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Rock the Boat (Aaliyah song)

"Rock the Boat" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her eponymous third and final studio album (2001). It was written by Static Major, Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart, while Seats and Stewart handled its production. A mid-tempo R&B song, "Rock the Boat" features a female narrator instructing her lover on how to sexually please her.

"Rock the Boat"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album Aaliyah
B-side"We Need a Resolution"
ReleasedAugust 21, 2001 (2001-08-21)
Recorded2001
StudioManhattan Center (New York City)
GenreR&B
Length4:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Eric Seats
  • Rapture
Aaliyah singles chronology
"We Need a Resolution"
(2001)
"Rock the Boat"
(2001)
"More Than a Woman"
(2001)

Despite Aaliyah initially starting promotion for the expected second single "More Than a Woman", Blackground Records and Virgin Records serviced "Rock the Boat" to rhythmic contemporary radio as the second single from Aaliyah in the United States on August 21, 2001, while "More Than a Woman" was released as the second international single.

Upon its release, "Rock the Boat" received widespread critical acclaim. A commercial success, it peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, the song reached the top ten in the Netherlands, and the top 20 in the United Kingdom. At the 44th Annual Grammy Awards (2002), "Rock the Boat" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

The accompanying music video for "Rock the Boat" was directed by Hype Williams and was filmed in Miami and the Bahamas. Following its completion, Aaliyah and eight others died in a plane crash on August 25, 2001. Posthumously released, the video received critical acclaim and was nominated for Best R&B Video at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.

Writing and production

"Rock the Boat" was written by Static Major, Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart, while its production was handled by Seats and Stewart.[1] It came into fruition almost by accident due to Seats almost deleting the song's file, since he wasn't satisfied with it at first.[2] He explained: "I almost deleted 'Rock The Boat' because I'm the kind of guy that once I start producing a track and I don't feel it right away sometimes, I would delete it and just start something over fresh."[3] The song was saved when Static Major heard its instrumental and quickly wrote the hook.[2] According to Seats, "Static heard it through my headphones. I took a break and went to the restroom, and by the time I got back he had already written a hook."[2]

Discussing the fate of the song, he proceeded to say: "I wouldn't say it was an accident, but we weren't vibing with it as much. It was one of those things like if he had came 10 minutes later, he probably would've never heard it."[2] The song was "very raw" during its early stages, and since Major showed strong interest, Seats continued to develop it.[3] Seats mentioned: "Since he had an interest in it, I said, 'Let me go and continue building on it, let me embellish it, make something happen since you're feeling it.' We didn't know it was going to end up being 'Rock The Boat'."[3] Seats "beefed" up the development process of the track by calling Dave Foreman and Rapture Stewart to add a guitar and strings to the instrumental.[3]

Music and lyrics

"Rock the Boat" was described as being a Caribbean-flavored sensual and smooth mid-tempo song, that features 1970s funk influences.[4][5][6] Meanwhile, Jeff Lorez from Yahoo! Music states that it has a retro jazziness feel.[7] On the song Aaliyah is "reveling in her sexual freedom for the first time on record".[8] Production wise it features an atmospheric groove, hypnotic rhythms, and fluctuating instrumentation, such as synthesizer effects.[9] Michael Odell from The Guardian felt that "Rock the Boat" pays tribute to synth-driven 1980s soul.[10]

"Aaliyah's tentative vocal finds its way around a menu of high-octane sexual requests".[10] She "breathlessly purrs sexual commands over an airy groove whose instrumentation swells against and then falls away from her voice".[9] Lyrically, its female narrator instructs a lover on how to please her sexually and equates her erotic high to a drug high.[11] Natelegé Whaley of Mic opined that "she is captain of her physical needs in the bedroom and confidently directs the voyage. She knew what she wanted and knew how to get it."[5] According to producer Bud'da, Aaliyah debated about the song including the line "I feel like I'm on dope" because she didn't want to send a wrong message to her fans.[3]

Release

Having invested in the commercial performance of Aaliyah, Blackground Records and Virgin Records wanted a single with a high chart peak to help increase the album's sales.[12] Its lead single "We Need a Resolution" had been released on April 13, 2001, but underperformed on radio and reached only number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[12][13] Originally, "More Than a Woman" was chosen as the second single from Aaliyah. According to producer Rapture Stewart, "The only reason they shot 'Rock the Boat' was because the radio was already playing it, so that kind of forced it to be the second single."[2]

Despite its radio success, Blackground didn't want "Rock the Boat" to be released as a single, instead campaigning for Timbaland-produced songs, including "More Than a Woman".[2] Aaliyah fought with the label and pushed for "Rock the Boat" to become the second single; producer Eric Seats recalled hearing her say: "No, it's this one. I don't care who did what. This one is the next one."[3] Consequently, Blackground and Virgin serviced "Rock the Boat" to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States as the second single from Aaliyah on August 21, 2001.[14] In Australia, it was released as the third and final single on November 26.[15] The single was released in mainland Europe in April 2002 and the UK in May 2002.

In August 2021, it was reported that Aaliyah's recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital, and, for the first time ever, streaming services in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution.[16][17][18][19][20][21] Aaliyah, including "Rock the Boat", was re-released on September 10.

Critical reception

Khal from Complex described the accompanying music video for "Rock the Boat" as "a thing of beauty, with tropical visuals properly matching the laid back vibe of the instrumental. Perfect percussive accents dwell around the chilled melodies."[22] James Poletti from dotmusic felt that Aaliyah's "breathy vocals become stutteringly suggestive as the track squelches and pops its way to a rather lovely place."[23] Connie Johnson from the Los Angeles Times described "Rock the Boat" as being "sexily assertive"; she also felt that the song, along with "We Need a Resolution", was a standout song on the album.[24]

Michael Hubbard from MusicOMH gave the song a mixed review, although he felt this song wasn't "the best record she's done", he praised her vocals, saying "Aaliyah shows again that one needn't screech a la Miss Mariah Carey in order to achieve pleasing results".[25] John Robinson from NME panned the song calling it "one of the less memorable tracks from her album".[26] He also thought it was "Overproduced to the point where the song skids past you on a trail of its own slickness".[26] Ernest Hardy from Rolling Stone, said "Rock the Boat" was the highlight of the album, and felt that the song showed Aaliyah coming "into her own as a woman".[9] Overall, Hardy declared, "She's at the wheel, steering her sexuality and using it to explore her own fantasies and strengths. And the joy you hear in her voice, in the grooves, is rooted in independence. R&B;'s reigning ice princess is starting to thaw."[9]

