"Return the Favor" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Keri Hilson. The song features Timbaland, who wrote the song with Hilson and her songwriting/production team The Clutch, as well as Walter Milsap. Following the moderate international chart success of Hilson's lead single, "Energy", "Return the Favor" was released from Hilson's debut album, In a Perfect World..., serving as the international second single while the urban single, "Turnin Me On" was released in the US.
As Hilson's second vocal collaboration with mentor Timbaland, Hilson stated the purpose of the song's initial conception was to re-create the success of their worldwide hit, "The Way I Are", as Timbaland called the "Return the Favor" bigger and better.
The song reached the top twenty in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany, while appearing in the top thirty of Austria and Sweden, charting in Australia and the tip charts in Belgium. The accompanying music video implements a futuristic concept and features Hilson sporting several extravagant outfits.
When Hilson talked to Digital Spy about the song, she said that Timbaland called her and said, "I've got a song that I think's better than 'The Way I Are'. I think it's bigger."[1] They took the track and wrote "Return the Favor" over the beat.[1] According to Hilson, she said that song was partially inspired by "that conversational, back-and-forth thing" they did on "The Way I Are", stating, "We got a great response from that that we wanted to do it again."[1] The initial draft of the hook featured the line "If you kiss me then I’ll kiss you back", but according to Hilson in an interview with That Grape Juice, it was changed by unknown reason by Timbaland.[2] After it was reported that In a Perfect World... would be pushed back to October 2008, "Return the Favor" surfaced online, and it was rumored to be the follow-up to "Energy."[3] The sample was later removed by Hilson's management, before it was announced as the album's second single.[3][4] The song was featured on December 15, 2008 episode of The Hills.[5]
Composition and critical reception
"Return the Favor"
A sample of "Return the Favor", described to employ Timbaland's "signature dizzying 22nd-century flair."
"Return the Favor" is described as an electro-dance-pop record,[3] with a future-like sound, including euro-style synths.[6] Dan Nishimoto of Prefix Magazine noted that the song includes Timbaland's "signature dizzying 22nd-century flair that he's been employing ever since 2006."[7] Andy Kellman of Allmusic noted the song as a standout track from In a Perfect World....[8] According to J.K. Glei of Cincinnati Metromix said the song has "cascading synths," and a "classic pop structure."[9] However Glei said that Hilson's vocals "feel flat against the driving beat" and that Timbaland "fully phones it in."[9] While noting the song "follows the same blueprint" of Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous", Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said it was a "satisfying pop romp" and said even though Hilson lacked Furtado's distinctiveness, that it "shouldn't have a problem striking a chord at radio."[10]
Nick Levine of Digital Spy said, the song was "a perfectly decent slice of midtempo Timba-pop, but it's not really in the same league as the brilliant 'The Way I Are'."[11]MTV Buzzworthy said "slightly less out-there are the beats -- which sound an awful lot like Hilson and Timbaland's first collaboration, "The Way I Are"—and the cameo from Timba himself."[12] Sophie Bruce of BBC Music thought that the song lacked the a catchy hook such as in "The Way I Are."[13] Less than impressed with Timbaland's rapping and "less than sexy" vocal appeal, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said the "unfortunate pairing" was reprised, and the song "encapsulates the record’s shortcomings."[14]
Chart performance
"Return the Favor" was the most successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland, peaking at nineteen in both countries. In Austria, the song debuted and peaked at twenty-five on the Austrian Singles Chart, before falling off after six weeks.[15] On the Swedish Singles Chart, It debuted and peaked at thirty, before falling off after six weeks on the chart.[15] In Belgium, "Return the Favore" appeared on Belgian Tip Charts, peaking at six in Flanders, and seventeen Wallonia.[15] While debuting and peaking at twenty-one on the German Singles Chart, it completed nine weeks on the chart before falling off.[16] It made the lower regions of the ARIA Singles Chart appearing at eighty.[17]
