse, singing "The dance train is coming back again. Extravaganza, you should run and tell a friend." The song's hook
consists of repeated remarks to "Work! Work!" The song also includes the line "You better shake that thang like a donkey!", which Digital Spy
's David Balls considered "thought-provoking".
writer Bill Lamb named it one of the album's best, and wrote that it "lands somewhere between Ciara's contemporary classic '1, 2 Step' and Missy Elliot's own 'Lose Control'." Andrew Rennie of Now considered it the album's strongest track and noted Ciara and Elliott's "trademark chemistry". IGN
's Finn White wrote that the song "will make all the bad girls sweat on the dance floor". In his review of Fantasy Ride, Marrio Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News
wrote that "Love Sex Magic
" is a "dance-floor corker", and noted that "Work" is "similarly club-ready", referring both songs to as "ultra-catchy". Speaking of "Work", Tarradell wrote, "The rapid-fire 'work, work, work' refrain will bond to your head as if with Krazy Glue." Writing for Metro Weekly
, Doug Rule called the song an "instant classic" and referred it to as a "sequel of sorts to Elliott's marvelous 2002 hit 'Work It'." A writer from Rap-Up
named the song one of the album's top tracks.
David Balls of Digital Spy
rated "Work" three stars out of five, writing that it "bears all the ingredients of a smash, but lacks the killer blow to leave you gasping for air." Balls also noted that Ciara tends to rely on guest artists to guarantee herself a hit. The Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra called the song a "blast of energy", but observed that it is "too reminiscent of past Ciara/Elliott hits". Guerra said that "A little variation would have made for a more dynamic tune." Andy Kellman of Allmusic was negative more negative and called the song an "over-stuffed dancefloor mess that does not benefit from Missy Elliott's hoarse hectorin". Jordan Sargent of PopMatters
considered the song a letdown due to Ciara's "lifeless" vocal delivery. Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! UK & Ireland referred the song to as "an underwhelming twitch which Missy surely wouldn't have had anywhere near one of her own albums."
at number 71. The following week, it rose fifteen positions to number 56. In its third week, it rose four positions to acquire a peak of number 52. "Work" was present on the chart for a total of seven weeks before falling off. In Ireland, the song debuted at number 31 on the Irish Singles Chart
, which became its peak position. On the issue dated July 13, 2009, the song entered the Australian Singles Chart
at number 98. After ascending for several weeks, it peaked at number 66 in its fifth week on the chart. In Sweden, "Work" debuted on the Sverigetopplistan
chart at number 50 on the issue dated July 17, 2009. The following week, the song ascended to number 46, which was its peak position.
for "Work" was directed by Melina Matsoukas
, who previously directed the clip for Ciara's single "Go Girl
" (2008). A sneak preview video was released in early June 2009, followed by a set of promotional photos. The full video premiered in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2009 at 7 pm on 4Music
, and later broadcast on Channel 4
around midnight. The following day, the video was added to Ciara's official profile on Bebo
.
The video commences with several shots of a construction site, where Ciara arrives in a large construction vehicle. Missy Elliott raps her opening verse from the top of a pile of large tires while Ciara makes her debut in a gray jumpsuit with square aviator sunglasses. Soon, she appears in a slender black leotard
as she walks seductively along a construction walkway. Ciara then signals her dancers to a sand dune in front of the site, for a group choreography
, while wearing white tops, torn blue jeans, construction belts and goggles. The second verse features intense dancing and switches half-way through to Ciara dressed in a turquoise PVC
dress and black strap stilettos, dancing in front of a pile of tires. She is then back in the dune with her dancers where they dance along to Elliott's words. The video ends in the sand dune with Ciara and her dancers slowly dropping to the ground and then getting up.
Source
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ciara. It was released on May 3, 2009 in the UK by RCA Records and May 5 in the United States on LaFace Records. The album combines R&B and hip hop sound from her previous albums along with a new pop and dance direction.The album...
