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Whatchamacallit (Ella Mai song)

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"Whatchamacallit"
Song by Ella Mai featuring Chris Brown
from the album Ella Mai
ReleasedOctober 4, 2018
Recorded2017
GenreR&B
Length3:00
LabelInterscope Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Audio video
"Whatchamacallit" on YouTube

"Whatchamacallit" is a song by British singer Ella Mai, featuring American singer Chris Brown, released on October 4, 2018 through Interscope Records as a promotional single from her 2018 self-titled album.[1]

Background and composition

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Prior to the making of the song, Ella Mai mentioned Chris Brown as one of her biggest influences: “Vocally, he’s amazing,” she said. “If he didn’t come out the way he did and make the music that he did, I think I would be a completely different artist. He’s influenced an entire generation.”[2] The two then collaborated on "This X-Mas", a track contained in the "Cuffing Season: 12 Days of Christmas" edition of Brown's eighth studio album Heartbreak on a Full Moon (2017).[3] “Whatchamacallit” was originally teased in September 2017, before being released on October 4, 2018 through Interscope Records as a promotional single from Mai's self-titled debut album.[4]

"Whatchamacallit" is an R&B song[5] written by Brown, Sam Hook, Jordan Holt and Mai, while its production was handled by DJ Mustard. On the track the two artists serenade about a secret relationship.[6][7]

Critical reception

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HotNewHipHop praised the song, writing: "Because of the similarity in their voices, Ella Mai and Chris Brown sound absolutely gorgeous together. When one harmonizes with the other, it's almost as if it's just a double of the original vocal, introducing an interesting dynamic to the song that we rarely hear with other artists".[1] The Guardian mentioned Chris Brown as an "A-list feature" on the track.[8]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 66
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 21
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 84
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[12] 3

Certifications

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Certifications for "Whatchamacallit"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] Platinum 70,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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  1. ^ Credited as co-producer

References

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  1. ^ a b Zidel, Alex (October 4, 2018). "Chris Brown Features On Ella Mai's Latest Smash "Whatchamacallit"". HotNewHipHop.
  2. ^ "Ella Mai Recruits Chris Brown for New Single "Whatchamacallit"". Hypebeast. October 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Goddard, Kevin (December 13, 2017). "Chris Brown Releases Deluxe Edition Of "Heartbreak On A Full Moon" With 12 New Songs". HotNewHipHop.
  4. ^ "New Music: Ella Mai feat. Chris Brown - Whatchamacallit". October 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "New Song: Ella Mai & Chris Brown - 'Whatchamacallit' - That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net.
  6. ^ Ichiki, Chase. "Ella Mai shares her newest collaboration with Chris Brown "Whatchamacallit"". REVOLT.
  7. ^ "New Music: Ella Mai feat. Chris Brown - 'Whatchamacallit'".
  8. ^ Kasambala, Natty (October 12, 2018). "Ella Mai: Ella Mai review – Boo'd Up singer's R&B statement of intent" – via The Guardian.
  9. ^ "Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  10. ^ "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 22, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Ella Mai Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  14. ^ "British single certifications – Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  15. ^ "American single certifications – Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 3, 2023.