Mirror (Lil Wayne song)
"Mirror" | ||||||||||||||||
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Single by Lil Wayne featuring Bruno Mars | ||||||||||||||||
from the album Tha Carter IV | ||||||||||||||||
Released | November 1, 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Format | Digital download | |||||||||||||||
Recorded | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Genre | Alternative hip hop, soul | |||||||||||||||
Length | 3:48 | |||||||||||||||
Label | Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic | |||||||||||||||
Writer(s) | Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, Ramon Owen | |||||||||||||||
Producer(s) | Ramon REO Owen of The Soundkillers, The Smeezingtons(co.) | |||||||||||||||
Certification | Platinum (RIAA) | |||||||||||||||
Lil Wayne singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||
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"Mirror" (also known as Mirror on the Wall) is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne from the deluxe edition of his ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV. Produced by Ramon REO Owen of The Soundkillers, the song features American pop singer Bruno Mars. The song was released to urban radio on November 1, 2011 as the sixth single from Tha Carter IV.[1] "Mirror" is Lil Wayne's highest charting single as a lead artist in the UK, peaking at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.
Background
Rap-Up describes Weezy's inspiration for the track "Weezy gets personal with his bars, rapping about his father ("Lookin' at me now I can see my past. Damn, I look just like my fuckin' dad."), while taking inspiration from Michael Jackson. "And no message any clearer, so I'm starting with the man in the mirror."
Critical reception
Lewis Corner stated, "'I see the blood in your eyes/ I see the love in disguise/ I see the pain hidden in your pride,' the pint-sized performer broods over melancholy harmonies and echoing beats, while Bruno sings to the mirror, 'Through my rise and fall/ You've been my only friend.' The final result is much like the heartthrob himself; love-torn, moody and destined to be popular."[2]
Billboard's Joe DeAndrea commented that the song was among the best material by Lil Wayne and the vocals on the hook provided by Mars' are "smooth as it gets".[3]
Music video
A music video for "Mirror" was filmed in November 2011 by director Antoine Fuqua and visual effects were created by GloriaFX. A teaser of the music video was released onto YouTube by VEVO on January 27, 2012.[4] The full length video premiered on VEVO's official website on January 31, 2012. The video begins with a shirtless Wayne rapping to the song in a dimly-lit workshop, while the camera pictures various closeups of his intricate tattoos.[5] As the chorus starts, Wayne is shown painting the room red while the depressed Bruno Mars sings. Wayne is also shown spurting red paint on the wall to form some sort of unknown picture. The rest of the video focuses on Wayne blasting red, black and white paint all over the place. The bridge starts with Wayne doing the Sign of the Cross, before applying final touches to his painting. It is finally revealed that the painting was none other than Wayne himself crucified on the cross, while life music holding a mic on his left hand, with a rather convoluted background of a face, clouds and lightnings, all toned in magnificent red. He then stares at his masterpiece as the video comes to an end.[6]
Chart performance
The song debuted at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and debuted number 11 on Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) which was the highest debut for any non-single from Tha Carter IV on the week of September 17, 2011 and February 6, 2012.[7] The song was certified Platinum by the IAA for shipments over 1,000,000.
Chart (2011–12) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[8] | 26 |
Australia (ARIA Urban)[9] | 12 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] | 32 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] | 11 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] | 45 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] | 44 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[14] | 12 |
France (French Singles Chart)[15] | 22 |
Ireland (IRMA)[16] | 21 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] | 14 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] | 37 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[19] | 43 |
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[20] | 25 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] | 54 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 35 |
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[23] | 28 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24] | 17 |
UK Official Streaming Chart Top 100[25] | 74 |
US Billboard Hot 100[26] | 16 |
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 69 |
US Billboard Rap Songs | 1 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[27] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[28] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] | Silver | 200,000![]() |
United States (RIAA)[30] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Streaming | ||
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[31] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States | September 13, 2011 | Urban contemporary[32] | Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic |
November 1, 2011 | Rhythmic contemporary[33][34] | ||
United Kingdom | March 5, 2012 | Digital download[35] |
References
- ↑ "Mediabase Urban Radio". Mediabase. 2011-11-01. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
- ↑ Published Monday, Dec 26 2011, 13:04 GMT (December 26, 2011). "Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars: 'Mirror' - Single review - Music Singles Review". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
- ↑ DeAndrea, Joe (October 12, 2016). "Bruno Mars' 5 Best Deep Cuts". Bilboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ↑ "Mirror Music Video Teaser". VEVO. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ↑ Sherman, Maria. "Lil Wayne Debuts 'Mirror' Feat. Bruno Mars: Watch". Billboard. United States: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ↑ Kuchik, Natalie (February 1, 2012). "Lil Wayne releases official 'Mirror' music video feat. Bruno Mars". AXS. AEG. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ "US Singles Top 100 9-17-11". Billboard. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Top 40 Urban ALbums & Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on March 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Canada Singles Top 100". acharts. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror". Tracklisten.
- ↑ "Charts in France (SNEP)". SNEP. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 11, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-03". Scottish Singles Top 40.
- ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert {{{year}}}{{{week}}} into search.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-03" UK R&B Chart.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-03-17" UK Singles Chart.
- ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/official-streaming-chart/
- ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "Certificeringer | ifpi.dk" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirror". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 17, 2016. Enter Mirror in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ "American single certifications – Lil Wayne – Mirror". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "Certificeringer - Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars - Mirror" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Mediabase Urban Adds". Mediabase. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
- ↑ "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover Future Releases Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011.
- ↑ "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: Urban". Radio & Records.
- ↑ "Singles Release Diary - Music". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 16, 2012.