(2009). It was co-written by Ciara, Nate "Danja" Hills, Marcella Araica
Marcella Araica
Marcella Araica is an American recording and mixing engineer, who has recorded and mixed tracks for artists including Britney Spears, Madonna, Pink, Duran Duran and Keri Hilson.-Biography:...
and Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and produced by Danja with additional production by Araica. The song was released on July 24, 2009, by LaFace Records
LaFace Records
LaFace Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment.-Company history:LaFace was formed in 1989 as a joint venture between the producing duo Antonio "L.A." Reid & Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and Arista Records. The combined nicknames of the duo's successful...
as the album's fifth and final single. Ciara described "Work" as a club-ready song of high-energy, and once considered choosing it as the album's first single. The song features Elliott, making it their third collaboration, following "1, 2 Step
1, 2 Step
"1, 2 Step" is a R&B/dance/hip hop song recorded by Ciara and Missy Elliott for Ciara's debut album Goodies . Written by Ciara and Missy Elliott and produced by Jazze Pha, it was released as the album's second single in October 2004 in the United States and the second quarter of 2005 ...
" (2004) and "Lose Control
Lose Control (Missy Elliott song)
"Lose Control" is a song by American rapper/songwriter Missy Elliott featuring singer Ciara and rapper Fatman Scoop. It was released as the lead single from Elliott's sixth studio album, The Cookbook. It contains samples from Cybotron's "Clear", Hot Streak's "Body Work" and Les Rythmes Digitales'...
" (2005). Musically, "Work" is a fast-paced electropop and dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song with elements of house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
in its production and beat.
The song was met with mixed reviews from critics, with some calling it the album's strongest track and praising its hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
, while others dismissed it for being unoriginal and disappointing. "Work" enjoyed moderate commercial success, peaking at number 52 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number 46 in Sweden. The song achieved its highest peak in Ireland, where it reached number 31. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas is an American music video director.-Life and career:Matsoukas is of Greek, Jewish, Jamaican and Cuban descent. Both her name and surname are Greek: Μελίνα Ματσούκα. She is a graduate of the American Film Institute and New York University...
and features Ciara and her dancers performing at a construction site.
Background
"Work" was written by Ciara, Nate "Danja" Hills, Marcella AraicaMarcella Araica
Marcella Araica is an American recording and mixing engineer, who has recorded and mixed tracks for artists including Britney Spears, Madonna, Pink, Duran Duran and Keri Hilson.-Biography:...
and Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and produced by Danja with additional production by Araica. The song was recorded by Araica at Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California and Goldmind Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was later mixed by Araica at the former studio, with assistance by Jared Newcomb. The vocal arrangement was handled by Ciara. The track was originally announced in June 2008. Later in October, it was revealed to be a duet with Missy Elliott. The collaboration became their third together, following Ciara's "1, 2 Step
1, 2 Step
"1, 2 Step" is a R&B/dance/hip hop song recorded by Ciara and Missy Elliott for Ciara's debut album Goodies . Written by Ciara and Missy Elliott and produced by Jazze Pha, it was released as the album's second single in October 2004 in the United States and the second quarter of 2005 ...
" (2004) and Elliott's "Lose Control
Lose Control (Missy Elliott song)
"Lose Control" is a song by American rapper/songwriter Missy Elliott featuring singer Ciara and rapper Fatman Scoop. It was released as the lead single from Elliott's sixth studio album, The Cookbook. It contains samples from Cybotron's "Clear", Hot Streak's "Body Work" and Les Rythmes Digitales'...
" (2005). While being interviewed by 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...
on the set of the music video for "Go Girl
Go Girl (Ciara song)
"Go Girl" is a song co-written and performed by American R&B singer Ciara. The song was released as the lead single, for her third studio album Fantasy Ride, however it was only included on the Japan version of the album...
", Ciara said, "I have a song with Missy, and it's crazy and out of this world. The energy is to the 10th power again." In an interview with Blogcritics
Blogcritics
Blogcritics is a blog network and online magazine of news and opinion. The site—a self-proclaimed "sinister cabal of superior writers"—was founded in 2002 by Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn...
