Young, Fresh n' New
Encyclopedia
"Young, Fresh n' New" is a song by American recording artist Kelis
from her second studio album, Wanderland
. Written by Kelis and The Neptunes
members Pharrell Williams
and Chad Hugo
—who also produced the track—, it was released as the album's only single
in 2001, becoming a minor hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number thirty-two on the UK Singles Chart
. In the United States, however, it became her third consecutive single to miss the Billboard Hot 100
, while Wanderland remains unreleased there. Nevertheless, the song's Timo Maas
remix did manage to chart on Billboard
s Hot Dance Club Play at number fifteen in late January 2002.
referred to the song as "a delirious four and a half minutes of rasping, intergalactic funk
which sounds as if it was recorded in the engine room of the U.S.S. Enterprise
", while noting that "there's a tripped-out, space-vixen vitality to Kelis's vocals, as if she's no longer overawed by the mad skills of her production Svengali
s." Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine
described it as "a track ripe with the production duo's signature electronic synth spirals and industrial
-strength basslines." Andy Kellman wrote for Allmusic that the song is "particularly stunning, a buzzing grind with a chaotic loop that could've been lifted from a pinball machine. As a song, it doesn't have much grounding, yet the Neptunes cast their disorienting eccentricities all over it and come up with a production that could've only been suited for Kelis." NME
reviewer Victoria Segal called the song "startling" and stated that "[t]here's sudden splashes of synthetic soul sighing, perfectly timed shouts of 'hey!', an unsettling underage vibe in the lyrics and a vocal that doesn't so much drip attitude as oil-spill it." The song appeared on several compilation CDs , including Richard X
's "Back To Mine". Kelis later collaborated with the singer to make the dance hit "Finest Dreams",
which appeared on X's album Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
.
European CD single
UK 12" single
U.S. 12" single
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
from her second studio album, Wanderland
Wanderland
Wanderland is the second studio album by American recording artist Kelis, released in October 2001 by Virgin Records.Kelis was living in Europe at the time of the album's release. Wanderland was more experimental than her previous album, Kaleidoscope, and was a modest success chartwise...
. Written by Kelis and The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
members Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams , commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music...
and Chad Hugo
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist...
—who also produced the track—, it was released as the album's only single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 2001, becoming a minor hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number thirty-two 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 ...
. In the United States, however, it became her third consecutive single to miss 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...
, while Wanderland remains unreleased there. Nevertheless, the song's Timo Maas
Timo Maas
Timo Maas is an electronic music DJ/producer and remixer.-Career:Maas bought his first set of turntables at the age of 17, and played his very first DJ set in 1982 at a party in his friend's home...
remix did manage to chart on 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...
s Hot Dance Club Play at number fifteen in late January 2002.
Critical reception
"Young, Fresh n' New" received positive reviews from music critics. Rupert Howe from BlenderBlender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
referred to the song as "a delirious four and a half minutes of rasping, intergalactic funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
which sounds as if it was recorded in the engine room of the U.S.S. Enterprise
Starship Enterprise
The Enterprise or USS Enterprise is the name of several fictional starships, some of which are the focal point for various television series and films in the Star Trek franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. It is considered a name of legacy in the fleet...
", while noting that "there's a tripped-out, space-vixen vitality to Kelis's vocals, as if she's no longer overawed by the mad skills of her production Svengali
Svengali
Svengali is a fictional character of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby. Svengali "would either fawn or bully and could be grossly impertinent. He had a kind of cynical humour that was more offensive than amusing and always laughed at the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place...
s." Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
described it as "a track ripe with the production duo's signature electronic synth spirals and industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
-strength basslines." Andy Kellman wrote for Allmusic that the song is "particularly stunning, a buzzing grind with a chaotic loop that could've been lifted from a pinball machine. As a song, it doesn't have much grounding, yet the Neptunes cast their disorienting eccentricities all over it and come up with a production that could've only been suited for Kelis." NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
reviewer Victoria Segal called the song "startling" and stated that "[t]here's sudden splashes of synthetic soul sighing, perfectly timed shouts of 'hey!', an unsettling underage vibe in the lyrics and a vocal that doesn't so much drip attitude as oil-spill it." The song appeared on several compilation CDs , including Richard X
Richard X
Richard Philips, best known by his stage name Richard X, is a British songwriter and music producer. Gaining attention as a pioneer of the bootleg craze, Richard X has earned success as a producer and remixer. He has helmed hit singles for artists including Annie, Kelis, Liberty X, Rachel Stevens...
's "Back To Mine". Kelis later collaborated with the singer to make the dance hit "Finest Dreams",
which appeared on X's album Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1 is the debut compilation album by British pop producer Richard X. The album features 15 tracks all produced by Richard X, most of which feature guest vocals....
.
Track listings
UK CD single and European CD maxi single- "Young, Fresh n' New" (UK Radio Edit) – 3:30
- "Young, Fresh n' New" (Timo MaasTimo MaasTimo Maas is an electronic music DJ/producer and remixer.-Career:Maas bought his first set of turntables at the age of 17, and played his very first DJ set in 1982 at a party in his friend's home...
Remix - Full Vocal) – 7:03 - "Young, Fresh n' New" (So SolidSo Solid CrewSo Solid Crew is an electronic and urban musical collective from South London, England, whose hits include "Oh No " and "21 Seconds", the latter reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart in August 2001. Another hit, "They Don't Know", reached number three in November 2001 and "Haters" got to...
Remix - Full Vocal) – 5:42 - "Young, Fresh n' New" (Video) – 3:30
European CD single
- "Young, Fresh n' New" (UK Radio Edit) – 3:30
- "Young, Fresh n' New" (Timo Maas Remix - Full Vocal) – 7:03
UK 12" single
- A1. "Young, Fresh n' New" – 4:37
- A2. "Young, Fresh n' New" (So Solid Remix - Vocal Mix) – 5:42
- B1. "Young, Fresh n' New" (Timo Maas Remix - Full Vocal) – 7:03
U.S. 12" single
- A1. "Young, Fresh n' New" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
- A2. "Young, Fresh n' New" (Album Instrumental) – 4:37
- A3. "Daddy" (featuring Malice of ClipseClipseClipse is a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed in 1992 by brothers Malice and Pusha T , the group is heavily affiliated with production team The Neptunes and signed to Star Trak Entertainment.- Exclusive Audio Footage :The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, New...
) – 3:50 - B1. "The Spot" – 3:58
- B2. "The Spot" (Instrumental) – 3:58
- B3. "Daddy" (Instrumental) – 3:50
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Single Top 100 | 89 |
| 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 ... |
32 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
| U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | 15 |