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"Skate" is a song by American
superduo A supergroup is a musical group formed of members who are already successful as solo artists or as members of other successful groups. The term became popular in the late 1960s when members of already successful rock groups recorded albums toget ...
Silk Sonic Silk Sonic is an American Supergroup (music), musical superduo composed of musicians Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. The duo released their debut single, "Leave the Door Open", in March 2021. They later released "Skate (song), Skate" in July 2 ...
, which consists of
Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...
and Anderson .Paak. It was released on July 30, 2021, by
Aftermath Entertainment Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre in 1996. It operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Interscope Records. The label's roster includes artists ...
and
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
as the second single from their debut studio album ''
An Evening with Silk Sonic ''An Evening with Silk Sonic'' is the debut studio album by the American musical superduo Silk Sonic, which is composed of the American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars and fellow singer and rapper Anderson .Paak. The album was released by Afterm ...
'' (2021). The song was written by the artists alongside
James Fauntleroy James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Inglewood, California. He is best known for his songwriting work and guest performances on songs by high-profile artists including Travis ...
, Domi & JD Beck, and Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II, who produced it with Mars. An R&B,
disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...
, and
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
song, it was inspired by music from the 1970s disco period. The song's lyrics discuss
roller skating Roller skating is the act of travelling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreation, recreational activity, a sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller skating, though it also takes place on s ...
and include an invitation to a dance floor. "Skate" was well received by music critics, some of whom praised the retro 1970s sound and found it to be perfect for the summer. The song charted moderately in several countries; in North America, it reached number 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the top 20 in
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. Elsewhere, the song topped the charts in Israel, peaked at number 12 in New Zealand and it also entered the top 20
Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
region of Belgium. The accompanying
music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
was directed by Florent Dechard, Mars, and co-directed by Philippe Tayag, being released along with the song. It depicts Mars and .Paak performing the song outdoors in a tropical location as several women roller-skate around them. Silk Sonic performed the song during their concert residency
An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM was a concert residency by American R&B superduo Silk Sonic, held at Dolby Live in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. The concert residency was promoted by Live Nation and MGM Resorts. Background and developme ...
(2022).


Background

In late February 2021, Mars and .Paak announced on social media the formation of their new band
Silk Sonic Silk Sonic is an American Supergroup (music), musical superduo composed of musicians Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. The duo released their debut single, "Leave the Door Open", in March 2021. They later released "Skate (song), Skate" in July 2 ...
and revealed the artwork for their debut studio album ''
An Evening with Silk Sonic ''An Evening with Silk Sonic'' is the debut studio album by the American musical superduo Silk Sonic, which is composed of the American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars and fellow singer and rapper Anderson .Paak. The album was released by Afterm ...
'' (2021). On March 5 that year, they released their first single "
Leave the Door Open "Leave the Door Open" is the debut single by the American superduo Silk Sonic, consisting of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, from their studio album '' An Evening with Silk Sonic'' (2021). The song was written by the artists alongside Brody ...
". The duo teased new music in the months leading up to the release of "Skate". After performing "Leave the Door Open" at the
BET Awards 2021 The 21st BET Awards took place on June 27, 2021. The ceremony celebrated achievements in entertainment and honors music, sports, television, and movies. The ceremony's theme was "Year of the Black Woman" and was held in-person with a vaccinated ...
, they tempted fans with a new song, which was later revealed to be "a hoax". On July 28, 2021, .Paak posted a picture of a red car with the phrase "You've Been Invited To Silk Sonic's Summertime Jam This Friday" on
Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
, hinting at an impending release. In an interview with
Zane Lowe Alexander Zane Reed Lowe (born 1973) is a New Zealand radio DJ, live DJ, record producer, and television presenter. After an early career in music creation, production and DJing, he moved to the UK in 1997. He came to prominence through pr ...
on
Apple Music 1 Apple Music 1, previously branded as Beats 1, is a 24/7 music radio station owned and operated by Apple Inc. It is accessible through iTunes or the Apple Music app on a computer, smartphone or tablet, smart speaker (such as the Apple HomePod), a ...
's show New Music Daily, Mars said the track "came about as part of thought exercise in the studio" as he and his team were imagining they were performing a song "in the middle of a roller rink", and the way the bass, guitar, and drums would sound. Mars added; "And I wanted to play congas and that's what you get. You get a song called 'Skate'. Talking about I'm trying to float. I'm trying to glide." He affirmed that "Skate" was chosen as the second single "because the sun is out." Mars hoped that "Everybody's at the pool, at the beach, barbequing, listen to some Silk Sonic." Silk Sonic wanted people to "feel like they were floating and gliding, slipping and sliding."


