Do Something (Macy Gray Song)
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"Do Something" is a song by American singer
Macy Gray Natalie Renée McIntyre (born September 6, 1967), known professionally as Macy Gray, is an American contemporary R&B, R&B and soul music, soul singer and actress. She is known for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influence ...
from her debut studio album, '' On How Life Is'' (1999). It was released on June 21, 1999, as the album's lead single.


Composition

The song samples
OutKast Outkast (sometimes written as OutKast) was an American hip-hop duo formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992, consisting of Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin, formerly known as Dré). Widely regarded as one of the greatest an ...
's 1994 song "
Git Up, Git Out "Git Up, Git Out" is the third and final single from Outkast's debut album ''Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik''. A conscious Southern story-rap about the dangers of giving in to circumstances and not doing anything with one's life, the song feature ...
" and
Nice & Smooth Nice & Smooth is an East Coast hip hop duo from New York City that consists of Gregory O. "Greg Nice" Mays (born May 30, 1967) and Darryl O. "Smooth B" Barnes (born August 3, 1965). The duo released four albums between 1989 and 1997. Their firs ...
's 1989 song "Funky for You".


Release

"Do Something" was released as two
CD single A CD single is a single (music), music single in the form of a compact disc (CD). Originally the ''CD single'' standard (as defined in the Rainbow Books, Red Book) was an 8 cm (3-inch) "mini CD" (''CD3''); later on the term referred to any si ...
s and a
cassette single A cassette single (CS), also known by the trademark cassingle, or capitalised as the trademark Cassette Single, is a music single (music), single supplied in the form of a Compact Cassette. The cassette single was introduced in 1980 in music, 1 ...
in the United Kingdom on June 21, 1999. One CD single contains remixes of "Do Something", including collaborators such as Cee-Lo of
Goodie Mob Goodie Mob was an American hip hop group based in Atlanta, Georgia, consisting of CeeLo Green, Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp. History The group was formed in 1991 by Cameron "Big Gipp" Gipp, Willie " Khujo" Knighton Jr., CeeLo Green (born Th ...
along with a non-album track, "Rather Hazy". "Do Something" peaked at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart, her lowest-charting single on the chart to date. In the United States, the song failed to enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 but peaked at number 43 on the
Hot Dance Singles Sales The Dance Singles Sales was a record chart released weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine listing each week's best-selling dance singles in the United States. Its previous names include Hot Dance/Disco 12-inch Singles Sales (1985–1987), Hot Dance Mu ...
chart and number 63 on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart.


Music video

The music video for "Do Something" was directed by
Mark Romanek Mark Lee Romanek (; born September 18, 1959) is an American film, music video and commercial director and photographer. He is best known for directing the films ''One Hour Photo'' (2002) and ''Never Let Me Go (2010 film), Never Let Me Go'' (2010) ...
, who had previously directed music videos for
Fiona Apple Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. She released five albums from 1996 to 2020, all of which reached the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200 chart. As of 2021, she has sold over ...
and
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
. Released in 1999, the video depicts Gray in an all-white home, and surreal footage of people in the wilderness.


Accolades

Gray was nominated at the 42nd Grammy Awards for
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (previously called Best Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female) was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Award ...
. The music video was nominated for two awards at the
2000 MTV Video Music Awards The 2000 MTV Video Music Awards (stylized as MTV Video_Music_Awards vma.00) aired live on September 7, 2000, honoring the best music videos from June 12, 1999, to June 9, 2000. The show was hosted by Marlon and Shawn Wayans at Radio City Music Ha ...
. Nigel Phelps was nominated for Best Art Direction in a Video, losing to the
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...
' "
Californication Californication may refer to: *Californication (word), an expression that refers to the influx of Californians into various western states in the U.S. *Californication (album), ''Californication'' (album), a 1999 album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers ...
". It won the award for Best Cinematography in a Video.2000 MTV Video Music Awards Award Ceremony


Track listing

*UK CD single # "Do Something" (Radio Edit) – 4:10 # "Rather Hazy" – 3:10 # "Do Something" (
Organized Noize Organized Noize is an American production duo from Atlanta, Georgia, currently composed of Ray Murray, Rick Wade and Sleepy Brown. History Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's " Don't Let Go (Love ...
Mix featuring Cee-Lo) – 3:53


Charts


Release history


Media usage

"Do Something" was used in an
MTV Europe MTV Global (formerly MTV Europe) is the international version of the American TV channel  MTV as 24-hour music video and entertainment pay television network officially launched on 1 August 1987 as part of the worldwide MTV network. Initia ...
commercial advertising summer festivals throughout Europe in 1999. The song was also used in the 1999 film ''
Music of the Heart ''Music of the Heart'' is a 1999 American biographical film, biographical musical film, musical drama (film and television), drama film directed by Wes Craven and written by Pamela Gray, based on the 1995 documentary ''Small Wonders''. A dramati ...
'', and in an episode of music game show ''Idol''.


References

{{Authority control 1999 debut singles 1999 songs Epic Records singles Macy Gray songs Music videos directed by Mark Romanek Songs written by André 3000 Songs written by Bernie Worrell Songs written by Big Boi Songs written by CeeLo Green Songs written by Darryl Swann Songs written by Garry Shider Songs written by George Clinton (funk musician) Songs written by Jeremy Ruzumna Songs written by Macy Gray