Music video
A still from the video in which the screen is in fourths, noting the employed usage of television screens in the scene
The music video was directed by Melina, who directed Hilson's video for "Energy."[18] A preview of the video was released on October 14, 2008, and the full video premiered on October 23, 2008.[18][19] Featuring a futuristic concept, the video begins with a small clip from Timbaland and Hilson's "The Way I Are", before it cuts to Hilson dancing in a future-like room while scenes are shown on a wall behind Timbaland, who is seated in a chair.[12] Hilson is then show in a pink ruffled bra and dress dancing in front of mirrors, and then rises out of a pool in a blue swimsuit while scenes continue to be broadcast behind a seated Timbaland.[12] Intercut with scenes with previous attire, Hilson performs ensemble choreography with dancers while wearing a black bra and pants, whilst the video ends with several different scenes.[12]
MTV Buzzworthy commended the video, stating, "while her ensemble's slightly more unwearable (we're looking at YOU, futuristic metallic onesie!) Hilson still manages to look beyond gorge. But then again, this chick could look cutting-edge in a giant pickle barrel."[12] The review also compared Timbaland's look a cross between Run D.M.C. and The Matrix.[12]
^"The ARIA Report - Week Commencing April 13, 2009" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
^"Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
^"Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
^"Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland – Return the Favor" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200904 into search. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
return, favor, time, song, same, name, dirty, work, time, album, song, american, recording, artist, songwriter, keri, hilson, song, features, timbaland, wrote, song, with, hilson, songwriting, production, team, clutch, well, walter, milsap, following, moderate. For the All Time Low song of the same name see Dirty Work All Time Low album Return the Favor is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Keri Hilson The song features Timbaland who wrote the song with Hilson and her songwriting production team The Clutch as well as Walter Milsap Following the moderate international chart success of Hilson s lead single Energy Return the Favor was released from Hilson s debut album In a Perfect World serving as the international second single while the urban single Turnin Me On was released in the US Return the Favor Single by Keri Hilson featuring Timbalandfrom the album In a Perfect World ReleasedOctober 7 2008StudioZac s Upstairs Atlanta Chung King New York Hit Factory Criteria Miami The Village Los Angeles GenreElectropopdance popR amp BLength5 28LabelMosleyZone 4Songwriter s Keri HilsonTimothy MosleyCandace NelsonEzekiel LewisBalewa MuhammadPatrick SmithWalter Milsap IIIProducer s TimbalandWalter Milsap IIIKeri Hilson singles chronology Superhuman 2008 Return the Favor 2008 Turnin Me On 2008 Timbaland singles chronology Release 2008 Turnin Me On 2008 Long Gone 2008 Music video Return the Favor on YouTubeAs Hilson s second vocal collaboration with mentor Timbaland Hilson stated the purpose of the song s initial conception was to re create the success of their worldwide hit The Way I Are as Timbaland called the Return the Favor bigger and better The song reached the top twenty in the United Kingdom Ireland and Germany while appearing in the top thirty of Austria and Sweden charting in Australia and the tip charts in Belgium The accompanying music video implements a futuristic concept and features Hilson sporting several extravagant outfits Contents 1 Background 2 Composition and critical reception 3 Chart performance 4 Music video 5 Track listing 6 Personnel 7 Charts 8 Release history 9 ReferencesBackground EditWhen Hilson talked to Digital Spy about the song she said that Timbaland called her and said I ve got a song that I think s better than The Way I Are I think it s bigger 1 They took the track and wrote Return the Favor over the beat 1 According to Hilson she said that song was partially inspired by that conversational back and forth thing they did on The Way I Are stating We got a great response from that that we wanted to do it again 1 The initial draft of the hook featured the