Russell Baillie from The New Zealand Herald described the song as "boudoir-instructional" and felt that "Aaliyah's voice weaves through the sparse but punchy arrangements with a mix of sultriness".[27] Brad Cawn from the Chicago Tribune felt that Aaliyah had matured and was "growing into seductive escapades" on "Rock the Boat".[28] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine compared the song to the work of Janet Jackson and Marvin Gaye; he ultimately felt that Aaliyah did "80's retro" songs better than other artists.[29] In a retrospective review, Billboard felt that due to issues surrounding “Rock the Boat”, that it "will always carry near-mythical significance".[30] Ultimately, the "song crystallizes the things we loved, and continue to love, about Aaliyah: Her angelic vocals, her seductive delivery, her aura of strength and sexual liberation and (thanks to the video) her innate talent as a dancer, all layered over a sleek, infectious beat that seems to loop forever".[30]

Accolades

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Rock the Boat" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 8, 2001. It peaked at number 14 in its 12th week,[43][44][45] spending a total of 25 weeks on the chart.[46] The song peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on November 24.[47] On the Rhythmic chart, the song peaked at number 13 in its 19th week, on January 12, 2002.[48]

In the United Kingdom, "Rock the Boat" debuted and peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the UK R&B Chart.[49][50] In Scotland, the song debuted and peaked at number 32 on May 12, 2002.[51] According to the Official Charts Company (OCC), "Rock the Boat" is Aaliyah's fourth best-selling single in the UK.[52] In Belgium, the song peaked at number nine on the Ultratip chart in Wallonia on April 4.[53] In the Netherlands, it peaked at number nine on the Dutch Top 40,[54] and at number 12 on the Single Top 100, both on March 16.[55]

Music video

Background and production

Preparation for shooting “Rock the Boat” began weeks in advance, with director Hype Williams contacting Aaliyah's stylist and choreographer "separately to discuss his vision for the video".[56] According to Aaliyah's former choreographer Fatima Robinson, "The whole concept was Hype’s ,The song has such a wonderful, sensual, sexual vibe to it, and we wanted to play along with that. The beautiful beach, the idea of dancing on the yacht, were all Hype’s idea. We just wanted to have this really beautiful, classy, elegant video.”[56] Speaking about the filming locations, Derek Lee Aaliyah's former stylist stated, "He said, we’re shooting here, here, and here, and that’s all, Back then, when you worked with an artist all the time, directors didn’t really say too much. They were just like, do what you do. Make sure it works within the framework.”[56] On August 21, 2001, Aaliyah appearered on BET's 106 & Park, and announced that the accompanying music video for "Rock the Boat" was to be directed by Hype Williams and that filming would begin the following day.[57][58]

The video's dance routine was choreographed by Aaliyah's close friend Fatima Robinson and dancers in the video included Carmit Bachar, Denosh Bennett, Nadine Ellis and Electrik Red members Binkie and Lesley.[59] There wasn't a lot of time to rehearse choreography and they rehearsed three days before production began in a Miami dance studio.[56] Robinson stated, "We only did a few days, it wasn’t long at all, But [Aaliyah] was an amazing dancer, and caught on really fast. Sometimes, she felt like she couldn’t get it, but I would push her a little harder, [and say,] ‘You got this.”[56] Recalling her experience with Aaliyah Ellis said, “Aaliyah was there for all the rehearsals, “She came in and learned along with us, hung out with us, and was very, very cool. That’s the memory of her that stands out for me. There have been artists who, when they don’t have to be around the dancers, will step into another room or will get there with just enough time to learn the choreography and move on with their day. But she really wanted to be there. It just reminded me how much of a girl she still was.”[56]

 
Aaliyah shown swimming underwater in the ocean, with bright clouds above.

On August 22, she filmed both the underwater and green screen scenes for the video in Miami, Florida.[60][56] Ellis, "had been cast as Aaliyah’s “mirror” for the green screen portion—a dance partner who reflected Aaliyah's “hip swivels".[56] The idea for the mirror dance moves "stemmed from Robinson’s natural meshing with Aaliyah when they danced together, which she likened to synchronized swimming."[56] After filming the green screen portion, "the crew decamped for a hotel swimming pool", where Aaliyah was filmed underwater.[56] The following day, Aaliyah and employees of Virgin Records America flew to the Bahamas on two flights using a Fairchild Metro III, chartered through Sky Limo.[61] Nearly 60 people worked on the video in the Bahamas.[61] Upon her Arrival to the Bahamas, Aaliyah began filming very early on the beach by 6:30 AM on August 24.[56]

On the final shoot day, Aaliyah and her dancers filmed the yacht portion of the video.[56] "The dancers loaded onto the catamaran in the morning, then changed into their all-white costumes to film choreography", which differed from the look and feel of the green screen dance moves.[56] “Miami was really technical, because you had to be within certain parameters, making sure you were on your mark and that all the spacing was right,” But when we got to The Bahamas, it was definitely more of a free space. We just got to flow", says Ellis.[56] Aaliyah was scheduled to leave the Bahamas on August 26, but chose to leave the day before since she had finished early. Williams recalled: "Aaliyah left mid-production, so we were still shooting when she left".[62] When discussing working with Aaliyah on the video, Williams stated: "Those four days were very beautiful for everyone. We all worked together as a family." Williams said that the camaraderie on the set was a refreshing change from the usual shoot, adding: "The last day, Saturday, was one of the best I've had in this business. Everyone felt part of something special, part of her song."[63]

Due to the tragedy surrounding Aaliyah's death, there was an uncertainty about the release date for the video. In a press release, a spokesperson for Blackground Records said it was too soon to say what would become of the footage.[63] The music video made its world premiere on BET's Access Granted on October 9, 2001.[64] BET producer Kevin Taylor, who was in the Bahamas filming the video, described it as "gorgeous and sensual".[64]

Fashion

Speaking about the fashion aspect of the video, Lee stated "Rock the Boat wasn’t a fashion video per se, It was more to showcase a softer side of her, Yes Aaliyah had to be the superstar girl, but she also had to be relatable".[56] He continued, "Nothing could look styled—it had to be achievable and doable by young girls".[56] In the video, Aaliyah wore various outfits, including a tie-dye skirt, which was fabric her stylist Derek Lee bought on Fifth Avenue and simply tied together, with an orange crop top he purchased at Patricia Field's shop in the East Village.[65] Lee was also heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall culture for an all-red outfit, whose accessories were all custom-made, with Lee stating: "In Jamaica, people were using what they had around them to make things, so we took a Coca-Cola can, we cut it up, made the band around the top and around the Kangol hat. We even made some earrings that were little Coke bottles."[65] For the underwater scenes, Williams suggested that Aaliyah wore an outfit with a lot of fabric "so it can seem like she's floating", so Lee styled her in a swimsuit designed by Norma Kamali and added extra fabric to elongate it.[66]