Release and production

On July 30, 2021,
Aftermath Entertainment Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre in 1996. It operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Interscope Records. The label's roster includes artists ...
and
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
released "Skate" as the album's second single via
digital download Digital download may refer to: *Downloading, the processing of copying data to a computer from an external source *Digital distribution, a method of downloading software or audio-visual media as opposed to buying it at a traditional point of sale * ...
and
streaming services A streaming media service (also simply called a streaming service) is an online platform that allows users to watch or listen to content, such as film, movies, Television show, TV shows, music, or podcasts, over the internet. Instead of downloadi ...
in several countries. On the same date,
Warner Music Group Warner Music Group Corp., commonly abbreviated as WMG, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational entertainment and record label Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the "Record label#M ...
(WMG) also issued the track for
radio airplay Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...
in Italy. On August 2, 2021, the track was sent to American
adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
,
hot adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
and
modern adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
radio stations. WMG released "Skate" to Australian contemporary hit radio on August 6, 2021. "Skate" was written by Mars, Brandon Anderson,
Dernst Emile II Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II (born January 24, 1985) is an American record producer and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York City. He received his first production credits on Rihanna's 2005 album ''Music of the Sun'', as well as Mary J. Blige's '' The ...
,
James Fauntleroy James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Inglewood, California. He is best known for his songwriting work and guest performances on songs by high-profile artists including Travis ...
, Domitille Degalle, and
JD Beck Domi and JD Beck (stylized as DOMi & JD BECK) are a jazz duo consisting of French keyboardist Domi Louna and American drummer JD Beck. The two met in 2018 and have since worked with Thundercat, Anderson .Paak, Herbie Hancock, Eric Andre, Ariana ...
. It was produced by Mars and D'Mile; Mars played
sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Khusrau K ...
, guitar,
conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest ...
s, and percussion, while D'Mile sang background vocals, as well as playing
Rhodes piano The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, th ...
and
bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
. .Paak played the drums and David Foreman played rhythm guitar. Glenn Fischbach played
cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...
; Jonathan Kim and Steve Heitlinger played
viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...
; Blake Espy, Emma Kummrow and Gared Crawford, Natasha Colkett, Tess Varley, and Luigi Mazzocchi played violin. Larry Gold did the arrangement and conduction of the
strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
at
Milkboy MilkBoy is an American recording studio and entertainment company founded in 1994 by Tommy Joyner. Company headquarters is located at MilkBoy the Studio, at 413 North 7th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original "MilkBoy Recording" was ...
Studios,
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, Pennsylvania, with co-arrangement by Steve Tirpak. The strings were recorded by Jeff Chestek, who was assisted by Cody Chicowski.
Charles Moniz Charles Moniz is a Canadian recording engineer who worked on Bruno Mars's studio albums ''Unorthodox Jukebox'' and '' 24K Magic''. He also recorded " All I Ask" for Adele's 2015 studio album '' 25''. For his recordings with Mars and Adele, Moniz ha ...
, with engineering assistant Alex Resoagli, engineered and recorded the song at Shampoo Press & Curl Studios.
Serban Ghenea Serban Ghenea () is a Canadian audio engineer and mixer. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award a total of 45 times and has won 21 times. Early life and education Ghenea was born in Romania, and in 1976 he moved to Montreal with his family. H ...
mixed "Skate" at MixStar Studios in
Virginia Beach Virginia Beach (colloquially VB) is the List of cities in Virginia, most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in southeaster ...
, John Hanes served as the mix engineer and Bryce Bordone as mixing assistant. The song was mastered by
Randy Merrill Randy Merrill is an American mastering engineer who has worked with international artists including Blink-182, DAY6, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Harry Styles, One Direction, Adele, Imagine Dragons, Beck, Liam Gallagher, Jonas Brothers, Muse ...
at
Sterling Sound George Marino (April 15, 1947June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s. Biography Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He attended ...
, NYC.