line If you kiss me then I ll kiss you back but according to Hilson in an interview with That Grape Juice it was changed by unknown reason by Timbaland 2 After it was reported that In a Perfect World would be pushed back to October 2008 Return the Favor surfaced online and it was rumored to be the follow up to Energy 3 The sample was later removed by Hilson s management before it was announced as the album s second single 3 4 The song was featured on December 15 2008 episode of The Hills 5 Composition and critical reception Edit Return the Favor source source A sample of Return the Favor described to employ Timbaland s signature dizzying 22nd century flair Problems playing this file See media help Return the Favor is described as an electro dance pop record 3 with a future like sound including euro style synths 6 Dan Nishimoto of Prefix Magazine noted that the song includes Timbaland s signature dizzying 22nd century flair that he s been employing ever since 2006 7 Andy Kellman of Allmusic noted the song as a standout track from In a Perfect World 8 According to J K Glei of Cincinnati Metromix said the song has cascading synths and a classic pop structure 9 However Glei said that Hilson s vocals feel flat against the driving beat and that Timbaland fully phones it in 9 While noting the song follows the same blueprint of Nelly Furtado s Promiscuous Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said it was a satisfying pop romp and said even though Hilson lacked Furtado s distinctiveness that it shouldn t have a problem striking a chord at radio 10 Nick Levine of Digital Spy said the song was a perfectly decent slice of midtempo Timba pop but it s not really in the same league as the brilliant The Way I Are 11 MTV Buzzworthy said slightly less out there are the beats which sound an awful lot like Hilson and Timbaland s first collaboration The Way I Are and the cameo from Timba himself 12 Sophie Bruce of BBC Music thought that the song lacked the a catchy hook such as in The Way I Are 13 Less than impressed with Timbaland s rapping and less than sexy vocal appeal Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said the unfortunate pairing was reprised and the song encapsulates the record s shortcomings 14 Chart performance Edit Return the Favor was the most successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland peaking at nineteen in both countries In Austria the song debuted and peaked at twenty five on the Austrian Singles Chart before falling off after six weeks 15 On the Swedish Singles Chart It debuted and peaked at thirty before falling off after six weeks on the chart 15 In Belgium Return the Favore appeared on Belgian Tip Charts peaking at six in Flanders and seventeen Wallonia 15 While debuting and peaking at twenty one on the German Singles Chart it completed nine weeks on the chart before falling off 16 It made the lower regions of the ARIA Singles Chart appearing at eighty 17 Music video Edit A still from the video in which the screen is in fourths noting the employed usage of television screens in the scene The music video was directed by Melina who directed Hilson s video for Energy 18 A preview of the video was released on October 14 2008 and the full video premiered on October 23 2008 18 19 Featuring a futuristic concept the video begins with a small clip from Timbaland and Hilson s The Way I Are before it cuts to Hilson dancing in a future like room while scenes are shown on a wall behind Timbaland who is seated in a chair 12 Hilson is then show in a pink ruffled bra and dress dancing in front of mirrors and then rises out of a pool in a blue swimsuit while scenes continue to be broadcast behind a seated Timbaland 12 Intercut with scenes with previous attire Hilson performs ensemble choreography with dancers while wearing a black bra and pants whilst the video ends with several different scenes 12 MTV Buzzworthy commended the video stating while her ensemble s slightly more unwearable we re looking at YOU futuristic metallic onesie Hilson still manages to look beyond gorge But then again this chick could look cutting edge in a giant pickle barrel 12 The review also compared Timbaland s look a cross between Run D M C and The Matrix 12 Track listing EditEuropean Promo CD 15 Return the Favor Radio Version 3 40 Return the Favor Main Version 5 30 Return the Favor Instrumental 5 29UK Digital Download Single 20 Return the Favor 5 29 German Maxi CD 21 Return the Favor Radio Edit 3 38 Return the