Synopsis

The music video for "Rock the Boat" begins with Aaliyah on the beach with her back to the ocean. She is wearing a red top, dangling hoop earrings and shimmering gold eye shadow as she sings the slyly suggestive lyrics of "Rock the Boat".[63] The next scene features Aaliyah dancing on a catamaran, on a beach in Marsh Harbour and swimming underwater in the ocean. Other scenes include Aaliyah dancing in computer-generated tide waves. When describing the video's recurring theme, BET producer Kevin Taylor mentioned: "It's very ethereal and heavenly."[64] He also stated: "There are lots of shots of water and clouds, and the video ends with Aaliyah swimming up from the bottom of a pool, almost looking like she's going into the clouds. It's really beautiful."[64]

Reception

The video was ranked at number 93 on Billboard's list "100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century".[40] Rebecca Milzoff from Billboard praised the video, saying: "The video for Aaliyah's sinuous 'Rock the Boat' might have easily gone down as just one of the many examples of the beloved singer's preternatural cool and low-key sex appeal, featuring Aaliyah leading an all-female ensemble in understatedly sexy moves mirroring the song's hypnotic, undulating melody."[40] Maxine Wally from W, felt that the video was fairly simple and that the best parts "comes at the very end, and is just as unadorned. Aaliyah, in what appears to be a candid moment, laughs widely as she looks to her left, like someone off-camera just did something charming and hilarious. In my eyes, it is the perfect way to cap off her final creation. It’s a reminder that although Aaliyah isn’t around today, her legacy remains".[56]

Aaliyah's death

 
A Cessna 402 similar to the one that crashed

On Saturday, August 25, 2001, after Aaliyah and the record company employees had completed filming the music video for "Rock the Boat", at 6:50 p.m. (EDT), they boarded a twin-engine Cessna 402B (registration N8097W) at the Marsh Harbour Airport, located on the Abaco Islands, for the return trip back to Opa-locka Airport in Florida.[67] The return flight was originally booked for the following day, but filming had finished early, and Aaliyah and her entourage were eager to return to the United States. They made the decision to leave immediately. The aircraft designated for the return flight was smaller than the one on which they had originally arrived, but it accommodated the whole party and all of their equipment.[68]

The passengers had grown impatient because the plane was supposed to arrive at 4:30 p.m. EDT, but did not arrive until 6:15 p.m. EDT.[61] Charter pilot Lewis Key claimed to have overheard passengers arguing with fellow pilot Luis Morales III prior to take off, adding that Morales warned them that there was too much weight for a "safe flight". Key further stated: "He tried to convince them the plane was overloaded, but they insisted they had chartered the plane and they had to be in Miami Saturday night."[69] Key indicated that Morales gave in to the passengers and that he had trouble starting one of the engines.[70]

The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, about 200 feet (60 m) from the runway.[67] Aaliyah and eight others on board–Morales, hair stylist Eric Foreman, Anthony Dodd, security guard Scott Gallin, family friend Keith Wallace, make-up artist Christopher Maldonado, and Blackground Records employees Douglas Kratz and Gina Smith–were all killed.[71] Gallin survived the initial impact and, according to paramedics, spent his last moments worrying about Aaliyah's condition. Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Atlanta, identified the aircraft as being owned by Florida-based company Skystream. Initial crash reports identified Luis Morales as "L Marael".[72]

Key suggested that engine failure, along with overloading of the aircraft, could have caused the crash, recalling that others had seen the plane experience an engine failure on takeoff. One witness believed that no one could have survived the accident because of the crash intensity and the fact that the aircraft had disintegrated upon impact. He also recalled the condition of the bodies: "It was an awful sight. Some bodies were so badly disfigured, you couldn't identify them. And two guys were alive — one screaming and screaming for help. He was horribly burned all over."[69] A 25-year-old charter pilot who witnessed the crash saw the Cessna go down as he was working on some machinery "about half a mile" away. He recalled the aircraft being only "60 to 100 feet" off the ground before it crashed. He went to get a fire truck and was stunned by what he saw upon arriving at the crash site. "I've seen crashes before but that was probably one of the worst ones," he said. "It was pretty devastating. The aircraft was broken into pieces and some of the seats were thrown from the aircraft."[73]

Legacy

"Rock the Boat" has been covered and sampled by numerous recording artists. American singer and actor Colton Ford covered the song for his second studio album Under the Covers (2009),[74] while American singer JoJo performed it on several of her concerts.[75] Aaliyah was credited as a featured artist, alongside Ne-Yo, on American rapper Rick Ross' 2010 song "She Crazy", which sampled "Rock the Boat".[76] Excerpts of Aaliyah singing on "Rock the Boat" were used on Canadian singer The Weeknd's song "What You Need" from his debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011),[77] and American rapper T.I.'s 2016 song "Dope", featuring Marsha Ambrosius.[78] American rapper Kanye West lyrically interpolated "Rock the Boat" in the song "Fade" from his seventh studio album The Life of Pablo (2016).[79]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Aaliyah.[1]

  • Aaliyah – vocals
  • Chandler Bridges – engineering assistance
  • Ben Garrison – mixing
  • Acar Keys – engineering
  • Eric Seats – instrumentation, production, writing
  • Static Major – writing
  • Rapture Stewart – instrumentation, production, writing

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Rock the Boat"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 21, 2001
September 25, 2001 Urban adult contemporary radio
Australia November 26, 2001 Maxi CD EMI
Germany April 1, 2002 CD
France April 2, 2002 Hostile
United Kingdom May 6, 2002 Virgin

