Please Me

"Please Me" is a song by American rapper Cardi B and American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, released as a single by Atlantic Records on February 15, 2019. The song was written by Cardi B, Bruno Mars, James Fauntleroy and The Stereotypes—collectively Jonathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves and Ray McCullough II, who also co-produced the song with Mars. "Please Me" is an R&B, hip hop and soul ballad that is reminiscent of the 1990's R&B with "trap stylings"; its lyrics are about two lovers flirting with each other and the way their night will proceed before they go into a bedroom.

Music critics gave "Please Me" mostly positive reviews and praised Cardi B's presence and verses on the track, as well as Mars' vocals. They also said the song is ideal for Valentine's Day. "Please Me" peaked at number three on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It peaked at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts, and on the Chile General Monitor Latino chart. It also entered the top 20 in Canada, Greece, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Mars and Florent Dechard directed the song's music video, in which Mars and Cardi B meet after a party, perform suggestive dance moves and ride around Los Angeles. Cardi B performed the song live at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 1, 2019. "Please Me" was nominated for several awards, including Best Collaboration and Video of the Year at the BET Awards 2019, Best Pop Video at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards and Best Collaboration Performance at the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards.

Background and production

On February 10, 2019, Cardi B won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for her debut studio album ''Invasion of Privacy'' (2018) at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. On the same date, after receiving criticism on social media due to her win at the ceremony, the rapper deactivated her Instagram account due to the frustration this caused. Cardi B returned to the platform on February 13 to announce a new song she had recorded with American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars would be released on the following Friday. "Please Me" is the artists' second collaboration after Cardi B's remix of Mars's single "Finesse" (2018). Cardi B shared the song's cover art on her Instagram account.

Atlantic Records released "Please Me" for digital download and streaming on February 15, 2019, and issued the song to American contemporary hit radio and rhythmic contemporary stations the same day. On the same date, Warner Music Group (WMG) issued the track for radio airplay in Italy. BBC Radio 1Xtra began adding the song onto their playlists on February 15, 2019. On February 19, 2019, the single was re-released to contemporary hit radio.

"Please Me" was written by Cardi B, Bruno Mars, James Fauntleroy and The Stereotypes—collectively Jonathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves and Ray McCullough II, who with Mars co-produced and programmed the song. Mars and Christopher Brody Brown played guitar and guitar synthesizer, and Byron "Mr. Talkbox" Chambers provided additional background vocals. "Please Me" was engineered by Charles Moniz, mixed by Serban Ghenea and mastered by Randy Merrill.

Composition

"Please Me" is an R&B, hip hop and soul ballad that has a "mid-tempo retro groove" with a "burbling synthesizer bass" in its instrumentation. The song is composed in the key of F minor at a tempo of 68 beats per minute. Mars and Cardi B's vocals range between the notes of E♯₃ and E♯₅. The song has a chord progression of Bm7–C#7(#5b9)–E/F#–F#7(b9). "Please Me" is a "silky, flirty slow jam" that resembles "steamy 90s' RnB". ''NME''s Rhian Daly stated it is "a mix of modern and classic – a smooth slow jam with trap stylings". Mars's vocals are described as "silky and begging" while Cardi B's show "confident rapping".

"Please Me" starts with two "pulsing bass notes" and Cardi B saying "Uh" and "C'mon". It leads to "a disco-style bassline" before beginning the "chord loop" that is present during the song. At this point, Mars's "backward-processed" vocals create "a ramp effect" to start the duet. It is followed by the chorus and its "four-chord loop", which is influenced by pop, trap and R&B/soul. The "jazzier chord extensions" are similar to those used by the "romantic 90s artists". The first half of the chorus features a hi-hat, a handclap, a saw-wave synth, a soft pad sound and an echo effect on the keyboard. The chorus starts slowly and increases in intensity when Mars's vocals are accompanied by the bassline and back-up harmony. For the most part, Cardi B's rap follows the song's tempo, except on the second and third lines, where "her intense rhythmic style" appears. At this point, the tenor background vocals disappear, enhancing the drum programming. The hi-hats give "motion" to Cardi B's rapping and there is a "plink" sound that "repeats on the beat".

The pre-chorus has a "dynamic on-ramp" in which Cardi B and Mars explain their intentions. The bass again disappears in the first half of the second chorus and a synth with echoes continues through the rest of the chorus as the backup vocals harmonize. The previous bassline is present in Cardi B's second section but the vocal harmonies are absent. During the rap portions, the overdubs "overlap with the main vocal". On the pre-chorus, Cardi B's vocals are split into harmonies and Mars's vocals on the background are foregrounded. Afterwards, Cardi B raps a single bar over an 1980s-style synth chord "before the drums and backing vocals" emerge, increasing "the energy levels" on the bridge. The latter features new harmonic rhythm and chords with "tension-building" as Mars's reaches his "highest pitched notes". Then, Cardi B performs a rap breakdown that features only a "synth line and lo-fi drums". The last chorus begins with a bassline and "finger-clicks" without drumming, after which the full instrumental comes back and Mars reaches a "high note".

