Wild Side (Normani song)

Normani went on a two-year hiatus from music after the release of the single "Motivation", in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of her mother's breast cancer.[10][11] During that time period her mother encouraged her to focus on her career and making new music, in the process "Wild Side" was created.[12] Normani posted a snippet of "Wild Side" to her social media on February 5, 2021, with the caption, "know it's been awhile".[8] Cardi B heard the snippet and later joined "Wild Side" according to the singer, with Normani stating "I knew I wanted to do something with her, but I was already in rehearsal for three weeks for the music video. We had already been in rehearsal, and I called her stylist because he's also my stylist, and I was like, 'Yo, like, we gotta figure something out. Like this link-up has to happen. There's no other way. It just has to happen, there's no option.' And he was like, 'Actually, she mentioned "Wild Side". She was like, "Is it that "Wild Side" song? Is it the "Wild Side" song?"' Because I had posted the clip like two months ago".[13]

After speculation of a collaboration between the two,[14] Normani archived all but one post on her Instagram page on July 12, 2021, hinting at a possible relevant announcement.[15][16] The following day, Cardi B stated that she had "a little secret" to tell her audience the following day.[17] On July 14, Normani confirmed the title, release date and cover art of the collaborative single on her respective social media pages.[18] Both performers had interacted in the past multiple times, with Normani making a special appearance in the music video for "WAP" by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion in August 2020 alongside other singers and personalities like Kylie Jenner and Rosalía.[19]

"Wild Side" received critical acclaim upon its release.[20][21] MTV News praised Normani's vocal performance, stating that she "delivers her silky verses with serenity and precision, sizzling with temptation and allure with every breath. She never leaves a moment unmilked; her voice masterfully floats along the song's subtle yet thumping production – sampling fellow R&B goddess Aaliyah's 1996 hit 'One In A Million'", and praised Cardi B's rapping on the song, noting that she "slides in with ease."[22] For Pitchfork, Vrinda Jagota called it "a sultry R&B showstopper", adding, "If 'Motivation' was Normani's jubilant breakthrough, 'Wild Side' is the meticulously crafted showpiece that proves she's here to stay."[23] For USA Today, Rasha Ali deemed it "a steamy, sensual slow jam."[24] Victoria Moorwood of The Recording Academy, stated that the pair "struck gold" with the songs Interpolation of "One In A Million".[25]

In August 2021, Billboard placed the single on their 15 Best Aaliyah Samples in Modern R&B/Hip-Hop list.[26] American gymnast Jordan Chiles, referred to "Wild Side" as one of her favorite songs.[27] The song was named among 15 R&B songs that defined 2021 by BrooklynVegan.[28]

In the United States, "Wild Side" debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Normani's third top 20 solo hit, and Cardi B's 16th;[49] while becoming Normani's highest debuting song to date. .[50] It was the top-selling R&B release of the week in overall consumption, debuting at number 5 on the US Digital Song Sales chart.[51] The song also debuted at number 10 on the US Rolling Stone Top 100, marking the biggest debut of the week on the chart.[52] It also debuted simultaneously atop the R&B Streaming Songs chart, the R&B Digital Song Sales chart, and the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, while reaching number 3 on the Hot R&B Songs chart.[53][51] In addition, "Wild Side" also debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.[54]

Less than three months after it was released, the song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, for selling approximately 500,000 units in the US.[55] The song reached the Top 10 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, after nine weeks.[56][57] While later, reaching the Top 3 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, in the November 6, 2021 issue of Billboard.[58] The following week, the single reached number-one on Urban Radio.[59] In December 2021, it was announced that the song was one of the Top 20 most thumbed up tracks of 2021 on Pandora.[60] On the January 1, 2022 issue of Billboard, the song reached number-one on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart, tying "Oui" by Jeremih for the fifth-longest march to number-one on the chart. "Wild Side" also reached the top ten on the Rhythmic Airplay chart, after 23 weeks on the chart, breaking the record for the longest climb to the chart's top 10 by a female artist, and the second overall, trailing only the 25-week wait of Los Del Rio's "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)".[61]

The official music video, directed by Tanu Muino, was released to YouTube alongside the song on July 16, 2021. The music video was choreographed by Sean Bankhead,[62] drawing inspriation from Ciara's "Like a Boy" music video.[63] The singer wears multiple outfits throughout the four-minute video, including a cutout black lingerie set with matching thigh-high boots in the first scene of the video, while doing exotic Yoga, a cropped leather outfit, and a leopard-print bustier. During her verse, Cardi B is featured completely nude wearing floor length hair extensions, while also embracing a nude Normani.[64] Debra Paget in the movie The Indian Tomb, is briefly referenced in a scene from the music video.[65]