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Bibliography

External links

  • "Rock the Boat" at Discogs (list of releases)
  • Official music video on YouTube
  • Official website

rock, boat, aaliyah, song, rock, boat, song, recorded, american, singer, aaliyah, eponymous, third, final, studio, album, 2001, written, static, major, eric, seats, rapture, stewart, while, seats, stewart, handled, production, tempo, song, rock, boat, features. Rock the Boat is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her eponymous third and final studio album 2001 It was written by Static Major Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart while Seats and Stewart handled its production A mid tempo R amp B song Rock the Boat features a female narrator instructing her lover on how to sexually please her Rock the Boat Single by Aaliyahfrom the album AaliyahB side We Need a Resolution ReleasedAugust 21 2001 2001 08 21 Recorded2001StudioManhattan Center New York City GenreR amp BLength4 35LabelBlackgroundVirginSongwriter s Stephen Static Major GarrettEric SeatsRapture StewartProducer s Eric SeatsRaptureAaliyah singles chronology We Need a Resolution 2001 Rock the Boat 2001 More Than a Woman 2001 Despite Aaliyah initially starting promotion for the expected second single More Than a Woman Blackground Records and Virgin Records serviced Rock the Boat to rhythmic contemporary radio as the second single from Aaliyah in the United States on August 21 2001 while More Than a Woman was released as the second international single Upon its release Rock the Boat received widespread critical acclaim A commercial success it peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Internationally the song reached the top ten in the Netherlands and the top 20 in the United Kingdom At the 44th Annual Grammy Awards 2002 Rock the Boat was nominated for Best Female R amp B Vocal Performance The accompanying music video for Rock the Boat was directed by Hype Williams and was filmed in Miami and the Bahamas Following its completion Aaliyah and eight others died in a plane crash on August 25 2001 Posthumously released the video received critical acclaim and was nominated for Best R amp B Video at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Contents 1 Writing and production 2 Music and lyrics 3 Release 4 Critical reception 5 Accolades 6 Commercial performance 7 Music video 7 1 Background and production 7 2 Fashion 7 3 Synopsis 7 4 Reception 7 5 Aaliyah s death 8 Legacy 9 Track listings and formats 10 Credits and personnel 11 Charts 11 1 Weekly charts 11 2 Year end charts 12 Release history 13 References 14 Bibliography 15 External linksWriting and production Edit Rock the Boat was written by Static Major Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart while its production was handled by Seats and Stewart 1 It came into fruition almost by accident due to Seats almost deleting the song s file since he wasn t satisfied with it at first 2 He explained I almost deleted Rock The Boat because I m the kind of guy that once I start producing a track and I don t feel it right away sometimes I would delete it and just start something over fresh 3 The song was saved when Static Major heard its instrumental and quickly wrote the hook 2 According to Seats Static heard it through my headphones I took a break and went to the restroom and by the time I got back he had already written a hook 2 Discussing the fate of the song he proceeded to say I wouldn t say it was an accident but we weren t vibing with it as much It was one of those things like if he had came 10 minutes later he probably would ve never heard it 2 The song was very raw during its early stages and since Major showed strong interest Seats continued to develop it 3 Seats mentioned Since he had an interest in it I said Let me go and continue building on it let me embellish it make something happen since you re feeling it We didn t know it was going to end up being Rock The Boat 3 Seats beefed up the development process of the track by calling Dave Foreman and Rapture Stewart to add a guitar and strings to the instrumental 3 Music and lyrics Edit Rock the Boat source source A 28 second sample of the chorus with Aaliyah s high octane sexual requests Problems playing this file See media help Rock the Boat was described as being a Caribbean flavored sensual and smooth mid tempo song that features 1970s funk influences 4 5 6 Meanwhile Jeff Lorez from Yahoo Music states that it has a retro jazziness feel 7 On the song Aaliyah is reveling in her sexual freedom for the first time on record 8 Production wise it features an atmospheric groove hypnotic rhythms and fluctuating instrumentation such as synthesizer effects 9 Michael Odell from The Guardian felt that Rock the Boat pays tribute to synth driven 1980s soul 10 Aaliyah s tentative vocal finds its way around a menu of high octane sexual requests 10 She breathlessly purrs sexual commands over an airy groove whose instrumentation swells against and then falls away from her voice 9 Lyrically its female narrator instructs a lover on how to please her sexually and equates her erotic high to a drug high 11 Natelege Whaley of Mic opined that she is captain of her physical needs in the bedroom and confidently directs the voyage She knew what she wanted and knew how to get it 5 According to producer Bud da Aaliyah debated about the song including the line I feel like I m on dope because she didn t want to send a wrong message to her fans 3 Release EditHaving invested in the commercial performance of Aaliyah Blackground Records and Virgin Records wanted a single with a high chart peak to help increase the album s sales 12 Its lead single We Need a Resolution had been released on April 13 2001 but underperformed on radio and reached only number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 12 13 Originally More Than a Woman was chosen as the second single from Aaliyah According to producer Rapture Stewart The only reason they shot Rock the Boat was because the radio was already playing it so that kind of forced it to be the second single 2 Despite its radio success Blackground didn t want Rock the Boat to be released as a single instead campaigning for Timbaland produced songs including More Than a Woman 2 Aaliyah fought with the label and pushed for Rock the Boat to become the second single producer Eric Seats recalled hearing her say No it s this one I don t care who did what This one is the next one 3 Consequently Blackground and Virgin serviced Rock the Boat to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States as the second single from Aaliyah on August 21 2001 14 In Australia it was released as the third and final single on November 26 15 The single was released in mainland Europe in April 2002 and the UK in May 2002 In August 2021 it was reported that Aaliyah s recorded work for Blackground since rebranded as Blackground Records 2 0 would be re released on physical digital and for the first time ever streaming services in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution 16 17 18 19 20 21 Aaliyah including Rock the Boat was re released on September 10 Critical reception EditKhal from Complex described the accompanying music video for Rock the Boat as a thing of beauty with tropical visuals properly matching the laid back vibe of the instrumental Perfect percussive accents dwell around the chilled melodies 22 James Poletti from dotmusic felt that Aaliyah s breathy vocals become stutteringly suggestive as