It was first thought "Please Me" samples Jodeci's "Freek'n You" (1995) but ''Time'' magazine later confirmed it does not sample that song. Cardi B, however, references the 1990s R&B artist Jodeci in her verses. Bethy Squires from ''Vulture'' said "Please Me" is reminiscent of "the R&B fuck jams of the mid-90s" and compared it to an upbeat version of "Red Light Special" (1995) by TLC. Some publications compared the song's style to that of Mars's and Cardi B's previous collaboration "Finesse" (2018). Other publications, however, said the songs are quite different, and that "Please Me" has a slower tempo and is more "sexy". MTV News' Trey Alston called the track a "sexy spiritual sequel" of "Finesse" that deals in terms of lust. Maeve McDermott writing for ''USA Today'' said its R&B style is closer to "Mars' brand of smooth love songs than Cardi's bawdier anthems".

The lyrics of "Please Me" concern sexual pleasure and desire. Cardi B and Mars flirt with each other; Mars is "pleading for some loving" and Cardi B answers with the desire of "getting down on the dancefloor before taking it to another level". Sesali Bowen of ''Nylon'' said Cardi B slows "her flow as Bruno taps into the classic R&B tradition of 'begging for pussy'". First, Cardi B teases Mars "with her moves and figure", leaving him "on the receiving end of this sexual punishment", driving him crazy with anticipation of intimacy. Cardi B describes her next move, which starts with "twerkin' in some J's on the dancefloor" and deciding if he will "sample what's on the chef's menu" as "Mars pleads for carnal activity". During her second verse, Cardi B "honors her Hispanic roots" and shows her sexual dominance, saying; "Your pussy basura / My pussy horchata", using the Spanish words for "trash and the sweet", respectively. Towards the end of the song, Mars is begging and "Cardi is more than willing to oblige".

Critical reception

"Please Me" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Claire Rowden of MTV praised the collaboration; she called Mars's vocals "sweet and charming" and Cardi B's verses "heated and fiery". Mike Nied writing for ''Idolator'' called the song "a sensual bop" and said Mars "shows off his velvety vocals on the seductive chorus" while Cardi B's verses are "self-assured and smooth". ''Time''s Andrew Chow said "Please Me" shows "Cardi's elasticity in style and form" and her "unfettered, bombastic joy". Chow added while everyone expects "everything Cardi does to be a confrontation", she flirts on the track. ''Consequence of Sound''s Lake Schatz praised Cardi B's rap verses, such as "Do my back like I do these records, break that shit". According to Colin Joyce of ''Vice'' the song is "perfect for the holiday: horny, performative, a little corny". Liz Calvario of ''Entertainment Tonight'' said the single is "perfect" for Valentine's Day. Tara Martinez from ''Elite Daily'' said "Please Me" is "extremely suggestive" and "unapologetically sexy". Lucas Villa writing for AXS said "Cardi and Mars aim to please once again with this R&B throwback-styled romp". '' XXL''s Tony Centeno called the track a "bedroom banger" and Cardi B's rap verses "extra raunchy".

Although Rhian Daly from ''NME'' did not consider "Please Me" to be Cardi B's best song because "she's far better when she's got some fire beneath her", Daly praised it by saying Cardi B "dominates" the track because most songs have "the man calling the shots". Daly also said Cardi B calls the shots "while making sure she's getting what she wants too". Daly said Mars's vocals show "sensual R&B" and that Cardi B's rapping is "something far more x-rated". ''Pitchfork''s Michelle Kim criticized "Please Me", saying Mars "attempts to make his own bump 'n' grind anthem" but that "his request feels painfully safe and vanilla, like if a bot was programmed to write sexts". Kim also said the song has an "awkward tempo" and is "definitely not sexy enough to be played in the bedroom".

Accolades

In 2019, "Please Me" was nominated for Best Collaboration at the BET Awards 2019; Best Collab, Duo or Group at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards; and Best Collaboration Performance at the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards. In 2020, "Please Me" received two awards from ASCAP—one from the Pop Music Awards because it was one of the winners of Most Performed Song and another from the Rhythm & Soul Music Awards as one of the receivers of Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track also won a BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at the BMI Awards.

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Please Me" debuted at number five on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 with 51,000 downloads and debuted at number-one on Digital Songs chart with 27.9 million streams and 39 million radio impressions in its first full tracking week. It became Cardi B's seventh and Mars's sixteenth top ten on the Hot 100 chart. On its third week on the chart, following the release of its official music video on March 1, 2019, the single reached its peak of number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It sold 20,000 copies with 52.9 million radio impressions and 45.3 million streams. "Please Me" also peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts, becoming Cardi B's and Mars's second collaboration to do so after the remix of Mars's song "Finesse" (2018). It became Cardi B's fourth and sixth number one on the former and latter chart, respectively; it also became Mars's third and eleventh number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song and Rhythmic chart, respectively. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song three times platinum. In Canada, "Please Me" peaked at number 12 on the Canadian Hot 100 and at number 19 on the Canada CHR/Top 40. The song was certified platinum by Music Canada (MC).