Composition

Musically, "Skate" is a
disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...
,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
and R&B song. The song starts as "a high-drama anthem of stormy betrayal" and evolves "into a sunburst of roller-disco elation with a melody that could've owned any summer during the resident Gerald Ford">Gerald_Ford.html" ;"title="resident Gerald Ford">resident Gerald Fordadministration". Its instrumentation includes "rhythmic guitars, glockenspiel, Latin percussion, back-talking string section and the rising bridge" with a late '70s sound, as well as congas. "Skate" is described as a "horny track", due to its lyrics; .Paak sings at one point; "If being fine was a crime, girl, they'd lock your lil' fine ass up in a tower". Sheet music for "Skate" is in the key of D minor with a tempo of 112 beats per minute. Paak "coos, booty-struck", on the later verses. On the bridge, Mars Crooner, croons, while .Paak "opens up to the love interest" with a "raspy delivery". Silk Sonic shows "vintage vocal exhortations". The song's lyrics discuss roller skating, and are an invitation for young women to a dance floor. "Skate" has been described as a "silky-smooth jam" and "groovy". Daniel Peters from ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' described the track as "smooth and blissed" with Mars' and .Paak's vocals "harmonising on its upbeat refrain". Jason Lipshutz from ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' called the song an "uptempo, beach-ready single". Lars Brandle, also writing for ''Billboard'', said "Skate" has a "funky throwback '70s vibe". In a similar view, Scott Croker of ''
Idolator An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry. Idolator or Idolater may also refer to: * Idolator (website), an American music blog * ''Idolator'' (album), a 2005 album by Blood Stain Child * ''Idolator'', a 1986 album by Ole Evenrud * "Idolater", a ...
'' said Silk Sonic issued "another dose of '70s nostalgia", describing the track as "a funky smooth tune". '' Clash'' Robin Murray said the single was inspired by 1970s soul-funk and shares "a blissful, sunshine feel, tapping into that uplifting West Coast feeling". Charu Shina of ''
Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...
'' also said the track was inspired by 1970s music and called it a "kind of smooth, funky summer jam". ''
Consequence Consequence may refer to: Philosophy, science and social sciences * Logical consequence, also known as a ''consequence relation'', or ''entailment'' * Consequent, in logic, the second half of a hypothetical proposition or consequences * Consequent ...
''s staff and Mary Siroky described "Skate" as a "flashy, '70s jam" and an "euphoric groove with an absolutely unstoppable string section". Lipshutz compared "Skate" to Mars's 2013 track "
Treasure Treasure (from from Greek ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions legally define what constit ...
". ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' Jem Aswad compared its sound to the "disco-era acts like Tavares and mid-tempo tracks from the ''
Saturday Night Fever ''Saturday Night Fever'' is a 1977 American Dance in film, dance Drama (film and television), drama film directed by John Badham and produced by Robert Stigwood. It stars John Travolta as Tony Manero, a young Italian Americans, Italian-America ...
'' soundtrack 1977).
Jon Pareles Jon Pareles (born 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' said the song is a tentative of "recreating the sounds and structures of the era when 1970s soul melted into disco". Similarly, Sophie Caraan from ''Hypebeast'' said the duo take "structural cues from the smooth tunes of the '70s, adding layers of their harmonic vocals to pay homage" to the decade. ''
Hot Press ''Hot Press'' is a monthly music and politics magazine based in Dublin, Ireland, founded in June 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. History ''Hot Press'' was founded in June 1977 by Niall Stokes, who cont ...
'' Pat Carty said "Skate" sounds like a track produced by
Gamble and Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production duo credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...
that could have been "included on a ''
Car Wash A car wash, or auto wash, is a facility used to clean the exterior, and in some cases the interior, of motor vehicle, cars. Car washes can be #Self-serve car wash, self-service, full-service (with attendants who wash the vehicle), or #Autom ...
'' sequel soundtrack".