the track squelches and pops its way to a rather lovely place 23 Connie Johnson from the Los Angeles Times described Rock the Boat as being sexily assertive she also felt that the song along with We Need a Resolution was a standout song on the album 24 Michael Hubbard from MusicOMH gave the song a mixed review although he felt this song wasn t the best record she s done he praised her vocals saying Aaliyah shows again that one needn t screech a la Miss Mariah Carey in order to achieve pleasing results 25 John Robinson from NME panned the song calling it one of the less memorable tracks from her album 26 He also thought it was Overproduced to the point where the song skids past you on a trail of its own slickness 26 Ernest Hardy from Rolling Stone said Rock the Boat was the highlight of the album and felt that the song showed Aaliyah coming into her own as a woman 9 Overall Hardy declared She s at the wheel steering her sexuality and using it to explore her own fantasies and strengths And the joy you hear in her voice in the grooves is rooted in independence R amp B s reigning ice princess is starting to thaw 9 Russell Baillie from The New Zealand Herald described the song as boudoir instructional and felt that Aaliyah s voice weaves through the sparse but punchy arrangements with a mix of sultriness 27 Brad Cawn from the Chicago Tribune felt that Aaliyah had matured and was growing into seductive escapades on Rock the Boat 28 Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine compared the song to the work of Janet Jackson and Marvin Gaye he ultimately felt that Aaliyah did 80 s retro songs better than other artists 29 In a retrospective review Billboard felt that due to issues surrounding Rock the Boat that it will always carry near mythical significance 30 Ultimately the song crystallizes the things we loved and continue to love about Aaliyah Her angelic vocals her seductive delivery her aura of strength and sexual liberation and thanks to the video her innate talent as a dancer all layered over a sleek infectious beat that seems to loop forever 30 Accolades EditAwards and nominations for Rock the Boat Year Award Category Result Ref 2002 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Music Video Nominated 31 2002 Grammy Award Best Female R amp B Vocal Performance Nominated 32 2002 Soul Train Music Award Best R amp B Soul Single Female Won 33 2002 BET Award Video of the Year Nominated 34 Viewer s Choice Nominated2002 Billboard R amp B Hip Hop Award Top R amp B Hip Hop Single Nominated 35 Top R amp B Hip Hop Single Airplay NominatedSoul Train Lady of Soul Award Best R amp B Soul Single Solo Won 36 R amp B Soul or Rap Song of the Year WonBest R amp B Soul or Rap Music Video Nominated 37 2002 MTV Video Music Award Best R amp B Video Nominated 38 Rankings for Rock the Boat Year Publication Accolade Rank Ref 2011 AllMusic Andy Kellman s 100 Favorite Charting R amp B Singles of 2000 2009 2 39 2018 Billboard The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century Critics Picks 93 40 2021 The 100 Greatest Songs of 2001 Staff Picks 16 41 Harper s Bazaar 40 of the Best Songs from the 2000s 42 Commercial performance EditIn the United States Rock the Boat debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 8 2001 It peaked at number 14 in its 12th week 43 44 45 spending a total of 25 weeks on the chart 46 The song peaked at number two on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs on November 24 47 On the Rhythmic chart the song peaked at number 13 in its 19th week on January 12 2002 48 In the United Kingdom Rock the Boat debuted and peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the UK R amp B Chart 49 50 In Scotland the song debuted and peaked at number 32 on May 12 2002 51 According to the Official Charts Company OCC Rock the Boat is Aaliyah s fourth best selling single in the UK 52 In Belgium the song peaked at number nine on the Ultratip chart in Wallonia on April 4 53 In the Netherlands it peaked at number nine on the Dutch Top 40 54 and at number 12 on the Single Top 100 both on March 16 55 Music video EditBackground and production Edit Preparation for shooting Rock the Boat began weeks in advance with director Hype Williams contacting Aaliyah s stylist and choreographer separately to discuss his vision for the video 56 According to Aaliyah s former choreographer Fatima Robinson The whole concept was Hype s The song has such a wonderful sensual sexual vibe to it and we wanted to play along with that The beautiful beach the idea of dancing on the yacht were all Hype s idea We just wanted to have this really beautiful classy elegant video 56 Speaking about the filming locations Derek Lee Aaliyah s former stylist stated He said we re shooting here here and here and that s all Back then when you worked with an artist all the time directors didn t really say too much They were just like do what you do Make sure it works within the framework 56 On August 21 2001 Aaliyah appearered on BET s 106 amp Park and announced that the accompanying music video for Rock the Boat was to be directed by Hype Williams and that filming would begin the following day 57 58 The video s dance routine was choreographed by Aaliyah s close friend Fatima Robinson and dancers in the video included Carmit Bachar Denosh Bennett Nadine Ellis and Electrik Red members Binkie and Lesley 59 There wasn t a lot of time to rehearse choreography and they rehearsed three days before production began in a Miami dance studio 56 Robinson stated We only did a few days it wasn t long at all But Aaliyah was an amazing dancer and caught on really fast Sometimes she felt like she couldn t get it but I would push her a little harder and say You got this 56 Recalling her experience with Aaliyah Ellis said Aaliyah was there for all the rehearsals She came in and learned along with us hung out with us and was very very cool That s the memory of her that stands out for me There have been artists who when they don t have to be around the dancers will step into another room or will get there with just enough time to learn the choreography and move on with their day But she really wanted to be there It just reminded me how much of a girl she still was 56 Aaliyah shown swimming underwater in the ocean with bright clouds above On August 22 she filmed both the underwater and green screen scenes for the video in Miami Florida 60 56 Ellis had been cast as Aaliyah s mirror for the green screen portion a dance partner who reflected Aaliyah s hip swivels 56 The idea for the mirror dance moves stemmed from Robinson s natural meshing with Aaliyah when they danced together which she likened to synchronized swimming 56 After filming the green screen portion the crew decamped for a hotel swimming pool where Aaliyah was filmed underwater 56 The following day Aaliyah and employees of Virgin Records America flew to the Bahamas on two flights using a Fairchild Metro III chartered through Sky Limo 61 Nearly 60 people worked on the video in the Bahamas 61 Upon her Arrival to the Bahamas Aaliyah began filming very early on the beach by 6 30 AM on August 24 56 On the final shoot day Aaliyah and her dancers filmed the yacht portion of the video 56 The dancers loaded onto the catamaran in the morning then changed into their all white costumes to film choreography which differed from the look and feel of the green screen dance moves 56 Miami was really technical because you had to be within certain parameters making sure you were on your mark and that all