Roses (Outkast song)

"Roses" is a song by American hip hop duo OutKast. It was released on March 1, 2004, as the third single from their 2003 double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It appears on André 3000's The Love Below disc and is the only track on his disc to feature Big Boi. The track was largely popular in the United Kingdom and the United States, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It also found popularity in Australia, reaching number two on the Australian Singles Chart.

"Roses"
Single by OutKast
from the album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
B-side	"Church"
Released	March 1, 2004 (2004-03-01)
Length	6:09
Label	LaFace Arista
Songwriter(s)	André Benjamin Antwan Patton Matt Boykin
Producer(s)	André 3000
OutKast singles chronology
"The Way You Move" (2003) "Roses" (2004) "Prototype" (2004)

Background

Lyrically, "Roses" is a diss song aimed at superficial women—personified in the song as "Caroline". It is the only song on The Love Below (André 3000's half of the double album) to feature a guest verse from Big Boi.^[1]

Music video

The video references the stage musicals West Side Story and Grease, and features cameo appearances from Paula Abdul, Lukas Haas, Kevin McDonald, Fonzworth Bentley, members of the Dungeon Family, Katt Williams, Faizon Love, and DeRay Davis.

A man is flipping through a Stankonia yearbook and sees the photo of Caroline Jones represented as the school's "Biggest Flirt". After Caroline leaves the bathroom with her girls, Big Boi is shown with his crew, appearing as stereotypical jocks. He opens a response to the note he gave to Caroline, asking if she'd be his valentine. Rather than checking off the Yes or No boxes, she writes "Maybe". Upset, Big Boi calls his crew to ride with him to school.

André 3000 is shown to be heading a musical on stage, where he sings the song and parodies Caroline, though Caroline is oblivious. During this time, Big Boi's crew, Speakerboxxx, drives to the school, performing acts of vandalism such as knocking down mailboxes. When Big Boi crashes the auditorium where the play is under way, Speakerboxxx announces their arrival, which is followed by the men on the stage announcing themselves as the Love Below.

Despite the pleas of the principal for no fighting, the two groups confront each other in the middle of the auditorium. Most of the students wind up in the fight, including the principal himself. Big Boi moves away from the fight and directs his rap to an uncaring Caroline. In the end, an effeminate man hands Caroline a red rose and pleads with her to leave. They pause, take a look at the chaos behind them, and depart. André 3000 is carried off. The yearbook reader falls asleep after finishing the story.

Track listings

US 12-inch single^[2] A1. "Roses" (radio edit) – 4:14 A2. "Roses" (instrumental) – 4:43 B1. "Roses" (club mix) – 6:14 B2. "Roses" (a cappella) – 5:25 US 7-inch single^[3] A. "Roses" (radio mix) – 4:14 B. "Roses" (instrumental) – 4:43

UK CD and 12-inch picture disc single^[4]^[5] "Roses" (album version) "Church" Australian CD single^[6] "Roses" (radio edit) – 4:14 "Roses" (album version) – 6:09 "Roses" (instrumental) – 4:43 "Roses" (video)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[7] 2 Australian Urban (ARIA)^[8] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[9] 18 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[10] 47 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[11] 10 Denmark (Tracklisten)^[12] 15 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[13] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)^[14] 21 Ireland (IRMA)^[15] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[16] 22 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[17] 25 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[18] 5 Norway (VG-lista)^[19] 9 Scotland (OCC)^[20] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21] 65 UK Singles (OCC)^[22] 4 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[23] 3 US Billboard Hot 100^[24] 9 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[25] 12 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)^[26] 1 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[27] 4 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[28] 7

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Australia (ARIA)^[29] 41 UK Singles (OCC)^[30] 105 US Billboard Hot 100^[31] 56 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)^[32] 62 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[33] 36 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)^[34] 41

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[35]	2× Platinum	140,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[36]	Gold	45,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)^[37]	Gold	150,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[38]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[39]	Gold	500,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	March 1, 2004	Contemporary hit rhythmic contemporary urban radio	LaFace Arista	^[40]
Denmark	June 14, 2004	CD	LaFace Arista BMG	^[41]
United Kingdom	June 21, 2004	12-inch vinyl CD		^[42]

References

1. "Outkast Tell A 'West Side Story' In Upcoming 'Roses' Video —Duo's rival crews to square off in mock high school brawl". MTV.com. 2004.
2. Roses (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). OutKast. Arista Records. 2004. 82876-57551-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. Roses (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). OutKast. Arista Records. 2004. 82876-61106-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Roses (UK CD single liner notes). OutKast. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2004. 82876624392.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Roses (UK 12-inch picture disc). OutKast. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2004. 82876624391.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Roses (Australian CD single liner notes). OutKast. LaFace Records. 2004. 82876 61764 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. "Outkast – Roses". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Issue 745" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
9. "Outkast – Roses" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
10. "Outkast – Roses" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
11. "Outkast – Roses" (in French). Ultratip.
12. "Outkast – Roses". Tracklisten.
13. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 28. July 10, 2004. p. 61. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
14. "Outkast – Roses" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Roses". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Outkast" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
17. "Outkast – Roses" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
18. "Outkast – Roses". Top 40 Singles.
19. "Outkast – Roses". VG-lista.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
21. "Outkast – Roses". Swiss Singles Chart.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
23. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
24. "Outkast Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
25. "Outkast Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
26. "Outkast Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
27. "Outkast Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
28. "Outkast Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
29. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2004". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
30. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
31. "Billboard Top 100 – 2004". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
32. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
33. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
34. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
36. "Danish single certifications – Outkast – Roses". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
37. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Outkast; 'Roses')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
38. "British single certifications – Outkast – Roses". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
39. "American single certifications – Outkast – Roses". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
40. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1544. February 27, 2004. p. 47. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
41. . click2music.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved November 9, 2023. To view release date, select Outkast from Vælg kunster (A - Å), then click on Roses.
42. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 19, 2004. p. 29.