Critical reception

"Skate" was met with acclaim from music critics. ''Variety'' Aswad said the song continues to show Silk Sonic's "loving tribute to the mid-1970s", calling it a "pitch-perfect throwback". Althea Legaspi of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'' said Mars and .Paak delivered with their promise of a "Summertime Jam" and noted the song's "buoyant, sunny vibes". Croker from ''Idolator'' dubbed "Skate" ""the perfect follow-up" to" 'Leave The Door Open'", and said listeners will have the song "on repeat on
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
Spotify Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
". ''
Vibe Vibe, alternatively '' vibes,'' is short for ''vibration''. A "vibe" is an emotional reaction to the aura or energy felt to belong to a person, place or thing. Vibe may also refer to: People * DJ Vibe (born 1968), Portuguese DJ * Lasse Vibe (b ...
'' Datwon Thomas said the duo "serve up another dance floor scorcher ... with that same ""sing-a-long feel" of" of 'Leave The Door Open'", ultimately calling the track "stellar". Sabrina Park from ''
Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' (stylized as ''Harper's BAZAAR'') is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. Bazaar has been published in New York City since November 2, 1867, originally as a weekly publication entitled ''Harper's Bazar''."Corporat ...
'' said "Skate" could "be our next favorite summer anthem", calling it a "certified bop". Gabrielle Pierre, writing for
NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
, praised Silk Sonic for their ability to "authentically reproduce sounds of Motown for today's contemporary audience, coupling modern melodies with classic retro rhythms and reverting to revered melodies, technique and instrumentation". '' Under the Radar'' Mark Refern called the song an "irresistible slice of smooth retro soul". Shina of ''Vulture'' also said the song "holds up to repeated listening". ''Hypebeast'' writer Caraan opined the track was "one of the most infectious musical offerings of the year". Joe Walker, for ''
HipHopDX ''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of Hip hop music, hip hop music criticism and news. ''HipHopDX'' has over 3.5M monthly readers, the website encompassing hip hop news, interviews, music, and reviews. The website's founder and CEO is Sharath C ...
'', dubbed the song "infectious". ''
Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...
'' staff praised the "effortless" song, saying that despite not bringing anything new, it is "pure early-disco cosplay" and "an irresistible late-summer shimmer". When reviewing the album, Jon Dolan from ''Rolling Stone'' called "Skate" the "best song on the record". In a similar review, ''Variety'' Aswad dubbed "Skate" a "rollerena anthem" and drew attention to the "priceless" verses such as "In a room full of dimes, you'd be a hundred dollars" and "You smell better than a barbecue". ''NME'' Sophie Williams wrote; "there are gorgeously subtle flourishes throughout" the album that are evident on "the crisp, pristine blasts of percussion that uplift...'Skate'." Candace McDuffie, for ''
Paste Paste is a term for any very thick viscous fluid. It may refer to: Science and technology * Adhesive or paste ** Wallpaper paste ** Wheatpaste, a liquid adhesive made from vegetable starch and water * Paste (rheology), a substance that behaves as ...
'', said the song's sound "could have easily felt tired and redundant", but added there is "enough feel-good percussion and cheesy one-liners directed at a love interest to glisten and shine". Joe Rivers of No Ripcord said "Skate" is the disco song "you've heard a million times before, "but gains due to its "sheer enthusiasm". Sputnikmusic's Sowing praised the track, calling it "adorable" and "entertaining" while noting its romantic theme. Sowing also said the song includes "a slippery synth line" and humorous verses as it compares "the emotional space between the narrator and his partner to skaters drifting apart".