the spacing was right But when we got to The Bahamas it was definitely more of a free space We just got to flow says Ellis 56 Aaliyah was scheduled to leave the Bahamas on August 26 but chose to leave the day before since she had finished early Williams recalled Aaliyah left mid production so we were still shooting when she left 62 When discussing working with Aaliyah on the video Williams stated Those four days were very beautiful for everyone We all worked together as a family Williams said that the camaraderie on the set was a refreshing change from the usual shoot adding The last day Saturday was one of the best I ve had in this business Everyone felt part of something special part of her song 63 Due to the tragedy surrounding Aaliyah s death there was an uncertainty about the release date for the video In a press release a spokesperson for Blackground Records said it was too soon to say what would become of the footage 63 The music video made its world premiere on BET s Access Granted on October 9 2001 64 BET producer Kevin Taylor who was in the Bahamas filming the video described it as gorgeous and sensual 64 Fashion Edit Speaking about the fashion aspect of the video Lee stated Rock the Boat wasn t a fashion video per se It was more to showcase a softer side of her Yes Aaliyah had to be the superstar girl but she also had to be relatable 56 He continued Nothing could look styled it had to be achievable and doable by young girls 56 In the video Aaliyah wore various outfits including a tie dye skirt which was fabric her stylist Derek Lee bought on Fifth Avenue and simply tied together with an orange crop top he purchased at Patricia Field s shop in the East Village 65 Lee was also heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall culture for an all red outfit whose accessories were all custom made with Lee stating In Jamaica people were using what they had around them to make things so we took a Coca Cola can we cut it up made the band around the top and around the Kangol hat We even made some earrings that were little Coke bottles 65 For the underwater scenes Williams suggested that Aaliyah wore an outfit with a lot of fabric so it can seem like she s floating so Lee styled her in a swimsuit designed by Norma Kamali and added extra fabric to elongate it 66 Synopsis Edit The music video for Rock the Boat begins with Aaliyah on the beach with her back to the ocean She is wearing a red top dangling hoop earrings and shimmering gold eye shadow as she sings the slyly suggestive lyrics of Rock the Boat 63 The next scene features Aaliyah dancing on a catamaran on a beach in Marsh Harbour and swimming underwater in the ocean Other scenes include Aaliyah dancing in computer generated tide waves When describing the video s recurring theme BET producer Kevin Taylor mentioned It s very ethereal and heavenly 64 He also stated There are lots of shots of water and clouds and the video ends with Aaliyah swimming up from the bottom of a pool almost looking like she s going into the clouds It s really beautiful 64 Reception Edit The video was ranked at number 93 on Billboard s list 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century 40 Rebecca Milzoff from Billboard praised the video saying The video for Aaliyah s sinuous Rock the Boat might have easily gone down as just one of the many examples of the beloved singer s preternatural cool and low key sex appeal featuring Aaliyah leading an all female ensemble in understatedly sexy moves mirroring the song s hypnotic undulating melody 40 Maxine Wally from W felt that the video was fairly simple and that the best parts comes at the very end and is just as unadorned Aaliyah in what appears to be a candid moment laughs widely as she looks to her left like someone off camera just did something charming and hilarious In my eyes it is the perfect way to cap off her final creation It s a reminder that although Aaliyah isn t around today her legacy remains 56 Aaliyah s death Edit Main article 2001 Marsh Harbour Cessna 402 crash A Cessna 402 similar to the one that crashed On Saturday August 25 2001 after Aaliyah and the record company employees had completed filming the music video for Rock the Boat at 6 50 p m EDT they boarded a twin engine Cessna 402B registration N8097W at the Marsh Harbour Airport located on the Abaco Islands for the return trip back to Opa locka Airport in Florida 67 The return flight was originally booked for the following day but filming had finished early and Aaliyah and her entourage were eager to return to the United States They made the decision to leave immediately The aircraft designated for the return flight was smaller than the one on which they had originally arrived but it accommodated the whole party and all of their equipment 68 The passengers had grown impatient because the plane was supposed to arrive at 4 30 p m EDT but did not arrive until 6 15 p m EDT 61 Charter pilot Lewis Key claimed to have overheard passengers arguing with fellow pilot Luis Morales III prior to take off adding that Morales warned them that there was too much weight for a safe flight Key further stated He tried to convince them the plane was overloaded but they insisted they had chartered the plane and they had to be in Miami Saturday night 69 Key indicated that Morales gave in to the passengers and that he had trouble starting one of the engines 70 The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff about 200 feet 60 m from the runway 67 Aaliyah and eight others on board Morales hair stylist Eric Foreman Anthony Dodd security guard Scott Gallin family friend Keith Wallace make up artist Christopher Maldonado and Blackground Records employees Douglas Kratz and Gina Smith were all killed 71 Gallin survived the initial impact and according to paramedics spent his last moments worrying about Aaliyah s condition Kathleen Bergen spokeswoman for the U S Federal Aviation Administration FAA in Atlanta identified the aircraft as being owned by Florida based company Skystream Initial crash reports identified Luis Morales as L Marael 72 Key suggested that engine failure along with overloading of the aircraft could have caused the crash recalling that others had seen the plane experience an engine failure on takeoff One witness believed that no one could have survived the accident because of the crash intensity and the fact that the aircraft had disintegrated upon impact He also recalled the condition of the bodies It was an awful sight Some bodies were so badly disfigured you couldn t identify them And two guys were alive one screaming and screaming for help He was horribly burned all over 69 A 25 year old charter pilot who witnessed the crash saw the Cessna go down as he was working on some machinery about half a mile away He recalled the aircraft being only 60 to 100 feet off the ground before it crashed He went to get a fire truck and was stunned by what he saw upon arriving at the crash site I ve seen crashes before but that was probably one of the worst ones he said It was pretty devastating The aircraft was broken into pieces and some of the seats were thrown from the aircraft 73 Legacy Edit Rock the Boat has been covered and sampled by numerous recording artists American singer and actor Colton Ford covered the song for his second studio album Under the Covers 2009 74 while American singer JoJo performed it on several of her concerts 75 Aaliyah was credited as a featured artist alongside Ne Yo on American rapper Rick Ross 2010 song She Crazy which