The Block Party (Lisa Lopes song)

"The Block Party"
Single by Lisa Lopes
from the album Supernova
B-side
  • "Tampered With"
  • "Friends"
ReleasedJuly 24, 2001 (2001-07-24)
Recorded2000–2001;
Sony Music Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre
Length4:05
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Salaam Remi
Lisa Lopes singles chronology
"Never Be the Same Again"
(2000) 		"The Block Party"
(2001) 		"Let's Just Do It"
(2009)

"The Block Party" is the debut solo single by American singer and rapper Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, member of the girl group TLC. It was released following multiple collaborations with big name artists such as Donell Jones and Melanie C. The track was written by Lopes, Salaam Remi, Maurice White, and Tracey Horton, with Remi providing production. The track was first released on July 24, 2001, to American radio as the lead and only single from her solo debut studio album Supernova (2001), which would only be released internationally. A sample of Earth, Wind & Fire's song "Drum Song" is played throughout the track.

The song would receive mixed reception both critically and commercially. While it would crack the top twenty in the United Kingdom and the top-forty in Scotland and the Netherlands, it failed to garner any success in the United States, leading to the cancellation of a planned US-release of Supernova.

Critical reception

Colin Finan of Billboard gave the song a mixed-to-unfavorable review, criticizing the lack of a hook and the "sound of whining voices repeating."[1]

Chart performance

"The Block Party" was a commercial failure in the United States, failing to enter any charts in the country. The track would experience its biggest success in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and spent 5 weeks in total on the chart.

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams and Lopes and was shot on July 10, 2001.[2] Lopes said of the video, "We are in the wonderful world of Left Eye and it's in my galaxy, Supernova." Her adopted daughter Snow appeared in the video.[3] The video was released in October 2001 on MTV UK and The Box.[4] It was not released to North America.

Track listing

European and Australian maxi single[5][6]

  1. "The Block Party" (Radio Mix) – 4:05
  2. "The Block Party" (Dallas Austin Remix) – 3:54
  3. "Friends" (featuring Cassandra Lucas) – 4:45
  4. "Tampered With" (featuring Wanya Morris and Shamari Fears) – 4:36

UK CD single[7]

  1. "The Block Party" (Radio Mix) – 4:05
  2. "The Block Party" (Dallas Austin Remix) – 3:54
  3. "Friends" (featuring Cassandra Lucas) – 4:45
  4. "The Block Party" (music video - enhanced interactive element)

UK cassette single[8]

  1. "The Block Party" (Radio Mix) – 4:05
  2. "Friends" (featuring Cassandra Lucas) – 4:45

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams and Lopes and was shot on July 10, 2001.[2] Lopes said of the video, "We are in the wonderful world of Left Eye and it's in my galaxy, Supernova." Her adopted daughter Snow appeared in the video.[3]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Block Party"
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 41
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 57
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 47
Scotland (OCC)[13] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 16
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[15] 9
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[16] 21

Release history

Release dates and format(s) for "The Block Party"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 24, 2001
Arista [17][18][19]
United Kingdom October 15, 2001
[20]
Australia October 29, 2001 CD single Arista [21]

2009 version

"Block Party"
Single by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes featuring Lil Mama
from the album Eye Legacy
ReleasedApril 16, 2009 (2009-04-16) (ringtone)
GenreHip hop
Length4:20
LabelMass Appeal Entertainment/Koch Records
Songwriter(s)Salaam Remi, Lisa Lopes, Niatia Kirkland
Producer(s)Marcus DL, Surefire Music Group
Lisa Lopes singles chronology
"Let's Just Do It"
(2009) 		"Block Party"
(2009)
Lil Mama singles chronology
"What It Is (Strike a Pose)"
(2008) 		"Block Party"
(2009)

"Block Party" is the second posthumous single by the late singer Lisa Lopes and is the second single from her first posthumous album, Eye Legacy and her third solo single.

History

The song was originally recorded for Lopes' solo debut Supernova and was released as the album's first and only single. The song was reworked and remixed for her first posthumous album, Eye Legacy, and features Lil Mama. After the first single "Let's Just Do It" failed to chart in the United States, "Block Party" was announced to be released as the second single after its positive critical reception.[22] The song was not released as a single, but rather as a ringtone, along with all the songs of Eye Legacy.

References

  1. ^ Finan, Colin (July 21, 2001). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 29. Nielsen Business Media. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ a b "Left Eye - the Block Party B-Roll footage". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  3. ^ a b TLC time for Lisa Lopes Archived 2012-07-29 at the Wayback Machine Tour Dates. Retrieved April 29, 2009
  4. ^ "Airplay: Music Television". Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 41. October 6, 2001. p. 23.
  5. ^ The Block Party (German CD single liner notes). Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Arista Records, BMG. 2001. 74321884322.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ The Block Party (Australian CD single liner notes). Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Arista Records, BMG. 2001. 74321 89591 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ The Block Party (UK enhanced CD single liner notes). Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Arista Records, LaFace Records. 2001. 74321 89591 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ The Block Party (UK cassette single sleeve). Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Arista Records, LaFace Records. 2001. 74321 89591 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ ""Left+Eye"+Lopes&titel=The+Block+Party&cat=s Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes – The Block Party". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 45. November 3, 2001. p. 13.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  12. ^ ""Left+Eye"+Lopes&titel=The+Block+Party&cat=s Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes – The Block Party" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=345&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Bubbling+Under+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Singles&ci=3042565&cdi=7751612&cid=08%2F18%2F2001 [dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Going for Adds: CHR/Pop". Radio & Records. No. 1411. July 20, 2001. p. 91.
  18. ^ "Going for Adds: CHR/Rhythmic". Radio & Records. No. 1411. July 20, 2001. p. 98.
  19. ^ "Going for Adds: Urban". Radio & Records. No. 1411. July 20, 2001. p. 111.
  20. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 13, 2001. p. 29.
  21. ^ "Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes – The Block Party (Australia, CD, Single)". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  22. ^ Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes: Eye Legacy Webisode 3. YouTube. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.