, Ciara elaborated on collaborating with Elliott, stating:
When Missy and I do a record, the energy is on a whole other level. I can't explain exactly what it is. It's just the energy, I think. She knows how to really make a party a party. That's what I want – to make this record to be the ultimate party record. That's pretty much how that all came about. I don't know. I guess each time we work together, we give 100% of our energy to each other. It's crazy. Sometimes you can't explain what the chemistry is. It's just how you feel.
Originally, Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride
Fantasy Ride is the third studio album by American R&B singer Ciara. It was released on May 3, 2009 in the UK by RCA Records and May 5 in the United States on LaFace Records. The album combines R&B and hip hop sound from her previous albums along with a new pop and dance direction.The album...
was announced to be divided into three different discs that each represented a particular sound. "Work" was set to appear on the third disc, "Kingdom of Dance", featuring dance-oriented music. In an interview with Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
in August 2008, Ciara spoke of the song's inclusion on "Kingdom of Dance", stating, "This is a high-energy record. This is the type of song you can work out to; you're going to sweat up a storm in the club." The song and "High Price" were at one point in contention of serving as the album's lead single, but "Go Girl" was chosen instead. "Work" was ultimately released as the fifth and final single on July 24, 2009 in international territories. In Germany, the song was released as a CD single on August 21, 2009, alongside the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
"Fit of Love". "Work" was eventually released in the United States several months later on December 8, 2009, via digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
only.
Composition
"Work" is an electropop and danceDance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song with elements of house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
in its production. The fast-paced song features dance and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
beats, while using hand claps and synth
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
bleeps as its backdrop. Andrew Rennie of Canadian magazine Now
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
described the song's instrumentation as "kick drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
-heavy", and Joey Guerra of The Houston Chronicle called it a "frenetic club track". Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
wrote that Ciara "nimbly navigates synth bleats and burps and a shake-and-shimmy beat". The song opens with lines by Elliott as she raps "When the song come on in the club, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up." Ciara then opens the first verse, singing "The dance train is coming back again. Extravaganza, you should run and tell a friend." The song's hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
consists of repeated remarks to "Work! Work!" The song also includes the line "You better shake that thang like a donkey!", which Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
's David Balls considered "thought-provoking".
Critical reception
Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe named the song the album's "most essential" and praised Elliott as the best guest artist. Rodman wrote that Ciara "takes her own advice to 'put some snap into it'." About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
writer Bill Lamb named it one of the album's best, and wrote that it "lands somewhere between Ciara's contemporary classic '1, 2 Step' and Missy Elliot's own 'Lose Control'." Andrew Rennie of Now considered it the album's strongest track and noted Ciara and Elliott's "trademark chemistry". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Finn White wrote that the song "will make all the bad girls sweat on the dance floor". In his review of Fantasy Ride, Marrio Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
wrote that "Love Sex Magic
Love Sex Magic
"Love Sex Magic" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara, taken from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. Featuring fellow American recording artist Justin Timberlake, the song was written by Timberlake and his production team The Y's, as well as Ciara and Mike Elizondo. The Y's and...
" is a "dance-floor corker", and noted that "Work" is "similarly club-ready", referring both songs to as "ultra-catchy". Speaking of "Work", Tarradell wrote, "The rapid-fire 'work, work, work' refrain will bond to your head as if with Krazy Glue." Writing for Metro Weekly
Metro Weekly
Metro Weekly is a free weekly magazine-style publication for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. It was first published on May 5, 1994. Metro Weekly includes local news, interviews with community leaders and politicians, community event calendars,...
, Doug Rule called the song an "instant classic" and referred it to as a "sequel of sorts to Elliott's marvelous 2002 hit 'Work It'." A writer from Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
named the song one of the album's top tracks.