sampled Rock the Boat 76 Excerpts of Aaliyah singing on Rock the Boat were used on Canadian singer The Weeknd s song What You Need from his debut mixtape House of Balloons 2011 77 and American rapper T I s 2016 song Dope featuring Marsha Ambrosius 78 American rapper Kanye West lyrically interpolated Rock the Boat in the song Fade from his seventh studio album The Life of Pablo 2016 79 Track listings and formats EditEuropean CD single 80 Rock the Boat album version 4 34 Rock the Boat instrumental 4 34European maxi CD single 81 Rock the Boat album version 4 34 Rock the Boat club mix by Mixzo 5 18 Rock the Boat club mix by Doug Lazy 4 20 Rock the Boat music video 5 27European 12 inch vinyl 82 Rock the Boat album version 4 34 Rock the Boat instrumental 4 34 Rock the Boat club mix by Mixzo 5 18 Rock the Boat club mix by Doug Lazy 4 20 UK cassette single 83 Rock the Boat radio edit 3 37 Rock the Boat club mix by Mixzo 5 18 Rock the Boat club mix by Doug Lazy 4 20French CD single 84 Rock the Boat album version 4 34 Rock the Boat club mix by Mixzo 5 18Australian maxi CD single 85 Rock the Boat album version 4 34 Rock the Boat club mix 5 16 We Need a Resolution featuring Timbaland 4 02Credits and personnel EditCredits are adapted from the liner notes of Aaliyah 1 Aaliyah vocals Chandler Bridges engineering assistance Ben Garrison mixing Acar Keys engineering Eric Seats instrumentation production writing Static Major writing Rapture Stewart instrumentation production writingCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 2001 2002 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 86 49Australian Urban ARIA 87 with More Than a Woman 10Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 88 43Belgium Ultratip Wallonia 89 9Canada Nielsen SoundScan 90 63Europe European Hot 100 Singles 91 47Germany Official German Charts 92 70Ireland IRMA 93 43Netherlands Dutch Top 40 94 9Netherlands Single Top 100 95 12Scotland OCC 96 32Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 97 59UK Singles OCC 98 12UK Hip Hop R amp B OCC 99 4US Billboard Hot 100 100 14US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 101 2US Rhythmic Billboard 102 13US Top 40 Tracks Billboard 103 37 Year end charts Edit Chart 2001 PositionUS Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 104 41Chart 2002 PositionNetherlands Dutch Top 40 105 108US Billboard Hot 100 106 85US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 107 26US Rhythmic Billboard 108 60Release history EditRelease dates and formats for Rock the Boat Region Date Format s Label s Ref United States August 21 2001 Digital downloadrhythmic contemporary radio BlackgroundVirgin 14 109 September 25 2001 Urban adult contemporary radio 110 Australia November 26 2001 Maxi CD EMI 15 Germany April 1 2002 CD 92 France April 2 2002 Hostile 111 United Kingdom May 6 2002 12 inch vinylcassetteCD Virgin 112 References Edit a b Aaliyah 2001 Aaliyah CD liner notes Blackground Records Virgin Records CDVUSY 199 a b c d e f Gracie Bianca July 16 2016 AALIYAH S PRODUCERS LOOK BACK AT HER SELF TITLED FINAL ALBUM 15 YEARS LATER Fuse Retrieved December 8 2018 a b c d e f Augustin Camille August 26 2016 Aaliyah Week Remembering Aaliyah s Final Musical Journey Vibe Retrieved December 8 2018 Reid Shaheem August 27 2001 Hard Working Aaliyah Packed Hit Albums Movies Into Short Life MTV News Retrieved August 20 2019 a b Whaley Natelege July 7 2016 15 Years Ago Aaliyah s Intuitive Cool Became a Blueprint for the Future of R amp B Mic Retrieved December 10 2018 Bychawski Adam June 21 2001 Aaliyah Polishes A Third NME Archived from the original on April 15 2016 Retrieved June 18 2022 Other tracks on the album feature a pronounced Seventies funk influence including the minimalist sex tune Rock Da Boat Lorez Jeff July 5 2001 Killer Queen Yahoo Music Archived from the original on February 10 2013 Retrieved June 20 2022 Edwards Shawn September 6 2001 Aaliyah The Pitch Kansas City Archived from the original on December 20 2014 Retrieved May 21 2022 a b c d Hardy Ernest August 2 2001 Recordings Aaliyah Aaliyah 4 Stars Rolling Stone No 874 New York pp 61 62 Archived from the original on June 6 2002 Retrieved November 24 2012 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a CS1 maint unfit URL link a b Odell Michael July 12 2001 Sex on the menu The Guardian Retrieved December 30 2018 Waliszewski Bob Aaliyah Plugged In Focus on the Family Archived from the original on July 20 2013 Retrieved December 5 2012 a b Farley 2002 pp 166 167 Mitchell Gail April 7 2001 MCA Takes on an Alluring Proposition Aaliyah s New Album Now Set For June 5 Billboard Vol 113 no 14 New York Archived from the original on January 7 2014 Retrieved April 10 2022 via Google Books a b CHR Rhythmic Going For Adds 8 21 01 PDF Radio amp Records August 17 2001 p 44 Retrieved December 3 2021 via World Radio History a b The ARIA Report New Releases Singles Week Commencing 26th November 2001 PDF Australian Recording Industry Association November 26 2001 p 24 Archived from the original PDF on February 22 2008 Retrieved April 25 2021 Aaliyah albums streaming Her influence is absolutely everywhere BBC August 20 2021 Retrieved August 20 2021 Minsker Evan August 20 2021 Aaliyah s One in a Million Arrives to Streaming Amid Dispute Between Label and Estate Pitchfork Retrieved August 20 2021 Legaspi Althea August 20 2021 Stream Aaliyah s One in a Million Album Rolling Stone Retrieved August 20 2021 IStandWithAaliyah August 5 2021 Retrieved August 20 2021 via Twitter Aaliyah s Estate Slams Her Uncle s Unauthorized Announcement of Releasing Her Music To Streaming Platforms thatgrapejuice net August 4 2021 Retrieved August 20 2021 DeVito Lee August 5 2021 Aaliyah estate denounces upcoming unauthorized projects as Blackground 2 0 emerges Metro Times Retrieved August 20 2021 The 25 Best Aaliyah Songs Complex May 19 2016 Retrieved July 20 2018 Single Reviews Aaliyah Rock The Boat dotmusic April 29 2002 Archived from the original on January 22 2005 Retrieved November 20 2018 A Coasting Aaliyah Steers Clear of Depth Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on October 26 2012 Retrieved December 30 2018 Hubbard Michael April 29 2002 Aaliyah Rock The Boat Blackground Virgin MusicOMH Archived from the original on January 8 2014 Retrieved June 18 2022 a b Robinson John April 23 2002 Aaliyah Rock The Boat NME Archived from the original on May 25 2013 Retrieved June 18 2022 Aaliyah Aaliyah The New Zealand Herald Retrieved December 30 2018 Aaliyah Aaliyah Chicago Tribune August 19 2001 Retrieved December 30 2018 Aaliyah Aaliyah Slant Magazine July 17 2001 Retrieved December 30 2018 a b Aaliyah s 20 Best Songs Staff List Billboard August 25 2021 Retrieved May 21 2022 Wiederhorn Jon December 11 2001 Alicia Keys Up For Seven NAACP Image Awards MTV Archived from the original on May 14 2008 Retrieved April 9 2022 Complete List Of Grammy Nominees CBS News January 4 2002 Retrieved April 9 2022 Goodman Abbey March 21 2002 Alicia Keys Aaliyah Jay Z Usher Take Home Soul Train Awards MTV Retrieved April 9 2022 BET Unveils Nominees For 2002 BET Awards PR Newswire May 14 2002 Archived from the original on August 8 2014 Retrieved April 9 2022 Usher Tops Billboard R amp B Hip Hop Awards Finalists Billboard June 7 2002 Retrieved April 9 2022 Ashanti Accepts Lady Of Soul Award With Grace Billboard August 26 2002 Retrieved April 9 2022 2002 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards Nominees Billboard July 24 2002 Retrieved April 9 2022 2002 Video Music Awards