Hey Mama (Black Eyed Peas song)

"Hey Mama"
Single by the Black Eyed Peas
from the album Elephunk
B-side
  • "Positivity" (live)
  • "Release" (live)
  • "The Boogie That Be"
ReleasedJanuary 12, 2004 (2004-01-12)
RecordedMarch 7–8, 2003
StudioThe Stewchia (Los Feliz, Los Angeles, US)
Length3:48
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)will.i.am
The Black Eyed Peas singles chronology
"Shut Up"
(2003)
"Hey Mama"
(2004)
"Let's Get It Started"
(2004)
Music video
"Hey Mama" on YouTube

"Hey Mama" is a song by American musical group the Black Eyed Peas with additional vocals provided by British reggae singer Tippa Irie. It was released in 2004 as the third single from their 2003 album, Elephunk, and became a top-ten hit in 14 countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Recording and release

The song was recorded from March 7 to 8, 2003, at The Stewchia in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. The single version of the song differs from the album version in that it cuts a verse from the end of the song and replaces it with an entirely new one performed by members Taboo and apl.de.ap (both of whom did not perform on the original album version), changes some of the lyrics by removing references to the Middle East due to the Iraq War at the time and slightly alters the instrumental.

"Hey Mama" reached No. 3 in Switzerland and No. 4 in Australia, Austria, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it peaked No. 6, becoming their third top-ten hit there, and was also a success in Canada and the United States, reaching No. 9 on the Canadian Singles Chart and No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song was used to promote the 2004 film Garfield: The Movie which stars Bill Murray voicing the titular role. In the film, while not included on its soundtrack album, Garfield has a dance-off with Odie to the song, which was used in the advertisements for the film.

Music video

The Black Eyed Peas in the psychedelic limbo from the music video.

The music video features 3 main locations, the first shown being a psychedelic limbo, where the Black Eyed Peas do breakdancing and the main verse of the song is sung. The color scheme is mostly yellow, red, brown and off-white. The second is the vertically-black-and-white striped canvas-room. A few parts are sung in here, but the main one is the one featuring Fergie. The third is the club dance scene, which has many background characters dancing.

Two versions of the video were made, one with apl.de.ap's and Taboo's rap verses and one without. Both versions add an instrumental breakdown to the end of the song.

Track listings

UK CD1 and Australian CD single

  1. "Hey Mama" – 3:48
  2. "Positivity" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 4:58
  3. "Release" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 3:07
  4. "Hey Mama" (video)

UK CD2 and European CD single

  1. "Hey Mama" – 3:48
  2. "Positivity" (live from House of Blues, Chicago) – 4:58

UK 12-inch single

A1. "Hey Mama" – 3:46
B1. "Hey Mama" (instrumental) – 3:30
B2. "The Boogie That Be" – 5:12

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the Elephunk album booklet.

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Hey Mama"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA) Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Hey Mama"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 12, 2004 Contemporary hit radio
United Kingdom March 8, 2004 Polydor
Germany March 12, 2004 CD Universal Music
Australia March 15, 2004 Maxi CD
Germany March 26, 2004
France May 18, 2004 CD Polydor
United States May 25, 2004 Digital download
  • A&M
  • Interscope

This page was last updated at 2023-10-30 16:43 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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