David Balls of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
rated "Work" three stars out of five, writing that it "bears all the ingredients of a smash, but lacks the killer blow to leave you gasping for air." Balls also noted that Ciara tends to rely on guest artists to guarantee herself a hit. The Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra called the song a "blast of energy", but observed that it is "too reminiscent of past Ciara/Elliott hits". Guerra said that "A little variation would have made for a more dynamic tune." Andy Kellman of Allmusic was negative more negative and called the song an "over-stuffed dancefloor mess that does not benefit from Missy Elliott's hoarse hectorin". Jordan Sargent of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
considered the song a letdown due to Ciara's "lifeless" vocal delivery. Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! UK & Ireland referred the song to as "an underwhelming twitch which Missy surely wouldn't have had anywhere near one of her own albums."
Chart performance
On the issue dated July 11, 2009, "Work" entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 71. The following week, it rose fifteen positions to number 56. In its third week, it rose four positions to acquire a peak of number 52. "Work" was present on the chart for a total of seven weeks before falling off. In Ireland, the song debuted at number 31 on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, which became its peak position. On the issue dated July 13, 2009, the song entered the Australian Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
at number 98. After ascending for several weeks, it peaked at number 66 in its fifth week on the chart. In Sweden, "Work" debuted on the Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
chart at number 50 on the issue dated July 17, 2009. The following week, the song ascended to number 46, which was its peak position.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Work" was directed by Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas
Melina Matsoukas is an American music video director.-Life and career:Matsoukas is of Greek, Jewish, Jamaican and Cuban descent. Both her name and surname are Greek: Μελίνα Ματσούκα. She is a graduate of the American Film Institute and New York University...
, who previously directed the clip for Ciara's single "Go Girl
Go Girl (Ciara song)
"Go Girl" is a song co-written and performed by American R&B singer Ciara. The song was released as the lead single, for her third studio album Fantasy Ride, however it was only included on the Japan version of the album...
" (2008). A sneak preview video was released in early June 2009, followed by a set of promotional photos. The full video premiered in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2009 at 7 pm on 4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
, and later broadcast on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
around midnight. The following day, the video was added to Ciara's official profile on Bebo
Bebo
Bebo is a social networking website launched in July 2005. It is currently owned and operated by Criterion Capital Partners after taking over from AOL in June 2010....
.
The video commences with several shots of a construction site, where Ciara arrives in a large construction vehicle. Missy Elliott raps her opening verse from the top of a pile of large tires while Ciara makes her debut in a gray jumpsuit with square aviator sunglasses. Soon, she appears in a slender black leotard
Leotard
A leotard is a skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs free. It was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard ....
as she walks seductively along a construction walkway. Ciara then signals her dancers to a sand dune in front of the site, for a group choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
, while wearing white tops, torn blue jeans, construction belts and goggles. The second verse features intense dancing and switches half-way through to Ciara dressed in a turquoise PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
dress and black strap stilettos, dancing in front of a pile of tires. She is then back in the dune with her dancers where they dance along to Elliott's words. The video ends in the sand dune with Ciara and her dancers slowly dropping to the ground and then getting up.
Formats and track listings
- CD single / Digital download
- "Work" – 4:05
- "Fit of Love" – 3:18
- US digital download
- "Work" – 4:05
Credits and personnel
- Songwriting – Ciara Harris, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica, Missy Elliott
- Production – Danja
- Additional production – The Incredible LagoMarcella AraicaMarcella Araica is an American recording and mixing engineer, who has recorded and mixed tracks for artists including Britney Spears, Madonna, Pink, Duran Duran and Keri Hilson.-Biography:...
- Vocal arrangement – Ciara
- 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...
– Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica
Source
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... ) |
66 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 52 |
Release history
| Country | Release date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | July 24, 2009 | CD single, digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| Sweden | July 27, 2009 | Digital download |
| United Kingdom | CD single, digital download | |
| Germany | August 21, 2009 | CD single |
| United States | December 8, 2009 | Digital download |