Favor Sketch Iz Dead Remix 4 40 Return the Favor Instrumental 5 48 Return the Favor Video 3 53Personnel EditSongwriters Timothy Mosley Keri Hilson Ezekiel Lewis Bulewa Muhammed Patrick Smith Candice Nelson Walter Millsap III Production Timbaland Editors Walter Millsap III Dave d lo Marcella Araica Recording Scott Naughton Mixing Demacio Castellon Vocal arrangement The Clutch Additional production vocal production Walter Millsap IIISource 22 Charts EditChart 2009 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 17 80Australian Urban ARIA 23 22Austria O3 Austria Top 40 24 25Belgium Ultratip Flanders 25 6Belgium Ultratip Wallonia 26 17Czech Republic Radio Top 100 27 21Germany Official German Charts 16 21Ireland IRMA 28 19Scotland OCC 29 10Sweden Sverigetopplistan 15 30UK Singles OCC 30 19UK Hip Hop R amp B OCC 31 7Release history EditRegion Date FormatUnited States October 7 2008 4 Digital downloadAustralia March 27 2009 32 United Kingdom April 12 2009 20 References Edit a b c Keri Hilson Digital Spy 24 April 2009 Retrieved 2010 07 18 That Grape Juice Interviews Keri Hilson That Grape Juice That Grape Juice 2009 07 24 Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b c New Music Keri Hilson f Timbaland Return the Favor Rap Up Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b Single Cover Keri Hilson Return the Favor Rap Up Retrieved 2010 07 18 Keri Hilson News Interscope Records Archived from the original on 2012 09 26 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Walters Barry 16 April 2009 Keri Hilson In a Perfect World Zone 4 MMG Interscope Spin Retrieved 2010 07 18 Nishimoto Dan Keri Hilson In a Perfect World Prefix Magazine Retrieved 2010 07 18 Kellman Andy allmusic In a Perfect World gt Review Allmusic Retrieved 2010 07 18 dead link a b Glei J K Keri Hilson In a Perfect World Cincinnati Metromix Metromix Retrieved 2010 07 18 Cinquemani Sal Keri Hilson In a Perfect World Slant Magazine Archived from the original on 2012 10 07 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Levine Nick 20 April 2009 Keri Hilson ft Timbaland Return The Favor Digital Spy Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b c d e f New Video Keri Hilson Return The Favor MTV Buzzworthy MTV Networks Viacom 2008 11 03 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Bruce Sophie Keri Hilson In A Perfect World Review BBC Music Retrieved 2010 07 18 Critics Choice New CDs from Keri Hilson Mastodon and Wynton Marsalis The New York Times 2009 03 23 Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b c d e Keri Hilson feat Timbaland Return the Favor Singles Top 100 Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b Hilson Keri Feat Timbaland Return The Favor in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b The ARIA Report Week Commencing April 13 2009 ARIA Top 100 Singles National Library of Australia Retrieved 2010 11 06 a b Sneak Peek Keri Hilson Return the Favor Rap Up Retrieved 2010 07 18 Video Keri Hilson f Timbaland Return the Favor Rap Up Retrieved 2010 10 16 a b Return The Favor Keri Hilson Amazon co uk MP3 Downloads Amazon co uk Retrieved 2010 07 18 Return the Favor Keri Hilson Amazon de Amazon de Retrieved 2010 07 18 In a Perfect World booklet Keri Hilson Zone 4 Mosley Music Group Interscope Records 2009 p 3 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link The ARIA Report Week Commencing April 13 2009 ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles National Library of Australia Retrieved 2010 11 06 Keri Hilson feat Timbaland Return the Favor in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Keri Hilson feat Timbaland Return the Favor in Dutch Ultratip Retrieved 2010 07 18 Keri Hilson feat Timbaland Return the Favor in French Ultratip Retrieved 2010 07 18 CNS IFPI in Czech Hitparada Radio Top 100 Oficialni IFPI Czech Republic Note Change the chart to CZ RADIO TOP 100 and insert 200904 into search Retrieved 2010 08 28 Chart Track Week 16 2009 Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 2010 07 18 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved April 19 2022 Keri Hilson Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 2010 07 18 Official Hip Hop and R amp B Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Retrieved 2010 07 18 Return the Favor feat Timbaland Single by Keri Hilson iTunes Australia Apple Inc Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Return the Favor amp oldid 1099565155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