Accolades

Siroky and the staff of ''Consequence'' considered "Skate" the Top Song of the Week on July 30, 2021, saying the single "is the perfect late season bop, all the joyful energy of a cookout, rooftop party, or (naturally) a long skate session under palm trees". ''Stereogum'' staff placed "Skate" among "The 5 Best Songs of the Week" on August 6, 2021, describing it as "deliriously sunny and specific Philly soul homage". The song was also included on ''Under the Radar'' Songs of the Week on July 30, 2021; Redfern said, "It's incredibly cheesy ... but it's also hard to argue with such a joyous song."


Commercial performance

"Skate" debuted at number 14 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 with 13,000 downloads, 13.4 million streams, and 6.9 million radio impressions on its first tracking week. The song peaked at number 16 on the
Adult Top 40 The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Syste ...
and peaked at number four on the ''Billboard''
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. It peaked at number 18 on the
Mainstream Top 40 Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...
and 15 on the
Rhythmic Rhythmic may refer to: * Related to rhythm * Rhythmic contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic adult contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor ...
chart. The song debuted at number 11 on the US ''Rolling Stone'' Top 100. "Skate" entered and peaked at number 19 on the
Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007 as the standard record chart in Canada; a new chart ...
on the week of August 11, 2021. It also peaked at number 14 on the
Canada Hot AC The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, p ...
chart and number 19 on the Canada AC chart. It was certified gold by
Music Canada Music Canada is a non-profit Industry trade group, trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 in Toronto to represent the interests of companies that record, manufacture, produce, and distribute music in Canada. It also offers benefits to s ...
(MC). In Israel, "Skate" peaked at number one on the week of August 8, 2021. On the
New Zealand Singles Chart The Official Aotearoa Music Charts, formerly the Official New Zealand Music Chart (), is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The M ...
, the song debuted at number 12 on the week of August 9, 2021, and in Australia, it debuted and peaked at number 32 on the
ARIA Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
. In Belgium, the single peaked at number 17 on the
Ultratop 50 Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium. Ultratop is a non-profit organization, created in 1995 on the initiative of the Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA), the Belgian member organiz ...
in
Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
and number 34 in
Wallonia Wallonia ( ; ; or ), officially the Walloon Region ( ; ), is one of the three communities, regions and language areas of Belgium, regions of Belgium—along with Flemish Region, Flanders and Brussels. Covering the southern portion of the c ...
. It also peaked at number 17 on the ''Billboard''
Mexico Airplay Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
chart, number 24 on the
Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 () is a weekly music chart compiled by ''Stichting Nederlandse Top 40''. It started as a radio program titled "Veronica Top 40", on the offshore radio, offshore station Radio Veronica in 1965. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" ...
chart, number 27 on the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100 chart and number 29 in Singapore. The track peaked at number 24 on Hungary Radios Top 40. "Skate" peaked at number 18 on the ''Billboard'' Global 200, spending six weeks on the chart.


