"Pony" is a song by American singer Ginuwine, released as the debut single from his first album, Ginuwine...The Bachelor (1996). Ginuwine sung, co-wrote, and produced the song with Swing Mob associates Static Major, Digital Black, Smoke E. Digglera, and Timbaland; the latter made his breakthrough as a producer with the song. It peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.
"Pony" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Ginuwine | ||||
from the album Ginuwine... the Bachelor | ||||
B-side | "Hello" | |||
Released | July 30, 1996 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
Ginuwine singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Pony" on YouTube |
Production
editTimbaland, the song's producer, revealed in a MasterClass lecture that the song's instrumental was created in 1989, and that the song was written and recorded in 1994, two years prior to its release.
Critical reception
edit"Pony" was met with critical acclaim. Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "This sex jam, played out through horse-riding metaphors, is an even-metered gallop through lovely backing vocals and machine-generated music." He added, "While lead vocal elements are indistinguishable from several similar jams receiving heavy play, "Ginuwine" makes up for it with endearing style and funk. Added vocals run though a synthesizer provide a unique supplemental element to the baseline and act as an interesting refrain."[1] The song received an A− from Matt Diehl for Entertainment Weekly, who said that its "irresistible funk grooves lope at an easy gait, seducing the listener with a velvety tenor and belching synthesizer hook".[2] Tony Farsides from Music Week's RM Dance Update rated it five out of five, picking it as Tune of the Week. He noted that "given the downtempo mania that's dominated R&B in recent years, it's refreshing to hear a solid uptempo track instead. [...] All in all, a great track and hopefully a deserving hit as well."[3]
Commercial performance
editThe song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks from November 16, 1996, to November 30, 1996,[4] and reached number six on Billboard's Hot 100 on November 23, 1996.[5] Internationally, the song reached number three in Australia, peaked at number five in New Zealand, and charted within the top 40 in several European countries.
Music video
editThe official music video for the album version of the song, directed by Michael Lucero and filmed at the Cowboy Palace saloon in Chatsworth, California,[6] depicts Ginuwine and his crew entering a Western bar as strangers and gradually gaining the favor of the cowboy-patrons. The music video for the remix version of the song (the "Ride It" mix) was directed by Christopher Erskin and shot in a factory.[7]
Live performances
editGinuwine performed the song live on Soul Train on November 23, 1996.
Legacy
editAlong with his concurrent work for Aaliyah's One in a Million album, "Pony" and Ginuwine...the Bachelor marked the emergence of Timbaland as a successful R&B producer.[8] The song experienced a resurgence in popularity after being featured in the 2012 film Magic Mike, its 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL, and its 2023 sequel Magic Mike's Last Dance.[9][10][11][12] On November 2, 2019, the song was featured in the sketch "Hungry Jury" on Saturday Night Live.[13]
In 2021, the duo Altégo posted a snippet of a mashup of "Pony" and Britney Spears's "Toxic" on TikTok, that quickly went viral. In January 2022, the mashup was completed and officially released through Sony Music Entertainment under the title "Toxic Pony", being credited to Altégo, Spears and Ginuwine.[14] The mashup reached number 40 on the Billboard Pop Airplay chart.[15]
Track listings
edit
|
|
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[57] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[58] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[59] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[60] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[62] Physical |
Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
United States Digital |
— | 1,301,019[63] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editRegion | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States | Original | July 30, 1996 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | 550 Music | [64] |
August 20, 1996 |
|
[65][66] | |||
Japan | October 21, 1996 | CD | Epic Japan | [67] | |
United Kingdom | January 13, 1997 |
|
|
[68] | |
Various | "Toxic Pony" | January 21, 2022 |
|
Sony Music | [69] |
"Pony (Jump on It)"
edit"Pony (Jump on It)" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Tough Love featuring Ginuwine | ||||
from the album Past Present Future (Unreleased) | ||||
Released | August 7, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Genre | House[70] | |||
Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Tough Love | |||
Tough Love singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ginuwine singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Pony (Jump on It)" on YouTube |
British house music duo Tough Love collaborated with Ginuwine and revamped the song, which was released on August 7, 2015, as their second single.
