Shut Up and Drive

"Shut Up and Drive" is a pop rock song written by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers for pop singer Rihanna's third album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The track samples Orgy's cover version of New Order's "Blue Monday", embracing a noticeable rock-oriented sound. It was released as the second single from the album in some markets in June 2007 (see 2007 in music). Despite an initial surge of success following the respective releases of "Umbrella" and Good Girl Gone Bad, the song failed to match the success of its predecessor and is thus far the only single to miss the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 from Good Girl Gone Bad.

Music structure and lyrics

"Shut Up and Drive" is a pop rock song written in the key of C# mixolydian. It is set in common time, with the tune being an interpolation of Blue Monday by New Order.

According to Rodney Dogue, its lyrics use automobiles as a metaphor for the persona in an offer of sex.

Critical reception

The song received mixed, mostly negative reviews from music critics upon its release. Slant Magazine found that the song did not live up to its campy title, and The Village Voice described it as simultaneously "goofy and sexually daring". All Music Guide, however, referred to it as "a sleek, forthcoming proposition…as undeniable and rocking as Sugababes' 2002 UK smash 'Freak Like Me'."

Chart performance

"Shut Up and Drive" debuted at #88 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and reached a peak of #15 several weeks later failing to match the success of previous single "Umbrella". It also peaked at number ten on the U.S. Pop 100. The song became Rihanna's seventh number one song on the Hot Dance Club Play chart (issue date/week ending December 8, 2007). She currently holds the second longest run of consecutive #1 Dance hits along with more established artists Madonna and Janet Jackson. To date this single has sold 1.18 million in the USA.

In the UK, "Shut Up and Drive" peaked at #5, becoming Rihanna's fifth UK top ten single. "Shut Up and Drive" also reached the top ten in Canada peaking at number six on the Canadian Hot 100.

It achieved moderate success in Europe, notably Switzerland and Sweden, peaking at #14 and #31 respectively. It was also a success in countries such as Finland, Greece, Netherlands and Ireland where it managed peaked within the top 5. In countries such Belgium and Norway, the song managed to peak within the top 20 of their respective singles charts.

In Australia, "Shut Up and Drive" debuted and peaked at #4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, becoming the album's second top 5 single there, and was certified gold by ARIA for sales of over 35,000 units.

"Shut Up and Drive" reached #7 on the United World Chart based on its success in worldwide markets.

To date the single has sold 3.2 million copies worldwide and a further 200,000 through clubs.

Music video

Datei:Rihanna-Shut-Up-and-Drive.jpg

Rihanna in the music video

The song's music video is directed by Anthony Mandler and choreographed by Tina Landon. It opens with Rihanna driving a Ferrari F430 into a garage. Rihanna and several other girls start working in the car mechanic garage in a suggestive manner, before slamming the hoods down on cue with the first "Shut Up and Drive" part of the lyrics. The video then cuts to a scene where a 1969 Ford Mustang and extensively modified Skoda Rapid are preparing to race. Rihanna and her friends show up, and Rihanna proceeds to flirt with the two race car drivers through the open windows of their cars at the starting line which shows how much taller she is than the two men. She then directs the drivers to "Shut Up and Drive", and they take off. The next scene shows Rihanna performing with her band. Throughout the video, Rihanna is also shown in the car garage, and walking around the race yard.

The video was shot in a makeshift junkyard in Prague, Czech Republic, hence the large amount of junked European cars on set and the Czech registration plate on the cars; premiered on MTV's Total Request Live on July 4, 2007. On July 9, 2007, it debuted on the TRL countdown at number ten for the first time, has been on the countdown for thirty days and so far has peaked at number four as of August 20, 2007.

Portions of the video were interspersed with NASCAR Nextel Cup race footage for use in ESPN's coverage of the 2007 Pennsylvania 500.

Track listing

Vinyl 12" picture disc

1. "Shut Up and Drive" (The Wideboys Club Mix)
2. "Shut Up and Drive" (Radio edit)
3. "Shut Up and Drive" (Instrumental)

UK CD single

1. "Shut Up and Drive" (Radio edit)
2. "Shut Up and Drive" (The Wideboys Club Mix)

German Maxi-CD single

1. "Shut Up and Drive" (Radio Edit)
2. "Shut Up and Drive" (The Wideboys Club Mix)
3. "Shut Up and Drive" (Instrumental)
4. "Shut Up and Drive" (Multimedia Track)

German 2-Track CD single

1. "Shut Up and Drive" (Radio Edit)
2. "Haunted"

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	4
Belgian Singles Chart	9
Brazilian Singles Chart	1
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Chilean Singles Airplay Chart	2
Dutch Singles Chart	5
French Singles Chart	33
German Singles Chart	41
Indonesian Single Top	14
Irish Singles Chart	4
Italian Singles Chart	8
Mexican Singles Chart	4
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	12
Polish Singles Chart	6
Swedish Singles Chart	31
Swiss Singles Chart	14
Turkish Top 20 Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	5
United World Chart	11
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	15
U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40	5
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	6
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Tracks	6

Awards

"Shut Up & Drive" earned an award in the People's Choice Music Awards for "Most Popular R&B Song".