Music video

The
music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
for "Skate" was released alongside the song on July 30, 2021, and was directed by Mars and Florent Déchard, while co-directed by Philippe Tayag. The video is a "vintage visual" depicting Mars and .Paak playing drums that are backed by a band in an impromptu street party at a tropical outdoor location. At the same time, young women in shorts roller-skate around them. Cierra Chérie, one of the roller-skaters in the music video, did not know who the video they were filming was for until the day of the shoot. She said; “I learned a new level of excellence from Bruno Mars and Andy as well as some of the other roller skaters ... they were on the whole time ... they were ready to perform, they were high energy". ''Variety'' Aswad said the music video is "pitch-perfect" and "a carefree welcome tonic in a tough time". Thomas from ''Vibe'' said the video has a "high energy appeal". Legaspi from ''Rolling Stone'' called it "nostalgic, feel-good". Walker from ''HipHopDX'' also described the video as "feel-good". Writing for ''
American Songwriter ''American Songwriter'' is a bimonthly magazine covering songwriting. Established in 1984, it features interviews, songwriting tips, news, reviews and lyric contest. The magazine is based in Nashville, Tennessee. History The ''American Songwri ...
'', Tina Benitez-Eves wrote the "vintage visuals fit the blissed-out funk and soul of Silk Sonic". ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' Jenna Ryu said the music video shows the "'70s feel-good nostalgia" so people "feel as if they're gliding, slipping and sliding into the summer". Park from ''Harper's Bazaar'' said the video takes viewers "into summer with its warm and inviting hues, harboring the familiar feel-good disco-R&B nostalgia with its '70s-inspired fashion and cinematographic moments".


Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''An Evening with Silk Sonic''. *Bruno Mars – vocals, songwriting, production, sitar, guitar, congas, percussion *Anderson .Paak – vocals, songwriting, drums *
D'Mile Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II (born January 24, 1985) is an American record producer and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York City. He received his first production credits on Rihanna's 2005 album ''Music of the Sun'', as well as Mary J. Blige's '' The ...
 – background vocals, songwriting, production, piano, Rhodes, bass *
James Fauntleroy James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Inglewood, California. He is best known for his songwriting work and guest performances on songs by high-profile artists including Travis ...
 – songwriting * Domitille Degalle – songwriting *
JD Beck Domi and JD Beck (stylized as DOMi & JD BECK) are a jazz duo consisting of French keyboardist Domi Louna and American drummer JD Beck. The two met in 2018 and have since worked with Thundercat, Anderson .Paak, Herbie Hancock, Eric Andre, Ariana ...
 – songwriting *David Foreman - rhythm guitar *Larry Gold – strings arrangements and conducting *Steve Tirpak – strings co-arrangements *Emma Kummrow – violin *Luigi Mazzocchi – violin *Blake Espy – violin *Gared Crawford – violin *Tess Varley – violin *Natasha Colkett – violin *Jonathan Kim – viola *Steve Heitliner – viola *Glenn Fischbach – cello *Jeff Chestek – strings recording *Cody Chicowski – strings recording assistant *
Charles Moniz Charles Moniz is a Canadian recording engineer who worked on Bruno Mars's studio albums ''Unorthodox Jukebox'' and '' 24K Magic''. He also recorded " All I Ask" for Adele's 2015 studio album '' 25''. For his recordings with Mars and Adele, Moniz ha ...
 – recording, engineering *Alex Resoagli – assistant engineer *
Serban Ghenea Serban Ghenea () is a Canadian audio engineer and mixer. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award a total of 45 times and has won 21 times. Early life and education Ghenea was born in Romania, and in 1976 he moved to Montreal with his family. H ...
 – mixing * John Hanes – mixing engineering *Bryce Bordone – mixing assistant *
Randy Merrill Randy Merrill is an American mastering engineer who has worked with international artists including Blink-182, DAY6, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Harry Styles, One Direction, Adele, Imagine Dragons, Beck, Liam Gallagher, Jonas Brothers, Muse ...
 – mastering


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Release history


References

{{Authority control 2021 songs 2021 singles Silk Sonic songs Bruno Mars songs Anderson .Paak songs Roller skating Songs written by Anderson .Paak Songs written by Bruno Mars Songs written by D'Mile Aftermath Entertainment singles Atlantic Records singles American disco songs Music videos directed by Bruno Mars