The music video accumulated 1.5 million views in its first ten hours on YouTube, and cracked the Top 30 trending searches on Google.[66] In December 2021, Vevo announced that the music video was the 3rd most watched R&B video of 2021 in the United States.[67]

In July 2021, a "Wild Side" dance challenge started trending on social media, with the hashtag #WildSideChallenge garnering 15.6 million views on TikTok within a few weeks, with Brazilian singer Anitta,[81] actress Storm Reid,[82] along with American singers Lizzo,[83] and Ciara participating in the challenge.[84] English musician FKA Twigs also filmed a pole dancing routine featuring the song that she posted on TikTok.[85] Some fans sustained injuries while attempting to learn the choreography, with one participant fracturing their foot.[86]

American rapper Megan Thee Stallion referenced the song in her "Tuned In Freestyle", from her Something for Thee Hotties mixtape, with the lyrics "I wanna show my wild side, make them doo doo doo."[87][88] In October 2021, Aespa member Karina performed a dance routine to "Wild Side" on the South Korean television program Knowing Bros.[89][90] Later that month, singer Bryson Tiller sampled the single on his song "Are You Listening", from his Killer Instinct 2: The Nightmare Before mixtape.[91] Brazilian singer Pocah paid homage to Normani in a photo shoot inspired by the song's music video.[92] Comedian and singer DC Young Fly released an unofficial remix of the song.[93]

Normani first performed "Wild Side" at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2021,[94] after fans petitioned for her to perform on the show with the hashtag #LetNormaniPerform.[95] The performance featured intense choreography, and a surprise cameo from Teyana Taylor,[96] that paid tribute to Janet Jackson's live performances of "Would You Mind".[97] It was positively-received by music critics.[98][99][100] Pitchfork deemed it "the night’s most exciting performance", while calling Normani "one of her generation's most promising stars".[101] While Rolling Stone wrote, "Normani stole the show in 'Wild Side', with the night's official instant-classic VMAs moment".[102] According to Deadline, the performance was one of two most popular moments on social media that night.[103]

The performance received criticism from David Portnoy, who claimed the positive response that the performance received was a double standard in comparison to the negative feedback for his sports blog, Barstool Sports. Portnoy tweeted, "I just want people to know, this is on VH1 right now, just like cable TV, anyone can watch this", "People say Barstool's too raunchy, like, that, you know, we're sexist, chauvinist pigs, can't let people see it, too over the top, smokeshows, but this girl, who's getting like face f—ed, and scissoring, right now just on VH1, this is cool."[104] TMZ reported that the performance triggered complaints to the Federal Communications Commission "over what some say were raunchy displays".[105]

Normani again performed an abbreviated version of "Wild Side" at Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3, which premiered on Prime Video on September 24, 2021.[106][107] Normani "delivered a visually stunning set in a green catsuit, spiky bun, and lucite heels against a bright red backdrop, channeling the futuristic vibe of her music video," according to Erica Gonzalez for Elle.[108]

• Digital download/streaming[109]

1. "Wild Side" (featuring Cardi B) – 3:29

• Digital download/streaming – Extended version[110]

1. "Wild Side" (featuring Cardi B) – 3:29
2. "Wild Side" (featuring Cardi B) [Extended version] – 4:08

• Digital download/streaming – Kaytranada Remix[111]

1. "Wild Side" (Kaytranada Remix) – 4:24

Credits adapted from Tidal.[112]

• Normani – vocals, songwriting, production
• Cardi B – featured vocals, songwriting
• Starrah – songwriting, production, vocal production
• Nealante - producer, mixing
• Dave Cappa – songwriting, production
• Tyler Rohn – songwriting, production
• Jonah Christian – songwriting, production
• Pardison Fontaine – songwriting
• June Nawakii – songwriting, production
• Taylor Ross – songwriting, production
• Keynon Moore – songwriting
• Josie Aiello – backing vocals
• Jaycen Joshua – mastering, mixing
• Rachel Blum – mastering
• Brad Bustamante – engineering, recording, vocal production
• Jelli Dorman – engineering, recording
• Kuk Harrell – engineering, recording, vocal production
• DJ Riggins – assistant engineering
• Jacob Richards – assistant engineering
• Mike Seaberg – assistant engineering