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Signs (Snoop Dogg song)

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"Signs"
Single by Snoop Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake
from the album R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
ReleasedApril 25, 2005 (2005-04-25)
Length3:56
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Neptunes
Snoop Dogg singles chronology
"Let's Get Blown"
(2004) 		"Signs"
(2005) 		"Ups & Downs"
(2005)
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"I'm Lovin' It"
(2003) 		"Signs"
(2005) 		"SexyBack"
(2006)
Music video
"Signs" on YouTube

"Signs" is a song by American West Coast hip hop recording artist Snoop Dogg. It was released in United States and United Kingdom on April 25, 2005. The song is the third single released from Snoop Dogg's seventh studio album, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004). The song was produced by The Neptunes and features guest appearances by Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake.

The edited version of the song is used for the 2005 film Guess Who which stars Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. The song is played once during the film and again during the end credits.

Themes

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The song looks at the topic of romance from several points of view, and in doing so, touches on other subjects such as illegal drugs, the city of Los Angeles, the perceived glamour of gang culture, and the lavish, hedonistic lifestyle led by many rappers and musicians.

The chorus, sung by Justin Timberlake, is about the moment when a man thinks a woman to whom he is sexually attracted may also be attracted to him. The man second-guesses what he thinks he has seen, expressing a wish that love (personified as Cupid in classical fashion) should not play around with his emotions. Meanwhile, another male observer (voiced by Snoop Dogg) opines that the Timberlake character is out of his element and should not bother attempting to further relations between himself and the object of his affection, since he lacks the necessary gangster credentials.

The verses of the song, rapped by Snoop Dogg, mainly following Snoop Dogg's attempts to charm a woman or women. The first verse starts with a brief introduction boasting about the song's hit potential, due to the involvement of Snoop himself and producers the Neptunes. Snoop then appears to become distracted by a passing woman, and attempts to charm her by offering to procure cannabis for her and mentioning his gang, the Crips. In the second verse, Snoop boasts about the glamorous side of his home city, Los Angeles. In the third verse (or bridging section), he redoubles his efforts at seduction by promising his interlocutor a flight on a private jet to London and the holiday resorts of Ibiza and watching Venus and Serena Williams in the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Charlie Wilson then provides a more experienced point of view on love, advising all concerned not to be foolish, to appreciate what they have, and not to be distracted by "a pretty face". This implies that the Timberlake and Snoop characters may already be in relationships, and are considering infidelity with the women mentioned in the song.

The song's three vocalists thus show three stages of a man's romantic life: Timberlake as the young ingenue; Snoop Dogg as the Casanova in his prime; and Wilson as the experienced older man dispensing advice to his younger companions.

Music video

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The music video was directed by Paul Hunter and takes place in an underground boxing gym and at a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the most played video on the UK version of The Box in 2005.

Reception

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The single reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in May 2005 and number 46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, it was more popular in Australia staying at No. 1 on the Australian Singles Chart for two weeks.

It was performed by Snoop Dogg at the Live 8 concert in London on July 2, 2005, along with a few of his other hits.

The song interpolates some lyrics from The Gap Band's 1982 "Early in the Morning" and Cheryl Lynn's 1978 "Got to Be Real".

Critical reception

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David Jeffries highlighted and praised: "The up-tempo "Signs" with Justin Timberlake is glittery disco fun, but it ain't gonna keep Snoop from being himself."[1] RapReviews described:[2] "look for him sharing the spotlight with Snoop and Justin Timberlake on "Signs," although the D-oh-double-G still steals the show:

"It's legit, you know it's a hit When the Neptunes and the Doggy Dogg fin' to spit You know he's in - tune with the season Come here baby, tell me why you leavin? Tell me if it's weed that you need If you wanna breathe, I got the best weed minus seeds Ain't nobody trippin, V.I.P. they can't get in If somethin go wrong then you know we get to crippin"

Justin Timberlake does crip-hop? Sounds wrong, but it comes out just right."

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44] Gold 4,000^
Germany (BVMI)[45] Gold 150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[48] Gold 500,000*

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

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia April 25, 2005 CD
[49]
United Kingdom
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [50]

References

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  1. ^ "R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece - Snoop Dogg | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Snoop Dogg :: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece :: Geffen Records".
  3. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  4. ^ "Issue 792" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  6. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  8. ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1597. March 11, 2005. p. 52. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Tracklisten.
  10. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 21. May 21, 2005. p. 63. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in French). Les classement single.
  12. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  13. ^ IFPI Greece Top 50 Singles
  14. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  15. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Signs". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  17. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Top Digital Download.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  19. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Top 40 Singles.
  21. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". VG-lista.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  23. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Singles Top 100.
  24. ^ "Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake – Signs". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  27. ^ "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  30. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". ARIA. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2005". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  32. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  33. ^ "Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52" (PDF). Billboard. VNU Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2005" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  35. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2005". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Dutch Year-End Charts 2005". MegaCharts. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  37. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2005". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  38. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2005". Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  39. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  40. ^ "2005 Urban Top 40" (PDF). Music Week. January 14, 2006. p. 22. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  41. ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 26.
  42. ^ "Top 50 – Pop Rock: Cierre de Año, 2005" (PDF) (in Spanish). Record Report. December 24, 2005. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  43. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  44. ^ "Forårets guld- og platincertificeringer" (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  45. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snoop Dogg feat. Justin Timberlake & Charlie Wilson; 'Signs')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  46. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Snoop Dogg feat. Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson – Signs". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 12, 2021.[dead link]
  47. ^ "British single certifications – Snoop Dogg/Wilson/Timberlake – Signs". British Phonographic Industry.
  48. ^ "American single certifications – Snoop Dogg – Signs". Recording Industry Association of America.
  49. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 25th April 2005" (PDF). ARIA. April 25, 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-05-19. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  50. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 23, 2005. p. 25.
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