Track listings
editNo. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (featuring Ginuwine) (Radio Mix)) | 3:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (Extended Mix) | 4:10 |
2. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (Cause & Affect Remix) | 4:39 |
3. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (VIP Mix) | 5:17 |
4. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (Kove Remix) | 4:13 |
5. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (Sick Individuals Remix) | 5:06 |
6. | "Pony (Jump on It)" (DJ Q Remix) | 5:09 |
Charts
editChart (2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC)[73] | 36 |
UK Singles (OCC)[74] | 39 |
UK Dance (OCC)[75] | 12 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editCountry | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Ireland | August 7, 2015 | Digital download | Island |
United Kingdom[77] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Flick, Larry (August 17, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Diehl, Matt (November 8, 1996). "Music Single Review: 'Pony'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018.
- ^ Farsides, Tony (December 14, 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop songs: Pony". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Hot 100 songs: Pony". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "mvdbase.com - Ginuwine - "Pony [version 1]"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Ginuwine - "Pony [version 2: remix]"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ "Pony". Hotnewhiphop.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Simon, Rachel (June 30, 2015). "Ginuwine's "Pony" Is Back In A Big Way". Bustle.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ "Who is Ginuwine? The R&B star made famous by hit song Pony". Metro.co.uk. January 5, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (June 22, 2015). "Ginuwine Takes Sexual Innuendo to Absurd Lengths". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ "Magic Mike's Last Dance soundtrack: Songs and track list explored". hitc.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Unlike These 'SNL' Idiots, You Probably Can't Play 'Pony' With Your Hungry Belly". Thrillist.com. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- ^ Havens, Lyndsey; Lipshutz, Jason; Lynch, Joe; Bowenbank, Starr; Hassan, Ammal (January 24, 2022). "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Purple Disco Machine, Years & Years, Joy Oladokun & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "Ginuwine Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Pony (US 12-inch single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music. 1996. 46 78354.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pony (Australian CD single liner notes). Ginuwine. 550 Music. 1996. 36K78373.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pony (US & Australian cassette single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music. 1996. 36T 78373.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pony (European CD single liner notes). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 663927 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pony (UK CD single liner notes). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 664128 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pony (UK cassette single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 664128 4.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Pony (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 664128 6.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Ginuwine – Pony". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Ginuwine Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8350." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 6. February 8, 1997. p. 21. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ "Top Singles (Week 1, 1997)". SNEP. January 5, 1997. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "Ginuwine – Pony" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.2. '97 – 26.2. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 21, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ginuwine" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay - Week 8/1997" (PDF). Music & Media. February 22, 1997. p. 23. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ a b "Ginuwine: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Ginuwine Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Ginuwine Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "Ginuwine Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Ginuwine Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
- ^ "Ginuwine – Pony" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32.
- ^ "1997 ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 42.
- ^ "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 38.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Ginuwine – Pony". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ginuwine; 'Pony')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Ginuwine – Pony". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Ginuwine – Pony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ "American single certifications – Ginuwine – Pony". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Chart: Digital Songs" (PDF). Nielsen Soundscan. June 23, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1156. July 26, 1996. p. 45. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Pony [Vinyl]". Amazon. 1996. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Pony". Amazon. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "(僕の)わんぱくポニー | ジェニュウィン" [(My) Naughty Pony | Ginuwine] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 11, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Toxic Pony – Single". Apple Music. January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Klemow, David (July 11, 2015). "Genuwine and Tough Love's 'Pony' reboot gets four new remixes". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- ^ "Pony (Jump On It) [Radio Mix] [feat. Ginuwine] – Single by Tough Love on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. August 7, 2015.
- ^ "Pony (Jump On It) [Remixes] [feat. Ginuwine] – EP by Tough Love on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. August 7, 2015.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "British single certifications – Tough Love/Ginuwine – Pony (Jump On It)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ "Pony (Jump On It) [Radio Mix] [feat. Ginuwine] - Single by Tough Love on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. August 7, 2015.
External links
edit