MTV Archived from the original on December 11 2008 Retrieved April 9 2022 Kellman Andy January 17 2011 Andy Kellman s 100 Favorite Charting R amp B Singles of 2000 2009 AllMusic Retrieved April 9 2022 a b c The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century Critics Picks Billboard July 24 2018 Retrieved August 2 2018 The 100 Greatest Songs of 2001 Staff Picks Billboard April 5 2021 Retrieved April 9 2022 Maher Natalie April 30 2021 40 of the Best Songs from the 2000s Harper s Bazaar Retrieved April 9 2022 Music Top 100 Songs Billboard Hot 100 Chart Billboard Music Top 100 Songs Billboard Hot 100 Chart Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Vol 114 no 2 New York January 14 2002 p 93 Last Week column Retrieved December 20 2012 via Google Books Music Top 100 Songs Billboard Hot 100 Chart Billboard Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard November 24 2001 Rhythmic Songs Billboard January 12 2002 Official R amp B Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Retrieved April 9 2022 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved April 9 2022 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved April 9 2022 Myers Justin January 16 2018 More Than A Woman Aaliyah remembered on her birthday Official Charts Company Retrieved December 10 2018 AALIYAH ROCK THE BOAT Ultratop Retrieved April 9 2022 week 12 23 maart 2002 Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 9 2022 AALIYAH ROCK THE BOAT Single Top 100 Retrieved April 9 2022 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wally Maxine August 23 2021 The Story Behind Aaliyah s Final Act W Retrieved June 20 2022 Check Out The Footage of Aaliyah s Last Interview Ever XXL August 25 2014 Eichenwald Kurt Pogrebin Robin September 8 2001 Haste Errors and a Fallen Star The New York Times Check Out the Deals Here Teen Savvy teen savvy com Archived from the original on February 4 2013 Retrieved August 25 2012 Farley 2002 pp 10 11 a b c Aaliyah Haste Errors and a Fallen Star New York Times September 8 2001 Aaliyah Obituary Remembering the R amp B Star Rolling Stone October 11 2001 a b c AALIYAH S FINAL VIDEO VERY SPECIAL DIRECTOR SAYS MTV News August 29 2001 Retrieved December 29 2018 a b c d AALIYAH S FINAL VIDEO TO PREMIERE ON TUESDAY MTV News October 9 2001 Retrieved December 29 2018 a b Aaliyah s Stylist Derek Lee On Her Most Fashionable Music Video Moments Nylon Retrieved April 10 2022 Derek Lee Shares What It Was Like Styling Aaliyah Complex Retrieved April 8 2022 a b Schumacher Rasmussen Eric August 26 2001 Aaliyah Killed in Plane Crash MTV News Archived from the original on April 18 2009 Retrieved April 9 2009 Sutherland 2005 p 119 a b Argument Broke Out Before Aaliyah Plane Crash Witness Reports Fox News August 27 2001 More Questions Emerge in Aaliyah Crash ABC News August 29 2001 U S investigators to probe Aaliyah crash CNN August 27 2001 Archived from the original on April 13 2009 Retrieved April 8 2009 R amp B s Aaliyah dies in plane crash BBC News August 26 2001 Farley 2002 p 170 Colton Ford Rock The Boat Lyrics Genius Retrieved April 9 2022 JoJo Covers Aaliyah s Rock the Boat Rap Up October 4 2013 Retrieved April 9 2022 Rose Lilah December 24 2010 Rick Ross She Crazy Feat Aaliyah amp Ne Yo HotNewHipHop Retrieved April 9 2022 Aron A March 21 2021 The Weeknd Performed Hypnosis With An Aaliyah Sample On What You Need HotNewHipHop Retrieved April 9 2022 Fleischer Adam May 16 2016 T I Samples An Aaliyah Classic On His New Dr Dre Single MTV Retrieved April 9 2022 Terry Josh September 15 2015 Hear a full rip of a new Kanye West song called Fade Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on December 16 2017 Retrieved April 9 2022 Rock the Boat CD single liner notes Aaliyah Germany Virgin Records 2002 VUSCDJF243 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 Rock the Boat CD single liner notes Aaliyah Germany Virgin Records 2002 VUSCD243 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 Rock the Boat 12 inch single liner notes Aaliyah United Kingdom Virgin Records 2002 VUST 243 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 Rock the Boat Cassette single liner notes Aaliyah United Kingdom Virgin Records 2002 VUSC 243 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 Rock the Boat CD single liner notes Aaliyah France Virgin Records 2002 VUSCDE243 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 Rock the Boat CD single liner notes Aaliyah Australia Virgin Records 2002 7243 5 46109 2 9 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 Aaliyah Rock the Boat ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved August 4 2012 Issue 632 ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles National Library of Australia Retrieved July 22 2021 Aaliyah Rock the Boat in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved August 4 2012 Aaliyah Rock the Boat in French Ultratip Retrieved August 4 2012 The National Top 50 Jam January 24 2002 Archived from the original on January 27 2002 Retrieved March 12 2020 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 20 no 22 May 25 2002 p 11 Retrieved January 7 2018 a b Aaliyah Rock the Boat in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved August 4 2012 Irish charts com Discography Aaliyah Irish Singles Chart Retrieved December 11 2015 Nederlandse Top 40 week 12 2002 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved December 8 2017 Aaliyah Rock the Boat in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved November 26 2017 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Aaliyah Rock the Boat Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved August 4 2012 Aaliyah Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved August 16 2019 Official Hip Hop and R amp B Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Retrieved December 3 2018 Aaliyah Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved May 5 2011 Aaliyah Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved May 5 2011 Aaliyah Chart History Rhythmic Billboard Retrieved November 29 2017 Top 40 Tracks Billboard Archived from the original on March 24 2015 Retrieved May 19 2022 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Year End 2001 Billboard Retrieved May 18 2021 Jaarlijsten 2002 in Dutch Stichting Nederlandse Top 40 Retrieved February 22 2020 Longbored Surfer longboredsurfer com Archived from the original on January 7 2014 Retrieved September 1 2010 R amp B Hip Hop Songs 2002 Year End Charts Billboard Retrieved October 31 2019 Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002 PDF Billboard Vol 10 no 51 December 20 2002 p 20 Retrieved March 28 2020 Strong 2004 p 4 Urban AC Going For Adds 9 25 01 PDF Radio amp Records September 21 2001 p 58 Retrieved September 18 2021 via World Radio History Rock the boat Aaliyah CD single in French France Fnac April 2 2002 Retrieved December 2 2021 New Releases Singles Music Week May 4 2002 p 30 Bibliography EditFarley Christopher John 2002 Aaliyah More Than a Woman Simon amp Schuster ISBN 978 1 4165 5215 4 Strong Martin C November 30 2004 The Great Rock Discography 7th ed Canongate Books ISBN 1841956155 Sutherland William 2005 Aaliyah Remembered Trafford Publishing ISBN 1412050626 External links Edit Rock the Boat at Discogs list of releases Official music video on YouTube Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rock the Boat Aaliyah song amp oldid 1125022434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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