"Please Me" peaked at number 13 on the Euro Digital Song Sales chart, on March 2, 2019. In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at its peak of number 12 on the UK Singles Chart on February 22, 2019. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the track gold for sales and streams over 400,000 certified units. The single peaked at number 15 in Croatia and reached number 14 on its second week on the IFPI Greece chart. It also debuted at its peak of number 12 in the Lithuanian Top 100. "Please Me" reached number one on the Chile General Monitor Latino chart and peaked at number two on the Peru Anglo Monitor Latino. The song entered at number 19 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and peaked at number 12, spending eight weeks on the chart. It also peaked at number 18 on the Lebanese Top 20 chart.

Music video

Background

After releasing "Please Me" on February 15, 2019, Cardi B promised her fans a music video would be released soon. On March 1 that year, Cardi B made a video announcement, stating "she really loved what they did for this video" and "I really just wanted to do a video because I'm really feelin' myself". The accompanying music video was filmed in Los Angeles and premiered at 10 a.m. EST on March 1. It was directed by Florent Dechard and Mars, and was choreographed by Mars, Tanisha Scott and Phil Tayag. In the music video, Cardi B wears a purple leather jacket with fringe and a bustier; the look was inspired by Selena's look during her 1993 performance at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas, the cover of the album ''Selena Live!'' (1993) and her wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hollywood.

Synopsis

The music video starts with a message that sets the location at Los Angeles, California, after a party at a taco restaurant. In the "neon-lit" music video Mars, wearing a pencil-thin mustache, is sitting with his friends eating tacos when Cardi B, holding a lollipop, enters the restaurant with her friends. Cardi B says she "should've slapped that bitch", who was talking "wild crazy", referencing an earlier incident. At this point, Cardi B and Mars exchange glances while the socialize with their respective groups of friends; nothing moves and "then the beat drops". Then, Cardi B and her four friends dance to draw the attention of Mars and his friends. Afterwards, Mars and Cardi B approach one another and perform several "suggestive dances and scenarios"; Cardi B is "twerking on the store counter, grinding on Mars, and sitting atop a slushy machine". Mars and his friends also dance to impress Cardi B and her friends. They leave the restaurant and enter an abandoned warehouse, where Cardi B and Mars kiss passionately on the hood of Cardi B's car before they get into different classic cars. In the final scene, the two groups socialize together as Cardi B and Mars sing to each other on their respective cars while driving through a tunnel.

Reception

Matt Miller from ''Esquire'' said the video is an homage to the artists' Latin "heritage and late nights in the '90s", and concluded they "have struck gold in the '90s". NPRs, Joshua Bote said Cardi B and Mars "bask in the early '90s glow of the time when Jodeci, low-riders and pencil 'staches reigned supreme. It's ''Saved By The Bell'' with a dash of Chicano-charmed spice." Sesali Bowen of ''Nylon'' praised the video, saying "the visuals are colorful and playful, but still very sexy". ''Vibe''s J'na Jefferson called the music video "sexy", and said "Cardi B and Bruno Mars get up close and personal". Dave Quinn writing for ''People'' said "it's an electrifying video, with Cardi and Mars's chemistry off the charts". Christian Holub of ''Entertainment Weekly'' compared the music video of "Please Me" to that of "Finesse" due to its "colorful and action-packed" set. Idolator's Mike Nied called the video a vibrant and lively affair. Tara Martinez from ''Elite Daily'' called the video "unapologetically sexy" and said it was "the sexiest video I've seen in a long time".

Lake Schatz of ''Consequence of Sound'', Evan Minsker of ''Pitchfork'' and Elizabeth Aubrey of ''NME'' all found the video to be "stylish". According to Ron Diker writing for ''HuffPost'', "things get spicy in a hurry" in the music video and the lyrics, along with the "twerking and suggestive moves", are anything but subtle. Elyse Dupre from ''E! Online'' called the video "steamy". Colin Joyce of ''Vice'' said the video highlights the song's attributes and said it is "like watching two theater kids dance up on each other. It's maybe just a little too sincere in its horniness." In 2019, the music video received a nomination for Best Pop Video at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards and Video of the Year at the BET Awards 2019.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

* Cardi B – lead vocals, songwriting
* Bruno Mars – lead vocals, songwriting, production, guitar, guitar synthesizer, programming
* The Stereotypes – production, programming, songwriting
* James Fauntleroy – songwriting
* Christopher Brody Brown – guitar, guitar synthesizer
* Byron "Mr. Talkbox" Chambers – additional background vocals
* Charles Moniz – engineering
* Serban Ghenea – mixing
* Randy Merrill – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

External links

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2010s ballads
2019 singles
2019 songs
Atlantic Records singles
Cardi B songs
Bruno Mars songs
Contemporary R&B ballads
Songs written by Cardi B
Songs written by Bruno Mars
Songs written by James Fauntleroy
Song recordings produced by the Stereotypes
Songs written by Jonathan Yip
Songs written by Ray Romulus
Songs written by Jeremy Reeves
Songs written by Ray Charles McCullough II
Soul ballads