"5 Minutes" is the debut single performed by American R&B vocalist,

Lil' Mo Cynthia Karen Loving (born November 19, 1978), known professionally as Lil' Mo, is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her 2001 single "Superwoman Pt. II" (featuring Fabolous), which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot ...

. The song features production and guest vocals by frequent collaborator Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and originally served as the lead single from the original soundtrack of ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' (1998). However, because it was ignored by American mainstream radio outlets, the song was instead released as the soundtrack's first international single while contenders "

I Want You Back "I Want You Back" is the first national single by the Jackson 5. It was released by Motown on October 7, 1969, and became the first number-one hit for the band on January 31, 1970. It was performed on the band's first television appearances, on ...

" and " No Fool No More" were chosen in its place as a leading single.

Critical reception

The song met generally favorable reviews. Craig Seymour of ''

SPIN Magazine ''Spin'' (stylized in all caps as ''SPIN'') is an American music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr. Now owned by Next Management Partners, the magazine is an online publication since it stopped issuing a print edition in 2012. ...

'' reviewed the song as being "quirky," and even referenced its underperformance in the United States, stating: "If you slept on '5 Minutes,' you missed one of 1998's most badass singles."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

contributor

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...

praised the song for it being a "great moment to make ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love''">/nowiki> ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love''/nowiki> a first-rate urban contemporary and hip-hop soundtrack."

Music video

Production and release

A music video for the single was directed by Rashidi Natara Harper in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and premiered on The Box in mid-July 1998. In spite of the single's non-charting performance in the US, the music video received frequent airplay on

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and College Television Network.

Synopsis

The video begins with a toddler riding her bike in a neighborhood in an opposite angle from a paper-machete alien strolling down the street. The video then cuts to

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the Contemporary R&B, R&B girl group 4 All the Sistas Arou ...

who is sitting in an open-trunk of a vehicle while performing her adlibs.

is then shown singing her verses while sitting in a blue chair in a front yard. The video then transitions to Mo picking up her girlfriends and riding in a car to meet up with the song's antagonist in an attempt to settle a feud. During the song's bridge, Mo and her girls are seen fighting with the antagonist. By the latter, Mo and accompanying backup dancers are caught in a still frame while the video intercuts with paper-machete aliens dancing with Missy, who is dressed in a Scottish attire.

Track listings and formats

;UK CD single # "5 Minutes" (Radio Version) — 4:08 # "5 Minutes" (Video Version) — 4:38 # "5 Minutes" (LP Version) — 4:52 ;UK 12" vinyl # "5 Minutes" (Radio Version) — 4:08 # "5 Minutes" (Instrumental) — 4:51 # "5 Minutes" (Acappella) — 4:53 ;"The Remixes" (Promo) # "Flavahood Remix" — 4:09 # "

Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer and rapper. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, he is widely acclaimed for his distinctive production work and "stuttering" rhythm ...

Remix" — 4:06 ;US 12" vinyl # "5 Minutes" (LP Version) # "5 Minutes" (Radio Version) # "5 Minutes" (Instrumental) # "5 Minutes" (Acapella) ;US 12" promo vinyl # "5 Minutes" (Video Version) # "5 Minutes" (Instrumental)

Chart performance

Release history

References

{{authority control 1998 singles 1998 songs Lil' Mo songs Missy Elliott songs Songs written by Lil' Mo Songs written by Missy Elliott Elektra Records singles Songs from Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)